The second day didn't carry the same excitement.
Reality had settled in.
Students now moved with purpose—finding classrooms, adjusting to schedules, blending into a system that clearly divided people without saying it out loud.
And today—
That division became real.
Near the notice board, Nisha, Ruhi, and Ayaan stood together, scanning their class allocations.
"Block B," Ayaan said, relieved. "That's mine… and yours, Nisha."
"Good," Nisha nodded. "At least something is normal."
She turned. "Ruhi?"
Ruhi didn't answer.
Her eyes moved over the list again.
And again.
"I… I'm not here," she said softly.
"What?" Nisha stepped closer.
Ayaan leaned in too.
There it was.
"Ruhi – Block D," Ayaan read out.
Silence.
"That's literally the other side of campus," Nisha said, annoyed.
Ruhi forced a small smile. "It's okay… I'll manage."
"You sure?" Nisha asked, studying her.
Ruhi nodded. "Yeah. It's just a class."
Ayaan hesitated. "Call us if you need anything."
"I will."
Nisha didn't look convinced—but she let it go.
"Fine. We'll meet after class."
Ruhi nodded again.
And just like that—
They separated.
Block D was quieter.
Too quiet.
Ruhi walked slowly, her footsteps echoing against the empty corridor. She checked her schedule again, as if hoping she had read it wrong.
"Room 204…" she whispered.
She found it.
The door was slightly open.
She stepped in.
Empty.
No students. No teacher.
Just silence.
"Maybe I'm early…" she murmured, placing her bag down.
Minutes passed.
Too many.
Something felt off.
She walked toward the door—
"Lost?"
Ruhi froze.
Three boys stood there.
Blocking the exit.
Their expressions made her heart drop instantly.
"I… I think I'm in the wrong class," she said quickly, trying to move past them.
One of them stepped forward.
"No. You're right where you should be."
Ruhi's grip tightened on her bag.
"I need to go."
"Why the hurry?" another one smirked. "Class hasn't even started."
"I said I need to go," she repeated, her voice shaking now.
"Arre, relax," the third one said, moving behind her. "We're just talking."
Ruhi's breathing became uneven.
"I don't want to talk."
They laughed.
"Attitude?" one of them said. "From welfare?"
That word hit.
Hard.
Ruhi stepped back.
"I just want to leave… please."
"Then say it properly," one of them said, grabbing her wrist suddenly.
Ruhi gasped. "Leave me!"
Her voice broke.
The grip tightened.
"Why so scared?" he said, leaning closer. "We haven't done anything yet."
"Please… you're hurting me…" she cried, trying to pull away.
Another hand grabbed her shoulder.
Her body froze.
Completely.
"I said let me go!" she cried, her voice trembling, but weak.
"Oh? And what will you do?" one of them mocked. "Complain?"
They laughed again.
The sound echoed.
Loud.
Cruel.
Ruhi's vision blurred with tears.
Her hands trembled.
She couldn't think.
Couldn't move.
Couldn't—
"Enough."
The word cut through everything.
Cold.
Sharp.
Final.
The grip on her loosened instantly.
All three turned.
Bunny stood at the door.
His expression—
Wasn't calm.
It was dangerous.
"What do you think you're doing?" he asked, his voice low.
"Bro, we were just—"
"I didn't ask."
Silence.
"Leave."
They hesitated.
"Now."
That was enough.
They left.
Quickly.
Without another word.
The room fell silent.
But Ruhi wasn't okay.
She stood there, shaking, tears streaming down her face, her breathing uneven.
Her fingers trembled uncontrollably.
Bunny looked at her.
His jaw clenched.
"Can you walk?" he asked.
No response.
She didn't move.
Didn't even look at him.
"Ruhi."
She flinched.
That was it.
"Damn it," he muttered.
He walked forward, grabbed her wrist—not harshly, but firmly—and pulled her along.
"Come."
She stumbled slightly but followed.
Her mind blank.
Her body numb.
Meanwhile—
"I don't like this," Nisha said, walking fast.
"She's not answering," Ayaan added, checking his phone again.
Nisha's expression hardened. "We're going to Block D."
They didn't wait.
They started moving faster.
At the main block—
Mia stood near the corridor, arms crossed—but for once, she didn't look composed.
Her usual cold expression had cracks in it.
Her eyes weren't focused.
Her thoughts were elsewhere.
"Mia."
She looked up.
Shivaay stood in front of her.
Observing.
"You've been distracted," he said.
"I'm fine," she replied instantly.
He didn't move.
Didn't react.
Just watched her.
"Since morning," he added.
Mia looked away.
"I said I'm fine."
Her tone was sharper now.
Defensive.
Shivaay tilted his head slightly. "You don't look fine."
Silence.
For a second—
She almost said something.
But she stopped herself.
"I don't need you to analyze me," she said coolly.
And just like that—
The wall was back.
Shivaay held her gaze for a moment longer.
Then stepped back.
"Suit yourself," he said calmly.
Mia nodded.
But as he turned to leave—
Her eyes followed him.
Softly.
Unnoticed.
There was something there.
Something she never showed.
Something she never said.
A feeling she had buried under attitude and distance.
A quiet crush—
That she would never admit.
Not even to herself.
And definitely not to him.
She looked away quickly.
But her fingers tightened slightly.
Because the truth was—
She wasn't fine.
Not even close.
At the parking area—
Bunny opened the car door.
"Sit."
Ruhi hesitated.
Then slowly obeyed.
He got in, slammed the door, and started the engine.
The car sped out of campus.
Silence filled the space.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
Ruhi's tears didn't stop.
Her hands trembled in her lap.
Her breathing uneven.
Bunny gripped the steering wheel tightly.
Anger still burned in him.
But now—
It wasn't just anger.
After a few minutes—
A broken sob escaped her.
Soft.
But enough.
His jaw tightened.
"Nothing happened," he said, his voice rough. "You're fine."
Ruhi shook her head immediately.
"No…" she whispered. "I… I couldn't move…"
Her voice cracked.
"I tried… but I couldn't…"
Silence.
"I was scared…" she added, barely audible.
Bunny didn't reply immediately.
But when he did—
"They won't touch you again."
His tone was final.
Dangerous.
Ruhi didn't respond.
She just cried.
And for the first time—
Bunny didn't know what to do.
His anger.
His control.
His coldness—
None of it worked here.
He glanced at her for a second.
Then back at the road.
The car sped forward.
Carrying two people—
One shattered.
One furious.
And somewhere between them—
Something had changed.