Ranveer stood in the dimly lit office of the orphanage, his eyes fixed on Mrs. Geeta Srivastava. Her face, usually calm and composed, was now etched with fear. Outside, danger loomed like an ominous storm, and inside, the tension was suffocating.
The door swung open with a crash, and John, the orphanage's security guard, burst in, panting heavily. His wide eyes spoke of impending disaster.
"Warden, those devilish men are coming again!" John gasped, struggling to catch his breath. "Do something quickly!"
Mrs. Srivastava's face paled. She shot a glance at Ranveer, who stood quietly, his fists clenched. Her mind raced as she quickly turned to John.
"Go! Try to distract them. Stall them as long as you can," she said, her voice shaky but firm. "I'll get Ranveer out of here."
John gave a quick nod and rushed out. Mrs. Srivastava turned toward Ranveer, her eyes filled with worry and sorrow.
"Ranveer, as soon as you came back, those men arrived. It's not a coincidence," she said, her voice trembling. "You need to leave. We'll manage somehow. Just a few more days, and things will cool down. You can live peacefully somewhere else."
Ranveer's heart swelled with emotion as he gazed at the woman he had always thought of as a mother. But as her words sank in, a sense of resolute defiance rose within him.
"Warden," he said softly but firmly, "I've always considered you like a mother. Can a son abandon his mother in times like these?"
Mrs. Srivastava's eyes glistened with unshed tears. For a moment, her defenses crumbled. But her expression hardened again as she composed herself.
"My priority is the safety of this orphanage," she said, her tone now sharper. "I can't let you stay here, not when those men are hunting you. Please, leave while you can."
Ranveer smiled gently, though his heart was heavy.
"I understand," he said quietly. "But if I leave now, how long can I keep running? Today, it's them. Tomorrow, it'll be someone else. I can't bow down to men like them. I need to face them, now or never."
Mrs. Srivastava's face tightened in shock, and she opened her mouth to protest, but Ranveer raised a hand, cutting her off.
"What's the worst that could happen?" he continued. "I could die. But who would miss me? No family, no one. At least, if I go down, I'll take a few of them with me."
The warden looked at him in disbelief. The boy she had cared for since childhood was talking about life and death with the calmness of a seasoned warrior. She was about to scold him, but before she could speak, Ranveer's eyes softened.
"I have a plan, Warden," he said reassuringly. "No one will get hurt. Trust me. Stay inside."
With that, Ranveer turned and walked out, leaving Mrs. Srivastava stunned and silent.
---
Outside, the courtyard was eerily quiet as Ranveer stepped forward. The air was thick with tension, but Ranveer's heart was calm. He had made his decision. There was no turning back now.
In the distance, a gang of men, led by the towering figure of Mohan Desai, approached. Mohan's smug grin widened when he spotted Ranveer standing alone, waiting.
"Well, well, look who finally showed up," Mohan sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "The coward finally steps out from behind his precious warden's skirt."
Ranveer clenched his jaw, his fury barely contained, but he kept his composure. With a cold smile, he addressed Mohan.
"Why the rush, Mohan?" Ranveer said, his voice calm but laced with steel. "First, survive me. I promise you'll never forget the beating I give you."
Mohan and his men erupted in laughter, clutching their sides as if Ranveer had just told the world's funniest joke. But beneath the laughter, there was unease in their eyes.
"Confident, aren't you?" Mohan spat, wiping a tear from his eye. "You ran last time, didn't you? Well, today, we'll see how strong you really are. But don't worry. By the end of the day, you'll be dead."
One of Mohan's henchmen, a large brute named Nitish Rana, stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. He shot Mohan a glance, smirking.
"Boss, let me handle this kid," Nitish said arrogantly. "Why waste your energy?"
Mohan grinned and stepped aside, watching as Nitish picked up a hockey stick and advanced toward Ranveer.
"You should know the name of the man who's about to break your legs, kid," Nitish said mockingly. "I'm Nitish Rana, and you're about to regret crossing us."
Nitish swung the hockey stick hard at Ranveer's knees. The impact echoed through the courtyard, but Ranveer didn't even flinch. The stick bounced off his leg as though it had struck solid steel.
Nitish blinked, bewildered. He swung again, this time aiming for Ranveer's ankles, but once more, the blow did nothing.
From within, Ranveer could hear Vani's voice, frustrated and disapproving.
*"What kind of person are you?"* Vani's voice hissed in his mind. *"He's trying to break your legs, and you're just standing there! Do something!"*
Ranveer ignored her. He had tested his strength enough. With a swift motion, he reached out, grabbed Nitish by the neck, and lifted him effortlessly into the air.
"You've talked enough," Ranveer said coldly, his grip tightening. "It's time to end this."
With a sharp twist, he snapped Nitish's neck. The body fell limp in his hand, and he let it drop to the ground.
Mohan and his men stood frozen in shock. They had expected a slaughter—just not this kind.
One by one, Mohan's thugs charged at Ranveer, trying to overwhelm him, but he dispatched them all with ease, his movements swift and brutal. Each attack was met with unyielding strength, and soon the courtyard was littered with broken bodies.
Ranveer's eyes locked onto Mohan, the last man standing. Terror flashed across Mohan's face as he slowly backed away.
"You dared to threaten my orphanage," Ranveer said, his voice like ice. "You'll pay for that."
Mohan stumbled back, his hand reaching for the gun at his waist. With shaking hands, he pulled it out, pointing it at Ranveer.
"Stay back!" Mohan yelled, his voice cracking with fear. "I'll shoot!"
Ranveer laughed—a dark, menacing sound that sent chills down Mohan's spine.
"You think I'm that stupid?" Ranveer said, stepping closer. "You want me to let you go, so you can bring your whole gang here. It's not happening."
Mohan fired the gun. The bullet flew toward Ranveer, but with inhuman speed, Ranveer dodged it effortlessly. Mohan, panicking, fired again and again, but every shot missed.
Within seconds, Ranveer was upon him. He grabbed Mohan by the throat and lifted him into the air.
"For the damage you've caused," Ranveer said softly, "you'll pay with your life."
With one swift motion, Ranveer snapped Mohan's neck, severing his head from his body. He dropped the lifeless corpse to the ground and looked up, his voice echoing across the courtyard.
"Rishi Saxena," Ranveer shouted into the open air, "I'm coming for you. Let's see what force in this world can save you from my wrath!"