Chapter 1
It was one of the brightest sunrises of late summer. The clock read 9:30 a.m., and the humidity in the air was higher than usual. The midnight downpour had left the morning breeze fresh and pleasant, but he was far from feeling refreshed. The cause of his discontent was a destination he was dreading.
SALAAR MALIK
Life had always been a whirlwind of excitement for him. He had everything anyone could dream of: good looks, an athletic build, studies at a foreign university, and a renowned, wealthy family background. He had always received whatever he desired, but recently, life seemed to be slipping from his grasp.
He had intended to complete his business degree at Cambridge University, where he was already enrolled. However, fate had other plans, forcing him to return to his home country.
Unexpectedly, his father was diagnosed with cancer in its early stages, though the doctors were optimistic about his chances of recovery. Catching cancer early can significantly improve the outcome, especially if treatment starts promptly. Despite the positive prognosis, his father had grown despondent and wanted all his children close.
Salaar reluctantly agreed, but deep inside, he still longed to complete his degree at Cambridge. It took a great deal of effort for him to accept this change. Nevertheless, for his father's sake, he relinquished his dream and returned to his homeland.
Today marked his first day at the new university to which he had been transferred. Little did he know that fate had other plans.
As his car approached the university's entrance, the heavy plantation and lush greenery surrounding the campus were lost on him, his mind clouded by negativity. He glanced around absently, slowing his car at the entrance.
Seeing the approaching luxury vehicle, the guard quickly left his post to open the gate. Salaar asked the guard about the parking area and followed the directions given. It took him a few minutes to find a suitable spot. Just as he was about to park, someone sped into the space he had selected-on a bike.
He slammed on the brakes, momentarily stunned. The first thought that crossed his mind was, "Is this person out of his mind? How can someone be so reckless?"
He quickly got out of the car.
"Hey, what are you doing? Are you blind? Can't you see this huge car?" he demanded. A wave of anger surged over him as he frowned at the biker.
What happened next was beyond his imagination. The biker was a girl. She removed her helmet, shot him a deadly glare, gripping the helmet tightly in her right hand.
The girl, appearing to be in her early twenties, with a high ponytail and a mix-and-match combination of clothes, walked forward and stood confidently right in front of him.
"Listen, mister," she spat in a loud voice. "Before parking your gigantic car"-she spread her arms to illustrate the size-"you should check if the spot is vacant or reserved. This spot is reserved for my royal highness." She patted the bike seat as if it was her beloved pet.
"Listen... I can't see any reservation plate or anyone's name here. So how can it be reserved?" Salaar furrowed his brows and rolled his eyes at the girl, if she could even be considered feminine.
She swung her ponytail again and continued, "Before you, I never had to give anyone a reservation reminder. For the past two years, His Royal Highness, His Majesty Rajah, the prince, has been parked here every day. Six hours a day, six days a week. And no one on this campus has had the guts to touch it. Understand?" she said in a piercing voice.
Salaar gazed at the overly confident girl, speechless at her audacity to talk to him like that. No one had ever dared to speak to him this way, let alone challenge him.
"By the way, are you a fresher? I haven’t seen you around before." She finally put some pressure on her memory and realized his face was unfamiliar. She usually knew the whereabouts of almost every student on campus.
The extremely handsome guy standing in front of her had so much written on his face, exasperation, disapproval, and stunned disbelief. Any other girl in her place might have melted under his intense aura and unmatched charisma. But she wasn’t like other girls, she was immune to such things, barely affected by those kinds of feelings.
"Don’t mind me, but you seem a bit too old to be a fresher," she chuckled, her sarcasm leaving Salaar stunned by her unshakable confidence.
"SALAAR!"
Someone called his name, making both of them shift their gaze and turn in unison.