"Move."
He looked up from his notebook.
"I—I was sitting here," he said quietly.
A laugh followed.
"Does it look like anyone cares?"
The chair was kicked back. Someone stood too close.
"You're always sitting alone," another voice said.
"Like you don't exist."
"I don't want trouble," he replied, tightening his grip on the bag.
"That's the problem," someone mocked.
"You don't want anything."
Laughter echoed around the classroom.
"Why are you so quiet?"
"Scared?"
"Or just weak?"
He swallowed.
"I'm here to study," he said. "That's all."
A shove sent his books scattering across the floor.
No one moved to help.
"Pick it up," a calm voice ordered.
"That's what you're good at."
He bent down.
Slowly.
Silently.
Then—
"Stop."
The room stilled.
A girl stood near the door, nervous but steady.
"He hasn't done anything," she said.
"Just leave him alone."
Someone scoffed.
"Why do you care?"
She looked at him once.
"Because he doesn't deserve this."
For a moment, the noise faded.
He looked up at her.
"You okay?" she asked softly.
He nodded too fast.
"I'm fine."
That was the first lie he learned to say easily.
"Silence won't protect you forever."
The voice came later. Older. Colder.
"You stay quiet, you stay small," it continued.
"And people like them don't stop."
He finally spoke.
"What am I supposed to do?"
A pause.
"Make sure no one ever dares again."
The room darkened.
The girl's face blurred.
"Not everything stays innocent," she said, distant now.
"And not everyone gets saved twice."
"Wait—" he said.
The ground vanished beneath him.
ADVIK'S POV
"No."
Advik woke up abruptly.
His room was dark. Silent.
He sat up, jaw tight, breath steady.
"That was years ago," he muttered.
He swung his legs off the bed.
He whispered into the dark,
"I stayed silent once," he said quietly.
"Never again."
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Inside the car, his phone buzzed.
"Office, sir?" the driver asked.
"Yes."
He leaned back, closing his eyes briefly.
"Delay the first meeting," he said.
"I'll reach in twenty."
The call ended.
He didn't wait.
Advik dialed another number.
"Report," he said calmly.
A brief pause.
"Anything unusual?"
"...Too clean."
His jaw tightened slightly.
A silence stretched between them.
"Dig deeper."
He disconnected the call.
Too clean was never a good sign.
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The car slowed near a signal.
That's when he saw her.
Siya stood beside her car, phone pressed to her ear, irritation clear.
"She's blocking traffic," the driver said.
"Stop," Advik replied.
The window rolled down.
She turned, startled.
"You?" she said. "Do you appear only on inconvenient days?"
He stepped out. "Looks like your luck isn't great today."
"My car won't start," she replied flatly.
"And I'm already late."
"Open the hood."
She crossed her arms. "Are you always this commanding?"
"Only when something needs fixing."
She hesitated, then did as told.
A moment passed.
"Try now," he said.
She turned the key.
The engine started.
She stared. "Okay... I'll admit, that was impressive."
"I don't like delays," he replied.
She smiled faintly. "Neither do I."
They stood there longer than needed.
"You handle chaos well," he said.
"I don't like panicking," she replied.
"It gives people control."
That answer stayed with him.
"Well," she said, opening her door, "thanks. I owe you."
He shook his head. "You don't."
She paused. "You're very sure of yourself."
"Experience does that."
She looked at him once more.
"And experience takes innocence," she said quietly.
Then she drove away.
As Advik got back into the car, the dream flickered again.
Not the bullying.
Not the fear.
The girl.
The one who spoke up when no one else did.
He clenched his jaw.
The past had made him ruthless.
And The present showed him who deserved it.
COLLEGE CAMPUS
The college courtyard was crowded with students moving in every direction.
Sanvi hurried across the lawn, files clutched to her chest, eyes fixed on her phone.
She didn't see him until—
thud.—
"Hey—!" she exclaimed, almost losing her balance.
"Sorry—my fault," Atharav said quickly, steadying her before she fell. "I wasn't looking."
She straightened, annoyed. "You should watch where you're going."
"You walked into me."
"I did not."
"You definitely did."
She stared at him. Then scoffed. "You're very confident for someone clearly wrong."
He smiled. "I get that a lot."
She rolled her eyes. "Figures."
They stood there for a second longer than necessary.
"So," he said, breaking the silence, "you're from which department?"
"Biotech," she replied. "You?"
"Management."
She smirked. "That explains the attitude."
"And you science people explain the temper," he shot back.
She laughed despite herself. "You're annoying."
"First honest thing you've said."
She shook her head. "I'm already late."
"Same," he replied. "Guess that makes us even."
She started to walk away, then paused. "Try not to bump into people again."
"No promises," he said. "Try not to walk into them."
Sanvi glanced back once, shaking her head with a faint smile before disappearing into the crowd.
Atharav watched her go, still smiling.
"Interesting," he muttered.
Advik saw questions in Siya he couldn't ignore.
Elsewhere, something began that no one was watching yet.
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Chapter 4 glimpse
"Should I stop?"
A pause.
"Now it gets interesting."
Do tell me what was your fav scene!
If you enjoyed this chapter
do vote and share your thoughts in the comments 🥀
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