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All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, events, or locales is purely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.
🌕Author (Pov)
The morning sun was bright, but her heart was heavy.
Risha clutched the strap of her bag tightly, her palms damp with sweat. Dressed in a simple churidar, she slowly stepped through the tall iron gates of the college campus.
It was her first day.
Around her, groups of seniors lounged under the big banyan tree, laughing loudly. Their sharp eyes quickly caught sight of the timid new faces entering the campus.
"Freshers!" someone whispered with a mischievous grin.
Risha's footsteps grew smaller, almost hesitant. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears. Every laugh, every glance from the seniors felt like a storm waiting to break over her.
On the steps of the main building, a group of senior students blocked the way, their smirks widening.
"Hey, junior!" one of them called out. "Stop right there."
Risha froze, gripping her dupatta tightly, fear running through her veins. She had heard stories of ragging - silly questions, embarrassing dares, sometimes even cruel jokes. And now it was her turn.
---
Risha's legs trembled as she slowly walked toward the group of seniors. Her dupatta slipped slightly from her shoulder, and she quickly adjusted it, her heart beating faster with every step. The laughter of the seniors echoed around her like a cruel soundtrack to her fear.
One of them, tall and stylish, wearing a black jacket, smirked at her.
"Relax, junior... we're not going to eat you," he said, his voice mocking but calm.
Risha lowered her eyes, clutching her bag strap tightly. "W...what do you want?" she whispered.
Another senior chuckled, pointing toward the college gate. Parked there, gleaming in the sunlight, was a shiny black Lamborghini. On the driver's seat, a boy with dark glasses leaned back casually, as though the whole world was beneath him.
The senior grinned mischievously.
"Your first task, Risha... walk up to him and propose."
Risha's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened in shock.
"W...what? Propose?!"
"Yes!" the seniors chorused, laughing loudly.
"If you're brave enough, then go. If not..." one of them tilted his head, "we'll make your life here very difficult."
Her hands turned cold. She looked once more at the intimidating car and the boy inside, her fear mixing with helplessness. The Lamborghini's engine purred faintly, as though daring her to come closer.
---
Risha's heart pounded as she forced her trembling legs to move toward the Lamborghini. Every step felt heavier than the last, but the mocking eyes of the seniors behind her left her no choice.
She stopped in front of the car. The boy in dark glasses looked up slowly, removing them with a bored expression. His presence was overwhelming-his branded jacket, the arrogant way he sat, and the way the luxury car seemed to shine only for him.
Risha swallowed hard, her voice barely escaping her lips.
"Will you... will you be mine?"
For a moment, silence hung in the air. The seniors burst out laughing in the background, waiting for the boy's reaction.
But instead of smiling or teasing her back, his face darkened. His eyes scanned her up and down, his jaw tightening.
"You?" he snapped, his voice filled with disgust. "A simple girl like you thinks she can stand in front of me?"
Before Risha could react, he stepped out of the car in fury. With one swift motion, he raised his hand and slapped her across the face.
Risha stumbled backward, tears welling in her eyes. The sting on her cheek burned, but what hurt more was the humiliation-the cruel laughter of the seniors echoing in her ears.
The boy's voice was cold and sharp.
"Don't ever dare to come near me again. Know your place."
Risha stood frozen, her dupatta trembling in her hands, her entire body shaking in fear and shame.
---
The slap across her face echoed, but Risha didn't cry. She wasn't the kind of girl to waste tears on stupid things. Normally, she avoided fights, avoided anger - but this boy's arrogance, his cruel attitude, was unbearable.
Her hand rose before she even realized it, and she slapped him back.
The sound stunned everyone. The seniors, who expected her to run away in shame, stared in disbelief.
Risha's voice was calm but cutting, like a blade wrapped in silk.
"I don't like to fight with anyone. I don't even raise my voice at people. But your ego... your attitude... it disgusts me."
The boy's face darkened. "Do you even know who I am? How dare you-"
Risha interrupted sharply, her eyes steady and fearless.
"I don't care who you are. Rich, poor, Lamborghini, Ferrari - all that doesn't matter. The way you treat people shows your real worth. And right now, you're worth nothing."
The seniors fell silent, shocked at her boldness. The boy clenched his fists, his pride stung harder than the slap.
Risha turned to leave, but before walking away, she looked back and said firmly:
"Remember this. Respect can't be forced. And I'll never bow down to a person like you."
The tension hung heavy, as if the whole campus had witnessed a battle - and a heroine had just declared war against arrogance itself.
---
The boy's jaw was still tight, his cheek stinging from Risha's slap. He stormed through the campus, ignoring the murmurs and whispers of students around him. No one dared to stop him.
He walked straight into his private room - a lavish, air-conditioned chamber on the top floor of the college building that no one else dared to enter. The walls were decorated with expensive artwork, the shelves filled with imported liquor bottles and luxury watches. It was more like a billionaire's lounge than a student's room.
He slammed the door shut and ripped off his jacket, throwing it onto the couch. His fists clenched as her words replayed in his head.
"Respect can't be forced. And I'll never bow down to a person like you."
His pride burned. No one had ever spoken to him like that. Not teachers, not seniors, not even family friends.
He picked up his phone and called someone.
"Come to my room. Now."
Within minutes, two of his close friends - also sons of powerful businessmen - entered. They could see the fury on his face.
"What happened, bro?" one of them asked.
The boy's voice was sharp, cold.
"That girl... Risha." He spat out her name like venom. "A junior... had the guts to slap me. Me."
The friends widened their eyes. No one could believe it.
He stood tall, his tone heavy with arrogance.
"I don't care who she is. I don't care where she comes from. She dared to insult me in front of everyone. For that... I'll destroy her. I'll make her regret ever stepping into this college."
His eyes gleamed with dangerous determination.
"She'll learn what it means to go against the son of the richest man in the world."
The friends smirked, already imagining the chaos to come.
But deep inside, something unexpected stirred in him - Risha's fearless eyes wouldn't leave his mind.
---
After the tense encounter, Risha walked through the corridors, her cheek still faintly red but her spirit unshaken. She wasn't the kind of girl to crumble under pressure - yet she could feel dozens of eyes on her.
Whispers floated behind her back.
"That's the girl who slapped him..."
"Is she mad? No one dares to touch him."
"She won't last a week in this college."
Some students smirked, others stared with curiosity, but most looked at her with disbelief, as if she had just committed an unforgivable sin.
Risha ignored them all, her head held high, though her heart thudded nervously. She clutched her bag tighter and finally found the classroom with her name on the list pasted outside.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open. The chatter inside stopped for a moment as students turned to look at her - some with judgment, some with admiration.
And then, from the last row, a familiar voice called softly:
"Risha?"
She froze. That voice... it had been years, but she knew it instantly. Her eyes searched the room and landed on a smiling face she could never forget - Advik, her childhood friend.
He stood up from his bench, taller now, more mature, but those warm eyes were the same. Risha's tense shoulders finally relaxed as relief washed over her.
"Advik..." she whispered, a small smile tugging at her lips.
He walked up to her, his grin widening.
"Unbelievable. After all these years... you're here, in my class?"
For the first time that day, Risha felt safe. In the middle of judgmental stares and hostile whispers, she had found an anchor - a friend who once knew her better than anyone else.
Risha sat beside Advik in the classroom. For a while, they both forgot about the stares and whispers. It felt like time had rolled back to their childhood days.
She smiled softly and asked, "So, how are uncle and aunty? It's been so long since I saw them."
Advik's expression warmed, the arrogance of the world outside vanishing in her presence.
"They're good. They'll be happy when I tell them I met you again."
Risha chuckled, her eyes lighting up with mischief. "Do you remember the time you climbed that apple tree near your house?"
Advik irritated, already guessing where this was going.
"You went up to pluck apples," Risha continued, laughing, "and dog started barking at you so loudly that you almost fell off!"
Advik rubbed the back of his neck, pretending to be annoyed. "Hey! That was your fault. You were the one who asked me to climb the tree in the first place."
Risha covered her mouth, trying not to burst out laughing. "And you still blame me? You're the one who slipped and screamed so loudly the neighbors came running!"
Advik narrowed his eyes playfully. "And you? You were standing there laughing at me instead of helping. You made fun of me then, and you're still making fun of me now."
She laughed harder, tears almost in her eyes. "Well... you were hilarious!"
For a moment, their laughter silenced the entire classroom, and everyone who was staring saw something rare: Risha's comfort, and Advik's softer side.
After a pause, Advik's tone changed, more serious.
"Risha... did you meet him?"
She shook her head gently. "No. I didn't meet him."
Advik looked at her steadily, his voice low but meaningful.
"You must. You have the rights."time passed,
By evening, the two of them walked out of the college together, their voices and laughter trailing behind like old times.
---
Risha reached home by evening, the weight of the day still clinging to her, though she tried not to show it. She was staying with her uncle and aunty while studying in the city.
As soon as she stepped in, her aunty asked warmly, "How was your first day, Risha?"
She smiled faintly, slipping off her sandals. "It was... different." Then, over dinner, she told them about the new college, the stares, and the ragging she faced. She carefully skipped the slap incident, not wanting them to worry too much.
Her uncle chuckled. "College life is always like that in the beginning. You'll adjust."
Her aunty nodded. "Just stay strong, dear. And focus on your studies."
After finishing her meal, Risha went upstairs to her room. She changed into her nightwear and sat by the window, watching the stars. Time passed quietly as the house grew still.
But when the night deepened, and the silence surrounded her, memories started to flood back.
She closed her eyes and saw the smiling faces of her parents.
Risha Mehek was the only child of her family, raised in the warmth of Mehek Mansion. Her childhood had been filled with laughter, traditions, and the endless love of her parents. She loved them more than anything in the world.
Her parents never wanted her to stay away from them for education.
"Why should you leave?" her mother had argued. "We can bring the best teachers to you."
But Risha had convinced them with her quiet determination.
"Mamma, Papa... I need to see the world outside. I need to grow on my own, learn on my own. Please trust me."
With heavy hearts, they had agreed - because their daughter's happiness mattered most.
Now, sitting alone in her room, Risha hugged her pillow tightly. She missed the comfort of her home, her father's protective words, and her mother's gentle touch.
Tears pricked at the corner of her eyes, but she wiped them quickly.
----
Inside Arnav's luxurious home(the guy who risha proposed) , the night was heavy and silent. The golden lights of the mansion couldn't hide the emptiness in his heart.
He lay stretched out on the leather couch, a half-empty bottle of alcohol in his hand. His shirt was unbuttoned, his hair messy, his eyes bloodshot. In his other hand, he held a worn-out photograph of a girl.
In the photo, she was smiling brightly, wearing a simple red frock. Her innocence glowed from the paper, a sharp contrast to the darkness in his world.
Arnav's lips trembled as he mumbled to the picture, his voice low and broken.
"Where are you, my princess? I've been waiting for you so long. Once I find you... I'll never let you go again."
He lifted the bottle and drank, his eyes never leaving the girl's face in the photo.
At that moment, the door creaked open and one of his closest friends walked in - Zayn, a classmate who had known Arnav long enough to see behind his arrogant mask.
"Arnav..." Zayn said gently, sitting beside him. "You've got to stop torturing yourself. She's gone. You have to move on."
The words struck like lightning. Arnav's grip tightened around the bottle, his eyes blazing with fury. In one swift motion, he stood up and punched Zayn across the face.
"Don't you dare say that!" Arnav roared, his voice echoing off the walls. "She's not dead! She can't be dead! I'll find her... I swear I'll find her!"
Zayn held his jaw, blood at his lip, but his eyes were full of pity. He knew Arnav's pain was eating him alive.
But Arnav wasn't listening. He staggered back to the couch, clutching the photo to his chest. Tears mixed with anger as he whispered hoarsely:
"Why did you leave me? You promised you'd never go. Why... why did you break your promise?"
The photo shook in his trembling hands as his gaze softened, filled with a desperate love. For the world, Arnav was the cruel bully, the arrogant heir of the richest man alive. But in this moment, alone with that photograph, he was just a broken boy mourning the one person who had been his light.
---
Risha hadn't slept well the previous night - thoughts of her parents kept her awake.
By morning, exhaustion clung to her, and when she finally opened her eyes, the clock struck fear into her. She was late.
She hurried across the campus, her dupatta fluttering behind her, breath uneven as she dashed toward her class. Just as she was about to step in, a firm hand caught her arm and yanked her back.
She was pulled into an empty room, the door slamming shut behind her.
Her heart pounded. Slowly, she lifted her gaze.