Everything went on the same way ...
Students were casually walking through the corridors.
As if nothing happened -- Or they really didn't cared .
Suddenly ,
An announcement echoed through the speakers.
" All students are instructed to gather in the auditorium, immediately."
Listening from whispers around me I identified that --
The voice belonged to Rupam Sharma -- the co - President of the Golden council.
All the students gathered hurriedly in the auditorium.
And the heirarchy still prevailed .
This heirarchy Ran too deep .
It was rooted in the very core of this institution.
Unquestioned.
Untouched.
And no one --
Dared to question it ...
Rishab and I were at the auditorium.
I sat behind Rishab , my fingers unconsciously tightening around the edge of the seat.
My eyes scanned the crowd.
Everyone was there .
Waiting.
And then he walked in --
Vidyantsh
The moment he stepped onto the stage, the entire hall fell silent.
Not forced silence-- the kind that just...happens .
Which clearly showed his position and the way he is respected or feared.
His expression was too calm.
But his eyes-- they said otherwise.
He stepped closer to the mic.
"A member of the Silver Council…"
his voice echoed, steady and controlled,
"…Lavanya."
My breath hitched.
"passed away yesterday."
Passed away.
That's how he said it.
As if it was something… normal.
A faint murmur spread across the hall-- but it died down almost instantly.
"This institution does not tolerate actions that disrupt its order."
His gaze hardened.
"Whoever is responsible--"
a pause.
"will be found."
The air felt heavier.
"And when they are…"
his voice dropped slightly,
"the punishment will not be lenient."
A chill ran down my spine.
"It will be… deserved."
Silence .
And then --
" This is all a lie "
The voice cut through the auditorium.
Every head turned .
A boy stood up from the middle rows -- his uniform slightly worn.
His badge marking him as a Middo sector student.
His fists were clenched .
" You call this an institution?"
he let out a bitter laugh.
"These are just games to you people!"
Murmurs spread—uneasy, nervous.
"You don't care about us!"
"That's why she's dead!"
My breath hitched.
"This whole system--"
his voice cracked, but he didn't stop,
"it's cruel!"
"It breaks people… and then pretends nothing happened!"
Before anyone could react--
a chair scraped sharply against the floor.
The Principal stood up.
Her presence alone silenced everything.
"You all are well aware,"
her voice was calm, controlled,
"of the rules and the system of this institution."
Her gaze swept across the hall.
"If students from the Middo Sector wish to rise…"
"…to be powerful. To be respected."
"Then you must prove yourselves."
"Academics. Sports. Co-curriculars."
"Everything."
Each word landed heavier than the last.
"Because here…"
a pause.
"you do not rise by being perfect."
"You rise…"
"…by being extraordinary."
She didn't stop.
"And if you are unable to handle the pressure--"
her tone sharpened slightly,
"then perhaps you should reconsider being here."
My fingers curled tightly.
"As for Lavanya…"
"it has been identified as a case of extreme mental pressure and the investigation is still going on ...!"
That's it?
"And if she was being bullied…"
"why was no formal complaint made?"
The question echoed.
Not with sympathy--
but with justification.
Something inside me snapped.
I just couldn't stop myself to react .
"Even if it was mental pressure…"
My voice broke through the silence.
Heads turned instantly.
"This system… this institution--"
I forced myself to continue,
"is responsible for that pressure."
A ripple of whispers spread.
"And honestly…"
my voice steadied,
"it didn't look like just pressure."
A pause..
"It looked like bullying."
The word hung in the air.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
And for a moment--
no one moved.
My heartbeat pounded.
But something made me look up.
"I don't want any unnecessary questions."
The Principal's voice was firm-- final.
And it wasn't hard to understand what she meant.
She wasn't shutting down noise.
She was avoiding the questions--
the ones that could turn against her.
"Unnecessary questions ....haa "
I let out a chuckle.
The Principal stepped forward, her gaze sweeping across the auditorium.
"Let this be clear."
Her voice was calm.
"Anyone who goes against the authority…"
"the rules of this institution…"
"or the Council--"
a pause.
"and most importantly… me…"
The air felt heavier with every word.
"will face severe consequences."
Silence followed.
Not a single sound.
And then--
her gaze stooped.
On me.
"Risha."
My breath hitched.
"For interfering…"
"and questioning the authority--"
her voice remained steady, almost indifferent,
"you will be punished."
A pause.
Just long enough for the weight to settle.
"Your punishment…"
"…will be decided and carried out by--"
"Vidyantsh Verma."
I wasn't afraid of the punishment.
If anything-- I felt regret.
How could I not save her?
Why couldn't I help her?
And that girl--
who was she?
Everything felt blurred.
Like my thoughts were slipping through my own hands.
And yet--
that moment…
it stayed.
Sharp.
Unfading.
Etched somewhere deep inside my mind.
I stood there--
feeling like I had already lost.
One by one,
everyone started leaving the auditorium.
Everything returned to normal.
Or at least--
it looked like it had.
But the stares didn't stop.
They followed me.
Whispering without words.
Judging.
Watching.
Rishab didn't leave.
He stood beside me-- refusing to walk away.
I knew he cared.
But this…
this wasn't his burden to carry.
It was mine.
My punishment.
Slowly,
the auditorium emptied.
The noise faded.
Until only silence remained.
And then--
I felt it.
A gaze.
Heavy.
Unmoving.
I looked up.
He was still there.
Standing on the stage.
Looking straight at me.
His eyes-- sharp.
.