Party celebration
At 10:00 PM, Ankit was getting ready at home when his phone rang. He answered, "Hello?"
On the other end, Lucky's voice came through, "How long will you take?"
"Just five more minutes," Ankit replied as he finished dressing and left. Glancing at the watch gifted by his brother, he stepped out into the dimly lit street. The faint glow of lights from the houses added to the eerie quietness. Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him.
Turning around, he saw a shadowy figure following him in the dark. The stranger called out, "Stop!"
Ankit stopped and faced him. The stranger pointed a gun at him and said, "I'm here to kill you."
"You want to kill me?" Ankit asked calmly. "Yes, prepare to die!"
Without wasting a second, Ankit relied on his reflexes. He swiftly grabbed the man by the wrist and waist, throwing him to the ground. The gun slipped from the stranger's hand. Two punches landed on the man's face before Ankit remarked, "I' m in a hurry tonight." Checking his watch, he resumed walking.
From a distant corner, Kanika was watching everything unfold. She frowned in disappointment but then murmured to herself, "You're impressive this time."
However, the stranger wasn't done yet. "It's not over!" he declared.
Ankit, now about 12 meters away, turned to face him again. Kanika, watching from a distance, hoped this time the stranger would succeed. The man picked up the gun and pointed it at Ankit.
In a flash, Ankit removed his golden watch and hurled it at the man. The stranger pulled the trigger, but Ankit leaned sharply to the left, dodging the bullet by mere inches. The watch hit the man's hand, making him drop the gun again.
As the man scrambled to pick up the weapon, Ankit delivered a powerful roundhouse kick, sending the stranger flying. Kanika was left in awe, stunned by Ankit's speed and skill.
The Birthday Party
The party began, and Ankit arrived at Lucky's house with a gift for his younger brother. Kanika also joined the party, standing out in her casual outfit. Many college students were there, chatting and mingling.
Kanika, however, seemed tense. Noticing this, Lucky asked, "Is something wrong?" She hesitated before replying, "It's just... I'm not used to parties like this. I'm not sure what to do."
Lucky reassured her, "Don't worry. Just relax for a bit. Afterward, we'll have dinner together."
Kanika started mingling with the college boys, chatting casually. Meanwhile, Ankit helped Lucky with some tasks. As the party came to an end, most of the guests had eaten and left. The crowd thinned out, leaving just a handful behind.
Lucky's mother called out, "Beta, you should eat now."
Lucky, his mother, his younger brother, Ankit, and Kanika sat together to share a meal, chatting warmly. Afterward, Lucky walked both Ankit and Kanika outside to see them off.
"Ankit, why don't you drop Kanika home?" Lucky suggested.
After wishing Lucky goodnight, Ankit and Kanika walked together. The night had grown darker and quieter. Ankit switched on the torch on his phone, silently wondering, "What if there's another shooter? How will I handle it?"
Kanika, lost in her own thoughts, mused, "If I'd brought a gun, I could have ended him right here."
After walking for a while, they reached Asha Ji's house. Ankit dropped Kanika off and made his way back home.
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The Next Day
Ankit, Lucky, and Kanika were heading to college together. Ankit remarked, "The students at last night's party were all from our class, right?"
Lucky laughed, "Yeah, I put a message in the class group that both you and Kanika would be attending. The boys came to see Kanika, and the girls came to see you. My brother's birthday turned out to be quite entertaining!"
The three of them laughed as they reached the college. However, the campus felt unusually quiet—there weren't many students around, and even the classrooms seemed empty.
Upon entering the class, they found out that a fight had broken out involving Sopen, who was now hospitalized. Most of the students and teachers had gone to visit him, and classes were canceled for the day.