The Next Day...
The festival preparations were in full swing.
Bright colors draped every corner of the college courtyard, strings of fairy lights blinked overhead, and a buzz of excitement charged the air.
Shristi moved around briskly, giving final touches to the decorations, checking off tasks, and helping wherever she could. She wore a bright smile, encouraging everyone, but inside, a small piece of her felt heavy.
Wick wasn't coming.
At least, that's what she had been told.
She shook the thought away and focused on the work. Everything was going smoothly — the perfect fest was coming together.
But fate had other plans.
---
Shristi stood on the stage, directing a few juniors about the arrangement of the props. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the old, rickety ladder positioned precariously behind her.
Across the field, Annu's eyes widened in horror.
"Shristi! Watch out!" she screamed.
Shristi turned instinctively, but there was no time to move. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the crash—
It never came.
Instead, she felt a firm arm wrap around her waist, pulling her to safety. When she opened her eyes, she saw Wick standing there, holding her tightly with one hand and gripping the falling ladder with the other, his muscles straining under the weight.
For a heartbeat, everything else faded.
It was just the two of them.
Wick flashed a half-smile, his voice low and teasing.
"Saving you seems to have become my full-time job now."
Shristi blinked at him, still stunned.
"It was just... an accident," she whispered.
A crowd quickly gathered around them, voices filled with concern.
"Shristi, are you okay?" one of the juniors asked, panicked.
Shristi shook herself back to reality and smiled reassuringly.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks to him."
Annu rushed forward, visibly shaken.
"Thank God you were here, Wick. If you hadn't—" she cut herself off, unable to finish the thought.
Wick's expression darkened. He turned sharply to the gathered group.
"Are you all blind?" he snapped, anger crackling in his voice. "This could've been serious! Who set up this ladder?!"
The juniors lowered their heads, mumbling apologies.
Shristi placed a gentle hand on Wick's arm, trying to calm him down.
"Wick... what about your meeting?" she asked softly.
Wick glanced at her, his eyes softening.
"I cancelled it."
Shristi's mouth dropped open slightly in disbelief.
"You are insane," she muttered under her breath, her heart swelling despite herself.
Wick smirked.
"Yeah," he said lightly. "Too late for you to notice that."
---
That Afternoon...
The sun was high, casting a golden glow over the festive decorations.
Nick walked over to Wick, waving his dead phone in the air.
"Bro, my battery's dead. Lend me your phone for a bit?"
Wick, distracted by a group trying to fix the speaker setup, nodded absentmindedly and handed it over without looking.
Nick took Wick's phone but realized he needed another number that wasn't saved there. Frustrated, he looked around and spotted Yuja nearby.
"Hey, Yuja," he called. "Mind if I borrow your phone for a second? Need to make a quick call."
Yuja agreed with a cheerful nod, handing her phone to Nick.
---
That Night...
The college grounds were alive with music and laughter.
The fest's opening ceremony was a grand success — speeches were given, dance performances lit up the stage, and the crowd's energy was electric.
Nick had made a new friend named Sunny, a jovial guy from a neighboring college. They chatted away, exchanging jokes and laughter, blending into the colorful chaos of the night.
Meanwhile, Wick searched the crowd until he spotted Shristi near the drink counter, her face glowing under the string lights.
Gathering his courage, he walked up to her.
"Will you dance with me?" he asked, offering his hand.
Shristi tilted her head, teasing him with a playful smile.
"Hmm... only if you ask properly."
Wick opened his mouth to say something witty — but before he could, a loud commotion near the stage grabbed everyone's attention.
Frowning, Wick turned instantly toward the noise.
"Duty calls," he muttered with a crooked grin and rushed off to handle the problem.
Shristi watched him go, her smile lingering.
---
The rest of the night passed in a whirlwind of performances, laughter, and celebration.
The fest was a resounding success.
But peace was short-lived.
Tension returned to the college grounds like a dark cloud.
Ten unfamiliar boys stormed into the college gates, their aggressive energy making students shrink back. They moved through the corridors, shouting and shoving, demanding to know where Aanchal and Dhristi were.
Wick, exiting his class, spotted the commotion.
He grabbed one of the bystanders — Vyshank, a junior — by the arm.
"Who the hell are these guys?" Wick demanded.
Vyshank, looking nervous, quickly explained.
"Local thugs, sir. From a different area. They're searching for two girls — Aanchal and Dhristi."
Nick's face paled.
He suddenly remembered — Aanchal and Dhristi had used Wick's phone the previous day to make a call.
Panic flared.
He hurried over to Wick.
"Wick, listen. Let it go. Don't get involved, please," Nick urged, voice low and urgent. "The principal's already got his eyes on you. If you make a scene now, he'll throw you off the sports team. Let me handle this."
Wick hesitated for half a second — but then his instincts took over.
Without a word, he broke into a sprint toward the hostel buildings.
If the girls weren't in class, they had to be there.
But halfway across the courtyard, his sharp eyes caught movement.
Aanchal was in the college grounds — and she wasn't alone.
The thugs had cornered her near the back entrance.
Before Wick could charge in, Nick and Deep moved swiftly. Together, they intercepted the thugs, de-escalating the situation before it exploded into violence.
With quick thinking and a few harsh warnings, Nick and Deep managed to scare the thugs off.
The immediate danger passed.
---
The issue was resolved — for now.
But deep down, Wick knew this wasn't over.
Trouble was brewing beneath the surface.
And the worst was yet to come.
---
To be continued...