Aadhya's pov
"Are you done?" I asked.
My voice was calm.
Too calm.
Because honestly—if I heard one more word about Section E being "dirt", I might actually throw that bucket myself.
Riya nodded like she just delivered a life-changing speech.
"Since I don't want to be seen as a bad person," she said sweetly, "I won't punish you harshly."
Oh wow.
So kind.
So generous.
Saint Riya has descended.
"Just kneel… kiss my ruby shoes… and apologise."
She smiled.
Like she just solved world hunger.
…
I stared at her.
Did she—
Did she just—
My brain actually paused.
Processing stupidity takes time.
"That's too low," one of her pets added.
"No no, you're too kind," another one said.
Kind?
THIS?
Then what are cruel people—demons from hell?
"I don't want to," I said.
Simple.
Clear.
Final.
Her eyebrows twitched.
"What did you say?"
"I said… I don't want to."
I didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't bow.
Then she smiled again.
Worse this time.
"Then you'll suffer from my punishment."
Oh really?
You think I'm scared?
Cute.
"Aadhya, just do what she said."
I turned.
Reyansh Mahajan.
Seriously?
You too?
Wow.
Amazing support system.
For a second… I almost gave in.
But then—
No.
Why should I?
I didn't do anything wrong.
And I'm not kneeling for anyone.
Ever.
Hmm.
Wait.
Idea.
A slow smirk formed on my face.
"Okay," I said sweetly. "I'll kneel… kiss your shoes… and apologise…"
She smiled wider.
Victory mode.
"…but only if you apologise first."
Her smile froze.
"…Apologise? To whom?" she asked, confused.
I tilted my head.
"Hmm… what was her name again…"
I tapped my chin dramatically.
"Ah yes… Yuvika?"
Boom.
Silence.
Tension.
Bullseye.
Her pets stiffened.
Riya's face changed.
And beside Reyansh—
A soft voice.
"Why… me?"
There she was.
Yuvika.
Oh this is getting interesting.
"Yeah… why her?" Riya tried to act innocent.
Oh please.
"Should I remind you?" I said, smiling. "Weren't you the one who called her a slut… said she flirts with every rich boy?"
Silence dropped like a bomb.
Now.
Let's see who's queen.
"Riya… you said that?" Reyansh's voice turned cold.
Dangerously cold.
He grabbed her collar.
Tears instantly filled her eyes.
"NO REYANSH SHE'S LYING!" one of her pets shouted.
"She didn't even see who said it!" another added.
Wait.
What?
"She was inside the cubicle!"
…
Oh.
So we're doing this now.
Riya's fear disappeared.
Replaced by confidence.
"Jiya said it," she declared.
What?
My head snapped.
Beside Yuvika—
A soft confused voice.
"I didn't say anything…"
Jiya.
Yeah.
She was silent.
I remember.
"See? She was with us," Riya pushed.
"Yes but—" I tried to explain.
But suddenly—
Two boys grabbed Jiya.
"What the hell—" I stepped forward.
Then—
Samar jumped in.
And just like that—
Chaos.
Exploded.
Punches.
Shouting.
Pushing.
Vivaan Oberoi Windsor stepped in.
So did Mahi.
Neel.
Everyone.
"You really love getting into fights," Reyansh challenged.
Vivaan smirked.
"We're Section E," Neel said.
"We don't back down from fights," Mahi added.
"Nor lose them."
And then—
War.
Punches flying.
Bodies clashing.
People shouting.
Total madness.
"STOP IT!" I tried to shout.
No one listened.
Of course.
Because logic doesn't exist here.
I tried to move forward—
SLAP.
The sound echoed.
My head snapped to the side.
Pain.
Sharp.
Burning.
I looked up.
Riya.
"It's all your fault," she spat.
…
That was it.
Enough.
I didn't think.
Didn't calculate.
Didn't hesitate.
I slapped her back.
Hard.
She fell.
Straight to the ground.
Silence.
Everyone stopped.
Even the fight paused.
She started crying instantly.
"Oh my God, how cruel!" her pets rushed to her.
Cruel?
Really?
Before I could react—
Movement.
The bucket.
Flying.
Straight at me.
I closed my eyes—
But—
Nothing.
No cold splash.
Instead—
Warmth.
Something heavy wrapped around me.
I opened my eyes.
Shock.
Dheeraj.
He took it.
All of it.
Dirty water.
Filth.
Everything.
For me.
"Why…" I whispered.
He looked at me.
Tired.
Faint.
"Now… we're even," he said softly.
And collapsed.
"Dheeraj!" I caught him.
Or tried to.
He was heavy.
Too heavy.
"Hey—wake up—HEY!"
Something moved on his shirt.
I looked down.
And froze.
Worms.
Actual worms.
"Oh God—"
My heart dropped.
He wasn't just hurt.
This was bad.
Really bad.
"Someone help!" I shouted.
No one moved.
They were all still frozen.
Useless.
"WE NEED TO TAKE HIM TO THE CLINIC!" I yelled.
Finally—
Naman Mishra rushed forward.
"What happened?"
"Clinic. Now."
He didn't ask again.
Just lifted Dheeraj.
And we ran.
Out of that chaos.
Out of that mess.
Straight towards the clinic.