|ANURAG|

I got out of the cab and paid the driver. The Night Lights is a very popular resto-bar. No one would even guess that this bar hosted some of the most lethal and popular underground fights in the entire city.

I wore my mask. A black mask that covered most of my eyes. The main rule of these fights was that everyone should have a different identity. Anonymity was important here which was why I chose this place. The tickets for these fights are released a couple of hours before the fights start.

I grabbed my bag and entered the resto-bar. I showed my bar card to the bouncer who narrowed his eyes at me. It doesn't have my real name or anything related to my real identity. He asked me to follow him discretely. We walked into the elevator at the far end of the lobby.

He clicked the lower basement button. The phones were taken away the moment we entered the arena. Everyone who enters the arena irrespective if they're spectators or fighters is checked strictly.

I changed my clothes in the locker room and came out. Max greeted me the second I exited the locker room. He was a sleazy fifty-year-old. Who always smoked a cigar and wore thick gold chains around his neck. A shiny gold mask covered his eyes. Although short he made sure that he appeared intimidating at all times. 

He slapped my back and I glared at him. "It's so good to see you after a long time my boy!" I shrugged his hand away and he cackled loudly. I moved my head from side to side and stretched my hands.

When we entered the arena the crowd went ballistic when the commentator announced my name. This entire place was soundproof, not a single noise could get out of this area. They cheered, "The destroyer" over and over again. There were at least two hundred people.

Max makes sure to limit the number of entries but that doesn't mean he can control the racket caused by the spectators.

"Today's match is between our most favorite and popular the Destroyer and, the one and only cunning player of all times the snake!"

Snake entered from the other side. I don't know his real identity but I do know that for the past few months, he has been winning these illegal fights. He doesn't show any mercy. Last time they had to physically pull him away from the other fighter as he was going to choke him to death.

He had a snake-structured mask covering his eyes. He raised his arms in the air and screamed. He was about the same height as me probably a few inches taller and he was well-built. The crowd went crazy. "The destroyer has never once lost a match but neither has the snake. Today the stakes are high. Who is the strongest among the two best fighters this city has seen so far? Are you ready for today?" The commentator screamed and the crowd shouted a yes.

There were equal amounts of cheers heard from both of us. I smirked at him when he made a killing gesture with his hands. He is trying to goad me. I'm not scared of this asshole.

This should be an interesting match. "You know the rules." I raised my brows and fisted my palms. He laughed loudly and puffed out smoke.

"I'm joking. There are no rules except don't kill him. You know it. Have fun!" He slapped my back again and I sneered at him. I hate when he does that. He raised his brows and winked at me.

"Make me proud." I scoffed. I was doing this to release anger not make anyone proud, certainly not this sleazeball. A couple of minutes later we entered the ring. I tied the bands around my hands. I put on a mouth guard. These matches were usually played without gloves. I was more than okay with it.

I entered the ring and so did the snake. The referee blew the whistle and the match began. The snake didn't even wait for a second he came at me with a direct punch to my face. There was no safety equipment for the face here except for the mask which was only used to conceal your identity and the mouth guard. 

I dodged the punch and moved to the side. The crowd went ballistic. I rotated my shoulders and shielded my face with my hands. He screamed and threw a punch directed at my stomach I blocked it with my hands and threw a hard counter punch. He stumbled and fell on the rope but quickly gained his posture.

He bulldozed towards me he raised his arms to punch my chest I blocked him and threw a powerful punch on his chest. He groaned and fell but not entirely with the help of his hand he jumped right back up.

"That's enough of a cat and mouse game. Let's get this shit show on the road." He mumbled. I smirked and gestured at him to come at me.

He screamed and threw continuous punches at me which I blocked easily. A few minutes later we circled each other again. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and panted. He bounced on his feet. I was getting bored of this.

All of a sudden he kicked my stomach. I groaned and moved a few steps back but I didn't lose my balance or touch the ropes. Kicking isn't allowed in boxing but in here anything was allowed. Before I could make him kiss the floor something stung my bicep. I glanced at my arm to find two slashes. He smirked and fisted his palms. There was a sharp blade in his hands.

He just pissed me off now. This was a low blow. Shows that he needed a weapon to defend himself. My nose flared and my rage grew. I could only picture Palesh's face. He pranced towards me and I drove my fist right into his stomach he groaned and spat on the floor. Then an uppercut on his jaw. I continued to throw punches on his stomach. He doubled over and spat blood. The crowd cheered my name. The destroyer rang through my ears. I panted and didn't let him recover.

I was about to finish this match off when he slashed my stomach with that blade again. I growled and threw a counterpunch at him. He stumbled and his steps faltered but he still didn't give up. "Motherfucker, your father must have been one hell of a fighter to teach you all these tricks." Who the fuck is he to compare me to that vile asshole? Fuck! Palesh's face filled my vision. The red haze came back. The things Raj said rang in my ears again.

I growled and jumped in the air with my fists above and I conjured all my power into that punch. I threw the most powerful knockout punch ever. There was a crunching noise and the commentator's voice filled the air. The crowd went silent for a few seconds he fell on the floor the next second.

I panted and waited. He groaned and coughed blood on the floor. So much for being a snake. His moves were stupid at the most mediocre. Nothing more than that.

I gritted my teeth and wiped my forehead. The referee started the countdown. I lost my cool and kicked him in the stomach one last time. He groaned and sprayed blood on the floor. The storm of anger finally halted for now. The referee raised my arm in the air and declared me the winner. I smirked as the crowd cheered and the commentator's voice filled the arena. "The Destroyer yet again destroyed someone. Emerging as the winner." The anger and tension dissipated from my body.

I jumped from the ring and removed my mouthguard. As usual, Max stood at the end. He grinned widely and clapped his hands. He snapped his fingers and someone passed me a towel. I wiped my face with it. I didn't dare remove my mask until I exited this place.

"I knew you wouldn't disappoint me. Here's the winning amount. Just like promised, one lakh. Count it if you want."

I grabbed it from him and stuffed it in my bag. I didn't give a shit about this. I was about to walk away when Max called out to me. I turned and waited for him to speak. I already knew what he was going to say.

But that didn't stop him from making this request he made every time we met. I had caught his attention a couple of years back. This was another reason why I should completely stop participating in these fights.

"Why don't you sign a contract? It's just for a couple of years. You'll be making four times the money in every match you win." I chuckled darkly and shook my head.

"I'll play when I want not according to someone else's wishes. See you." Max laughed loudly and shook his head.

"One day things won't go according to you. Be careful." He blew smoke on my face and walked away. His two men tagged along with him. He has never threatened me before but he's not someone to trust.

I wanted to punch him. He always made such statements which pissed me off. I walked away to the locker room. I'm not going to take a shower here. I cleaned the wounds with the first aid kit that I always had in my bag and tied the bandages.

I wore a face mask to cover my face and exited the basement. I collected my phone. I removed the sim via which Max always contacted me and pocketed it. I don't plan on activating it anytime soon. I booked a cab and waited for it to arrive. I frowned, I had an eerie feeling that someone was watching me. I looked around but there was no one. I clenched my fists and took deep breaths trying to relax.

This was the first time I was feeling that way. For the past few months, I felt like someone was keeping an eye on me. But who would do that? Before I could ponder more my cab arrived.

Aarav hadn't texted me which was a good thing. I intend not to tell him about this fight. But I know these efforts are futile. He'll see my injuries and know that I fought in an underground match.

When I reached home it was almost midnight. I took a quick shower and redressed my wounds. I ate some fruit and lay on the bed. For the first time in weeks, I felt relieved and content. I closed my eyes and fell into a deep slumber. The last image that flashed in my mind was his Ma's happy face which gave me peace. That did not last long because a painful memory followed. The guilt of not saving her will always haunt me. I do not know how to let go of that. 

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A/N: Woo! That was intense! The fighting part was hard to write!

Look you guys I know all of you are waiting for more moments between Priyanka and Anurag the initial build up will take a bit of time. But I promise it'll be all worth it.

The following chapters are going to have so many moments between them! Ahh I can't wait for you guys to read it!

Hope you liked this chapter if you did please do vote and comment I would love to know what you guys think!

P.S. Please please do vote and comment that would mean the world to me!