UNIVERSITY ARC
|"Divya, let's go get something to eat. You probably haven't eaten anything since morning."|
She tried to smile at the suggestion, but her lips barely curved. The mention of food momentarily sparked some light in her eyes, but just as quickly, it dimmed. She glanced away, her voice soft and unsure.
|"Manoj, you don't need to spend money on me. The university cafeteria is fine, isn't it?"|
Her voice, always gentle, carried a layer of unease. Divya was practical, always aware of other people's sacrifices, especially when it involved money. She had learned early on that nothing came easy in life, and every little expense mattered. But I shook my head, refusing to let her guilt sway me.
|"No, Divya, not today. I'm taking you somewhere special."|
She blinked, her eyebrows knitting in worry. Divya was the type to worry about small things—things most people wouldn't even think twice about. She never liked being a burden, never wanted to ask for more than she needed, and certainly didn't want anyone spending extra on her.
The idea that someone might want to do something for her without expecting anything in return felt foreign to her, and it showed in her uneasy expression.
Still, I could see the apprehension in her eyes. She didn't say it, but I knew what she was thinking. She worried about the money, about me spending it on her when she already felt like she owed me too much. But I didn't want her to feel that way, not today. I wanted her to feel special, if only for a little while. So, without waiting for more protests, I flagged down a taxi and guided her carefully toward my favorite restaurant, 'The Royal Meridian,' a place that had become my personal escape from the mundane.
As the taxi rolled to a stop in front of the grand building, Divya's eyes widened, just as they had the first time we'd come here. There was something almost childlike about her wonder, a sense of awe that she rarely allowed herself to feel.
|"Manoj! Are you serious? This place… it's too much. We must have made a mistake. Maybe we came to the wrong address?"|
I forced a smile, burying the mix of emotions bubbling inside me. There was something about her innocence, her constant worry about not deserving nice things, that always got to me. She deserved more than this—but this was just a start.
|"No, Divya. We're exactly where we're supposed to be. Stop worrying, just trust me, and follow."|
Divya hesitated for a moment, her anxiety clear in the way she bit her lip and glanced around nervously. She was always so cautious, as if expecting the world to collapse at any moment, but she nodded, letting her trust in me outweigh her fears.
But with every step we took inside, I could see her growing more uneasy. The opulence of the place seemed to swallow her up, making her feel small and out of place. It was in moments like these that her insecurities flared, reminding her of the divide between her world and the one she felt she didn't belong in.
|"Manoj, we should leave. I don't want to be a burden. This is too much."|
She whispered, her voice barely audible above the murmur of the restaurant's patrons. I stopped, turned to her, and smiled gently, hoping it would calm her.
|"Divya, I promised you, didn't I? Trust me. If you do, follow me without questions."|
Her eyes searched mine, as if looking for a sign of reassurance. After a moment, she exhaled softly, her shoulders relaxing just a bit. She gave in, allowing me to lead her to the VIP table I had reserved. Once seated, I could tell she was still nervous, but a flicker of curiosity danced in her eyes. It was the kind of curiosity that always made me wonder what thoughts ran through her mind.
|"Order whatever you like, Divya. Make yourself comfortable. I'll be back in a minute."|
I excused myself to the washroom. I gave her time to browse the menu while I stepped away. Divya was finally adjusted and sat comfortably, the food she had ordered laid out in front of her. Seeing the favourite food in front, she felt so happy. But the god wrote her fate differently, she heard it—a voice which can shake her body with fear, a voice filled with malice.
|"Divya! Is that really you?"|
Divya's body went rigid, as if she had been struck. Her hands trembled, and anyone could see her struggling to maintain her composure. She didn't even need to turn around to know who had spoken. Her fear was so deeply ingrained that the mere sound of this voice was enough to undo her.
|"Neha…"|
Divya whispered the name like a curse, her fear palpable. Divya had always been sensitive, easily hurt by others harsh words, and Neha had taken full advantage of that weakness.
Neha's friend, always eager to follow her lead, spoke up.
|"Neha! Is that Divya sitting there? I can't believe it."|
Divya's mind must have been spinning. These memories flooding her—memories of how Neha had bullied her, humiliated her, made her feel less than human. Neha had always been the queen bee, using her power and influence to trample over those she deemed weaker, and Divya had been her favorite target. But today, it was clear that Neha hadn't expected to see her here, in a place so far removed from the university cafeteria.
|"Yes, it's her! Looks like the punishment we gave her earlier wasn't enough. Let's see what she's doing here."|
Neha's friends followed her, their confusion turning into amusement as they neared Divya. Neha wasted no time grabbing Divya by the hair, yanking her toward her with brutal force.
|"Neha, she must be crazy! First, she orders expensive food in the cafeteria, and now she's sitting like she belongs here. It's hilarious!"|
Neha's eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure.
|"What's a poor dog like you doing here, Divya? Tell me, what business do you have in a place like this? You can't even afford a decent meal on campus, and now you're here?"|
Divya's body shook uncontrollably. She was always so careful, always so afraid of drawing attention, but Neha knew exactly how to push her buttons. Divya had never been able to stand up to her, not once. The fear Neha instilled in her was paralyzing, and it was clear that the trauma still lingered, even now.
But when Divya remained silent, Neha's patience was snapped.
|"Are you deaf? I'm talking to you!"|
Neha's grip on her hair tightened, causing Divya to wince in pain.
Desperation filled Divya's voice as she tried to hold Neha's hand, hoping to loosen her grip.
|"Neha, please… Stop. I'll do whatever you want, but not here. Please, if you want to hurt me, do it back at the campus. Just… not here."|
Divya wasn't just pleading for herself. She was pleading for her dignity, for some small sliver of peace in a world that seemed bent on humiliating her. But Neha was unmoved, her smile growing even more cruel.
|"How dare you touch my hand, you worthless creature! I think you're getting too comfortable. Maybe I haven't been hard enough on you lately."|
Tears streamed down Divya's face. She wasn't just scared—she was defeated, broken by the constant torment. And yet, even in that moment, she still clung to some shred of hope that Neha might let her go.
|"Neha, please... I don't want anyone here to see me like this. Please…"|
One of Neha's friends chimed in, fueling the fire.
|"Neha, don't listen to her. She's trying to escape again. Even after all we've done to her, she's still defiant. If we let her go now, she'll never learn her place."|
Another friend added smugly.
|"Yeah, Neha. Look at her, she has already forgotten everything and still dares to waste her scholarship money trying to compete with us, even though we punished her this morning. I think again we need to remind her where she belongs. Not like this morning, it must be even higher."|
Neha turned toward Divya, her expression disgusted.
|"Aren't you ashamed, Divya? Again throwing away your scholarship money like this? I thought I'd let you go, but your grovelling and negligence has changed my mind. I won't let you off that easily."|
Without warning, Neha slapped her hard across the face. The impact reopened the stitches on Divya's wounds, causing fresh blood to flow. The loud slap echoed in the restaurant, drawing everyone's attention. Humiliated and broken, Divya immediately turned back and started running toward the entrance.
As I was returning from the washroom, I noticed Divya was running toward the restaurant's entrance, her face a mask of fear. My instincts kicked in, and I hurried toward her, my hand reaching out just in time to catch her by the wrist. The sudden stop made her whip around, her eyes wide with panic.
When she realized it was me, the fear in her eyes didn't fade—it grew even further. She whispered, her voice trembling with desperation.
|"Manoj! We have to leave. Right now. Please..."|
Her plea was laced with urgency, and I could see that something was terribly wrong. My heart raced as I tried to make sense of the situation.
|"What happened, Divya? Is everything okay?"|
Before she could answer, my eyes fell on the fresh blood staining her shirt. The stitches from her earlier wounds had torn open again, and the sight of her blood made my heart pound harder. A surge of protectiveness coursed through me.
|"Divya! You're bleeding again! What happened? Who did this to you?"|
Her silence spoke volumes. The horror in her expression confirmed my worst suspicions before she even had the chance to answer. Whatever she had hoped to avoid, whatever she feared the most—it had already come to pass.
I didn't need her to say it.
|"Neha is here, isn't she?"|
I asked, my voice darkening with anger.
Divya's silence gave me all the confirmation I needed.
My jaw tightened.
|"Good, this ends today."|
Her face paled, and I could see the terror mounting behind her eyes.
|"No, Manoj… please, no."|
She begged, clutching at my arm as if trying to physically pull me away from what she feared would happen next.
|"Manoj, I told you before—don't get involved with her. It'll only make things worse."|
But I wasn't listening anymore. The sight of her blood, her terror, and the knowledge of who had done this lit a fire inside me that I could no longer control. I turned, taking her hand in mine, my voice low and firm.
|"You don't know everything, Divya. Just trust me. Calm down and come with me."|
We had barely turned when I saw them—Neha and her little entourage of cruel followers, approaching us with smug smiles plastered across their faces. Neha's presence was as oppressive as ever, her arrogant posture screaming that she was in control of the situation.
Finally I saw her, for the first time. She looks so modern. But her looks were terrible. A sense of pride and cruelty was clear in her eyes.
I felt Divya tighten her grip on my hand, instinctively shrinking behind me, as if I could shield her from the nightmare that was approaching.
Neha's voice drips with mock affection.
|"Oh, Divya. Dear, did you really think you could escape from us? This is a public place, you know. There are too many eyes here for you to hide behind. So why don't you just come with us quietly, or we'll make it more painful. The choice is yours."|
Divya's grip on my hand tightened even more, her fingers trembling with fear. She was terrified, and I could feel it in every inch of her. Her entire body seemed to quake under the weight of Neha's words.
I turned to face Neha, keeping my voice steady and calm, though the anger bubbling beneath the surface was barely contained.
|"Sorry, she's not coming anywhere with you. So leave her alone."|
For a moment, my words seemed to hang in the air. But Neha wasn't someone who responded to a calm reason, and I knew it. Her expression remained unchanged, her smirk deepening as she ignored my warning.
Neha sneered, her eyes flashing with amusement.
|"And who are you, exactly? You think you can face me and take her away? Just leave her, and I'll spare you. This is none of your business. I have no intention and need for you to get hurt."|
One of Neha's friends, always eager to pile on, chimed in.
|"Hey mister, you should feel lucky. Neha's in a good mood today. Run while you can, before she changes her mind."|
But Neha, ever the predator, was studying me more closely now. She squinted, a flicker of recognition crossing her face as the silence between us grew heavier.
She began, a slow, mocking smile spreading across her lips.
|"Wait a minute… You're that guy from the cafeteria the other day. Weren't you wearing some torn-up old clothes?"|
The mention of that day, of how I had looked—shabby and exhausted—made her and her friends erupt into cruel laughter.
One of her lackeys said between giggles.
|"Yes, Neha! That was him. How fitting! No wonder Divya started acting strange after that. I think he's the one been giving her courage!"|
Neha's eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction. She took a step closer, her gaze never leaving me.
|"So you're the one who's been filling her head with ideas, huh? Maybe I should deal with you first."|
Before I could respond, Divya moved quickly, stepping between us, her desperation pushing her to speak.
|"Neha, no! He doesn't know anything about you. If you want to hurt someone, hurt me! Leave him out of this."|
She cried out, her voice shaky but determined. Neha's cruel smile only widened as she listened to Divya's plea.
Neha cooed, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
|"Oh, how sweet. Why are you so eager to protect him? Has he been making you that happy?"|
Her words were laced with an insinuation that made Divya anger. The intention of her behind them was clear, and I could feel Divya's fear shift into something new—something darker, her voice growing stronger and deeper by showing a forefinger towards her like she was giving a warning.
|"Neha, you can say whatever you want about me, do whatever you want to me. I don't care. But don't you dare go after him."|
Neha's face twisted with fury, her smile evaporating in an instant.
|"What did you just say?"|
She hissed, stepping closer, her hands curling into fists as she shouted.
|"How dare you talk back to me like that? I should kill you right here, right now!"|
I had been holding back my anger, trying to keep it contained for Divya's sake, but Neha's words shattered my restraint. My patience snapped. But before I could act, a new voice interrupted the tense standoff.
|"Baby, what's going on? Is everything alright? Do you want me to handle it?"|
The voice came from behind Neha, and when I turned to see, I spotted a tall man, his body covered in tattoos, stepping forward with a menacing glare. Neha's face twisted with rage as she turned to him.
|"No, baby. I'll handle this disgusting bitch myself."|
A bitch...?
Before she could finish her sentence, I struck. The slap I delivered was swift, fueled by all the anger and frustration I had been holding back. It landed hard, echoing through the room like a thunderclap.
Did she call Divya a bitch? How dare she? The rage inside me wasn't cooldown. If she was not a girl, I definitely killed her at a spot.
Neha stumbled backward, her hand flying to her face, her expression one of shock and disbelief. The room fell silent, every eye now on us.
My voice was low and unyielding as I spoke.
|"Don't ever mess with her again. If you do, I swear that will be the last day for you."|
Neha looked stunned, as if she had been hit by a bolt of lightning. Her eyes begin to blur. She crumpled to the floor, from the force of the blow. The bleeding started from her nose. Her tattooed boyfriend rushed to her side, panic overtaking his tough-muscle builded body.
|"Baby! Baby, are you okay?"|
But I wasn't paying attention to him anymore. My focus was on Divya—her safety.
Divya was completely in terrible shock as she asked.
|"Manoj! What...just….have you done?"|