"Sometimes, the cruelest betrayals wear the mask of
forgiveness."
The lunch bell rang, and the campus buzzed with laughter
and celebration. Couples exchanged roses. Friends posed for selfies. It was
Lover's Day—February 14.
Karikalan sat alone under a neem tree, finishing his simple
meal. His heart was heavy, his mind restless.
He looked toward the far end of the courtyard, where Rani
sat surrounded by her friends, radiant in a red salwar, her laughter echoing
like wind chimes.
His instincts screamed at him to stay away. But his goal—to
be accepted, to be seen—pushed him forward.
"If I want to change… I must face my past.Even if it hurts."
He stood up, wiped his hands on his pants, and began
walking—each step heavier than the last.
As he approached, the chatter around Rani quieted.
"Rani," he called softly.
Heads turned. Whispers rose.
"Why is he here again?" "Is he trying to get slapped
again?" "Hasn't he had enough?"
Rani looked up, her smile fading.
"What's your problem, Karikalan? Why are you following me
again? What do you want now?"
Karikalan took a deep breath.
"I… I just wanted to say I'm sorry. After what happened… I
felt ashamed. I shouldn't have loved someone who belonged to another. I was
wrong."
And then—he knelt.
Slowly. Deliberately.
He bowed his head so low that his forehead nearly touched
the ground before her feet. The gap between them was barely a breath.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Is he serious?" "Is this real?" "Has he changed… or is
this just an act?"
Some were moved. Some were skeptical. But all were
watching.
Rani's heart pounded. She remembered Elara's words from
earlier that morning:
"Listen, my almighty queen… You are the most beautiful soul
I've ever known. I love your smile, your kindness. But today, I need you to do
something for me."
She had hesitated.
"Elara, I already slapped him. He didn't retaliate. He
didn't even speak ill of me. Why do you want to punish him again?"
Elara's voice had turned cold.
"Because he's dangerous. Not with fists. Not with wealth.
But with something far more powerful—resilience. He's rising.
And if we let him, he'll rise above us."
"You must stop him now. Just once more. For me."
He had explained the plan.
"When he kneels, bring your foot close to his hand. Make
contact. Then scream. Say he touched you. Say he's a pervert. The class will
turn on him. And he'll never show his face here again."
Rani had hesitated. But now, with Karikalan kneeling before
her, the moment had come.
Her foot trembled.
"He looks so broken…And
yet, so sincere."
But Elara's words echoed louder.
"This is the only way to protect our place.Do it. Now."
The Death of Silence
"When the world crushes a soul for daring to rise, the
universe listens."
The courtyard was alive with whispers and laughter, but in
the center of it all, time stood still.
Karikalan knelt before Rani, his head bowed in humility,
his heart trembling with hope.
Then— A scream shattered the silence.
"He's a pervert! He touched my feet! He hasn't changed at
all!"
The words struck like lightning.
Gasps. Murmurs. Then rage.
Before Karikalan could even lift his head, a foot slammed
into his side. Another into his back. Then another.
"You disgusting freak!" "How dare you touch her!" "You'll
learn your place!"
He tried to speak, to explain.
"No… she moved her foot… I didn't—"
But his voice was drowned in the storm of fury.
Dozens of feet rained down on him. His ribs screamed. His
vision blurred. His breath grew shallow.
Somebody stomped on his chest. Another kicked his face.
Blood filled his mouth.
And then—Elara stepped forward.
"Stop!" he shouted, raising his hand.
The crowd froze.
He walked slowly to Karikalan, who now lay motionless on
the ground, barely conscious.
Elara placed his foot on Karikalan's throat, pressing down
just enough to silence the last breath.
"Don't ever try to change this classroom," he said coldly.
"We are everything. We are the future. If you ever try to attract girls like
Rani again—without our permission—we will kill you. You people… the poor… will
never dominate us. Not in this era. Not in any era."
He stepped back.
Karikalan didn't move.
No breath. No sound. No resistance.
The crowd began to murmur.
"Is he… breathing?" "Did we go too far?" "He's not moving…"
Rani's face turned pale. Her hands trembled.
"What have I done?"
Elara's smirk faltered for the first time.
"He's just acting. He's faking it."
But deep down, even he wasn't sure.