Ram's tall, expressive figure stood out among the group of lads, each of whom had their own striking appearance. Even though there was a considerable age gap between them, Abhi, with his youthful demeanor, appeared to belong in the same age range as Rajeev and Ram.
Ram, visibly irritated, shot back, "You can't say that, Abhi. Look at me—I'm still young!"
Abhi, feigning disbelief, laughed and said, "For heaven's sake, don't tell me you're a newborn!"
Ram, growing concerned, glanced at Sashi for reassurance. "Do I really look that old?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of desperation.
Sashi, keeping her troubled look exaggerated, replied, "Yes, maybe just a little bit."
Ram's face twisted in dismay. "No way! I'm only 24. How can you say that?" he cried out, his frustration spilling over as he turned to Gowthami for another opinion. "Do I really seem that old?"
Sashi, suppressing her amusement, quickly winked at Gowthami, who caught the signal. With a smile, Gowthami remarked, "Don't be alarmed, ram, sometimes it happens. Rest assured, I'll bring you to the parlor with us —you'll look younger in no time."
Ram's shoulders slumped, and his expression grew even more dejected. He began to genuinely believe that he looked older than his age, sinking deeper into his thoughts.
Abhi, glancing at Ram's downcast face in the rearview mirror, couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he enjoyed the playful torment he and the others had stirred up.
The journey to the mall had been pleasant, filled with lighthearted banter and the usual humor that kept their group entertained. The roads from Dharmagiri, a small village nestled in the countryside, to the neighboring city wound through green hills and open landscapes. Abhi, behind the wheel of the Range Rover, navigated the hour-long drive with ease, his passengers chatting intermittently or staring out at the passing scenery. When they finally pulled up to a large, modern mall in the city, everyone piled out of the car.
After ensuring everyone was out, Abhi parked the vehicle and joined the group, already animated with the prospect of a shopping spree.
Inside the mall, the bright lights and bustling energy of shoppers created a lively atmosphere. Gowthami and Sashi quickly headed off toward the women's section, excited to browse through racks of sarees, jewelry, and other wedding accessories. They exchanged smiles and laughter as they picked out dresses and compared designs, their enthusiasm infectious.
Meanwhile, Rajeev and Abhi, more focused and efficient in their approach, headed straight for the men's section. They browsed through outfits, looking for something suitable for the upcoming wedding and festivities, discussing colors and styles in a relaxed manner.
Ram, however, felt an odd twinge of discomfort. As the group split up, a strange feeling gnawed at him. He couldn't shake the sense that they were being followed. His eyes scanned the crowd, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary. He dismissed it for a moment, thinking perhaps his imagination was running wild, but the feeling persisted.
Not wanting to leave Gowthami and Sashi by themselves, Ram decided to join them in the women's section. He felt a twinge of guilt at the idea of them being left alone in such a big mall, and besides, being with the girls somehow made him feel more at ease. He trailed after them, watching as they gleefully discussed fabrics and jewelry, his unease temporarily overshadowed by their cheerful energy.
Yet, every so often, Ram's eyes darted around the mall, searching for something—someone—unseen but ever-present. He couldn't shake the notion that something wasn't quite right, even as the cheerful buzz of the mall continued around them.
While surveying his surroundings, he spotted someone surreptitiously shooting gowthami photographs.
Ram approached him immediately and grabbed the phone out of his hand. Ram gripped his hand so firmly that a shattering sound came from his wrist bone.
That individual let out a pained cry. "Oh, my hand."
"Why are you capturing pictures of her and who are you?", Ram's angry voice emerged.
When the individual encountered Ram, he became terrified of him and frightened. "I apologize, sir. I just took a couple pictures since I thought she was beautiful. Please leave, and I'll delete it asap."
Ram responded in an acute tone, "Do that now."
Gowthami and Sashi went to the guy after seeing Ram engaged in combat.
Gowthami questioned, "What transpired, Ram?" as she witnessed the guy attempting to extricate his hand from the hold of the ram.
That individual was pleading with Ram because he was afraid of him and pleaded, "Please leave me; I'm going to delete it right now."
Ram had a gentle grip on his wrist. The person's hand became somewhat green as a result of poor blood flow.
Ram responded, "Not much, he's just taking the photograph from a distance, and I'm just telling him to delete it," as he turned to face the females.
Ram stepped out of that man's grasp.
The guy moved a short distance away from Ram once Ram left his wrist and put down his phone. He turned to stare at his green-colored hand, which he couldn't seem to feel at all. Without further ado, he began to rush away from his phone.
That individual said as they fled from the ram, "I am going to arrive back with my kin, so stay right there."
" You...". Ram intended to pursue him, but he gave up halfway through out of concern for the girl.
Gowthami turned to face the fleeing individual before picking up the phone that was on the floor and going through it. The phone, which is unlocked, was still on. Gowthami looked through the phone gallery and saw that there weren't many pictures of her.
Gowthami said, "Wow, I think he is good at taking photos."
" Someone has a knack for taking photographs?". questioned Rajeev as he approached them with abhi.
Gowthami handed Rajeev the phone after giving him a quick glance." Rajeev, I think these pictures of mine are cute."
Upon examining the phone, Rajeev saw that none of his gang members owned it.
Gazing down at the phone, Rajeev questioned, "Whose mobile is this?"
As she peered out the store doorway, Sashi declared, "I consider you guys ought to prepare readied for the fight."
" How come?" Abhi was unable to comprehend what she was saying. He glanced at Sashi's direction of gaze. He saw a few individuals approaching them.
Abhi questioned, Who are they?
"Rajeev's foes that Ram recently acquired," Sashi said, glancing at Ram.
" My foes?", Rajeev turned to face the gathering of people approaching them.
The individual who just fled rallied his supporters to battle with Ram.
"Leader, this is the person who broked my wrist just now," he continued, pointing at Ram.
The gang boss stood before them, his imposing figure dominating the space despite his small frame. His dark skin was adorned with colorful tattoos that snaked across his body, and his heavy gold jewelry clinked with every movement. A toothpick hung lazily from his mouth, giving him an air of indifference as he surveyed the group. His sharp gaze zeroed in on Ram first, the smallest of smirks curling on his lips.
"So, you're the one who damaged my disciple's palm," he said, his voice laced with a dark amusement. His eyes flickered over to Ram, who visibly stiffened under his gaze. "What a grave mistake it is to take pictures of these girls." The boss's tone was mocking, almost playful, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.
He then turned his attention to Gowthami and Sashi, his gaze lingering a little too long on their faces. A lecherous grin spread across his face. "You should be thankful he only took pictures of them fully clothed," he said with a sneer, his eyes gleaming with wicked intent as they traveled back to Rajeev. "That's the only reason you're still standing here."
Rajeev clenched his fists, rage boiling just beneath the surface. The gang leader's words and the lewd suggestion in his eyes made Rajeev's blood boil. He glanced at Abhi, who looked just as enraged, his jaw tight, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Watch what you say, sir," Abhi warned in a low, menacing voice, barely restraining himself from attacking the man. His fists curled at his sides, itching for a fight, but he held back—for now.
The gang boss, unfazed by the warning, turned his attention back to Gowthami. His expression shifted from amusement to something darker, more primal. His eyes gleamed with lust as he took in her beauty, his voice dripping with sleaze as he spoke. "Wow, you're gorgeous. How about spending the evening together?" His smile widened, confident that his proposition would go unchallenged.
That was all it took.
Before the gang boss could even finish his sentence, Rajeev moved. With a burst of adrenaline, he threw a powerful punch directly into the man's face. The impact was immediate and brutal. The sickening thud of flesh meeting bone echoed through the space as the gang boss staggered backward, clutching his nose, blood instantly pooling between his fingers.
The room seemed to freeze for a moment, everyone stunned by the sudden violence. The gang boss, eyes wide with disbelief, stumbled as he tried to regain his footing, but the damage was done. His cocky smile had vanished, replaced by shock and fury.
Rajeev, his chest heaving with rage, stood tall, his fists still clenched and ready for more. "Don't you ever disrespect her again," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. He glared down at the gang boss, daring him to make another move.
Abhi stepped forward, his eyes still blazing with fury. "You made a mistake. Now, you're going to regret it."