Chapter 2: Date went Wrong
**14th February 2024**
He reached the staff room and found her at her desk, deeply engrossed in grading papers. Her attention was so focused that she hadn't noticed his approach. He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves, then casually leaned against the edge of her desk.
"Hey, Riya," he greeted, with a teasing smile. "Busy saving the world, one paper at a time?"
Startled, Riya looked up, before a smile tugged at her lips. "Oh, Hi! When did you get here?" she asked, gesturing her work. "Just trying to catch up on grading. You know how it is."
Arjun nodded dramatically, feigning a deep understanding of her situation. "Of course, the noble work of a teacher. But," he leaned in slightly, "don't you think you deserve a break from saving the world? Maybe tonight? Dinner, a movie... You, me, and a bucket of popcorn?"
Riya's eyebrows shot up, and she looked at him with amusement. "Are you asking me out on a date, Arjun?"
Without missing a beat, he pulled his phone from his pocket. "Well, today's the 14th, and I happened to get this combo ticket deal. The movie's got good reviews, and I figured I'd be bored without your charm."
Riya paused for a moment. She imagined her with arjun at a corner seat where he tries to do some weird stuff and she scolds her and then forgives him. It would be a sight to behold or he holds her hand in a romantic scene .. and she abruptly pauses upon a realisation ,'but this idiot hasn't confessed yet. don't tell me he is aiming to ..'
Riya chuckled and shook her head, "I appreciate the offer, Arjun, but I have way too much work to finish. Tonight might not be the best time." she smirks inwardly, 'saying yes at once , wont be good right?'
'Acting tough huh!' Feigning a dramatic sigh, Arjun placed a hand over his heart. "Ah, work! the ultimate villain in every good story. But, you know, even heroes need a little downtime."
He pulled up a chair, sitting across from her and added, "Besides, I think I'm doing you a favor here. You get dinner, a movie, and the company of the most charming guy in the building."
Riya crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow as she smirked. "Most charming, huh? You're pretty confident, aren't you?"
Arjun grinned shamelessly. "Confidence is just humility in disguise," he quipped. "But seriously, you've been working nonstop for few days. I'd hate to see you burn out. Taking a break could be the most productive thing you do all week!"
'So he does care for me huh!,' Riya tilted her head, her eyes filled with curiosity, "Oh, really? And how exactly is that?"
'The Fish has caught the bait,' Arjun thought after the quick analysis, ' ..time for little push!'
Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms with a knowing smile he explained, "Well, think about it. If you take a break, relax, and enjoy yourself, you'll come back tomorrow totally refreshed. It's scientifically proven!" He gestured with his hands, mimicking like in lecture. "Too much work makes you lose focus. But a movie? Some good company? That'll reboot your system like magic."
Riya bit her lip, trying not to laugh at his antics. "You really have an answer for everything, don't you?"
With a modest shrug, Arjun replied, "Not everything. Just anything that involves food, fun, and making people smile. Look, I get it: work's important. But so is taking care of yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup, Riya. And right now, you're running on fumes."
'Good heavens, he seems determined. should I press him more? His antics feels good!' Riya's smile softened as she shook her head. "I'm not running on fumes yet, Arjun. Maybe I'll take a pass for raincheck ?"
Arjun waved his hand dismissively. "A raincheck? That's just what people say when they don't want to hurt someone's feelings. I'm not here for the rain; I'm here for the sunshine!" He flashed her a wink. "Besides, if you wait too long, someone else might swoop in and steal this prime opportunity."
'What another bitch?' feeling jealous, she stood up. "This audacity.." and playfully smacked him with light punches. "You dare to bring someone else, my place? This is first time you ask, and you already have an attitude!"
Laughing, Arjun raised his hands in defense, grinning at his halfway success. "Okay, okay, it was a joke! See? I came to you the first chance I got. Now it's up to you; join me or not. There's this new thriller out, something with spies and plot twists. I guarantee it'll be worth your time."
Riya sat back down, still smiling but thoughtful. "I don't know, Arjun. I've got a lot to finish before tomorrow..."
Before she could finish, Arjun reached over and gently closed her notebook. "That's where you're wrong. You give me your time, and in return, I'll help with your work. We've still got the morning, and I can even drop you at your flat afterward."
Riya narrowed her eyes playfully. "Oh!, movie, dinner, then my flat? Are you up to something?"
Arjun raised his hands again, laughing. "Trust me, I'm as clean as a blank sheet of paper. Besides, you know me; I'll stand outside while you pass me your papers to grade!"
Before Riya could respond, the door opened, and their colleague Tanya entered, grabbing her things from her desk. "Hey, guys, sorry to interrupt, but we need to prepare for a joint presentation, Riya!"
Arjun, undeterred, ignored Tanya's interruption and stood up, leaning on the desk one last time. "Come on, Riya. Let me make your evening better. What do you say?"
'I better not press more or he might flip!' Riya sighed, finally giving in with a smile. "Alright, fine. 7 PM. But you better not make me regret this."
A triumphant grin spread across Arjun's face. "Regret? With me? Never! You'll leave that theater with a smile."
Riya laughed, gathering her things. "We'll see about that."
As their conversation wrapped up, the bell rang, signalling the start of the session. Students began flooding the hallways. Arjun gave her a playful wave. "7 PM it is! See you later, Professor Riya."
Riya waved back as she headed for the door with Tanya. "Don't be late, Professor Arjun."
As the two women left, both giggled,
"Can't believe he finally asked out," Tanya nudged Riya with a teasing smile. "So.. plan for valentine?"
Riya's cheeks flushed as she looked down shyly. "Not quite... but maybe after the movie."
Tanya playfully pinched Riya's arm as they entered their classroom, gossiping and laughing as the students filtered in behind them.
**Later at the evening**
As the evening came closer, Arjun felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. He arrived at the meeting spot early. His heart raced with anticipation as he looked around, hoping to see Riya. But he was disappointed; there was no sign of her.
Meanwhile, Riya hurried through the busy streets.
Her heart pounded with anticipation. She had promised Arjun they would meet at the theater for a long-awaited date night. But now, as the crowds thickened and the lights dimmed, she felt lost and unsure of which way to go.
Desperate to find her way, she turned into a narrow alley. She hoped it would take her back to familiar places. But instead of safety, she found herself facing a group of intimidating thugs.
Their eyes stared at her with lustful intentions.
"Hey there, sweety," one of them sneered, his voice laced with malice. "Looking for some company?"
"If it's money you need, we've got plenty," another added with widened grin.
Riya's blood ran cold as she encountered the thugs. She shivered in panic while her steps retreated back in fear.
The narrow alley offered little room for escape, and the menacing figures were closing in fast. Before she could get a hold of herself, it was too late, and she found herself surrounded.
While one of the goons continued his lecherous advances, another had already flanked her; they were able to block her path for retreat. She felt trapped, vulnerable, and utterly alone.
"Come on, don't be shy," the second thug taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. "We just want to have a little fun with you."
Fear and desperation gripped Riya, but she knew freezing wouldn't help. Her mind raced through dozens of possible scenarios until she landed on one plan that seemed to offer the best shot. All she could do was to act timid and escape if she can get manage to get them offguard.
Summoning every ounce of courage, She straightened her shoulders and met their menacing stares with defiance.
The thugs, expecting her to back away in fear, were a little bit startled by her choice of action. It seemed like she had surrendered herself to fate.
The leader, misinterpreting her stillness as fear, took advantage of the moment to assert his dominance. With a lecherous grin, he reached out and touched Riya's cheek, his hand trailing down her neck and towards her voluptuous bosom.
A jolt of disgust surged through her as his hand crept closer to her chest. Her skin crawled with revulsion, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she stomped down hard on the leader's foot with all her strength.
Caught off guard by Riya's sudden aggression, the leader stumbled backward, momentarily stunned by the pain. Seizing the moment, Riya summoned every ounce of courage within her and pushed past him, breaking free from his grasp and darting towards the mouth of the dark alley.
But the leader's sinister laughter followed her.
"So, you like it rough, huh?"
"Boys, go get her!"
The sound of heavy boots hitting the ground sent a jolt of terror through her, but she didn't look back. She ran with all her might, knowing it would be over once she was caught.
***
Back at the meeting spot, Arjun's gut twisted with worry. Something wasn't right. Riya should have been here by now. He scanned the dark alleys near by, his mind turning over worst-case scenarios. The city's alleys were dangerous at night, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something had gone wrong.
Unable to stand still any longer, he made a snap decision. He had to check the alleys. If Riya was lost, she might have turned down one of those dark, winding paths.
As he entered the dim passageways, his heart pounded in his chest. Shadows stretched across the walls, and the muffled sounds of distant conversations only heightened his unease. His instincts screamed that time was running out.
Suddenly, a figure appeared out of the gloom, rushing towards him with panic in her eyes. Before Arjun could react, Riya collided with him, her breathless words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "Arjun, we.. we need to go! lets run...lets run."
Gripping her arms, he inquired with concern, "Riya, what happened? Are you hurt?"
"Those men... they're after me," she gasped, her voice trembling with fear.
Arjun's heart clenched with alarm as he saw the fear in her eyes. But before they could escape, the goons caught up to them really fast. Soon all emerged from the shadows and surrounded them, their sinister forms closing in on them with predatory intent.
Knowing that escape was not an option, Arjun prepared to confront them head on. His heart burned with courage and resolve to protect Riya, no matter the cost.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Jeet_1993
Jeet_1993 Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
Chapter 3: Showdown Begins
The alley was cloaked in darkness, a narrow corridor of uncertainty that stretched out before them. Arjun stood at its centre as he faced the looming threat of four thugs pressing them towards the wall . Beside him, Riya clutched his arm trembling in fear.
The leader of the group, a menacing figure with a cruel smirk, stepped forward. "Look what we have here," his voice dripping with mockery. "A hero in the wrong place at the wrong time. Think you can shield this lady from us? We're not just any pack of random thugs.. we're the masters of this alley."
Arjun's jaw tightened, his gaze locked on the leader. "Stay behind me, Riya. I've got this,"
Riya's breath hitched as she clung to Arjun's arm. "Arjun, please be careful," she whispered, trembling in fear.
"I promise, Riya, nothing's going to happen to you," Arjun said with resolve burning in his heart. He stepped forward, ready to face the danger head-on.
The leader sneered. "You're brave, I'll give you that. But you're also a fool. We're going to have some fun with your girl here, and you're going to watch. For the rest of you," he addressed his goons, "break his legs, but don't kill him."
As the tension escalated, the three goons brandished their knives with menacing smiles, their intentions clear. With calculated malice, they began to encircle Arjun, their movements predatory and sinister.
Arjun remained vigilant, his stance shifting with each subtle movement of his adversaries. He kept a watchful eye on each of them, anticipating their next move with unwavering focus.
Suddenly, one goon to his left tried a kick, Arjun caught the leg and spun the attacker into another goon to his right.
However, in the midst of this manoeuvre, Arjun's attention was momentarily diverted, leaving him vulnerable to the goon behind him who seized the opportunity to strike, wielding his knife with lethal intent.
As the goon behind Arjun lunged forward with a glinting knife, Arjun's instincts kicked in with lightning speed. He smoothly dodged the attack and skilfully disarmed the thug by twisting his arm in the opposite direction.
"AHHHHHHHH! MY Hand ! MY Hand!!", the goon let out a pained cry, his knife clattering to the ground as he cradled his injured arm.
Crack! THUD!
Arjun didn't hesitate. He twisted the assailant's arm, dislocating his shoulder, and then yanked him down by his hair, slamming him onto the ground.
With one threat neutralized, Arjun turned to face the remaining goons. "Who's next?" he demanded.
The goons hesitated, startled by Arjun's display of strength. The leader's voice cut through the tension.
"He's alone! Tire him out and overwhelm him, you fools!" the leader barked, directing his goons to prepare for another attack.
The second goon charged forward recklessly as he swung his knife wildly.
Arjun faced his each blow with precise movements, parrying and dodging with expert skill, thanks to his martial art training. Finding an opening, he landed a swift punch to the goon's jaw, that turned out to be decisive.
BAM! CRUNCH!
As the goon writhed in pain, Arjun seized the opportunity to deliver a devastating headbutt that echoed through the alley.
The sickening crunch of bone against narrow path filled the air. The thug lay flat on the ground unconscious as blood pooled around from his nose.
Meanwhile, the third goon attempted to flank Arjun changed his target mid-fight and decided to go for Riya who stood frozen with fear.
But Arjun was quick, swiftly sweeping the man's legs out from under him with a well-aimed kick.
THUD!
Arjun pounced on the fallen goon, delivering a relentless barrage of blows until his opponent's face was a bloody mess.
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
The goon cried out in pain and desperation, "No, please! Stop! I give up!"
But Arjun's fury knew no bounds as his relentless assault were fueled by a primal instinct to protect Riya. The cries of goon echoed through the dark alley, mingled with sickening sound of bone crushing assault.
"ARJUNN! NO STOP!" Riya cried out in desperation.
Bang! a sudden gunshot shattered the night air.
Arjun staggered, pain searing through his chest as he looked up in disbelief. The leader stood over him, gun aimed directly at his chest.
In his haste, he aimed to shoot Riya down, but the gun jammed. A sharp metallic click echoed in the air, and the leader's eyes furrowed. A glint of disappointment flickered across his face, quickly followed by a trace of panic.
"Lucky for you, it got jammed," he sneered. "Next time, if you come across, you can forget about escaping," he addressed Riya, "Pray to your gods that day never comes, if you know what's good for you."
Retreating into the darkness, the leader signaled to his men. "Get your sorry asses together before the cops show up."
As the goons fled the scene, Riya's screams of horror echoed through the alley.
She knelt beside Arjun, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to stem the flow of blood, her hands shaking as she prayed for help to arrive in time.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
8 Power
stone 
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