Under his shadow

The golden hue of the late afternoon sun bled through the high windows of St. Jude’s High School, casting long, geometric shadows across the crowded corridors. The sharp, reverberating clanging of the final bell instantly triggered a wave of chatter, scraping chairs, and the rustle of backpacks being zipped in unison.

Amidst the chaotic exodus of students rushing toward the gates, Aria Singh walked at a measured pace. Adjusting the strap of her slightly worn canvas bag over her shoulder, her mind was anywhere but the bustling hallway around her. Her brown eyes looked faintly distant, clouded by the lingering remnants of a memory that didn't belong to her waking life.

"Earth to Aria!" A sharp elbow nudged her side, breaking her train of thought.

Aria blinked, turning her head to see her best friend, Riya, grinning mischievously beside her as they pushed through the double glass doors into the humid evening air.

"You've been acting like a zombie since third period," Riya pointed out, slinging an arm around Aria’s shoulders. "Let me guess... the dream again?"

A faint flush crept up Aria’s neck, though she tried to brush it off with a casual shake of her head. "It’s nothing, Riya. Just... the same weird loop."

"Spill it! Details, girl!" Riya teased, nudging her again as they joined the crowd heading toward the yellow school buses parked along the driveway. "Was the mysterious roof prince back?"

Aria let out a soft, helpless laugh, shaking her head. "It’s not funny. It felt so real this time. It was the same grand rooftop—the smooth dark marble floors, the ornate wrought-iron railings, and the misty skyline in the background. Exactly like that grand estate on the northern hill." She paused, her voice softening into a quiet whisper. "And then... someone walked toward me. I could feel him standing right there, Riya. My heart was pounding so fast. But every time I tried to look at his face... the fog just swallowed it whole."

"I’m telling you, it’s a sign!" Riya dramatically raised her hands, gasping with exaggerated theatricality. "The universe is dropping hints! You stare at that massive, billionaire-status mansion from your terrace every single evening, and now the universe is sending you a mysterious, tall, dark, and handsome prince in your sleep. You’re destined to live in that palace, Aria!"

"Riya, stop it," Aria smiled softly, though a small, melancholic sting touched her chest. "That house belongs to a completely different world. People like us don't end up in places like that. It's just a silly dream because I look at the estate too much."

"Hey, a girl can dream!" Riya bumped her shoulder playfulness. "Who knows? Maybe your future husband is literally sitting in that mansion right now, waiting for you."

As they reached their bus, Aria climbed the stairs and made her way to her usual window seat. Riya slid into the seat beside her, immediately pivoting to talk about their upcoming chemistry assignment. Aria nodded along, but as the bus engine roared to life and began rolling slowly past the school’s main gates, her eyes naturally drifted out the window.

Standing near a sleek, black luxury sedan parked just outside the school perimeter was Aarnav Sen.

He was the quietest boy in their grade—polite, exceptionally smart, and always maintaining a serene, almost gentle demeanor that made him completely non-threatening. He wore a crisp white school shirt, his dark hair neatly styled, and he was listening quietly to a teacher who was speaking to him near the gates. He looked so remarkably harmless, so thoroughly normal.

As the bus glided past the gates, Aarnav slowly turned his head.

Through the tinted glass of the moving bus, his dark, intensely deep eyes met Aria’s distant gaze. Aria didn't even realize he was looking directly at her—to her, he was just a gentle classmate standing by the gate. But Aarnav’s gaze held a quiet, terrifyingly absolute focus. A microscopic, almost imperceptible tilt of his lips formed a subtle, protective smile—a look reserved exclusively for her, hidden behind the polite mask he wore for the rest of the world.

He watched the yellow bus turn the corner until it vanished completely into the city traffic.

When the teacher finished speaking and walked away with a pleasant "Have a good evening, Aarnav," the softness on Aarnav’s face instantly evaporated.

The warm, polite boy was gone in the blink of an eye.

A heavy, suffocating silence seemed to settle around him as a tall man in a tailored black suit stepped out from the driver’s side of the sedan, holding the rear door open with rigid deference.

"Young Master," the driver spoke in a low, respectful tone. "The shipment at the docks ran into an issue with the local crew. Sir wants to know if you wish to handle it personally or let the captains clear the mess."

Aarnav pulled off his blazer, tossing it effortlessly into the leather interior of the car. His expression was cold, emotionless, and deadly—the face of a ruthless mafia heir who had already spilled blood without a second thought behind closed doors.

"Tell them to wait," Aarnav said, his voice dropping into a smooth, icy calm that sent a chill down the driver's spine. "I’ll clean it up myself tonight. I have somewhere to be first."

He slid into the back seat, pulled out his phone, and tapped a private, encrypted app. The screen lit up with a high-definition live feed—a camera zoomed in directly on the rooftop of a small, humble house on the edge of the lower district.

Aarnav leaned his head back against the leather seat, his cold eyes softening into an intoxicating, possessive warmth as he stared at the screen.

Soon, Aria, he thought silently as the car sped toward the shadows of his family's grand estate. You won't have to look at my home from afar much longer.

*

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* To be continued....

(Hello 👋 everyone 🤠 I am Tannu. And this is my 3rd story on inkitt but 2nd story as the mafia title. So i hope you like it.)

Thank you 😊

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