5 years have passed...

Rahul is 13 years old.

Deepak is 13 years old.

Ishani is 18 years old.

Divya is 18 years old.

Vaibhav is 23 years old.

Author pov...

“Rahul beta, wakes up quickly. You’ll be late for school,” Rani called out.

From inside his room, Rahul replied sleepily, “Yes, Mummy… just one minute.”

Rahul now had his own room because Divya needed privacy.

She had grown up, and understanding that, Devnath had built a new room for Rahul on the terrace.

Meanwhile, Divya was getting ready.

Today was her first day of college.

She felt nervous meeting new people and always made her anxious.

Ishani would be with her, yet a strange fear still lingered in her heart.

She wore a sleeveless kurti with jeans, applied some cream, kajal around her eyes, and a little lip balm.

Suddenly, Devnath shouted, “Rahul! Should I come there, or are you getting up on your own?”

The moment Rahul heard his father’s voice, he jumped out of bed. “I’m up, Papa!” he said quickly and rushed to the bathroom.

After bathing, he wore his uniform, packed his notebooks and books into his bag, and went downstairs.

Rani looked at him lovingly and said, “Oh, my prince has finally arrived.”

“Yes, Mummy” Rahul replied with a sleepy smile and sat at the dining table.

Devnath glanced at him and said, “First day in seventh grade today. Good luck.”

“Thank you, Papa,” Rahul said.

Nirmala Dadi asked gently, “What happened, Rahul? Didn’t you get enough sleep?”

“No, Dadi,” Rahul replied.

Dadi frowned and said, “What is this, Dev? You’re sending the child so early on his very first day. There isn’t much studying on the first day anyway. You woke him up forcefully.”

Devnath smiled and said, “Maa, don’t spoil him. Even if there’s no study, he should go. He’ll see his school, attend his first class, and make new friends. What will he do at home sleep ?

Just then, Divya came in and shouted, “Mummy, hurry up with breakfast!”

From the kitchen, Rani shouted back, “What, should I bring to your room too? Instead of helping your mother, I’ve been working since morning, and you’ve been busy with your hair and makeup!”

Divya made a face and said, “Maa, if I do your work, when will I go to college?” Then, smiling, she asked, “Papa, how do I look?”

Devnath looked at her fondly and said, “My daughter always looks beautiful.”

Divya smiled.

Rahul smirked and said, “You look exactly like a witch.”

Divya shot back, “What do you know about beauty? You yourself look like a monkey!”

Rani came with breakfast and said firmly, “Enough now. Don’t start fighting. Eat your breakfast.”

Everyone ate quietly.

Soon, Rahul’s school bus arrived.

He picked up his bag and started to leave.

“All the best, my child,” Rani said.

“Thank you, Mumma,” Rahul replied and stepped outside toward the bus.

Near the bus, Ishani was standing.

She smiled and said, “All the best, Rahul, for your new class.”

The moment Rahul heard Ishani’s voice, his heart began to race wildly.

His ears turned pink, and he couldn’t understand why this always happened whenever she was around.

Softly, almost in a whisper, he said, “Thank you.”

He climbed into the bus, his eyes fixed on Ishani, watching her until she completely disappeared from his sight.

Divya picked up her bag and said cheerfully, “Okay, I’m leaving. Bye!”

“Go carefully, my child,” Devnath said.

“Alright, Papa,” Divya replied.

Together, the three of them said, “All the best for your new journey, Divya.”

Divya’s face lit up with happiness. “Aww, my family,” she said warmly. “Thank you, guys. Bye.”

She stepped outside, where Ishani was standing, waiting for her.

“Why are you standing here?” Divya asked.

“I was waiting for you,” Ishani replied softly.

“Then you could’ve come inside,” Divya said.

Ishani shook her head. " Aunty would have taunted you because of me. I don’t like that, so I didn’t come in.”

Divya felt a rush of affection for her.

Smiling fondly, she said, “Aww… you are my best friend, Ishani.”

“I know,” Ishani replied with a small smile. “Come on.”

“Hm,” Divya nodded.

They caught an auto to go to college.

After a while, they reached and stepped out together.

Ishani has always been the quiet one.

She didn’t talk much to people and only spoke to those she felt comfortable with.

Divya, on the other hand, was clumsy, carefree, and spoke without thinking of someone who could befriend anyone without hesitation.

They were complete opposites, yet still best friends.

“Let’s go,” Divya said with excitement, “to start a new journey.”

Ishani simply nodded, her eyes calm but filled with quiet anticipation.

Ragging was unfolding openly inside the college campus.

Four senior girls and five senior boys stood together like they owned the place, their laughter sharp and careless.

A few juniors stood in front of them, heads lowered, fear trembling in their eyes.

Ishani noticed the scene and her breath caught.

Her fingers tightened around Divya’s arm. “Divya… let’s go. Quickly,” she whispered, her voice shaking.“Ragging is happening here.”

“Where?” Divya asked, confused.

“To your right,” Ishani said urgently. “Don’t look there. Please. If they see us, we’ll get stuck.”

Her heart was pounding so loudly it felt like it would burst out of her chest.

“Okay, okay,” Divya said, sensing Ishani’s fear.

They turned to leave, trying to blend into the crowd. But fate wasn’t that kind.

A sharp voice cut through the air.

“You two girls stop.”

Divya and Ishani froze for a second, then panic took over.

They started walking faster almost running.

Another senior laughed cruelly. “Hey juniors! Go bring those two girls here. Look at them running.”

A junior girl hurried after them, her face pale.

She reached them and said softly, almost pleading, “Sir is calling both of you.”

Divya turned around. “Which sir?”

“The seniors,” the girl replied, her voice trembling. “Please come.”

“We’re not going,” Divya said firmly.

Ishani stood silent, fear gripping her so tightly she couldn’t even speak.

The junior girl’s eyes filled with tears. “Please… if you don’t come, they’ll punish me. Please.”

Divya’s expression softened. She looked at the girl so scared, so helpless. Ishani felt her heart sink.

“Okay,” Divya said finally. “We’ll come.”

The three of them walked back. Each step felt heavier than the last for Ishani.

Her palms were cold, her legs weak.

A senior girl smirked the moment she saw them. “Ohhh, look who’s here behenjis have arrived!”

Loud laughter echoed around them, mocking and cruel.

Divya clenched her jaw. Her eyes burned not with fear, but anger.

“Mind your language,” she said sharply. “Where exactly do I look like a behenji? Don’t insult my personality and clothes.”

One of the boys stepped forward, his gaze slow and deliberate as he scanned Divya from head to toe.

“Well,” he said casually, turning to the senior girl, “she’s right. She doesn’t look like a behenji at all.”

Divya let out a small, confident smile. “Looks like you know something about style.”

Beside her, Ishani felt her world shaking.

She leaned closer and whispered, her voice barely audible, “Divya… stop. What are you doing? I’m really scared.”

Divya squeezed her hand gently and whispered back, calm but strong,

“Hey… don’t be afraid. I’m here. As long as I’m with you, nothing will happen.”

Ishani tried to believe her but her heart was still racing, caught between fear and trust.

Shivani tilted her head, her lips curling into a practiced smile.

“So… what are your names?”

Divya answered before Ishani could even open her mouth. “I’m Divya. And she’s Ishani.”

Shivani’s gaze slowly moved to Ishani’s face, studying her as if she were a memory half-remembered.

“I’ve seen you somewhere before,”

she said softly, yet there was something unsettling in her tone.

Ishani felt her heartbeat rise. She forced a polite smile.“I don’t think so… I don’t know you.”

Akash laughed suddenly. “No, no, I’ve seen her too,” he said, pointing straight at Ishani.

Divya tried to lighten the moment with a joke, but her voice cracked just a little.“Wow, Ishani, you’re famous already? And what about me am I invisible?”

But Ishani wasn’t smiling. Her hands were cold, her chest tight. She leaned closer to Divya and whispered desperately,“Divya, please… this isn’t funny. We need to leave. Now.”

Before they could move, another boy stepped in front of them, blocking their way.

“Leave? That easily?” he smirked. “Not before ragging.”

Divya swallowed her fear and stood straighter. “Ragging is illegal,” she said, gathering every ounce of courage she had. “You can get punished.”

Virendra laughed, slow and mocking.

“Oh baby, relax. We’re not criminals. Just a little fun light ragging.”

The boys burst into laughter. The sound felt cruel, sharp, suffocating.

Divya’s throat went dry. “What… what do we have to do?”

Virendra’s eyes flicked toward Ishani.

“You,” he said lazily, “will kiss one of us. Anyone you like.”

Then he looked at Divya. “And you’ll dance.”

Ishani’s face is drained of color. Her voice trembled.“No. I won’t kiss anyone. Never.”

Virendra raised an eyebrow. “Not on the lips. Just a peck on the cheek.”

“No,” Ishani repeated, stronger this time, though fear filled her eyes. “I won’t do it.”

She turned to Divya, her voice breaking. “Please… say something.”

Divya looked at Ishani shaking, terrified, on the edge of tears and something inside her cracked.

She took a step forward.“Sir,” she said quietly, “Ishani will dance. I’ll do the kiss.”

Ishani grabbed her arm in panic. “Divya, have you lost your mind? Don’t do this!”

“It’s nothing,” Divya whispered, forcing a brave smile she didn’t feel. “Just a peck. On the cheek. I’ll be fine.”

Ishani’s fingers tightened around her arm, as if letting go meant losing her forever.

But Divya gently freed herself and walked toward the seniors.

Akash straightened, already convinced she was coming to him.

But Divya walked past him.

She stopped in front of Virendra.

The next second, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

Silence.

Absolute, stunned silence.

Akash’s face twisted in disbelief. The others stared, frozen.

But Divya didn’t see the danger standing behind her.

Vaibhav.

The moment his eyes caught the scene, something dark exploded inside him.

His jaw tightened.

His fists clenched.

In two long strides, he was there.

He grabbed Divya’s arm hard.

Pain shot through her body. She gasped.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Vaibhav roared.

The entire ground went silent.

Even the wind seemed to stop.

Divya looked up and froze.

Fear flooded her veins.

Vaibhav’s grip tightened. “This is why you came to college? To disgrace yourself like this?”

It hurt. His hand. His words. His eyes.

Ishani ran forward, terrified.

“Bhai! Please leave her! Everyone is watching!”

That’s when realization hit Akash and Shivani like lightning.

She was Vaibhav’s sister.

Shock spread across their faces.

But Vaibhav heard nothing now.

Divya tried to pull her arm free. “You’re hurting me—”

He laughed bitterly. “Hurting you? You talk endlessly, act fearless and now you’re kissing random boys in college?”

His voice dropped, sharp and cruel.

“If your youth was burning this much, you should’ve told me!”

Gasps echoed around them.

Tears spilled down Divya’s cheeks, unstoppable.

Ishani says. “Bhai, please… they were ragging us. She did this to protect me.”

But Vaibhav was blinded by rage.

“Enough,” he snapped. “From today, you’ll stay away from her.”

He pointed at Divya like she was poisonous.“She’s already ruined and she’ll ruin you too. I won’t let anyone look at my sister with dirty eyes.”

Those words shattered her.

Divya’s tears turned into fire.

She yanked her arm free at last and looked straight into Vaibhav’s eyes hurt, broken, furious.

“Who are you to judge me?” she cried.

“Yes, you’re Ishani’s brother. Not mine.”Her voice shook, but she didn’t stop.“You’re not my father. Not my guardian. Nothing.”

Her chest rose and fell violently.

“Then tell me,” she whispered, every word cutting deep,“by what right are you questioning me?”

Vaibhav clenched his teeth and said through his anger, “I am your teacher, and you are my responsibility.”

Divya, her eyes brimming with tears, replied, “Oh, so that’s how it is? Then from today, I’m breaking every relationship with you. From today onward, I won’t attend your coaching, and I won’t remain your sister’s friend either.”

Ishani stood frozen in shock. Turning to Divya, she said softly, “Divya, bhaiya spoke in anger. He didn’t mean it like that.”

But Divya shook her head, her voice trembling. “Whether he spoke in anger or not, he insulted me in front of the entire college. He made me look like a girl of loose character.”

The moment those words left her mouth, even Vaibhav felt a sharp sting in his chest.

He said firmly, “I didn’t say that. Don’t twist my words.”

Divya wiped her tears angrily. “Whatever your intention was, from today you will stay away from me. And keep your sister away from me too.”

With that, she turned and ran away.

Ishani immediately ran after her.

Vaibhav stood there, struggling to control himself.

His hands curled into tight fists as he forced his anger down.

From behind,Akash spoke up, “Yaar, Vaibhav, you did wrong. You insulted the poor girl in front of everyone.”

Before Vaibhav could respond,

Shivani snapped, “Akash, keep quiet.”

Vaibhav turned back sharply and asked, “You all know ragging is wrong, don’t you? Then why did you do it?”

Virendra replied casually, “We were

just joking around. We didn’t know Divya and Ishani, is your sister.”

Hearing this, Vaibhav exploded in anger. “Divya is not my sister. Do you understand that or not? And if any of you dare to do ragging again, no one will be worse than me.”

With those final words, he walked away, leaving behind a heavy silence.

Divya ran toward the washroom, her footsteps uneven, her chest tight with hurt.

Ishani followed her inside, breathless, her voice trembling as she said, “Divya, bhaiya said that in anger. Please… don’t turn your face away from me like this.”

But Divya’s anger was burning too fiercely. Her eyes were cold, her voice sharp. “Leave from here, Ishani. From today onwards, we are not friends anymore.”

Those words pierced straight through Ishani’s heart.

Tears instantly filled her eyes. “Please… I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I promise,” she pleaded, her hands slightly shaking.

Divya turned toward her, her patience completely shattered. “Are you leaving, or should I go?”

The harshness in Divya’s voice scared Ishani.

Without saying another word, she slowly walked out of the washroom.

Tears kept rolling down her cheeks, but she didn’t let herself cry out loud.

She swallowed her pain and kept moving, as if silence was the only thing holding her together.

Meanwhile, in another part of the school, Rahul and Deepak’s class was going on as usual.

Suddenly, another teacher came and called their teacher.

Before leaving, the teacher turned to the class monitor, Deeksha, and said, “Take care of the class. There should be no noise.”

Deeksha nodded confidently.

Rahul and Deepak, however, were busy whispering to each other.

They were known troublemakers backbenchers who never missed a chance to talk.

The entire class was silent, yet their voices echoed clearly.

Annoyed, Deeksha walked to the blackboard and wrote their names in bold letters

RAHUL

DEEPAK

The boy sitting beside them leaned closer and whispered, “Rahul, Deepak, Deeksha have written your names.Now you both are definitely going to get beaten by ma’am.”

As soon as Rahul saw the board, his heart sank.

Today, I’m surely dead, he thought, and immediately went quiet.

But Deepak stood up from his seat, anger flashing in his eyes. “Why did you write my name?” he asked.

Deeksha ignored him.

That only fueled Deepak’s rage. He walked up to the board and wiped his name off.

Deeksha snapped. “Why did you erase it?”

Deepak shot back, “Then why did you write it in the first place?”

“Because you both were talking,”

Deeksha replied firmly.

“We were talking quietly,” Deepak argued sarcastically. “Do we have microphones attached? Others are making noise too write their names as well.”

Deeksha crossed her arms. “You don’t need to tell me whose name to write and whose not.”

Deepak’s anger reached its peak.

Seeing the argument grow, Rahul rushed forward and grabbed Deepak’s arm. “What are you doing, bro? Stop it! She’s the class monitor. You’ll get beaten badly.”

Deepak shrugged him off and said bitterly, “Monitor or whatever she’s taking revenge on us.”

Deeksha laughed mockingly. “Have you seen your own face? Why would I take revenge on you? Do I have nothing better to do? Now go sit down, or I’ll make sure ma’am punishes you properly.”

Deepak snapped angrily, “I’m not going anywhere. Let’s see what you can actually do.”

Rahul pulled him back, his voice low but tense. “Bro, why are you forcing a fight? You’ll get beaten and you’ll get me beaten too.”

Deeksha didn’t back down. With a cold attitude, she replied, “Okay then. Let’s see.”

A few moments later, the teacher walked into the classroom.

Her sharp eyes scanned the scene. “What are the three of you doing here? And Deeksha, didn’t I tell you there should be no noise in the class? Then why was there so much noise coming from here?”

Deeksha immediately spoke up. “Ma’am, Deepak and Rahul were making a lot of noise. Only their voices could be heard. I wrote their names on the blackboard, and then Deepak came to fight with me, asking why I wrote his name. Ma’am, these two don’t listen to the class monitor at all.”

Rahul quickly stepped forward. “No, ma’am, that’s not true. We do listen”

But Deepak’s anger toward Deeksha burned uncontrollably. His eyes were fixed on her, filled with fury.

The teacher looked at both boys and said sternly, “Hands forward.”

Rahul’s face turned pale. Fear crept into his voice. “Ma’am, it won’t happen again. Please…”

“Hands forward,” the teacher repeated coldly.

Without saying a word, Deepak extended his hands.

The teacher struck his palms with the duster again and again.

His hands turned red, but he didn’t make a sound. Not a single complaint escaped his lips.

Rahul hesitated, then slowly stretched his hands out.

The teacher hit him too.

Tears welled up in Rahul’s eyes, spilling over as the pain hit him.

“Now go,” the teacher ordered. “Stand at your bench with your hands raised.”

As Deepak turned away, Deeksha watched him with a cruel, satisfied look on her face.

Deepak caught that smirk.

Anger flared violently inside him but he said nothing.

Silently, both boys walked back and stood beside their bench, arms raised high, humiliation and rage hanging heavy in the classroom air.

Both boys remained standing for the rest of the class.

When the teacher finally left, Deeksha turned around and looked at them there was a faint, satisfied smile on her face.

Deepak noticed it.

Anger flared inside him, hot and sharp, but he forced himself to control it.

Until the school day ended, both boys stayed completely silent.

When the final bell rang, they boarded the bus together.

Deepak’s mind was stuck on Deeksha her smirk replaying again and again in his head.

The bus stopped near Deepak’s house.

He got down without a word.

A little later, the bus reached Rahul’s stop. He went home.

As soon as Rahul entered, Rani saw how exhausted he looked.

She immediately took his bag, kissed his forehead gently, and asked, “How was your day, Rahul?”

“It was okay, Mummy,” Rahul replied softly.

“Go wash your face and hands and change your clothes,” Rani said warmly. “I’ll serve the food.”

Rahul nodded and walked inside.

Meanwhile, in college, Vaibhav searched for Divya everywhere but she was nowhere to be found.

The entire campus passed before his eyes, empty of her presence.

Once, he noticed Ishani sitting alone on a bench outside, looking lost and sad.

Still, he didn’t go up to her he knew she would be angry with him too.

For Ishani, this was the first time she had ever felt so painfully alone.

Throughout the day in class, Divya completely ignored her.

Divya had even made new friends laughing and talking with other girls and boys.

And Ishani sat alone on the first bench, watching her.

Despite being surrounded by so many people, she felt an unbearable loneliness swallowing her whole.

On the other side, Divya also felt a deep ache in her chest when she saw

Ishani sitting alone.

She knew Ishani was an introvert someone who didn’t make friends easily, someone who didn’t open up quickly.

Still, Divya didn’t go to her.

Again and again, Vaibhav’s words echoed in her mind.

Anger boiled inside her so intense that for a moment, she felt like she could strangle him, crush him, and end it all.

But she stayed where she was.

And that distance hurt them both.

College had ended for the day.

Divya walked out with her friends, while Ishani stood behind, watching her.

Divya caught an auto and left.

Ishani remained standing there alone.

Just then, Vaibhav arrived on his bike.

“Sit,” he said to Ishani.

Ishani had no other option. She was always afraid to travel alone.

As long as Divya was with her, she never felt scared but today, the fear wrapped tightly around her heart.

Quietly, she went and sat behind Vaibhav on the bike.

Vaibhav started riding, but even he didn’t even understand what to say or how to break this heavy silence.

Ishani, too, remained completely quiet.

No words, no questions only an uncomfortable stillness between them.

After some time, Vaibhav reached their house.

Ishani got down from the bike without saying a single word and walked straight inside.

Vaibhav was removing his helmet when Divya arrived in an auto.

He looked at her but Divya ignored him completely and walked past him.

Vaibhav felt a surge of anger, mostly at himself.

Inside the house, Nirmala Dadi, Rani, and Rahul were sitting on the sofa, watching a TV serial.

They didn’t even notice when Divya came in.

Divya went straight to her room, threw her bag somewhere without caring where it landed, and collapsed onto her bed.

Tears streamed down her face as she whispered to herself,“So this is how badly he thinks of me…”

That thought kept repeating in her mind, again and again, breaking her from the inside.

She cried until her eyes burned and somewhere between the tears and the pain, she finally fell asleep.

Devnath returned home, exhausted after a long day of work.

Rani immediately got up and handed him a glass of water.

Rahul and Dadi were both deeply absorbed in a TV serial, their eyes glued to the screen, completely unaware of anything else.

Devnath took a sip of water and asked,“Rahul, have you done your school homework?”

Rahul didn’t respond. He was too lost in the serial to even hear him.

“Rahul!” Devnath called again, this time in a sharper voice.

Startled, Rahul looked up.

“Yes, Papa,” he said quickly.

Devnath sighed and said,

“If you paid even half as much attention to your studies as you do to these useless serials, you’d do really well.”

Rahul felt embarrassed. His eyes dropped to the floor.

Devnath continued,“So, have you done your homework or not?”

Rahul replied softly,“Papa, today was the first day. There wasn’t that much homework.”

Devnath said firmly,“Even so, go and study. Watching so much TV isn’t good for you.”

With a heavy heart and unwilling steps, Rahul walked away to his room, carrying the weight of his father’s words with him.

When Devnath couldn’t find Divya anywhere in the house, a quiet worry stirred inside him.

He turned to Rani and asked,

“Where is Divya?”

“She’s back from college,” Rani replied lightly. “She’s in her room.”

Devnath’s expression hardened.

“You should have checked on her. What was she doing? You’ve become far too careless when it comes to Divya.”

Before Rani could respond, Devnath was already walking toward Divya’s room.

The lights were off. His uneasiness deepened. He switched the light on and stepped inside.

Divya lay on the bed, motionless, fast asleep.

He sat beside her and gently touched her shoulder.“Divya, my child… wake up. Why are you sleeping in the evening?”

Her voice came out weak and drowsy.

“Papa… I’m not feeling well.”

His hand moved to her forehead and his heart skipped. It was burning hot.

“You have a fever,” he whispered, alarmed. “How did you fall so sick, Divya?”

She didn’t answer. Her silence scared him.

Fear quickly turned into anger.

“Rani!” he called out sharply. “Rani!”

Rani rushed into the room.“What happened?”

Devnath’s voice trembled with frustration and worry.“You check on Rahul ten times a day, but your daughter is lying here with a high fever and you didn’t even notice! Does it not matter to you?”

Rani froze.“Fever?”

She hurried to Divya’s side and touched her forehead.

The heat shocked her. Her face is drained of color.

The raised voices brought Nirmala Dadi and Rahul running into the room.

“Dev, why are you shouting?” Nirmala Dadi asked anxiously.

Devnath replied, struggling to control his anger,“Maa, Divya has a fever. None of you even came to see her. What if something had happened to her?”

Nirmala Dadi went straight to the bed and placed her hand on Divya’s forehead.

“This is very high,” she said gravely. “Dev, Go and get a doctor immediately".

“Yes, Maa,” Devnath replied, forcing himself to calm down as he turned to leave.

Nirmala Dadi then looked at Rani.

“Go. Put a cold-water compress on her forehead.”

Rani nodded silently, guilt pressing heavily on her chest.

Rahul stood rooted to the spot, watching Divya’s pale face.

Seeing her in such a fragile state filled him with fear he didn’t know how to express.

Devnath stepped outside the house, his heart restless, trying to stop an auto.

One after another, they passed by without slowing down.

His worry kept growing with every second.

Just then, Vaibhav arrived and noticed Devnath’s anxious face.

“Uncle, what happened?” he asked. “Do you need to go somewhere?”

Devnath replied hurriedly,

“Yes, beta. Divya has a high fever. I need to call a doctor home, but I can’t find any auto.”

The moment Vaibhav heard Divya’s name followed by the word fever, his expression changed completely. Shock and fear filled his eyes.

“Uncle, you stay here,” he said without thinking. “I’ll go and bring the doctor here to see Divya.”

Devnath tried to refuse.“No, beta. You have tuition classes. I’ll manage somehow.”

Vaibhav looked at him with quiet pain in his eyes and said,“Uncle, first you treat me like your own son… and then you push me away like an outsider?”

Devnath was taken aback. He immediately softened and said,

“No, beta, it’s not like that.Go please bring the doctor. I’ll stay here with Divya.”

Vaibhav nodded firmly and rushed off, with his bike quick, his heart heavy with concern for Divya.

Vaibhav returned with the doctor and brought him into Divya’s house.

The doctor examined her carefully while everyone stood close by, their eyes fixed on her pale face.

Vaibhav watched her anxiously seeing her like this made his heart race with fear and guilt.

After checking her, the doctor spoke calmly, “She has developed a fever due to shock, emotional stress, and excessive crying. There’s nothing serious. I’ll give her some medicine.

Make sure she eats properly before taking it. She will be fine in one or two days. And please talk to her gently, with love.”

Devnath stood frozen, shocked by the doctor’s words. Vaibhav felt a sharp pain in his chest; the realization that all this had happened because of him crushed his heart.

“I should leave now,” the doctor said, packing his things.

Devnath immediately replied, “Yes, please, I’ll drop you.”

Before he could move, Vaibhav said softly, “Uncle, you stay here. I’ll drop the doctor.”

But the doctor smiled reassuringly. “No problem. I can go on my own. I have another patient to see nearby. Don’t worry.”

Devnath nodded. “Alright. What’s your fee?”

The doctor told him the amount, Devnath paid, and the doctor left.

As silence filled the room, Devnath turned to Rani and asked gently, “Did you say something to Divya?”

Rani shook her head. “No, I only spoke to her in the morning. She came back from college and went straight to sleep.”

Vaibhav’s guilt grew heavier. His voice trembled as he confessed, “Uncle… I said some harsh things to Divya at college.”

Devnath, Rani, Nirmal Dadi, and Rahul all looked at him in shock.

Devnath asked immediately, “What happened? Did something happen at college?”

Vaibhav told them everything from start to finish without hiding a single detail.

Devnath listened quietly and then said, “You did the right thing, Vaibhav.”

But Vaibhav lowered his head, his eyes filled with regret. “Please forgive me, Uncle. I spoke in anger. I didn’t know it would hurt her this much.”

Rani placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, beta. These things happen. It’s not your fault.”

Devnath nodded in agreement. “Yes, beta. You’re not to blame.”

Still, Vaibhav couldn’t accept it.

Seeing Divya lying there weak, silent, and unwell hurts him deeply.

No reassurance could ease the pain in his heart.

Rani somehow managed to wake Divya.

Divya looked around blankly, unable to understand where she was.

Her mother gently fed her khichdi. Divya had no appetite, yet she forced herself to eat a few bites, only because her mother insisted.

Everyone remained there, standing in silence, tension heavy in the air.

Watching Divya in this fragile state, Vaibhav stood quietly, his heart aching.

After feeding her, Rani carefully gave Divya her medicine.

With great effort, Divya swallowed it, and soon after, she drifted back into sleep.

For a while, everyone kept watching her soft breathing, her pale face, her stillness.

Finally, Devnath spoke gently, “Come on… let her rest peacefully in her room. And Rani, tonight you stay here with Divya.”

Rani nodded silently, her eyes filled with concern as she sat beside her daughter.

Everyone slowly stepped out of Divya’s room and gathered outside.

Just then, Malini arrived at their house.

She noticed Vaibhav immediately and asked in surprise, “What are you doing here?”

Vaibhav replied softly, his voice heavy with guilt, “Maa… Divya isn’t well, so I came to see her.”

Malini’s expression changed with concern. “What happened to Divya?”

Before Vaibhav could answer,

Devnath spoke calmly, “It’s nothing, behen ji. Just a mild fever. Please don’t worry.”

Malini frowned slightly. “A fever? She was perfectly fine this morning. How did her health suddenly worsen?”

Rani intervened gently, “It’s nothing serious. She’s still a child probably caught a chill.”

Malini nodded slowly. She thought to herself that it was the rainy season maybe Divya had gotten wet and caught a cold.

“Make her some kadha and give it to her,” Malini said softly. “She’ll be fine.”

Vaibhav then said, “Maa, did you need something here?”

Malini replied, “Yes. I saw your bike outside the house, so I came in. You didn’t go for tuition today?”

Vaibhav answered casually, “Maa, missing tuition for one day won’t cause any harm.”

Malini sighed and said, “Alright, I understand.”

Turning to Devnath, Vaibhav added, “Uncle, if there’s any problem, please call me. I’ll come immediately.”

Devnath nodded in response.

“Come, Maa, let’s go home,” Vaibhav said, turning to Malini.

Malini seemed like she wanted to say something more, but before she could, Vaibhav gently held her hand and led her outside.

Vaibhav took Malini back home.

As they walked, Malini protested softly, “Oh no, why did you bring me away so quickly? I wanted to see Divya.”

Vaibhav replied gently, trying to hide the weight in his heart, “I’ll look after her, Maa. You don’t need to worry.”

When they reached home, Ishani came out and saw Malini and Vaibhav together. She asked, “Maa, where had you gone?”

Her eyes never once met Vaibhav’s.

Malini sighed and said, “What should I say… Divya has a fever.”

The moment Ishani heard this, she was shocked. “Divya? But she was fine, wasn’t she?”

Vaibhav’s guilt grew heavier. His voice was low as he spoke, “What happened today at college… the stress and crying caused her fever.”

Hearing this, anger flared in Ishani’s eyes.

She looked sharply at her brother.

Malini, confused, asked immediately, “What happened at college?”

Vaibhav stayed silent, his head lowered.

Ishani kept staring at him, her gaze filled with accusations.

When Vaibhav didn’t answer, Malini turned to Ishani. “What happened? Tell me.”

Ishani then told her everything about what had happened at college.

Malini stood frozen, utterly shocked by everything she had just heard.

Listening to everything, Malini’s anger erupted.

She turned sharply toward Vaibhav, her voice filled with pain and disappointment.

“Is this what I raised you to be, Vaibhav?” she demanded. “To question a girl’s character and that too in front of everyone? You have a mother and a sister. If someone ever spoke about your mother or your sister like this, what would you do then? Answer me.”

Her words struck him like a blow.

Tears welled up in Vaibhav’s eyes. In that moment, the truth of his mistake became painfully clear.

What he had said wasn’t just wrong it was unforgivable.

“I’m sorry, Maa,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “I made a terrible mistake. Please forgive me.”

Malini shook her head. “Why are you asking me for forgiveness? The one you hurt is Divya.Until she forgives you, I won’t speak to you.”

Fear rushed through him. “No, Maa… I will apologize to Divya. Please don’t shut me out like this.”

But Malini had already turned away.

She walked into her room and closed the door behind her, the sound echoing through the house.

Vaibhav slowly turned toward Ishani, hoping for some support. Instead, she looked at him coldly.

“Until Divya forgives you,” she said firmly, “I won’t talk to you either.”

She walked away without another word.

Left alone, Vaibhav stood still.

Vaibhav walked into his room and stood before the mirror.

Without thinking, he slammed his fist into the glass.

The mirror shattered, and blood began to drip from his hand.

Everything had happened because of him.

If only he had controlled his anger, none of this would have happened.

But his heart had already been heavy this morning.

Seeing the army cadets earlier that day had filled him with quiet sorrow.

He had wanted to join the army once more than anything.

But after his father’s death, his mother had refused outright.

“My husband is already gone,” she said. “I don’t want to lose my only son too.”

Vaibhav had understood her fear.

After his father’s death, the responsibility of his mother and Ishani had fallen entirely on him.

He had accepted that responsibility but in doing so, he had lost his childhood dream.

This morning, seeing those army boys had reopened old wounds. Regret had settled deep in his chest.

Then, at college, he saw Divya kissing someone.

Divya his life, his heartbeat.

Seeing her touched by someone else had ignited a fire inside him.

He couldn’t bear to see her with anyone else.

Yes, he loved her deeply but he had never found the courage to confess his feelings.

Instead, his anger had spoken for him.

Now that anger had turned into guilt, crushing his soul.

Blood continued to flow from his hand, yet he felt no pain there.

The pain in his heart was far greater sharp, unbearable, and consuming him completely.

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