The orphanage was glowing bright with the noise of the children— some were fighting, shouting, fighting for carrom coins and others were chasing each other in the dust.

  Amidst all this, there was a duo that was inseparable, Ronak Chaturvedi and Anaya Kapoor, who were always together.

  But six years ago, in 2019, something happened that changed the bond between Anaya and Ronak.

  Ronak sat under a tree in the courtyard, holding a toy guitar on his lap, strumming in partial tone.

  Beside him, Anaya stood with a wide smile on her face, among all the students that surrounded only one man— Sahil Malhotra.

  He was a new teacher in the orphanage, who stayed there for only a while, but won all the kid's hearts.

  He knelt down to the children's height, handing out chocolates with a warm smile that could make the toughest hearts melt.

  He handed extra to Anaya, like she was the only one he could see.

  "Soon, you're gonna write a whole diary about him, aren't you?" Ronak giggled, nudging her shoulder.

  "Shut up…" she whispered, her voice low and warm.

  "Look at those guys, they will devour the chocolates like a monster."

  Ronak said, pointing out at the others.

  "And what do we call them? Losers!"

  Both of them burst out in laughter, but suddenly, Anaya's gaze dropped to the ground, and then after a long pause, she said,

  "Hey, Ronak… can I tell you something? But promise me, on your music, that you'll not tell it to anyone."

  Ronak raised an eyebrow, "Give up on that suspense. You know I'll not tell it to anyone."

  Anaya twisted her fingers, eyes flicking to the ground and lips shaking before she said it.

  "Ronak… I don't like boys."

  Ronak blinked.

  "Yeah, even I don't. They are really, really annoying. But that Jay is really fun to—"

  Anaya exhaled, biting her lips and finally confessing, "Just shut up, fool. I… like girls. But please, don't tell it to anyone, or they'll never let me live in peace."

  Ronak leaned back on the tree and smiled.

  "Alright, I'll keep it safe. I'll guard this secret of yours… like Sahil keeps your chocolates safe!"

  Finally, Anaya laughed freely and began to chase Ronak. It felt like a stone was off her chest.

  But the orphanage was not kind for long.

  A year later, when the band was newly-formed with all orphans, it wasn't peaceful for Anaya.

  Harshit hadn't joined them yet— he didn't belong to the orphanage.

  But all the other orphans whispered and the place was filled with mocking.

  Those words had spread like poison.

  "Anaya doesn't even like boys."

  "She's disgusting."

  "Isn't that why she's always with Tara?"

  Cruel and sharp laughter exploded all around, and reached the corner that held Anaya shedding her tears.

  All of a sudden, she raised her head to see a hand— Ronak's hand.

  But Anaya's eyes were gleaming with hatred.

  Her eyes were red and the voice was trembling with rage and betrayal.

  "You told them, Ronak! You were the only one who knew all of it!"

  Ronak's throat burned like he swallowed fire. He wanted to scream so much that the sky would tear apart, but what came out was a broken whisper.

  "I…didn't…"

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  But Anaya's glare had already turned to ice.

  A bond that was once unbreakable shattered that day. The band stayed only because of music, but the friendship did not.

  ——————————————

  In the present, in the more darkened area of the festival, Tarun held the attacker's hand with all his force.

  Tarun's grip was like iron, veins popping out of his forearms. The masked figure snarled, but refused to retreat. And then, something happened that Tarun didn't expect—

  Suddenly, the attacker pivoted with unwavering speed, using Tarun's hand as leverage.

  The attacker, with one free arm whipping for momentum, spun in a full arc and the legs coiled like a spring.

  Tarun's eyes widened with shock.

  He bent back sharply to dodge the attack last second.

  His spine cracked with the motion and the boot sliced the air inches away from Tarun's face.

  The attack was too close to his face, but still a miss.

  But something was wrong.

  As he was leaning back, his heart froze.

  The spot where Kritika had been standing behind Tarun… was all empty.

  Tarun could only see shadows— no footsteps, no breath, no sign of Kritika.

  For the first time, his focus faltered.

  It was not because of the traitor, but because of someone he was meant to protect.

  "Kritika…?" Tarun's voice cut through the dark, but a reply didn't come back.

  The traitor grinned behind the mask, like it was supposed to happen all along.

  The real danger wasn't the kick— but it was Kritika's sudden disappearance.

  ——————————————

  The practice room was quiet with dread— except for the sharp breath of Anaya and lowered eyes of Ronak.

  "You promised me, Ronak."

  Anaya's voice cracked like glass and her fists trembled as her sides.

  "I thought you understood me… but you thought it was a joke from the start!"

  Ronak's jaw clenched, he couldn't dare to lift his gaze, like he was a child caught lying,

  "Anaya—"

  "Don't you dare speak any further. Every word you say feels like a lie, loser!"

  Anaya spat, her eyes glistening with disgust.

  "I considered you my best friend, but you made it a joke to everyone. Everywhere I go, all I hear is my mockery!"

  Years of friendship was now a fire erupting between them.

  But before Ronak could speak further, the noise of footsteps took over— Rishabh's footsteps.

  Rishabh had stepped in, taking the matter into his own hands with a steady voice.

  "Enough," he spoke with a confident tone, "I don't know, or care, who betrayed whom. But this isn't about both of you."

  Anaya turned to him fiercely.

  "You don't know anything, you fat bi—"

  "Watch your tongue."

  Yug's voice was low, almost like a growl, and it froze Anaya mid-sentence.

  "Listen," Rishabh continued, "If there is fights among us while a traitor is still out, we have already lost this."

  Anaya could not tolerate it further, "And why should I trust you? You could barely see past your stomach."

  "What else could you do?" Rishabh smirked, "It's upto you— music or personal problems."

  The silence was heavier than before, and Rishabh got his answer from it.

  That's when Yug stepped forward, restless and proud of Rishabh's intellect.

  "Now keep your attitude aside and hear me out. We need to head to the Ferris Wheel."

  "We can't do—" Anaya interrupted angrily.

  "We have to. Two of us are waiting. And if Tarun's right…"

  Yug spoke flatly, but his voice showed concern.

  Anaya's fists clenched, and her chest heaved with frustration.

  She looked at Ronak, Rishabh and Yug, ready to argue further. But that's when they heard it.

  Rattle.

  A metallic shake crawled from the main stage.

  The four of them froze— no one let out a breath.

  It felt like the sound waited for them, and Yug understood it very well.

  His head snapped towards the main stage and he ran towards it, carrying himself like thunder.

  ——————————————

  The night felt even darker on the other side.

  Tarun let go the attacker's wrist, but anger boiled up inside him.

  "WHERE IS SHE!" He roared like a monster, grabbing the attacker with the collar instead.

  But all of a sudden—

  "Tarun…!"

  Kritika's voice tore through the dark, searching for her friend.

  At that single cry, the beast inside him stilled. Monstrous anger was now replaced by desperate relief.

  "You're… safe?"

  But from the shadows, a scream followed,

  "There's more than one of them!"

  And Tarun realised it all— from Kritika's disappearance to her being free, it was all the second attacker's act.

  "But why would they free her…? Holy sh—"

  Before Tarun could react, the first attacker charged with precision.

  The jagged hammer's sharp edge flashed, and with a sickening thud, it buried itself right under Tarun's ribs.

  His body jolted as pain tore through his body.

  He staggered, trying to catch his breath, but all of a sudden—

  The second hooded figure swept down and embedded the sharp end of another hammer into Tarun's calf.

  Blood sprayed. Tarun dropped to one knee as both attackers closed in.

  Just when the next move happened, a fist crashed into the first attacker's jaw.

  Kritika Tyagi.

  "I learnt it for a fight scene in a film… guess it was worth it!"

  Her voice trembled but carried a stubborn fire.

  Surprisingly, she landed another punch, sending the attacker spinning far away.

  All of it seemed to be in her favour.

  Until, the second attacker charged in with the hammer, about to split open Kritika's skull.

  Tarun roared, using all that he had. And then—

  SLAM!

  His massive hands locked around both the attackers.

  He held both of them with no chance of them slipping out— one in a chokehold, and another pinned to the ground with sheer pressure.

  Blood trickled from Tarun's side and leg, but he still managed to let out a calm smile, as if the pain was a burden too small to matter.

  "Kritika… get to the Ferris Wheel. I'll catch up."

  Tears rolled down from Kritika's eyes, shocked to see how a person she met a few days ago was ready to sacrifice himself for her.

  "You can't…"

  "Just go!" Tarun shouted, tightening his grip until his knuckles began to crack.

  Kritika had no choice but to trust him and run with all the strength she had left.

  And she began, panting and struggling, but she didn't stop for even a while.

  Alone now, Tarun unleashed all his anger, tearing off the first attacker's mask in one swift motion.

  Just when he saw it, his eyes couldn't comprehend it.

  "This face… I've seen it."

  ——————————————

  The four walked quietly towards the stage, with their footsteps almost inaudible.

  Yug was leading them, cautious with whatever he could see in the light neon glow.

  He noticed a shadow that stretched too long.

  And then—

  CRACK!

  Yug was struck with a violent one-inch punch on the chest— so quick that it looked like a flash.

  He stumbled back to his senses, only to get hit with a sharp jab to his jaws.

  The attacker's movement was precise, surgical and deadly— and most importantly, quick.

  The attacks came in like surges of wind, while Yug could barely predict any of it.

  And just when he began to block those attacks, Ronak barged into the situation, holding a guitar as a weapon to fight.

  But the attacker had retreated, secluding into a corner and began to murmur to himself.

  "I'm sorry… Ronak. I didn't… mean to… do it."

  Anaya arrived from behind, pushing Ronak aside. She recognised the man in an instant as her lips parted to reveal the name.

  "That stance… and behaviour. That fool!

  And then, it clicked Ronak.

  "It's Jay. Jay Khanna. But when the heck did you start to fight again?!"

  ——————————————

  In the orphanage, around six years ago, the TV crackled in the common orphanage room.

  Jay Khanna sat cross-legged on the floor, completely absorbed in a Bruce Lee movie.

  His hands chopped in the air, mimicking all the moves he saw on TV.

  "Jay!" Ronak's voice rang out, sharp but playful.

  "Get down over here, you clown!"

  He got up, grabbed the remote in an instant, switching the TV off.

  Jay jogged over, his grin already wide.

  Instead of walking straight, he wobbled like a drunk man doing Kung Fu.

  "Master Ronak has struck me down. My ribs… my beautiful ribs!"

  Jay tripped on his own foot, rolled across the floor and groaned like he was dying, sticking his tongue out.

  The whole orphanage burst out in laughter. Even the ones sulking could not help but have a smile on their faces.

  The room echoed with uncontrollable laughter.

  For a moment, all the problems in the walls, even for the teachers and staff, vanished in thin air like it never existed.

  At the center of it was Jay Khanna, who could make anyone forget their sadness and amaze them with his martial arts.

  ——————————————

  Now, in the shadowed stage corner, Jay's head leaned down and fists trembled, like he regretted fighting.

  "I didn't mean to… mean to… blood."