Yutika's POV

I stopped when I felt a sudden pull and looked down at my hand, then slowly looked at her. She turned towards me too. For a second, it was like one of those scenes where the hero stops the female lead in the middle of a conversation, making her turn back before she can leave.

"Well," she said, letting go of my hand.

She looked at me for a moment before continuing, "Fresher. I didn't really get to know you. So, tell me, who are you?"

I wasn't sure if I was imagining it, but there was something about the way she said those words. Maybe it was just her tone, or maybe it was the way she looked at me, but there was something arrogant in her voice.

"She is Yutika Bora," Kritarth said, stepping between us.

The girl slowly moved Kritarth aside and looked directly at me.

"Ohh, the talk of the town, Miss Bora. You know, everyone around here knows you."

I stood there, literally confused.

I just came back here. I haven't been out much except for my admission and a little shopping. Then why is she saying this?

"You must be wondering how, right?" she asked.

I didn't say anything. I just stood there, looking at her and trying to figure out what exactly she wanted from me.

"Well," she continued, "there was a new rumour going around that the daughter of the super-rich businessman, Mr. Bora, is back."

She put extra stress on the words super rich.

"Umm, well, whether you are rich or not, there is one thing we believe in here at college. We treat everyone equally. What do you guys say?"

She raised her voice in the last sentence. Her expression confused me this time. She wasn't smirking,,, not even slightly. And yet, her eyes told a completely different story. There was something strange about her eyes. As though she were smiling at me without ever moving her lips. I couldn't understand what she was thinking, but the look in her eyes made me uneasy.

The students standing around us, mostly seniors, immediately shouted, "Yes..."

Their voices echoed through the whole corridor.

I looked at her for a moment before replying, "So do I. I am not here to show off my money or anything. I am here to study."

This time, I couldn't hide the irritation in my voice.

Now I understood what she was trying to do. She wasn't just asking me questions. She was trying to mock me in front of everyone.

But why me?

She smiled, then looked at Kritarth.

Kritarth was looking at me too. He made a small hand gesture, almost as if he were trying to warn me. I stared at him, but I had no idea what he meant.

"Nisha, stay away from her," Kritarth said as he stepped between us.

I saw the smirk on her face grow wider. She crossed her arms and looked at me as if she had already won.

"Yutika... Yutika. I thought you were really an independent girl. But you are actually a princess who needs her bodyguards everywhere."

As she said that, she looked behind me. I noticed her making a small signal with her eyes. I immediately turned around to see what she was looking at, but all I saw was a bunch of students standing there, watching us.

I felt my anger rising because of her unnecessary dialogues. I wanted to slap her so hard. She was seriously getting on my nerves. But before I could do anything, I felt Kritarth holding my right hand. It was almost like he knew exactly what I was thinking and was trying to stop me from doing something stupid.

Nisha looked at me again. Then her eyes fell on my hand, which was still held by Kritarth. A slow smile appeared on her face.

"Kaafi gehra yaraana lagta hai. Vaise, Kritarth, kabhi bataya nahi tumne."

~ Seems like a pretty deep friendship. By the way, Kritarth, you never mentioned it.

Her words were full of sarcasm, and the way she said them made my anger reach its limit.

I was tired of her nonsense. I clenched my fists. But this time, I felt Kritarth holding me even more tightly. So I gathered all my strength in my left hand and slapped her hard across the right cheek.

Her head snapped to the opposite side. She touched her cheek and looked at me. There was still no anger in her eyes, but her expression had become even more frighteningly calm. As if she was ready to slap me back.

She rubbed her cheek, stood straight, and looked around.

"Guys, I think these freshers are forgetting their limits," she said, looking directly at me.

Kritarth was still holding my hand tightly.

"Nisha, she didn't mean it. Yutika, let's go. I am sorry on her behalf," he said. He even bowed slightly to the girl before trying to leave with us.

But before we could leave, a group of students stepped forward and blocked our way.

"Baby girl, baby girl. You thought you could slap Nisha and leave so easily? No way,,," someone said.

Nisha walked toward me and stood right in front of me.

"Shut up. Just shut up. Who do you think you are?" I said angrily. "Remember one thing. I am not here to show off, but don't you dare forget who I am. Yutika Bora. One call from me, and your life will become a hell."

My voice was shaking, and my words were breaking in between, but I somehow controlled myself and said everything in one breath.

"Yaar, Tomato, why are you messing with her?" Kritarth whispered and then turned toward Nisha. "I already said sorry. I will say it again if you want."

Then he turned toward me.

"Let's just leave," he again whispered in my ear.

Just then, one of the boys stepped forward.

"These days, freshers are forgetting who the seniors are," he said. "Nisha, today we noticed that many students were hiding from us. That's why they managed to escape the tasks we gave them."

"Yes, and I remember faces clearly. So why don't we teach them a lesson? And let's start with this girl," the boy beside Nisha said, pointing at me.

"See? This is why I was telling you that we should just leave. Bhai isn't here, and that's why they think they have the advantage," Kritarth whispered.

"Shut up. What is he going to do when all of them are on one side?" I whispered back.

"Hmm, you are right," she said to the boy. "Whether she is rich or not doesn't matter. And one more thing," She came closer to me, "Nobody has the right to touch me. Understood? No one."

She said it in my ear, almost poking me with her words. Maybe she was trying to provoke me or manipulate me to do something that I shouldn't do, especially at this time.

"Wait, guys.." she suddenly turned around and shouted.

Everyone's eyes immediately turned toward her.

"I think our little Richie is scared of doing the task. Now I got to know, Miss Richie is only good at talking big."

Hearing that, my already-hurt ego flared up even more.

"Is this girl always this much irritating, Kritarth? Just let go of my hand and let me handle this," I said.

I tried to pull my hand away from his grip.

"Yes, yes, leave her hand Kritarth so this little meow can slap me another time. But mark my words, this time her hand won't reach my cheek. Besides, as I said, the most she can do is slap me or talk big, just because her dad is the richest man around here. Apart from that, she can't do anything."

"There is nothing that Yutika can't do."

Yes, she succeeded. I lost control.

I stepped closer to her and said, looking straight into her eyes.

"You want to rag me? That's all... right? What do you want me to do? Hahh? Dance? Sing? Try to make you laugh? Try to entertain you? Say." I just smirked at her. "You just want me to be your puppet because you are jealous that I am rich."

She smiled and looked at others.

"Do you think you are the only rich person here? Look around you. Look at the college you got into. More than eighty percent of the students here are already rich. I just don't care about rich people."

I just shook my head. After what I had said, I felt like I sounded racist. That wasn't even what I wanted to say, but at that moment, I was too angry to think properly.

"Tell me, what do you want me to do?" I finally gave in.

My head was aching because of all this chaos. I was tired of arguing with them, tired of Nisha's taunts, and tired of having everyone around me staring at me. I just wanted this whole thing to end.

Now I understood why Mango kept telling me to leave. He knew this was not the right place or time to fight with all of them. But even then, I wasn't going to leave without proving myself.

Now I understood why Tina in Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai didn't call her dad, even though he was the principal.

I almost laughed at my own thought. I never thought I would understand a movie scene like this in real life.

I will deal with this girl later. But right now, they are all on the same side. I can't win against all of them. I have to give up for now.

And maybe that was the best thing for me and for us. There was no point in making the situation worse when I was already surrounded by so many people.

She looked at the girl behind me and gave her a small signal. I was still confused about why she kept giving signals to someone behind me. Last time, I couldn't see who the person was, but this time I did. She was the same girl who had been sitting in front of us and had run away when the professor came.

"So your task is..."

Everyone was looking at us, and I could feel the tension growing.

"Kiss the first person who enters through the college's main door."

"Not this filmy thing," I said, barely able to keep my calm.

"Oho, so Princess is afraid? It's just a kiss, baby girl. Nothing else."

"I am not going to do this shitty task."

"Okay, then." She pulled Pooja from behind Kritarth. "If you are not going to do it, then she will. But if she does it, I am not sure if we can keep our cameras inside."

"You are now crossing your limits." Saying this, I took out my phone to call Dad.

Seeing this, she snatched it from my hand and threw it to the ground.

"You,,," I yelled.

"Nisha, stop. You know if Bhai finds out about this, he won't even talk to you, let alone..."

"Oh, come on, Kritarth. It's our culture. Even your brother did the tasks given by the seniors. I am giving better tasks than he did. What say, guys?"

"Yes..." everyone said together.

Kritarth's eyes lowered, like he knew something.

I looked at Pooja, and she didn't look the same as she did when she first came and greeted us. This time, I could clearly see fear in her eyes. I didn't know her for very long, but she was the one who first reached out her hand to me for friendship.

We hadn't known each other for long but seeing Pooja like that, with fear in her eyes, made it impossible for me to not accept.

Nisha looked at me, and I yelled in anger, "Fine, I will do it."

I looked at Pooja. She was shivering.

"It's okay, Pooja. I will handle it." Saying this, I looked at Nisha and said, "First person who enters, right?"

I walked away. This time, everyone moved aside, making a path for me.

Many students followed me.

The rain was still falling, and I almost reached the main door of the college.

I stood there with my eyes closed.

Why am I even doing this? I should tell the principal.

The thought crossed my mind, but then I realized something. I shook my head.

I am sure whatever I am thinking is right.

I stood there, hoping that no one would enter. I was a few steps away from the main door. Some students were standing behind me, while others were closer to the door.

Suddenly, I sensed someone approaching.

Taking a deep breath, I started walking towards the door. Without looking at the person's face, I reached out and wrapped my hands across his neck.

I looked up.

And my eyes froze when I saw him.