---
When I opened my eyes, I was still lying on the cold floor of Paradise High School's corridor.
I had no idea how long I had been there. A searing pain pierced through my head, and everything in my vision was still blurry. Blood from my head injury had spread across the floor and drenched half my face, turning it a ghastly red.
But wait—there's no way that all this blood came from me.
Then… whose blood was it?
In a semi-conscious state, I forced my eyes open again. That's when I saw it—a girl was lying just ahead of me on the same corridor floor.
The same girl I had seen moments before I was attacked. Or perhaps... right before something hit my head.
She was lying face down… lifeless. She was a student from our school — Tina.
I couldn't remember anything.
Not who struck my head.
Not how I ended up collapsed on the floor.
I felt someone tugging at my arm — and as I tried to focus, I realized... the girl ahead of me hadn't moved at all.
She'd been shot.
And beside me—was a gun.
A gun?!
How? Why?
Nothing made sense.
Her body was surrounded by blood, soaking the floor. I was terrified — completely numb.
And then, I felt hands gripping my arms from behind. When I turned slightly, I realized it was the police.
They were dragging me away.
But I wasn't even able to speak.
"Oh God… what is happening?"
---
A while later, I regained consciousness again.
My head was wrapped in a bandage, but the pain still hadn't subsided. I was in a hospital room. I was just trying to collect my thoughts when the door creaked open.
It wasn't a doctor.
Not a friend.
Not even family.
It was a police officer.
With a cold expression, he said,
"You'll be discharged soon. Then we'll take you to the station for further investigation."
"Investigation? What kind of investigation?"
My anxiety rose with every passing second.
I didn't understand what was happening — but deep inside, I knew something was terribly wrong.
Ignoring the pain, I pushed myself up and tried to stand. Stumbling toward the door, I found two officers posted right outside.
They blocked my way.
"Please, let me go... just once—please!" I begged.
"We can't allow that without orders," one of them said sternly.
"But I didn't do anything! This is all—"
Just then, Roni arrived.
My closest friend.
Seeing him felt like finding light in darkness — but even he looked visibly shaken.
"You… thank God you came! Please, tell me what's happening!"
Before Roni could respond, one officer barked,
"No conversations. Follow the rules."
They weren't letting me talk to him. But I pleaded. Somehow, they allowed a few minutes.
I turned to Roni desperately.
"Please… what happened?"
"Calm down first. Just breathe," he said gently.
"No! Why won't anyone tell me anything?!"
"I know you didn't do anything," he said.
"Didn't do what?"
"There's a murder case registered against you, Riya."
"What?!"
"Murder?!"
I froze.
The blood drained from my face.
That girl…
The one I thought was Tina…
Was I wrong?
"I remember being unconscious… someone hit me, and I fell to the ground. That gun — how did it get next to me?"
"Someone's framing me!" I screamed.
"I believe you," Roni said quickly. "Don't worry, we'll fix this."
"How could I kill someone? If I had, why would I be lying there unconscious too? And what about the wound on my head?!"
Tears streamed down my face.
"I trust you, Riya. But the real problem is that… the girl who was shot... was alone with you at that time."
"And her name was Khushi."
"Kh... Khushi?"
My heart sank.
"What did you say?"
"Khushi? But… I didn't even see her. I thought it was Tina…"
"You must've been confused," Roni replied.
"I don't understand any of this... Roni, someone planned all of this! They're trying to ruin me!"
"Don't panic. We'll talk more at the station. For now, I need to visit Isha at the hospital."
"Isha?"
"What happened to her, Roni?! Say something!" I begged, trembling.
"Yesterday… in the same corridor… something happened."
"What?"
"Tara tried to jump. Or maybe… someone pushed her."
"Pushed?!"
"We're not sure yet. But she's seriously injured."
I couldn't hold back anymore.
I started crying — loudly.
The officers began escorting me out.
To the station.
To jail.
Inside the van, I sobbed as a whirlwind of thoughts consumed me—
"Isha…"
"My new friend. We just started laughing together… Will they blame me for her too?"
"Khushi finally came back after so long… and now Tara — what state will she be in?"
"Maybe it's all my fault…"
And just like that — the memories came rushing in.
Back when my mother held my hand tightly… when she hugged me every night…
Those childhood giggles. That warmth. Her presence.
But then — that nightmare day.
When we were in a train that derailed into a river.
She slipped from my hand.
I tried to hold on — but the current was too strong.
And just like that… she was gone.
SPLASH!
A cold bucket of water slammed against my face.
"Wake up! Can't you see your father is in pain?"
My stepmother shouted from behind.
---
I was just twelve years old when I lost everything in that train accident.
My little sister, Anshu, was just four.
That was five years ago now.
After that day, Papa changed completely.
He was shattered. Silent.
And no one was left to look after us.
He thought remarrying might help.
But that turned out to be the biggest mistake of his life.
His new wife only married him for money — to fund her own daughter Suhana's future.
Papa didn't realize it until it was too late.
His business collapsed. He suffered a stroke.
We lost everything.
Our stepmother, once all sugar and smiles, showed her true colors.
Now the entire burden of the house was on me.
I dropped out of school. Took odd jobs.
But I never complained.
I smiled — for Anshu.
Even if it was fake, I smiled.
Because if I broke… who would hold her?
Anshu, now seven, missed Mom terribly — especially when she saw our stepmother showering Suhana with love.
She longed to be loved like that.
But our stepmother was never a mother — she partied, drank, spoiled Suhana, and squandered money.
If she had somewhere else to go, she would've left long ago. But for now, she stayed — turning our house into hell.
Suhana and I never got along.
---
One day…
"Wow! My little penguin looks adorable!" I smiled as I helped Anshu into her costume.
"I'm gonna win the fancy dress competition today, Di!" she beamed.
"Of course, you will. But hurry or we'll be late."
"Wait, I'll grab the fees from the table first."
But when she came back…
"Di… the money's not there…"
I rushed to check.
The money was gone.
Instead — expensive makeup kits were lying on the table.
Suhana.
"I saved that money for her fees! How could you do this?"
"It was urgent. I needed it," Suhana shrugged.
"For makeup? And I'm the one at fault for being responsible?"
"Oh, so now you're blaming me?"
Then I saw Anshu, silently watching, hurt.
Sensitive, gentle Anshu.
She broke easily.
I didn't want her crying before her big day.
So I bit my tongue, grabbed her hand, and walked away.
---
On the way, we saw a mother lovingly carrying her child.
I smiled through the pain and lifted Anshu onto my back.
"Breaking news: a penguin rides a girl!"
She giggled loudly.
I laughed with her — but something inside me shattered again.
"I can hold myself together… but how will Anshu survive all this?"
I wondered.
Suddenly, Anshu spoke, her voice calm and mature:
"Di… you don't need to wear a fake smile in front of me. I know… and I understand."
I froze.
How could a 9-year-old speak like that?
"Don't hide anything from me, okay? Promise?"
She looked at me with those wide, honest eyes.
I nodded — stunned.
And she smiled.
"You're my favorite person, Di…"
"And you're my favorite penguin…"
Then she paused.
"Di… my friend said a girl at Paradise High jumped off and… committed suicide. What's suicide?"
My smile vanished.
"Who told you that word?"
I asked angrily.
"She said when someone's really sad… they end it."
I clenched my fists.
"What are you learning at school?! Focus on your studies!"
"But Di—"
"Quiet! Go win that prize. You're late."
"Okay… love you!"
"Go!"
Inside… I was breaking again.
"What is all this doing to her mind? What if something happens to her too?"
---
I suddenly remembered — I had to get to work.
That restaurant — or what's left of it — used to be Papa's dream.
Now it's a shabby food joint run by Uncle, who helps however he can.
But I can't keep asking for help.
So I started doing more.
Cleaning. Cooking. Deliveries.
Today's delivery?
A place called "Shoesuptoy" — some elite racing hub for rich kids.
There, kids zoomed past in fancy cars while I stood watching — silent.
They debated turns, speed, angles.
Laughed.
I remembered… I used to laugh like that once.
"Whoa! Amazing!" some kids shouted nearby.
I smiled and asked,
"You like all this?"
"Yeah, Di! Even just watching is fun!"
I felt warmth in my heart.
I handed them leftover food.
"Here, eat something."
One little boy asked,
"Di, do you know how to drive these cars?"
I chuckled.
"Me? Haha…"
Just then, a luxury car pulled up.
From it stepped a girl in branded fashion, expensive purse, manicured nails.
Shesha Sharma.
Once my best friend.
Now a stranger.
"Oh. My. God." she said, wrinkling her nose.
"Don't act like you know me. What is this cheap food? And seriously — you were never my friend."
I smiled.
"You've changed, Shesha…"
"And you… haven't. Still poor."
She mocked me, flashing the purse I once gifted her.
But I stayed calm.
I looked at the kids, then the cars.
"To drift mid-turn, increase throttle. Keep pressure on the pedal. With control, you cut the turn — not with speed, but with rhythm. That's how a real racer drives."
Everyone went quiet.
"What did you say?" Shesha scoffed.
"Think you can do that? Try it. If you lose, clean my car for a week. If you win — take these kids for a ride."
I looked at the cheering kids.
"Di, you can do it! Please!!"
I nodded.
Someone tossed me the keys — mockingly.
I stepped into the car.
Eyes watching.
Whispers around me.
I looked into the mirror — into my own eyes.
Brown. Fierce.
"I can do this."
I closed my eyes.
Breathed.
Started the engine.
And as the tires screeched… a cloud of dust rose behind me.
I wasn't just fighting them.
I was fighting fate itself.
---