Aadhya's POV
Lunch done. Drama done. Dignity? Missing.
I walked into the classroom and dropped onto my seat.
"…hmm."
Cold.
"Seat thandi kyun hai?"
I paused.
"AC toh hai nahi…"
Then shrugged.
"Chhodo."
—
Physics period.
Sir came in.
And then—
Arrows.
Vectors.
Lines. Directions.
"Yeh arrow idhar… yeh udhar…"
I stared at the board.
"Sir… please draw hi kar lo…"
"Mat shoot karo humein."
Honestly, it's interesting…
if you understand it.
Otherwise?
It's just arrows fighting.
Full Mahabharat going on inside the book.
I nodded along like I understood everything.
(Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha.)
—
Period over.
I sighed in relief.
But before I could relax—
A teacher approached me.
"If you were to choose a section… which one would you choose?"
Silence.
Complete silence.
I looked around.
Everyone was staring.
Interested.
Waiting.
"…"
Honestly?
I didn't know.
I mean…
I was rebellious in my previous school.
So technically… this section fits.
But also—
these people are insane.
I forced a small smile.
"I don't know, ma'am… I'll tell you later."
Safe answer.
She nodded and left.
The class buzz slowly returned.
—
End of class.
Everyone started packing.
I packed my bag too.
Stood up—
—or tried to.
"…"
I didn't move.
I frowned.
Tried again.
Nothing.
"Excuse me??"
I looked down.
And then—
"Oh."
"My skirt…"
Stuck.
To the bench.
"WHAT THE—"
I tried to pull myself free.
"Aughh… yeh kya hai??"
Avi came over.
Laughing.
Of course.
"Oh nooo… you're stuck," he said, enjoying this way too much.
"Seriously?!"
"Help me!"
"Let her be," Vivaan's voice came from behind.
Cold.
Casual.
He was already walking out with his gang.
"Of course," I muttered.
"Mahiii!" I called out.
He turned, laughing.
"Help him free me!"
I ordered.
He raised his hands dramatically.
"Okkk…"
Both idiots grabbed my arms—
"Ready?"
"No—wait—"
PULL.
"AH—"
I came free.
But—
RRRIP.
Silence.
My eyes widened.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
I looked back.
"…no."
My skirt.
Gone.
From the back.
I froze.
They stared.
Then—
Laughter.
"Ohooo Adi… you're very sexy," Avi said.
I turned slowly.
Dead stare.
"Seriously, Avi?"
"That's what you have to say??"
I raised my hand—
He instantly took off his jacket and wrapped it around my waist.
I smacked his hand.
"Door reh!"
But still—
"…thank you," I said aggressively.
He backed off, smiling like an idiot.
Still laughing.
"God, give me strength."
—
We walked out.
Main gate.
People.
Crowd.
Eyes.
All on me.
"Perfect."
"So how was she?" Vivaan asked casually.
My head snapped toward him.
"So sexy," Avi and Mahi replied together.
My jaw clenched.
"If looks could kill…"
Vivaan smirked.
Of course he did.
I looked around.
Everyone staring.
Whispering.
Laughing.
"Kill me now."
"Hey Adi… are you okay?"
I turned.
Naman.
Concerned.
"Are these guys bullying you? You can tell me… I'll take care of them."
I shook my head.
"It's nothing."
He looked at the jacket tied around me.
I was about to say something—
"Oh, it's gone," Avi interrupted.
Crowd burst into laughter again.
I inhaled slowly.
"Nothing… it's just… woman thing," I said to Naman.
He looked confused.
Good.
Better than the truth.
—
Flashback
Cafeteria.
"Ek veg soup aur noodles."
I turned—
Saanvi was talking to someone.
A guy.
Tall.
Of course.
"Yeh school mein sab models hi hain kya?"
They approached me.
"Oh, you're Aadhya right?"
He smiled.
"I'm Naman Mishra."
I smiled back.
"Hi, I'm Aadhya."
"And you're in section E?"
I nodded.
He gave a small ahh reaction.
"Tell me if you need help… we're friends, okay?"
I blinked.
"…he's sweet."
—
Back to Present
"Adi, tell me if they're bullying you," Naman said again, looking at the boys.
The air changed.
Tension.
Dark.
"You think you can handle us?" Vivaan challenged.
"Off course I can," Naman smiled.
"I handled Dheeraj, right?"
"You won because he let you win," Mahi scoffed.
"Yeah yeah, sure," Naman brushed it off.
Then turned to me again.
"Should I drop you home? I have a car."
I blinked.
"Wow… sweet."
For a second—
I wanted to say yes.
But then—
Avi's jacket.
"I should return it…"
I shook my head slightly.
"I'll take her home," Avi suddenly stepped in front.
I looked at him.
"…seriously?"
But I nodded.
"Yeah… I'll go with him."
Naman smiled.
"Okay. Take care."
He left.
And for a second—
I noticed Reyansh.
Standing far away.
Looking at me.
Then—
He looked away.
Again.
I turned.
Started walking.
Avi followed.
—
After a few steps—
I grabbed him in a headlock.
"AH—ADI—"
And gave him a solid punch on his back.
"UGH—it hurts!"
"Good."
"You embarrassed me."
I let him go.
He stopped walking.
Looked down.
"Sorry."
I paused.
"…oh."
"Very good. Tumhe sorry bolna aata hai," I nodded.
"It's okay… sorry too."
He smiled.
And we walked again.
—
Outside my house.
"Wait here. I'll change and come."
"No, it's okay… I just wanted to make sure you reached safely," he said, looking away.
Something felt… off.
"Le lo na… since you're here," I insisted.
He nodded.
—
I ran upstairs.
Changed quickly.
Came back down with his shirt.
"Here."
He took it.
Still not looking at me.
Weird.
"Hey… thank you," I said.
But—
He was already walking away.
Fast.
And then—
I noticed.
A few guys.
Following him.
My smile faded.
"…Avi?"
He didn't turn.
They disappeared into the street.
My chest tightened slightly.
"God…"
"Please keep him safe."
Avi's POV
"Hah… you really think you can get away with what you did to our friends?"
He stepped forward, cracking his neck like he was in some cheap action movie.
I smiled.
Wide. Easy.
"Of course," I replied, almost cheerfully.
They laughed.
A group laugh. Loud. Mocking.
"Let's see if you'll be able to laugh like that afterwards," their leader said, eyes narrowing.
I tilted my head slightly.
"Even people without teeth can laugh," I shot back.
For a second—
Silence.
Then his boys burst out laughing.
Loud. Uncontrolled.
Even I chuckled a little.
But their leader?
Not amused.
At all.
His smirk came slow.
Sharp.
"The girl who was with you earlier…" he said, voice dropping, "she's pretty."
My smile faded.
"…so?"
"Should we go meet her… after we're done with you?"
Something inside me snapped.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just—
quietly.
Dangerously.
"Damn it…" I muttered under my breath.
I shouldn't have walked her home.
I shouldn't have let them see.
Now—
She's involved.
Because of me.
My jaw tightened.
No.
That's not happening.
Not with her.
Not with Adi.
I stepped forward slowly.
"Where do you want to go?" I asked calmly.
"Let's get this over with."
They looked surprised for a second.
Maybe they expected fear.
Wrong person.
I rolled my shoulders slightly.
Knuckles cracking.
A familiar thrill ran through me.
Yeah…
I missed this.
The tension.
The edge.
The fight right before it begins.
But this time—
It wasn't just for fun.
My eyes darkened slightly.
"They don't go near her."
"That's the rule."
My smile returned.
But this time—
It wasn't soft.
It wasn't friendly.
It had teeth.
"Let's begin."