SHOT 1
Small rented room in Gurgaon
The alarm rings at 4:45 AM. Arjun wakes up instantly. No snooze button. No hesitation. The room is modest. A single bed. Engineering books stacked neatly on a table. MMA gloves hanging on a nail. A framed photograph of his parents beside a study lamp.
He sits up and stares at the photograph. The flashes of his mother and father comes to his mind.
Mother: "One day you'll become an engineer, Arjun."
Father: "And after that, you'll build something of your own. Never work under someone forever."
Arjun gently touches the frame.
Arjun (softly): "I haven't forgotten."
He changes into training clothes and begins his morning workout.
Pushups.
Shadow boxing.
Heavy bag training.
Grappling drills.
His movements are sharp, controlled, almost mechanical.
Not because he enjoys it.
Because discipline is the only thing keeping his life together.
***
Flashback Starts
Four years back
City Hospital, Delhi
Nineteen-year-old Arjun sits outside an emergency ward.
Blood stains his shirt.
Doctors walk out.
One look at their faces tells him everything.
The doctor speaks gently.
Doctor: "We tried our best."
The rest of the sentence disappears into silence. The world around him becomes muffled.He stares blankly. The stretcher carrying his parents passes by. His mother and father lie covered in white sheets.
For a moment he cannot breathe. His hands tremble. A tear falls. Then another. And another. The young man who dreamed of becoming an engineer suddenly finds himself alone.
Flashback ends
***
Five-Star Hotel, Delhi
Arjun now works security for a wealthy industrialist attending a business conference.
He stands near the entrance.
Alert.
Silent.
Observing everything.
A waiter accidentally drops a tray.
Everyone turns toward the sound.
Everyone except Arjun.
His eyes are fixed elsewhere.
A man near the stage.
Too nervous.
Too restless.
Hand repeatedly touching his jacket.
Arjun's instincts activate.
The man suddenly rushes toward the businessman.
A knife flashes.
Before anyone can react—
Arjun moves.
Within seconds.
He catches the attacker's wrist.
Twists.
The knife falls.
A knee to the stomach.
A takedown.
The attacker crashes onto the floor.
Security rushes in.
The businessman stares in shock.
Businessman: "How did you even notice him?"
Arjun: "He wasn't looking at you like everyone else was."
Businessman: "What does that mean?"
Arjun: "He wasn't interested in hearing you speak."
Arjun glances at the attacker.
Arjun: "He was interested in reaching you."
***
Mehrotra Mansion, Gurgaon
A massive estate.
Luxury cars.
Private security.
Political influence.
Ashwin Mehrotra sits in his office reviewing reports.
He is a powerful real-estate tycoon.
A self-made man.
Respected by some.
Feared by many.
His trusted aide enters.
Aide: "Sir, another threat letter."
Ashwin sighs.
Ashwin: "Read it."
Aide: "'A father who buried his daughter never forgets. Your family will suffer exactly the way mine suffered.'"
Ashwin's expression hardens. He knows exactly who sent it.
Ashwin: "Mrityunjay Roy."
***
Roy Estate, Gurgaon
Mrityunjay stands before a large photograph of his daughter, Ananya.
A garland hangs around the frame. His eyes are bloodshot. Years have passed.
The pain hasn't.
He remembers the day his daughter locked herself inside her room after Ayaan rejected the marriage alliance.
The next time he saw her—
She was gone.
Since then, grief has transformed into obsession.
Mrityunjay: "They took my daughter away from me."
One of his men speaks.
Associate: "Sir... Ayaan never forced her."
Mrityunjay slowly turns.
The room instantly becomes tense.
Mrityunjay: "Do you have children?"
Associate: "No, sir."
Mrityunjay: "Then don't tell me how a father should feel."
His voice trembles.
Not with anger.
With pain.
Mrityunjay: "I wake up every morning remembering her laughter."
He points toward the photograph.
Mrityunjay: "She should have been alive."
A long silence follows.
Mrityunjay: "If my daughter lost her future because of the Mehrotras..."
His expression darkens.
Mrityunjay: "Then the Mehrotras will lose theirs."
***
Mehrotra Mansion, Gurgaon
Arjun arrives. He enters Ashwin's office. Neither man is impressed by wealth.
One possesses it. The other doesn't care about it.
Ashwin studies him.
Ashwin: "You look younger than I expected."
Arjun: "I hear that often."
Ashwin: "They say you've never failed an assignment."
Arjun: "I've failed."
Ashwin raises an eyebrow.
Ashwin: "And?"
Arjun: "I learned from it."
Ashwin smiles faintly.
Not arrogance.
Confidence.
He likes that.
Ashwin: "I need someone to protect my family."
Arjun: "From whom?"
Ashwin: "A man who believes I destroyed his life."
Arjun: "Did you?"
Ashwin is surprised by the bluntness.
Most employees would never ask such a question.
Ashwin: "You don't hesitate, do you?"
Arjun: "No."
A moment passes.
Ashwin: "Sometimes the truth is more complicated than guilt and innocence."
Arjun nods.
Arjun: "Then my job remains simple."
Ashwin: "Which is?"
Arjun: "Keep them alive."
Ashwin smiles.
The deal is done.
***
Highway Outside Gurgaon
Ashwin's convoy travels at night. Arjun sits in the front security vehicle.
His eyes continuously scan mirrors and surroundings.
Suddenly—
A truck swerves toward Ashwin's car.
Too deliberate.
Too precise.
Arjun: "Move!"
Chaos erupts.
The convoy loses formation.
Gunshots.
Masked men emerge.
Arjun exits the vehicle.
What follows is fast, brutal and realistic.
No superhero stunts.
No flying kicks.
Efficient violence.
Disarm.
Strike.
Control.
Neutralize.
One attacker points a pistol at Ashwin.
Arjun dives.
The shot misses.
He tackles the man into the roadside barrier.
Minutes later.
Police sirens approach.
The attackers retreat.
Ashwin looks at Arjun.
For the first time, genuinely impressed.
***
Mehrotra Mansion Balcony
Late night.
Ashwin and Arjun stand overlooking the city.
Ashwin: "Why are you doing this?"
Arjun: "Money."
Ashwin: "That's not the real answer."
Arjun remains silent.
Ashwin waits.
Finally—
Arjun: "My parents wanted me to become an engineer."
Ashwin: "And?"
Arjun: "They died before they could see it."
His voice remains steady.
But his eyes betray something deeper.
Arjun: "I dropped out."
Ashwin: "You want to go back."
Arjun: "Yes."
Ashwin: "But education isn't cheap."
Arjun: "No."
Ashwin thinks.
Then makes a decision.
Ashwin: "Work for me."
Arjun looks at him.
Ashwin: "I'll fund your degree."
Silence.
Ashwin: "Finish what your parents started."
For the first time in a long while, Arjun doesn't know what to say.
***
Mehrotra Dining Hall
Ashwin addresses the family. His daughter Maya sits with crossed arms.
Maya: "Why are there two security vehicles outside my college?"
Ashwin: "There have been multiple attacks recently."
Maya: "I know."
Ashwin: "So I've assigned additional protection."
Arjun enters.
Maya immediately realizes what this means.
Maya: "No."
Ashwin ignores her.
Ashwin: "From today onward, Arjun Sharma will remain with you."
Maya: "What?"
Ashwin: "At home."
Maya: "Dad—"
Ashwin: "At college."
Maya: "Seriously?"
Ashwin: "Everywhere."
Maya stands.
Maya: "I'm not a prisoner."
Ashwin: "You're my daughter."
Maya: "Are both equal?"
She points at Arjun.
Maya: "And he's not coming to college with me."
Ashwin: "He is."
Maya: "Then I'll stop going."
Ashwin: "Then he'll stay home with you."
Arjun remains silent throughout.
Professional.
Emotionless.
Which somehow irritates Maya even more.
***
Engineering University, Delhi
The next morning.
Engineering classroom.
Students chatter as a new student enters.
The professor speaks.
Professor: "Class, we have a transfer student joining us."
The door opens.
Maya looks up.
Then freezes.
Arjun walks inside carrying books.
Professor: "Meet Arjun Sharma."
The entire class turns.
Maya's eyes widen.
Maya: "You've got to be kidding me."
Arjun takes the empty seat beside her.
Calmly.
Professionally.
Arjun: "Good morning."
Maya glares.
Maya: "This is a nightmare."
Arjun opens his notebook.
Arjun: "I've had worse first days."
Maya realizes something terrifying.
She cannot escape him.
Not at home.
Not outside.
Not even in class.
And thus begins the strangest chapter of both their lives.
To be continued..
Edited by Sshesha - a day ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Anupamaa
16