The next morning, when Siya and Aman ji woke Kabir up, he stirred, groaned, and pulled the blanket over his head again.
Aman ji slapped his forehead. "He's never going to change…"Pulling off the blanket, he added, "Kabir, wake up, or today your mom will slap me too. Get up, son!"
Kabir stretched and muttered, "Dad, why does morning have to come so early every day?"
Aman ji ruffled his hair playfully. "So you can go to school. Now hurry, or your mom will scold you."
Hearing "school," Kabir snapped, "Dad, I'm not going back to that school."
Aman ji tried to coax him. "Son, you have to go. Otherwise your studies will get disturbed."
Kabir, heading to the washroom, retorted, "I'm not going, and that's final."
Aman ji sighed and said to himself, 🤦🏻♂ "Mother and son are the same… unbelievably stubborn."
He went downstairs and told Chandrika ji everything. She fumed."That boy just needs an excuse to skip school! Let him come down—I'll slap some sense into him."
Aman ji knelt in front of her, taking her hands gently."Chandrika, he's not making excuses. His pride is hurt. Forcing him now will only break his self-esteem. We should listen to him before making any decision."
Chandrika ji nodded, understanding, and went into the kitchen.
A while later, Kabir came down dressed—not in his school uniform, but casual clothes.
Aman ji caressed his cheek. "How are you feeling now, son? Does it still hurt?"
Kabir flicked his hair with pride. "Kabir doesn't fear tiny injuries like these."
Aman ji chuckled at his swagger.
Chandrika ji entered. "Kabir, why are you in these clothes? Where's your uniform?"
Kabir's smile faded into a serious tone. "Mom, I'm not going back to that school."
Chandrika: "And your studies? What about them?"
Kabir thought for a moment. "I'll go stay with Bhaiya and study with him."
Chandrika softly stroked his head. "It's only two or three months till exams. After that, you can go wherever you want."
Kabir got up in frustration."Mom, I said I'm not going, and that's final—even if I have to lose a whole year!"He stormed back into his room.
Just then, Siya arrived. She greeted Aman and Chandrika ji and went into Kabir's room.She found him crying, his face buried in his pillow.
"Kabir, what happened? Why are you crying?" she asked.
He didn't respond. Siya called in Aman and Chandrika ji.Chandrika ji lovingly asked what was wrong, and Kabir finally broke down and told them everything.
Siya scolded him:"I told you not to be friends with her! That girl is pure trouble! Dad, go to school now and confront her. How dare she accuse Kabir? I'll rip her braids off!"
Kabir wiped his tears. "No, Dad. She did what she had to. I don't want anything to do with her now. Please don't say anything to anyone."
Aman ji: "But son…"
Kabir walked out without a word. Aman ji and Chandrika ji exchanged a glance, shook their heads, and returned to their routines.
Kabir's Breakdown
Kabir sat quietly in the garden, but the memories kept tormenting him—Shreyanshi's false accusation, the altercation, that mysterious boy's face. Kabir suddenly screamed.
Hearing him, Aman ji and Chandrika ji rushed out. Kabir had buried his face in his knees, crying.
Aman hugged him. "What happened, my child? Did someone say something?"
Kabir sobbed. "Dad, I'm not going back there. Please… don't send me back."
Aman gently stroked his head. "Okay, son. You don't have to go. Just stop crying now."
Kabir had always been mischievous but sensitive—he took every little thing to heart. But he'd never cried like this in front of anyone.Today, he couldn't hold back. Shreyanshi's lies and that boy's face haunted him.Chandrika ji was deeply worried seeing her son like this.
OLLI, UTTARAKHAND
It was Anurag's first day at college. He arrived in style on a roaring Bullet bike—white T-shirt, black jacket, black pants, a stylish watch, and a cool backpack.The morning chill made the weather even more pleasant.
He walked into college with full attitude, drawing all eyes. He adjusted his black sunglasses and ran a hand through his hair with a broad smile.
As he strutted through the crowd, he suddenly clutched his head in pain. Dizziness overtook him, and he collapsed.
But before he could hit the ground, someone caught him—it was Raghav.
Raghav tried to hold him up, but Anurag had passed out.He splashed water from his bottle; a crowd gathered.Anurag stirred briefly but couldn't open his eyes due to the pain—and then passed out again.
Raghav, with help from other boys, flagged a taxi and rushed Anurag to the hospital.
At the hospital, Anurag was admitted and undergoing tests. Just then, his phone rang. A nurse handed it to Raghav.
A girl's angry voice came through:"Anurag, where are you? And why didn't you take your medicine? I told you—take it before leaving! Tell me where you are, I'll bring the meds now!"
Raghav stayed silent.The girl continued, "Anurag, say something! Where are you?"
Raghav calmly replied:"Miss, if you'll stop shouting, I'll speak. The person you're looking for is currently at City Hospital."
The girl—Apoorva—panicked."Hospital? Anurag? Who are you?"
"I brought your patient here," Raghav said. "Please come quickly. I have somewhere urgent to be."
Apoorva grabbed her bag and rushed out."Yes, I'm coming! Please don't leave my brother alone!"
"Don't worry," Raghav said gently. "Just come quickly. I'm not going anywhere."
Driving fast, Apoorva was in tears."I told him so many times—take your medicine—but he never listens. If anything happens to him, I'll never forgive myself."
Her mind flashed back…
A little boy, around 7 or 8, was running down the stairs. A girl chased behind him."Anurag, stop! I said STOP!"
But Anurag kept running, crying, "Mama, where are you? Mamaaaa?"
He reached a body covered with a cloth.Removing it revealed a half-burnt face.He collapsed, screaming, "Mama, wake up! Mama, please! Say something!"
Apoorva grabbed him and pulled him away, even as tears filled her own eyes. She didn't want him to see their mother like that.
As she dragged him up the stairs, Anurag resisted.In her grief, Apoorva slapped him hard.Anurag lost balance, fell down the stairs, and hit his head. Blood poured out as he lay unconscious.
Suddenly, a pedestrian crossed her path. Apoorva slammed the brakes and wiped her tears."It's all my fault… all of it," she whispered and sped up again.
Meanwhile, Raghav's phone rang nonstop.He saw it was his senior—Rahul—and cursed under his breath.
"Oh shit! I had to present my research today!"
He answered."Sorry, sir, I got caught in an emergency. Please give me a little more time."
"You have 30 minutes, Raghav. ONLY 30," Rahul snapped.
"Thank you so much, sir!" Raghav hung up and anxiously paced.Time was running out, and no taxi stopped.Just five minutes left. He slumped onto a bench, hopeless. His year-long effort was slipping away. His eyes welled up—but he wiped them dry.
Suddenly, a bike stopped in front of him. It was Adit.
Raghav jumped up and hugged him tightly.Adit, startled, asked, "What happened? You okay?"
"Just get me to college. It's urgent!" Raghav said, climbing on.
Adit looked at his delivery order, smiled, and said, "Hop on!"
On the way, Raghav told him everything.
Adit scolded him, "Dude, at least CALL me! What am I here for?"
Raghav hugged him from behind."I was so stressed, I couldn't think. Seeing you felt like breathing again."
Adit blushed. "Don't say stuff like that, man. I'm getting emotional."
Raghav laughed, smacked his head."Idiot. You're just like Kabir—mischievous and sweet."
Adit smiled proudly at the comparison.