**Afternoon — "Childanga Hill Viewpoint"**
Soft sunlight filtered through the light mist, falling on the mountain peaks.
The students wandered happily, taking photos.
But Sneha seemed unusually quiet today.
From a distance, Anirban Sir noticed — Sneha was very calm, as though lost in thought.
The group of girls climbed upward one by one.
Suddenly Anirban Sir hurried toward one cluster of students — they had wandered too far into a corner of the hill.
D.D. Sir was climbing up from below.
He glanced back, then noticed — far off, Sneha standing alone.
D.D. Sir walked toward her.
"Hey, you insolent girl—"
The moment Sneha heard his voice, fear gripped her.
D.D. Sir continued,
"You know, Sneha, I once thought you were a very promising student.
But now I see you're extremely cunning.
You and that junior Sir teamed up to humiliate me!!!
How dare you both? You're nothing but a characterless student!!!"
Sneha protested,
"Sir, you already know I didn't place that letter in your room.
Riya, Vaishali, and Megha did it.
Then why are you behaving like this with me now?
I'll tell the Head Ma'am everything about you.
Last time I stopped myself for Sir's sake, but this time I won't let you go."
Hearing Sneha's defiant voice, D.D. Sir was stunned.
How had this quiet girl suddenly become so bold?
But D.D. Sir quickly changed tactics.
D.D. Sir sneered,
"You'll complain against me? Go ahead!
I know everything.
Last night when Anurag Sir went to your room — there was no one else there except you and that scoundrel Sir.
Anurag isn't even married — what kind of pull does he have toward a student that he has to visit her room at night in a hotel?"
Sneha froze.
She never imagined Sir would say something like this.
D.D. Sir went on,
"Do you think everyone is a fool?
What kind of relationship do you have with that Sir?
He shows a little too much 'sympathy' toward girls like you, doesn't he?
Everyone says you two are very close.
Some even say you've enchanted him with your charms.
Tell me — what exactly have you done with that lecherous Sir?"
Sneha stood paralyzed.
A fire raged inside her heart.
"Sir, what are you saying! Don't speak ill of Anurag Sir—"
D.D. Sir laughed mockingly.
"Oh! So your Anurag Sir is completely pure and innocent!
Do you know why that Anurag acted like he was saving you from me?
So he could enjoy my share himself!"
Sneha exploded with anger.
"Sir, shut up!"
D.D. Sir's voice dripped with bitter sarcasm.
"I know — the two of you are conspiring to frame me.
So he can play the hero and you can play the victim.
You're playing a very nice game!"
At that exact moment —
A firm voice roared from behind:
"Step away from her."
Anirban Sir.
He walked forward slowly, his eyes filled with an unusual hardness.
D.D. Sir flinched but didn't back down.
"Oh, so you've come too? For this girl!
You're not even from our school.
Fine! Now everyone's going to conspire against me?"
Anirban Sir replied,
"I haven't come to conspire against you.
People like you are a disgrace to the name of teacher.
If you insult another teacher in front of a student, if you threaten a girl — then you have crossed the boundaries of basic humanity."
Sneha stood to one side.
Anirban Sir turned to her and said calmly,
"Don't be afraid, Sneha.
No one can tarnish your name.
I'm here."
Then, looking back at D.D. Sir with grave seriousness, he continued,
"I'm reporting this to the school authorities today.
Say whatever you want — but from this moment on, you no longer have the right to stand in front of any girl."
D.D. Sir snarled,
"Don't poke your nose into our school's matters.
You don't know me.
I won't spare any of you."
With that, D.D. Sir stormed away.
Anirban Sir looked at Sneha.
"Are you alright?"
Sneha nodded silently.
D.D. Sir's words from moments ago still echoed in her mind.
She didn't want Anurag Sir's reputation as a teacher to be ruined because of her.
Anirban Sir reassured her gently,
"Don't worry.
That vile man won't be able to harm any of you.
Come, let's go down."
The two of them slowly began descending.
---
From below, Medha, Atreyee, Tanushree, and Rupasi watched Anirban Sir and Sneha walking side by side.
Tanushree whispered,
"Now it's him with her too?"
Rupasi said,
"Anirban Sir with such a beautiful girl!
Ugh — look at those boobs!
Medha, your chance is over!
Forget dreaming about your Sir while that girl is around!"
A fierce burning began inside Medha's chest.
---
The group of students walked along the mountain path.
Some took selfies, some laughed, some gazed at the valley below.
Sneha found it very difficult to walk —
the path was rocky, gravel scraping under her shoes.
Suddenly her foot twisted.
At that instant, Anirban Sir caught her hand and said,
"Walk slowly — you'll fall."
Sneha froze.
Anirban Sir held her hand firmly.
She felt a wave of shyness —
being naturally very reserved, any man's touch embarrassed her.
But Anirban Sir didn't let go.
To him, Sneha was a responsibility — one entrusted by his dearest friend, more precious than life itself.
Medha's friends once again pointed out how Anirban Sir was holding Sneha's hand while walking.
Medha's heart felt like it was being torn apart.
[She's my cousin… Sneha… and yet she stabbed me in the back!
My parents love her so much!
And now she's taking my love away too!
The one who used to hover around Anurag Sir is now beside Anirban Sir!
What is she doing?
Is she going to pull everyone toward herself?
Why? Why?
Why is she like this?
A characterless girl!
Just because she's beautiful, does every man belong to her?
Will she take everyone away?]
A strange, intense jealousy began to burn inside Medha.
---
**The Next Day**
The students walked in groups toward beautiful Joygaon.
Anirban Sir stayed close to Sneha at all times —
when her foot slipped, he caught her hand and helped her up;
when she wanted water, he handed her the bottle;
when a sudden cold wind blew, he wrapped his own coat around her shoulders.
Girls from both Meghmala Girls' High School and Pratapnagar Girls' High School noticed the two of them.
Word spread among them: Sneha was the weakness of all the handsome, kind Sirs.
Some even started comparing — would Sneha suit Anurag Sir better, or Anirban Sir?
A debate had already begun between girls from the two schools.
Some said she'd look perfect with Anirban Sir, others with Anurag Sir.
A few even joked that if the two Sirs fought over Sneha, it would be epic.
All of this only deepened Medha's pain.
"Why so much care? Why so much affection?"
"Why is Anirban Sir taking such good care of Sneha?"
Bitterness gathered inside Medha's chest.
---
**Evening — Hotel Garden**
In the half-light, the hotel garden was lit up with colorful lights.
Everyone sat chatting with hot soup in hand.
Sneha was coughing lightly —
the weather had turned cold, and her throat hurt.
Anirban Sir immediately became concerned.
"Hey, you'll catch a cold!"
He came behind her and wrapped a warm shawl around her shoulders.
"Here — take this."
Sneha was surprised.
"Sir, this is yours!"
"So what? If you fall sick, Anurag won't forgive me."
There was a smile in his voice, but deep care in his eyes.
Medha watched from afar —
her jaw clenched tight.
"No… no more.
I can't tolerate Sneha anymore!"
---
**Night — Medha's Room**
Medha lay motionless on the bed.
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
Slowly, memories flooded back — every moment since Sneha first came to their house, every time Medha had felt pain because of her.
Every single time she felt insecure around Sneha.
In looks, studies, behavior — Sneha always outshone her.
And not just that.
Medha felt Sneha had taken away her own people — her mother, her father.
Everyone loved Sneha so much, praised her day and night!!!
More than they ever praised Medha!!!
And now Sneha had crossed every limit.
She had taken the man Medha loved more than her own life!
How could Medha live without Anirban Sir?
"Everyone says Sneha is innocent, quiet.
But I know there's something else inside her… she's a horrible girl."
She remembered that moment on the bus —
when Anirban Sir had held her head so gently.
Every word Anirban Sir had ever said echoed in her mind.
He had said he would be hers.
Anirban Sir was supposed to belong only to her.
But today — who was he looking at?
Sneha.
Jealousy spread through her chest like wildfire.
Medha thought,
"After Anurag Sir, now Anirban Sir too…?
Sneha was born in this world just to mesmerize men!
If she stays alive, she'll destroy so many women's homes!
She'll keep seducing everyone!
No — I won't let this happen."
"She's a terrible girl!
She has no right to live in this world."
In the moonlight, Medha's face was no longer soft —
it had turned terrifying!
To be continued...