As the moon hung low in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the college campus, Kanak paced nervously in front of the HOD's office. Her heart thudded loudly in her chest, each beat echoing her determination to stand up for what was right. She could still see the fear in Sonal's eyes and the bruises on Vickey's face, a cruel reminder of the violence that lingered in their midst.
Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door, and it creaked open. The HOD, Dr. Nair, looked up from his desk, his expression shifting from surprise to concern as he noticed Kanak’s troubled demeanor.
“Come in, Kanak. What brings you here at this hour?” he asked, gesturing for her to take a seat.
Kanak hesitated, her mind racing. “Sir, I need to talk about Surendra Rathod. He…” she faltered, the weight of her words hanging in the air. “He attacked Vickey. It was brutal, and I can’t just let it go.”
Dr. Nair’s brow furrowed as he listened, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. “I see. Violence of any kind is unacceptable. Do you have any witnesses or proof?”
“Yes, Sonal and my friends were there. They can testify,” Kanak replied, her voice gaining strength. “And there’s CCTV footage from the area.”
Dr. Nair nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll need to discuss this with the administration. But I must warn you, Surendra comes from a powerful family. They may try to intimidate you.”
Kanak squared her shoulders, a fierce resolve igniting within her. “I’m not afraid of him or his family, sir. This isn’t just about me; it’s about standing up for everyone who feels powerless.”
Dr. Nair studied her for a moment, a flicker of respect crossing his face. “Very well. I’ll initiate an inquiry. But remember, it’s important to stay safe. You have support, but you must be cautious.”
Just then, the trustee of the college, who is also the father of Surendra, (kanak is unknown about the truste), overhead the convo with kanak.
He moved inside the office, just then kanak stood up and started leaving,but then Mukesh (Surendra father) stops her.
" You were telling something about Surendra", Mukesh enquired.
"Y.. yes sir, nothing, kanak lied.
"Don't worry, I'm the trustee of college, you can tell me", Mukesh replied with a smile.
"Yeh sir",kanak said.
Kanak told everything that happened moments before .
" Sir, whether he belongs to a powerful and wealthy family, but whatever he did was wrong, and I really hope some action would be taken". Kanak said.
" Yes, you are right, so we suspend him for 1 week, right dr. Nair, Mukesh said.
"Nooo , 1 week , I'm sorry sir but I know he has done wrong but exams are also coming near and their will be loss of his studies if you suspend him for 1 week", kanak said worriedly.
Mukesh with a smile said, " okay we will suspend him for 2 days, is it okay?".
"Sir, how can I tell you whether to suspend him for a week or 2 Days" kanak said .
Mukesh started laughing and said " okay so dr. Nair suspend Surendra Rathod for 2 days".
Dr. Nair nodded in agreement and gave orders to prepare suspension letter for him.
"Thank you sir", kanak responded with smile and she began to leave.
"Kanak, do you know I'm Surendra's father ". Mukesh replied.
"Kyaa, I mean, matlab sorry sir , kanak stammer, she has dig the hole for herself.
Dr. Nair and Mukesh both started to smile looking at each other.
"Don't worry whatever you have done is correct, you stand for what is right and you are very brave , who has decided to fight against him", Mukesh responded.
'Thank you sir', kanak said and left the office as soon as possible.
As Kanak left the office, a sense of relief washed over her, but it was short-lived. She felt the familiar weight of eyes on her and turned to find Surendra leaning against a wall, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Going to the HOD, Kanak? Trying to be a hero?” he taunted, stepping closer. “You really think you can take me down?”
“Is that what you think? That you can intimidate me?” Kanak shot back, her heart racing, but this time she wouldn’t back down.
Surendra's expression shifted slightly, revealing a glimmer of surprise. There was something different about her, a newfound spark that intrigued him. “You’re brave, I’ll give you that. But bravery without sense can lead to trouble.”
“Maybe, but I’d rather face trouble than let you walk all over people,” Kanak replied defiantly, her words echoing with conviction.
Surendra’s smirk faded, replaced by an intense gaze. “You really don’t know who you’re dealing with, do you?”
Before she could respond, a voice broke through the tension. “Surendra, what are you doing here? Leave her alone.” It was sapna her presence radiating a protective energy.
Surendra straightened, his demeanor shifting as he addressed sapna. “This is none of your business. Stay out of it.”
“Oh, I think it is my business when someone’s getting harassed,” sapna countered, stepping between Kanak and Surendra. “You need to back off.”
Surendra’s eyes narrowed but he stepped back, the tension unresolved but simmering. “This isn’t over, Kanak. You’re playing a dangerous game.”
As Surendra walked away, Kanak felt a rush of adrenaline, both from the confrontation and the support from sapna. “Thank god ,you came.she said, her voice steadying.
Sapna smiled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “What are friends for? But we need a plan. If Surendra’s going to retaliate, we need to be ready.”
Kanak nodded, the gravity of their situation settling in. “Let’s meet with the others. We’ll figure this out together.”
As the two friends walked away from the confrontation, Kanak couldn’t shake the feeling that the battle was just beginning. The threads of conflict were unraveling around her, and she was determined to weave a new story, one where she would not only survive but thrive.
In the shadows, Surendra watched them leave, a mixture of curiosity and irritation coursing through him. Perhaps this girl was more than he initially thought. Perhaps this would be more complicated than he intended.
With that thought, he turned to leave, an unsettling excitement brewing within him. The game was on, and he was ready for whatever came next.
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