Kriti looked at Anuskha and murmured something in her ear. Anuskha's eyes widened, but deep down, she understood-this was the only option left for them.

Out on the ground , the atmosphere buzzed with energy. Some students were scattered across the field, laughing and playing, while others sat in groups, busy with after school practice and all, the air filled with the loud noises.

Palak's eyes were fixed on Ria with an intensity sharp enough to cut glass-as if she was ready to kill her just with a stare. Suddenly, Ria, Nia, and Mehak noticed them. Exchanging glances, they began walking purposefully toward the group.

Anuskha was seated under the shade of a tree, focused on solving questions with Manya. But even in her concentration, she sensed the tension-she looked up, eyes alert, as the girls approached.

Riya tried to act cool, stepping in front of Palak, who was holding a juice can. But Palak completely ignored her, not even acknowledging her presence.

Riya forced a casual tone, "Oh ho, Palak! Toh tum yahan ho? Suna hai tum aaj kal music classes zyada ja rahi ho?"

["Oh ho, Palak! So you're here? Heard you've been going to music classes a lot lately?"]

Manya, standing beside Palak, replied without looking at Riya, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Haan, kyun nahi jaayegi? Paise tumhare ghar wale thodi dete hain." Anushka chuckled softly at Manya's words, and Palak let out a short laugh, shaking her head slightly.

["Yeah, why wouldn't she go? It's not like your family's paying for it."]

Nia glared at Manya, annoyed. "Har baat mein kudhne ki aadat nahi hai tumhein?"

["Do you have to butt into everything?"]

Palak took a sip of her cold drink and smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Waise hi jaise tum jab Adhvik ko dekh ke kudhne lagti ho. Jaise abhi godh mein chadh jaaogi."

["Just like how you jump every time you see Adhvik? Looks like you'll be in his lap any second now."]

Adhvik, who was sipping his cold drink nearby, choked on his drink. Pranjal patted his back quickly, startled.

Vatsal came closer, sensing drama. "Kya lagta hai, kya ho raha hai?"

["What do you think is going on here?"]

Pranjal shrugged, clueless. "Pata nahi bro... samajh nahi aa raha, bas awaz aa rahi hai."

["No idea bro... I just hear voices."]

Adhvik deadpanned, "Mahan aatmao, tumhare saath hi khada hoon. Mujhe kaise pata hoga? Chup chaap kalesh dekho, kalesh."

["Oh noble souls, I'm standing with you. How would I know? Just quietly enjoy the drama."]

Nia stepped closer to Palak, her temper rising. "Oye Palak! Uchal mat zyada, samjhi? Itna ghamand kyun tere paas?"

["Hey Palak! Don't act so high and mighty, got it? What's with all the arrogance?"]

Palak chuckled, confident and cool. "Kyuki sasti cheezein rakhne ka shauk nahi hai hamare paas. Isliye mehngi aur quality wali cheezein rakhte hain-jaise ki ghamand."

["Because we don't keep cheap things around. That's why we prefer expensive, quality stuff-like arrogance."]

Riya folded her arms, her attitude rising.
Riya said with attitude, "Ghamand toh tumhara aab tootega. You know, Mehak ko ma'am ne cheerleader bana diya hai! Ab wo gana gayegi, sabko motivate karegi..." She stepped closer to Palak and whispered, "...and also Pranjal."

["Your arrogance is about to get crushed. You know, Ma'am made Mehak the new cheerleader! She's going to sing, motivate everyone..."
"...and also Pranjal."]

Then Riya stepped back with a smug little smile, like she'd just scored a point no one could come back from. The kind of smile that begged for a dramatic response.

Anushka silently moved to Palak's side, her eyes narrowing slightly as she scanned Palak's face for a reaction. But Palak was still-too still. And that made Anushka's gut twist.

Anushka thinking, heart thudding ,"Yeh toofan se pehle ki shanti hai... sab kuch itna chup kyun hai? I just hope aaj zyada raayta na phailay. Saaf karne mein waqt lagta hai yaar..."

["This is the calm before the storm... Why is everything so quiet? I just hope the mess isn't too big today. Cleaning it up always takes time..."]

Palak stood.

Not just stood-she rose from the bench like a queen.
Her movement was slow, deliberate, regal. She looked down at the three so-called "cheap kalis," her smile sugar-sweet, her eyes anything but.

The air changed. The vibe flipped.
This wasn't just a comeback.
This was a war paint-under-a-lip gloss-smile kind of energy.

Manya was about to say something when Palak stood up, stopping her.

Palak smiled sweetly, her eyes icy calm. "Woh kya hai na Riya, ma'am ne usse isliye chuna... kyunki maine offer reject kar diya. Aur haan, galatfehmi door karne ke liye-ladko ko cheer karna, unke liye gaana gaana, unko impress karna-that's not my style.
Ladke mere liye gaayein, mere liye chillayein, mere piche bhage -that's more my style.
Rahi baat cheerleader ki position ki... woh khairaat mein rakh lo"

["You know what, Riya? Ma'am chose her because I turned down the offer. And just to clear your little misunderstanding-cheering for boys, singing for them, trying to impress them-that's not my style.
Boys singing for me, shouting my name, chasing after me-that's more my style.
As for the cheerleader position... you can keep that charity."]

She winked at Riya and turned to walk away, but then paused and turned back. "And you know what, Riya? Ek tip-beetroot juice ka daag jaldi nahi jaata." And with that, she flung the juice right onto Riya's uniform.

["Oh, and one tip-beetroot juice stains don't come out easily."]

The can landed perfectly in the dustbin behind her.

Adhvik stared in awe, "Bhai... dekha? Kya mast shot maara! Can seedha dustbin mein. Impressive."

["Bro... did you see that? What a shot! The can went straight into the bin. Impressive."]

Vatsal hit Adhvik's head, "Oye paglet! Dustbin or can ki padi hai? Yahan mera bhai Palak ke bhayanak roop se shock mein hai!"

["You idiot! You're worried about the can and dustbin? My guy here is traumatized by Palak's terrifying form!"]

Pranjal stood frozen, stunned at what he just witnessed.

Anushka snatched a napkin from their hands, her grin growing wider.
Anushka walked up, grinning. "Woh kya hai na, Palak ke haath kharab ho gaye na. Saaf karne ke liye. Byeee!" She laughed and walked away, leaving chaos behind her.
["Well, Palak's hands got dirty, right? Someone's gotta clean it up. Byeeee!"]

Palak was walking ahead with Manya and Anushka, while the boys trailed behind them - almost like loyal pets following their master, time itself slowing in their footsteps.

Suddenly, a boy stepped in front of Palak, halting her in her tracks. Without a word, he knelt down, holding out a single rose, its red petals trembling slightly in the breeze.

Manya and Anushka turned to each other, their eyes wide with shock, an unspoken question hanging between them.
Vatsal and Adhvik exchanged glances too, their faces mirroring the same stunned disbelief.

But it was Pranjal whose expression shifted most noticeably. His jaw tightened, and his hand, previously relaxed, clenched into a fist at his side. A low, almost involuntary cluck escaped his throat - sharp and bitter. Something in him recoiled at the sight, something unspoken, something he didn't quite want to admit even to himself.

Palak's eyes widened in shock as she looked at Manya, her mind racing with thoughts. "Maine ek line kya maari, Manya ne itni jaldi ladke ka bhi intezam kar diya...manna padega...Manya bhut tejh hai tu, ab isse ache se manna kar deti hu kyuki Manya ne bola hai bhai...Acha todhi lagega uski help kr raha aur main rude behave kru"

[What did I just say? Manya arranged a guy so quickly? I'll have to agree...Manya is really smart,it's a good idea...i reject him respectfully beacusee It's a bit annoying that he's helping and I'm behaving rudely ].

Meanwhile, Manya was looking at the boy, thinking, "Yeh kon naya aaya be? Palak ko impress karne waise dekha jaye toh...and she looked at Pranjal and smiled...kuch bura nahi hai, aag lag rahi hai"

[Who's this new guy? Let's see how he's gonna impress Palak....he's not bad, he's got some spark.]

Palak tried to say something to Manya but was interrupted by the boy, who stepped forward, holding out a rose. His friends stood alongside him.

"Palak, be my girlfriend? Main tumhe pasand karta hoon aur bahut achi lagti ho tum...Aaj ke baad se agar tum meri girlfriend banogi toh tum school mein apne hisab se rehna...Mere papa trustee mein se ek hain, koi tumhe kuch nahi kahega...Aur tum meri girlfriend kehlaogi"

[Palak, be my girlfriend? I like you and you look really good...If you become my girlfriend from today, you'll be able to live life on your own terms in school...My dad is one of the trustees, no one will say anything to you...And you'll be known as my girlfriend].

Adhvik looked at Pranjal, smirking, and sang, "Jal rahi hai aag, yeh malang aang aang" making sure Pranjal heard him.

[The fire is burning, this is crazy]

Vatsal joined in, singing more dramatically, "Dekh toh kon hai woh, le gaya tumhare sukh chain ko" placing his hand on his forehead.

[Look who's here, he's taken away your peace]

Manya couldn't help but laugh and chimed in, "Aab toh tumhari dulhaniya le jayega, dholi mein baithake le jayega" trying to control her laughter.

[Now he'll take your bride away, he'll take her away in a palanquin].

Pranjal's face grew more irritated, and he said in a calm but angry tone, "Can you guys be serious for some seconds? Dikh nahi raha hai Palak ko koi purpose kar raha"

[Can't you see Palak is being proposed].

Vatsal playfully replied, "Tujhe kyu dikkat ho rahi hai? She is just your friend, nah yaar" raising his eyebrows.

[Why are you bothered? She's just your friend, isn't she?]

Pranjal didn't respond, but his face showed his frustration. "Woh woh...woh haa, but age thodi hai, iski padhai important hai"

[That...that...yes, but she's young, her studies are important].

Vatsal, Adhvik, and Manya gave him a bored look, but Anushka was worried, her focus solely on Palak because she knew the boy wasn't someone to be with.

Palak stood him up and said, "See, thank you but I can't reciprocate your feelings...Tum hoge popular but I don't like you, ya koi feelings nahi hain...So sorry, I can't"

[See, thank you but I don't feel the same way...You might be popular, but I don't like you, or don't have any feelings for you...So sorry, I can't].

A look of relief crossed Pranjal's face, but it vanished when he saw the boy holding Palak's hands tightly. Palak tried to pull her hands away.

The boy held Palak's hands tightly and said, "Haa kyu pasand nahi kar sakti? Kya problem hai? Ameer ghar ka beta hoon, khush rakhunga...Bhai sab kuch dunga...Gifts, cheeze...Naam bhi...Popularity ke saath dikkat kya hai?"

[Why can't you like me? What's the problem? I'm from a rich family, I'll make you happy...I'll give you everything...Gifts, things...Name...What's the problem with popularity?.]

Palak's face showed controlled anger, her thoughts racing,"Manya ne hi isse madad lene ko kaha tha, isliye main apna gussa control kar rahi hoon"

[Manya must have asked him to help, that's why I'm controlling my anger].

Manya's eyes widened in shock, "Abhi tak iska muh kaise nahi tutha? How the hell Palak is listening to all this?"

[How hasn't his mouth gotten slapped yet? ].

Palak tried to speak again,"Hey listen, mein bol rahi hoon......."

[Hey, listen, I'm talking].

But the boy (Dhruv) held Palak's hand even closer, trying to get near her,"Aise nahi toh jabardasti hi sa..."

[If not like this, then maybe forcefully...].

Just then, someone held the boy's hand, making him release Palak's hand. Palak looked up to see Pranjal, his eyes blazing with anger as he tried to control himself. Pranjal tried to control his anger so that he wouldn't explode in front of everyone.

Pranjal, her voice firm and unyielding, eyes locked on him with a cold, piercing glare
"When a girl is speaking, boys should learn to keep their mouths shut... and listen quietly to what she has to say. Aurato ke samne jaban nahi chalte woh kahe toh chup toh chup , Maa baap ne sikhaya nahi h kya?"

["Never speak in front of women,Did your parents never teach you basic manners?"]

The boy was about to say something else, but Pranjal grabbed his collar, looked straight into his eyes, and growled, "Ek baar woh 'na' bol de na, toh apne yeh do kaudi ke dimaag mein utar le ki na ka matlab na hota hai. Warna woh haal hoga jo tu soch tak nahi sakta... samjha?"

["If she says 'no' just once, then drill it into that worthless brain of yours that 'no means no'. Otherwise, you'll face consequences you can't even imagine... understood?"]

Dhruv, his voice laced with fury, barked back,
"Jaanta nahi hai kya tu... mera baap kaun hai?"

["Do you even know... who my father is?"]

Vatsal, who had been standing behind Pranjal, let out a mocking laugh as he stepped forward like a shield, placing himself protectively in front of his brother.
With a smirk, he replied with cold sarcasm
"Baap-baap ki baat kar raha hai tu? Bhool raha hai Dhruv, hamara baap kaun hai? Ek phone call... aur teri company hamari hogi Janta hai na ki tumhare, Aur is school ka trustee? Banne wala toh mera hi dad hai. Kya bolta hai... baat karun main apne baap se?"

["You're talking about fathers? You're forgetting, Dhruv, who our father is. Just one phone call... and your company would be ours. And the trustee of this school? My dad made him that anyway. So... should I call him now?"]

Dhruv, shaking with rage, spat out his words
"Bahut ghamand hai na tum dono bhaiyon ko... Aur tu, Vatsal - kab tak bacha ke rakhega apne bhai ko?"

["You two brothers are so full of arrogance... And you, Vatsal - how long do you think you can keep protecting your brother?"]

Vatsal chuckled darkly, his smirk never fading, and replied while glaring coldly
"Main apne bhai ko nahi bacha raha... main tujhe usse bacha raha hoon. Uska gussa tu sambhaal nahi payega, Mishra khandaan ka khoon kaafi garam hota hai."

["I'm not protecting my brother... I'm protecting you from him. You won't be able to handle his rage - Mishra blood runs hot."]

Dhruv narrowed his eyes, glaring hard at Pranjal
"Dekh loonga tujhe."

["I'll deal with you later."]

Pranjal met his glare, eyes full of silent fury. But then, Vatsal turned slightly and looked at Pranjal - who suddenly avoided eye contact, his composure slipping.

Pranjal didn't say a word and walked away, rage simmering in his eyes. Adhvik and Vatsal exchanged a knowing glance before silently following him, leaving the girls behind without a second thought.

Palak glanced at Manya, her brows furrowed in irritation, and snapped,"Yahi ladka mila tha?"

["This is the guy you found?"]

Manya, blinking in confusion, tilted her head and asked hesitantly,"Yeh ladka matlab?"

["What do you mean this guy?"]

Palak rolled her eyes, her face etched with annoyance, and replied sharply,"Help maangne ke liye."

["To ask for help."]

And then, without waiting for Manya to respond, she voiced exactly what had been running through her mind.

Manya, suddenly wide-eyed as realization dawned, gasped in a shocked tone,"Oh teri! Maine kuch nahi kiya tha!"

["Oh damn! I didn't even do anything!"]

Anushka, who had been silently watching the drama unfold while holding her head in frustration, finally burst out,"Kya sanki logon ke beech phas gayi hoon main! Hadd hai... Ab chalo ghar! Suar logon, yahin pade rehna hai kya?"

["What kind of lunatics have I ended up stuck with! Seriously... Let's go home! You pigs planning to lie around here forever or what?"]

Manya and Palak exchanged a quick glance, their expressions now drained of energy. Without saying a word - both too drained to risk more of Anushka's wrath - they quietly fell in line behind her, trailing her footsteps like scolded school kids.

As Pranjal entered the locker room, his eyes locked onto Dhruv - who was casually chatting with another guy, unaware of the storm about to hit him.

Dhruv, smirking while talking to someone,"Bhai, ladki hai waisi hi... mujhe toh lagta hai uske saath bhi chakkar hoga uska."

["Bro, she's that kind of girl... I bet she's having a fling with him too."]

That was it. Pranjal's blood boiled. His fists clenched. Rage surged through him like a wildfire. Without thinking, he stormed toward Dhruv and landed a punch straight to his face, grabbing his collar with both hands and slamming him back against the locker.

Pranjal, eyes blazing, breathing heavy, voice thunderous,"Wapas bol! Bol wapas ek shabd uske khilaf-yahi maar daalunga samjha?! Himmat kaise hui Palak ke paas jaane ki?! Aur uske baare mein aisa bolne ki?! Mana kiya tha na tujhe?! Bola tha na dur rehna usse!"

["Say it again! Say one more word against her-I'll kill you right here, understood?! How dare you go near Palak?! How dare you speak like that about her?! I warned you, didn't I?! Told you to stay away from her!"]

At that moment, Vatsal and Adhvik rushed into the locker room, eyes wide at the scene before them.

Vatsal, immediately moving toward Pranjal, trying to pry his hands away,"Pranjal! Chhod usse! Kya kar raha hai? Chhod!"

["Pranjal! Let go of him! What are you doing? Let go!"]

But Pranjal didn't move. His grip remained tight, his gaze locked on Dhruv like a predator.

Pranjal, voice low, dangerous, and unwavering:
"Ladki ka na bardasht nahi... toh uske baare mein bakwaas bolne ki aadat hai?! Jis din maine tujhe uske desk par letters rakhte hue dekha tha... Kya kaha tha yaad hai?!"

["You can't handle rejection... so you badmouth her instead?! Remember the day I saw you placing those letters on her desk? I warned you, didn't I?!"]

Vatsal and Adhvik finally managed to break Pranjal's grip and pulled him back, holding him tight as he struggled against them.

Dhruv, brushing off his shirt with a mocking laugh, lips curled in a smug sneer,"Sahi samjha tha maine... lagta hai usne tere saath bhi timepass kiya hoga... isiliye toh... kya diya usne? Kahin usne tere saath bhi..."

["I was right... looks like she was just passing time with you too... maybe that's why... What did she give you, huh? Did she do the same with you..."]

Pranjal lunged forward again, fury erupting like a volcano. He thrashed against Vatsal and Adhvik's hold, trying to break free.

Pranjal, shouting, voice trembling with rage
"Mujhe chodo! Isko batata hoon! How the hell does he talk shit about Palak?! Maar daalenge isko!"

["Let me go! I'll show him! How the hell does he dare talk shit about Palak?! I'll kill him!"]

Vatsal, holding him tighter, voice firm yet alarmed
"Shant! Ekdum shant! Aur tu Dhruv-nikal ja yahaan se! Iske pehle mera bhai teri jaan le le! Get lost!"

["Calm down! Just calm down! And you, Dhruv-get out of here before my brother kills you! Get lost!"]

Pranjal, still glaring at Dhruv, his voice dropping to a cold, spine-chilling growl,
"MAYBE I LOOK AND BEHAVE LIKE AN INNOCENT GUY... BUT BELIEVE ME-IF I SEE YOU NEAR PALAK AGAIN, I WILL CUT THESE HANDS AND STAB YOUR FINGERS IN YOUR EYES."

As Dhruv stormed out of the locker room, still wiping blood off his lip, the silence that followed was deafening.Pranjal stood still, trying to steady his breath and cool the storm raging inside him. His fists were clenched, but his eyes had started to soften.

Vatsal stood near him, arms crossed, his expression tense and unreadable. He looked at Pranjal for a long moment before finally speaking, his voice calm but edged with concern.

Vatsal, with furrowed brows,"Aaj tune itna calm kaise khoya apna? Maine aaj tak toh aise nahi dekha tujhe react karte hue."

["How did you lose your calm like that today? I've never seen you react this way before."]

Pranjal, lowering his eyes slightly, voice calm but guilty,"Sorry bhaiya... bas aaj pata nahi kyun, gussa control nahi hua... jab usne bakwaas ki toh..."

["Sorry, brother... I don't know why, I just couldn't control my anger today... when he started talking nonsense..."]

Vatsal sighed, glancing at Adhvik, then back at Pranjal. His disappointment was subtle, but present. His voice became firmer now.

Vatsal, looking between them both,"Aur tum dono ne pehle bhi isko warn kiya tha... aur mujhe batana zaruri nahi samjha?"

["And you both warned him earlier too... but didn't think it was necessary to tell me?

Pranjal and Adhvik exchanged guilty glances. There was a short pause before Adhvik finally broke the silence, speaking in a low, regretful tone.

Adhvik, avoiding Vatsal's eyes,"Woh... Vatsal bhai... hume jab pata chala ki yeh usko letters bhej raha hai... maine aur Pranjal ne bas warn kiya tha. Uske baad usne yeh stunt pull kar diya... isliye shayad Pranjal ko gussa aa gaya. Aur abhi bhi bakwas kar raha tha..."

["Uh... Vatsal bhai... when we found out he was sending her letters, Pranjal and I just warned him. Then he pulled this stunt today... Maybe that's why Pranjal got so angry. And right now he was saying more crap..."]

Vatsal took in a deep breath, running a hand through his hair.

Vatsal, exhaling slowly, voice now steady but commanding,"Agli baar se kuch bhi ho-I want both of you to inform me. Chhoti si chhoti baat. Taaki problem mein na fasoon... aur aisi fights se door raho dono. Toh achha hai. Samajh aaya? Main nahi chahta tum logon ke liye koi problem aaye. Get it?"

["From next time, no matter what happens-I want both of you to tell me. Even the smallest thing. So that I don't get caught in any trouble... and both of you stay away from fights. That would be better. Got it? I don't want any problems coming your way. Get it?"]

Adhvik and Pranjal nodded silently, their heads low, realizing the gravity of what had just happened. They looked at each other, silently acknowledging the unspoken words.

Vatsal looked at both of them once more, his eyes softer now. A quiet hope flickered within him-hope that no more problems would come near them.

_____

Palak was sprawled on her bed-one leg dangling off the side table, the other tucked awkwardly behind her pillow in a zig-zag position. Her room was a complete mess, clothes scattered, books open, yet she was completely absorbed in strumming her guitar.

Suddenly, she placed the guitar on the bed with a soft thud and picked up her phone to scroll through reels.

One reel appeared on her feed.
A serene picture of Krishna was in the background, and bold words floated across the screen:
"Prem karo toh dil se karo, sharir se toh sab prem karte hain."

["If you love, then love with your heart. Everyone loves with the body."]

She scrolled again. Another reel appeared.
This time, Radha-Krishna adorned the background, glowing with divine love. The words read:
"Aaj ke mashuya ko bass hawas ki chah hai, moh-maya hai. Prem ka arth unhe kaha pata chale."

["Today's lovers only crave lust and illusion. They don't even know the meaning of true love."]

Her thumb moved again. Another reel popped up. Krishna's divine image lingered in the background as the words struck her like a storm:
"Agar tum kisi ke sharir se prem karte ho toh woh prem nahi, sirf usko paane ki ichha hai. Tab tum prem nahi kar rahe, sirf dikhaawa aur hawas hai."

["If you love someone for their body, that's not love-it's just a desire to possess them. That's not love; that's pretense and lust."]

Palak's eyes welled up with tears. Her mind went blank for a moment, then swirled with the fragments of the dream she'd had about Pranjal. Guilt gnawed at her chest. The weight of regret began to crush her as she realized how she had, even unknowingly, disrespected the love she always associated with purity-Krishna's love.

She couldn't hold it in anymore. Her body trembled as she broke down crying.

Palak while crying,"Maine aisa sapna kaise dekh liya... maine socha bhi kaise... itna kharab... hamara toh koi rishta bhi nahi... mujhe toh pata bhi nahi woh mujhe pasand karta bhi hai ya nahi... maine kaise dekha aisa sapna... mujhe nahi dekhna tha..."

["How could I even have such a dream... How could I even think like that... so wrong... we don't even have a relationship... I don't even know if he likes me... How could I see such a dream... I shouldn't have seen it..."]

Her blurred eyes fell on a book lying at the edge of her bed-the one Manya had given her. The dark romance novel she had read last night. The scenes from the dream, so vivid and intense, had been shaped by those pages. In a moment of rage, she got up, grabbed the book, and flung it across the floor.

Palak sobbing harder,"Sab iski galti hai... main aisi kitaabein padhti hi nahi... mujhe toh soft romance pasand tha na... main yeh books padhti aur na waise dekhti... main toh shaadi ke sapne dekhti thi... uske saath hug karne ke... kal raat sab is book ki wajah se hua..."

["It's all this book's fault... I never even read books like this... I liked soft romance... If I hadn't read this book, I wouldn't have dreamt like that... I used to dream of marriage... of hugging him... everything last night happened because of this book..."]

She buried her face in her hands, her sobs echoing in the silent chaos of her room. Shame and helplessness engulfed her.

In a burst of desperation, she grabbed her phone and messaged Anushka.

Palak:
"Anuuuuuuu maine paap kar diya..."

["Anuuuuuuu I've committed a sin..."]

Within a minute, Anushka saw the message.

Anushka:
"Aayeee, kaunsa paap? Kya kiya ab tune?"

["Oh god! What sin now? What did you do?"]

Palak, with trembling fingers, typed out the entire incident-every emotion, every scene of the dream, every reel that broke her from inside.

Anushka:
"Hey bhagwan! Ab tu ispe ro rahi hai? Maate, teri galti nahi hai. Sapno par kisi ka control nahi hota. Ho gaya, so ho gaya. Sab Manya ki galti hai! Us chatur aurat ne tujhe aisi book kyun di? Tu mat soch."

["Oh my god! You're crying over this? Girl, it's not your fault. No one can control their dreams. It happened, so what? It's all Manya's fault! That cunning woman, why did she even give you such a book? Don't think too much."]

Palak:
"Bhai, mujhe cry aa raha hai... kya karu?"

["Dude, I'm crying... what should I do?"]

Anushka:
"Ek kaam kar - Hanuman Chalisa padh le.
Jai Hanuman Gyan Gun Sagar, Jai Kapis Tihun Lok Ujagar, Ramdoot Atulit Bal Dhama, Anjani Putra Pawan Sut Nama..."

["Do one thing - read the Hanuman Chalisa.
'Jai Hanuman Gyan Gun Sagar, Jai Kapis Tihun Lok Ujagar, Ramdoot Atulit Bal Dhama, Anjani Putra Pawan Sut Nama...'"]

Palak:
"Oye madam! Har cheez mein tu Hanuman Chalisa hi kyu ghusa deti hai? Kuch aur nahi samjha sakti kya? Pagal aurat hai tu!"

["Hey madam! Why do you throw in Hanuman Chalisa for everything? Can't you say something else? You're such a weirdo!"]

Anuskha:
"Main kuch bhi khaungi tere dimag mein asar nahi hoga ghutno mein rakh ke ghumti jo hai tu apna dimag."

["No matter what I feed you, it won't reach your brain since you go around carrying your brain in your knees."]

Palak:
"Anuuuuuuu mere bhagwan, mere Kanha mujhse sharminda honge..."

["Anuuuuuuu my god, my Kanha must be ashamed of me..."]

Anushka:
"Meri maa, meri dadi, aisa kuch nahi hai! Bakwas mat soch! Aur waise bhi, tu har baar Pranjal ko hi sapne mein dekhti hai, isiliye imagine kar liya. Jo ho gaya, so ho gaya. Itna mat soch. Waise bhi aisi baaton ko itna nahi sochte. Tune toh jaan bujh ke kuch thodi kiya-
PERIOD."

["My dear, my grandma! Nothing like that is happening. Don't talk nonsense. And anyway, you always dream about Pranjal, that's why you imagined it. What happened, happened. Don't overthink it. And anyway, these things aren't meant to be taken so seriously.
You didn't do it on purpose -
PERIOD."]

Palak: "Waise... kuch puchu?"

[By the way... can I ask you something?]

Anushka: "Puch."

[Ask.]

Palak: "Serious situation mein unserious thought..."

[An unserious thought in a serious situation...]

Anushka: "Yeh hamesha ka hai. Tujhe serious situation mein hi aise thoughts aate hain, bhookh."

[This is classic you. You always get these random thoughts only in serious situations, Speak.]

Palak: "Yeh 'month' wala periods ya 'class' wala periods?"

[You meant 'periods' as in the monthly kind or the class period?]

Anushka: [inserts a joker emoji] "PERIOD = Full stop!"

Palak: "Hehehe sorry... serious situation mein yeh poocha. Naya Gen-Z word hai, acha hai, acha hai."

[Hehehe sorry... asked that in such a serious moment. It's a new Gen-Z word, it's nice, it's cool.]

Anushka: "Kamini, suar kahi ki. No gussa on your harkate. Hatt, ab padhne de mereko!"

[Witch, you pig. No anger at your antics. Move aside now, let me study!]

Palak: "Wahi kar le. Ek din jeevan se uth na jaye tu, kya hoga padhkar? Meri tarah banno."

[Do that only. One day if you disappear from life, what will that studying do? Be like me instead.]

Anushka: "Kyaaa Bong?"

[What, Bong?]

Palak: "Anushka........"

Just then, Palak's phone lit up with a call from Adhvik. She raised her brows, a mix of curiosity and sudden realization washing over her. She remembered the reason behind the call and quickly answered, bracing herself.

Palak while picking up the call, "Haaa Mangal Singh, sunnnn...."

[Yes, Mangal Singh, speak...]

-

Late at night, the entire environment was wrapped in silence. Not a single human sound passed through the air-only the occasional calls of birds and the rustle of night creatures echoed faintly through the school building and the deserted campus.

The night cloaked everything in shadows, the tall trees swayed gently with the breeze, casting strange shapes against the old brick walls. The campus, once bustling with noise, now stood in ghostly stillness, its corridors whispering secrets of the day gone by.

But behind one of the walls at the back of the building, Palak was peeking through a narrow gap, her breath shallow, eyes sharp with curiosity. Just under her, Adhvik offered his back so she could steady herself and rise high enough to see over. Both were draped in black burqas, completely covered from head to toe.

Adhvik, while struggling to balance Palak's weight on his back, grunts and mutters,"Mayandari ki bachi, kitna der tak andar dekhegi? Jaldi kar! Itna pata kar ki guards dikh rahe hain ki nahi. Bahut moti hai re tu!"

["You black witch, how long are you going to keep peeking inside? Hurry up! Just see the guards are there? You're really heavy, you know!"]

Palak glares down at him, clearly unimpressed, then hops off his back with a thud,"Kya gym jata hai re tu? Main 50 kilo ki hoon, utha nahi paaya, bada aaya gym lover."

["Do you even go to the gym? I'm only 50 kilos and you can't lift me? What gym lover you are!"]

Adhvik straightens up, groaning slightly, and begins dusting his clothes with exaggerated frustration,"Haan haan thik hai! Aadhe ghante se khadi thi, insaan hi hoon. Aur chal, yeh bata aage kya?"

["Yeah, yeah, fine! I've been standing for half an hour, I'm human too. Now tell me-what next?"]

Palak, now pulling a black burqa over her face, with only her sharp eyes visible, replies in a hushed tone,
"Rasta saaf hai, jaldi se ghus jaate hain."

["The path is clear. Let's sneak in quickly."]

Adhvik eyes his outfit, unimpressed, then looks at Palak's attire and frowns,"Par yeh bata, yeh dress code kyun chuna tune? Burqa? Matlab kuch aur nahi mila? Joker bann jaate!"

["But tell me, why did you choose this dress code? A burqa? Couldn't find anything else? We could've just dressed as clowns!"]

Palak rolls her eyes, her voice dripping with sarcasm,"Pehle se joker hai tu, banane ki zarurat nahi hai. Aur waise bhi, ismein koi pehchaan nahi payega. Dikh gaye toh? Ab jaldi andar chal, isse pehle ki koi aaye!"

["You already are a clown-no need to dress like one. And anyway, no one will recognize us in this. What if we get spotted? Now move, before someone shows up!"]

Adhvik and Palak slowly sneak toward the building, sticking close to the walls. Just as they near a corner, Palak's eyes widen in alarm-guards approaching. She scans the surroundings frantically and spots a large dustbin nearby. Without warning, she grabs Adhvik's arm.

With urgency, she yanks open the dustbin door and starts pushing a confused Adhvik toward it.

Adhvik resists, flailing as he tries to understand what was happening,"Oye! Kya kar rahi hai tu?! Main dustbin mein nahi jaunga!"

["Hey! What are you doing?! I'm not getting in a dustbin!"]

Palak, ignoring him completely, pushes him inside and slams the door shut. She quickly hides behind the bin and whispers softly, her voice barely audible,"Guards aa rahe hain. Muh band rakhna. Pakda jayega."

["The guards are coming. Keep your mouth shut. We'll get caught!"]

The guards pass by slowly, their footsteps fading into the distance. Palak remains crouched, eyes scanning the area carefully. After a few seconds, she rises cautiously, peeking around the corner.

She leans toward the dustbin and whispers softly
"Chale gaye woh. Ab bahar nikal jaa."

["They're gone. Come out now."]

With an annoyed grunt, Adhvik pushes open the dustbin door and climbs out. His head is a complete mess-crumpled papers stick to his hair, and a dirty sock is hanging off his head. Palak stares at him in disbelief, then immediately pinches her nose to block the awful smell.

Adhvik glares at her with angry eyes, his face scrunched up like he's on the verge of crying.

Palak, nose still pinched and wearing an expression of utter disgust, says,"Chiiiiii Adhvik! Tu toh Mangal Singh se seedha Badbhu Singh ban gaya!"

["Ewwww Adhvik! You've gone from Mangal Singh to straight-up Stinky Singh!"]

Adhvik yanks the sock off his head with frustration, flicking it far away. He starts brushing bits of trash off his clothes and mutters through clenched teeth,"Mayandari ki bachi! Tujhe dustbin hi mila tha fekh ne ko? Main dustbin ke peeche nahi chup jaata, pagal aurat!"

["You crazy witch! Of all places, you had to throw me inside a dustbin? I could've just hidden behind it, you mad woman!"]

Palak shrugs and gives a 'not-my-problem' look,
"Ab jiski jagah jahan ho, wahi fekhna chahiye."

["Well, you should always put things where they belong."]

Adhvik, rolling his eyes and growling under his breath:
"Mayandari ki bachi!"

["You little black witch"]

Palak, now switching to her sugary-sweet voice, tries to calm him down with a puppy-like smile,"Woh... mujhe laga agar woh mujhe dekh lete toh... kam se kam tu toh bach jaata, aur kaam kar deta. Warna kal Kriti di aur Anushka ko problem hoti."

["I thought if they saw me, at least you would stay safe and finish the job. Otherwise, Kriti di and Anushka would be in trouble tomorrow."]

Adhvik sighs deeply, running a hand down his face,"Haaaashh... thik hai, thik hai. Saala uss chimkandi ladki Riya ki wajah se humein yeh sab karna padh raha hai!"

["Ugh... fine, fine. All this drama is because of that flashy girl Riya!"]

Palak's expression turns sharp, irritated the moment Riya's name is mentioned,"Wahi toh! Maine usse 'hera-pheri karne wali' baat kehte hue sunn liya tha. Uske baad hi toh juice uske upar feka. Aur main ne tujhe isliye message bhi kiya tha-ki call karo, kaam hai. Kyunki mujhe ish kaam ke liye tu hi sahi laga."

["Exactly! I overheard her talking about some shady business. That's when I threw the juice on her. And that's why I messaged you-to call you, because I felt you were the right person for this job."]

Adhvik, finally stepping fully out of the dustbin while Palak gives him a hand,"Haan haan, main hi sahi aadmi hoon is kaam ke liye. Warna agar Maryada Purushottam Pranjal ko kehti, toh das gyan dene lagta!"

["Yeah yeah, I am the right guy for this. If you had gone to our 'Perfect Gentleman' Pranjal, he'd have started giving ten lectures instead!"]

Palak glances around, alert once more,"Yeh baat tune sahi kahi hai, pehli baar. Chal, ab andar chalte hain, isse pehle ki koi aur aa jaye... aur tujhe wapas dustbin ke andar jana pade!"

["For the first time, you've said something right. Come on, let's go in-before someone else shows up... and you have to jump back into the dustbin!"]

Adhvik shoots her a death glare, his face scrunched in disgust. Palak stifles a giggle. The two of them begin to walk cautiously toward the school building, side by side, eyes sharp, hearts racing-mission still incomplete.

------------

Vatsal stood at the back of the school, glancing at his watch impatiently. His foot tapped restlessly on the ground as he muttered under his breath, "Kaha reh gaya yeh... kaha tha is time pahuch jana, magar yeh nikamma hi hai."

["Where is he? He promised to be here by now, but as usual, he's useless."]

Just then, a strange figure appeared, riding a bike. His costume was a mishmash of superhero suits - Superman, Spider-Man, and others awkwardly stitched together. The bike screeched to a halt, and the rider jumped off dramatically, striking a Superman pose.

Vatsal stared, wide-eyed, and slapped his forehead in disbelief. "Kya harkate kar raha hai tu, Arnav? Yeh kya pehen ke aaya hai tu?"

[ "What nonsense are you doing, Arnav? And what on earth are you wearing?"]

Arnav grinned proudly, defending his outfit. "Nahi pehchan paya na tu? Aise andar jayenge taki koi dekhe toh samajh na paye, aur unhe lage koi Superman aaya hai school mein."

["Didn't recognize me, huh? This way, we'll go inside unnoticed. If anyone sees me, they'll just think a superhero's arrived at school.]

Vatsal gave him a confused and judgmental look. "Yeh dekh ke woh sabse pehle tujhe pakadne aayenge samjha? Aur itne gadhe nahi hain woh teri tarah, ki samajh jayenge ki Superman hai tu."

["Seeing this, they'll catch you first. Understand? And they're not as dumb as you to believe you're actually Superman."]

Arnav pouted, mock-hurt. "Haan haan, chal na. Thik hai, main aa gaya na? Tune bhi toh yeh bhootiya mask pehna hai."

["Yeah yeah, fine. At least I showed up. You've also got that ghostly mask on."]

Vatsal rolled his eyes and adjusted his mask. "Haan, maine bas muh chupya hai. Yeh satrangi sa costume toh nahi pehna."

["Yes, I just covered my face. Didn't wear a rainbow-colored costume like you."]

Arnav folded his arms, sulking. "Chup kar ja tu. Agar Anushka-Kriti ki baat nahi hoti toh aata bhi nahi main. Par tujhe kaise pata chala Riya ne yeh jhol kiya hai?"

["Shut up. If it wasn't about Anushka and Kriti, I wouldn't have come. But how did you even find out Riya's the one behind this mess?"]

Vatsal's tone turned serious as he looked away. "Woh... main Manya ke paas gaya tha. Wahan maine usse phone par Palak se yeh baat karte hue sun liya. Aur uss time mere dimaag mein bas yahi idea aaya... aur help ke liye tujhe bulaya. Apne sabse bade jaani khoon ke dushman yani aapne pyaar ke dushman ko"he mummberd last line make sure he didn't hear

["Well... I went to Manya. There, I overheard her talking to Palak on the phone about this. That's when the idea struck me... and I called you for help.My biggest rival ,the biggest rival in my love life"]

Arnav raised an eyebrow, catching the last part. "Kya bola tune last mein?"

["What did you just say at the end?"]

Vatsal quickly grabbed Arnav by the collar and dragged him towards the school building. "Kuch nahi bola, chuchundar kahi ke! Chal andar, isse pehle bahar hi pakadwa de tu!"

["I didn't say anything, you rat! Come on, let's get inside before you get us caught right here!" ]

Arnav protested, but Vatsal pulled him along, both trying to slip inside unnoticed.

-------------

The dark corridor of the backside of the school building. Kriti and Anushka, both dressed in all-white suits with ghostly white face paint and wigs, stand at the far end of a dim classroom. A faint torchlight flickers in their hands as they slowly move towards the main corridor.

Anushka, holding the torch tightly and standing close to Kriti, whispers nervously: "Didi, just tell me one thing... humne aise kapde pehan ke yeh kyu karne aaye hain?"

["Sister, just tell me one thing... why did we wear such clothes and come here to do this?"]

Kriti, glancing left and right, her voice low but steady,"Kyuki dekh, agar hum pakde gaye toh hum unhe bhoot ban ke dara denge. Jis tarah ka humne makeup kara hai, unhe samajh nahi aayega hum insaan hai ki nahi. Andhera hai, upar se aaram se bach jayenge. Kisi ko pata bhi nahi chalega, aur kaam bhi ho jayega."

[ "Because listen, if we get caught, we'll scare them pretending to be ghosts. With the makeup we've done, they won't know if we're real or spirits. It's dark, so we'll easily get away. No one will even know, and the job will get done too."]

Anushka, biting her fingers in stress, eyes wide with worry,"Didi, mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai hum phas sakte hain?"

["Sister, why do I feel like we might get caught?"]

Kriti, giving her most chill look but clearly trying to mask her own fear,"Dekh Anu, kuch nahi hoga. Main bol rahi hoon na? Aur kabhi kabhi topper hoke aisi harkatein kar leni chahiye... mazza aata hai."

["Look Anu, nothing will happen. I'm telling you, okay? And sometimes, even toppers should do crazy things like this... it's fun!"]

Anushka, staring at her with disbelief, "Didi, sach batana... aaj se pehle aisi harkatein ki hai?"

["Sister, tell me honestly... have you ever done something like this before?"]

Kriti, giving her a facepalm look: "Nahi..."

[Nope]

Anushka, repeating in the same tone, more anxious now,"Toh itne bharose ke saath kaise keh rahi ho ki hum phasenge nahi aur aaram se nikal lenge?"

["Then how are you saying with so much confidence that we won't get caught and everything will go smoothly?"]

Kriti, trying to act cool, but lets out a nervous laugh,"Hehehe... woh... woh mein ek movie mein dekha tha... aise karna chahiye, aasani se solve ho jayega."

[ "Hehehe... umm... I saw it in a movie once... they did it like this, and everything got solved easily."]

Anushka, almost in tears, her voice trembling: "Kriti didi, tabhi kuch kar lena tha... ab phas gaye na. Mujhe pata tha yeh hamare bas ka nahi hai. Upar se aise bhutiya kapde pehne hue hain, aur aadhe ghante se ek hi jagah khade hain!"

["Kriti, you should've done something back then... Now we're stuck. I knew this wasn't something we could handle. And on top of that, we're dressed like ghosts, and we've been standing in one spot for half an hour!"]

Kriti, biting her lip, voice calm but tense,"Ho jayega Anu... ho jayega. Ab aage badhte hain."

["It'll be fine Anu... it will be. Let's move forward now."]

Anushka, taking a deep breath, eyes shut tightly for a second, "Chalo, aage chalte hain. Ab hamare paas option bhi nahi hai. Ya toh aaj marenge ya kaam karenge. Jai Bhargavi... amma raksha karna..."

[ "Let's go ahead. We don't even have any options now. Either we die tonight or we get the job done. Hey Bhargavi... Please protect us..."]

Both girls begin walking slowly down the dark corridor, steps light, breaths held, trying their best not to make any sound. They approach the main target room-hearts pounding, but eyes determined-to complete their mysterious mission.

------------------

Pranjal and Manya were calmly entering the building. Both of them wore hats and masks to hide their faces. Dressed in black jackets and jeans, they blended in easily-ironically, that made them the only ones who looked normal in the situation.

Manya, eyes fixed ahead, whispered,
"Broo, aage kya karna hai matlab?"

[Bro, what exactly do we have to do next

Pranjal, staying focused, tried to explain in a hushed tone,
"Dekh, hum abhi ground floor pe hain, backside school ke, jahan aksar koi aata nahi hai. Humhe jaana hai third floor ke last row ke Room No. 45 mein, jahan jaake humhe bas paise dalne hain. Locker ka password main crack kar loonga-5 minute lagenge. Aur yahan se wahan tak agar koi nahi aaya toh jaane mein 20 minute lagenge. Toh hamara kaam 30 minutes ke around ho jaayega. Aur 10 minute mein bahar... 40 minutes 35 seconds lag jayenge total."

[Look, we're currently on the ground floor, at the back side of the school-where hardly anyone comes. We have to reach Room No. 45 in the last row on the third floor. All we need to do there is drop the cash. I'll crack the locker's password-it'll take 5 minutes. If no one shows up on the way, we'll reach in about 20 minutes. Our work will take around 30 minutes, and we'll be out in 10 more. Total time-40 minutes and 35 seconds.]

Manya stared at him without blinking,
"Bhai... aur camera?"

[Bro... what about the cameras?]

Pranjal, glancing briefly down the corridor, replied confidently,
"Woh main dekh loonga, tension not. Maine poori planning bana li thi. Agar hume koi yahan dekh lega toh humne mask pehna hua hai-pehchaan nahi paayega. Aur CCTV ka khayal main rakh loonga. Try karna ki bina awaaz kare hum room tak pahuch jaayein. Max to max 20-25 minutes. Lock kholne mein mujhe 5 minute chahiye."

[I'll handle that, don't worry. I've planned everything. Even if someone sees us here, we're wearing masks-they won't recognize us. And I've accounted for the CCTV too. Just try to reach the room without making any noise. Maximum 20 to 25 minutes. I just need 5 minutes to unlock it.]

Manya, nodding, said with a slight smirk,
"Acha hua maine tere ko call karke help maangi. Tere saath jaana ka decision sabse sahi tha. Kyunki tu ek akal se kaam leta hai, baaki toh..."

[Good that I called you for help. Going with you was the best decision-because you actually use your brain, unlike others...]

Pranjal, shaking his head, interrupted,
"Akal se toh tu bhi kaam nahi leti hai, magar koi nahi... kya kar sakta hoon."

[As if you use your brain either. But it's fine... what can I even do.]

Manya, glaring at him,
"Behan ho teri!"

[I'm your sister!]

Pranjal, barely holding back a smile,
"Ishi baat ka toh dukh hai."

[Exactly. That's what hurts the most.]

Manya, now clearly irritated,
"Brooooo!!!"

Pranjal, chuckling,
"Accha, sorry sorry. Ab bas hume aage se left leke, jo stairs aayenge uspe chadhna hai. Check karna hai ki koi ho na wahan. And then aage badhna hai. Hadbadi mein gadhbadi nahi honi chahiye, thik hai? Aur more than 9 minutes 45 seconds lagenge isme."

[Okay okay, sorry. Now we just need to take a left from here, climb the stairs we'll see, and make sure no one's around. Then we move ahead. No panic moves while we're in panic-mode, got it? This will take more than 9 minutes and 45 seconds.]

Manya, looking at him and blinking slowly,
"Manna padega bhai... tu poora brain use karta hai."

[I gotta admit bro... you use your brain fully.]

Pranjal, chuckling again,
"Plan karke aana chahiye aise-h nahi. Aur mujhe yakeen hai plan kaam karega. Brain use karna chahiye, physical power se zyada."

[You gotta come with a plan-not just vibes. And I'm sure the plan will work. One should use brains more than brawn.]

Manya, shaking her head with dramatic flair,
"Haan haan... gyaan ka bandar. Bhagwan ne tumko hi bheja hai sab jagah brain lagaane ke liye. Yahi toh dikkat hai."

[Yeah yeah... wise monkey. God clearly sent you to apply your brain everywhere. That's exactly the problem.]

Pranjal, looking at her, puzzled,
"Sab jagah matlab?"

[Everywhere... meaning?]

Manya, rolling her eyes,
"Dil ke kamon mein bhi dimag laga lete ho. Har jagah kyu lagana dimaag?"

[Even in matters of the heart, you overthink everything. Why do you need to use your brain everywhere?]

Pranjal, giving her a light tap on the head,
"Chup kar. Main logically sochta hoon, teri tarah nahi. Aur jis tarah ki teri harkatein hain na... aur jaisi dabangg ka hai tu... koi launda nahi milega tereko."

[Oh shut up. I think logically-not like you. And with the kind of crazy things you do, and the bold attitude you carry... no guy will match your level.]

Manya, rolling her eyes again, said,"Haan, jaise aap ko seedha banke badi ladkiya mil gayi."

[Yeah right, like behaving 'proper' got you lots of girls.]

Pranjal lightly hit her on the head again.

Manya, rubbing her forehead with mock pain,
"Kasam se bata rahi hoon bro... bhai nahi hota toh kasai ke yahan bhej ke katwa deti!"

[I swear bro... if you weren't my brother, I'd have sent you to the butcher already!]

Pranjal thought to himself,"Aur main Anushka bhabhi ko kuch hone nahi de sakta. Bhai ke liye woh important hain, toh mere liye bhi hain. Aur Kriti di... un ki toh sabse achi dost hain. Main yeh plan poora kar ke hi rahunga."

["And I can't let anything happen to Anushka bhabhi. She's important to bhai, so she matters to me too. And Kriti di... she's her closest friend. I will complete this plan, no matter what."]

Pranjal, while looking at the corridor one last time: "Let's go! Aur aaram se, bach ke."

["Let's go! And carefully... stay alert."]

And then, this duo started moving inside, careful with every step, hearts pounding-not daring to think whether their plan would succeed or fall apart. They weren't sure what awaited them on the other side-just shadows, silence, and a heavy sense that something was about to change.

Their footsteps echoed faintly, nerves stitched into each breath. The air felt colder now, like the corridor itself was holding its breath, watching them. Neither of them spoke, but both were thinking the same thing: There's no turning back now.