The jeep screeched and stopped just a few distance away from the University gate. Students were in a swarm, going inside the campus.
Thabal glanced at Vikram and leaned towards him for a kiss. Vikram held her back as she was about to pull away and instead gave her a deep lip lock kiss.
"Take care" he muttered as he pulled away slowly. Thabal nodded and stared at him.
"Love you" she mumbled, cheeks reddening. Vikram chuckled at it.
"Love you" he repeated. They stared at each other for a moment before she looked away.
"Bye" she waved at him and climbed down.
"Aaj koi tuition classes nahi hai. Jaldi aajana. 2:30 ko hi" she informed. Vikram nodded at it. She waved at him for the last time before walking away.
By the time she reached the university gates, her eyes fell upon the two figures, smiling at her mischievously. They were basically grinning at her. Thabal felt a twitch in her lips, but controlled it. She maintained a stoic face.
"Ahem ahem! Koi glow kar raha hai" Shreya fake cough and grinned.
"Aare aftermath of confession ka glow hai" Meera nudged playfully. Thabal fake glared at them as she finally reached them.
"Ek lafa parega na. You two are the worst. Kya keh rahe the. Pet kharab. Fasting. Aur koi bahana nahi mila?" She smacked Meera's arm with a scowl.
The two laughed as they entered inside the campus.
"Aare we were so excited yesterday. Gale se kuch utarta hi nahi agar khate toh. And also we wanted you to reach the house as soon as possible" Shreya grinned making Thabal shake her head in defeat.
"By the way ring dikhaaa" Meera smiled excitedly. Thabal smiled and showed them.
"OH MY GOD! LOOK AT THAT SHINE!" Shreya screamed, attracting stares from a group of passing students.
"Shut up, Shreya! You're attracting the whole department" Thabal hissed, though she couldn't stop herself from smiling. Meera, meanwhile, was circling Thabal with a look of immense pride.
"Devaa! Itna sundar hai. Even with no gem it's so damn beautiful. Bhai asa lag raha hai yeh bas tere liye hi bana tha" she sighed dramatically, clutching her chest. Shreya and Thabal laughed in return.
"Kya matlab lag raha hai. Uske liye hi bana hai. Sir ne weeks ago banwane ke liye diya tha. Perfect one. The one which will suit her" Shreya grinned happily. Thabal chuckled and hummed but then froze suddenly in her own steps.
"Huh? Kya boli tu?" She asked with eyes widening.
"Kya?" Both of them asked in confusion.
"Kya matlab banwaya hai. Kharida nahi hai kya?" Thabal asked bewildered.
"Nahi toh. Sonar ke pass gaye the woh. Utna details pe nahi pata mujhe. Bas i know this ki he had made this for you. Real gold hai beta. Tujhe kya laga" Shreya scoffed and shook her head. Thabal widened her eyes at it.
"What the fuck" she muttered, she quickly looked at the ring and groaned.
"God! Why did he have to spend so much?" She felt guilt pooling over her stomach now. It must be so damn costly. The price of gold is rising so damn high and now he decided to make one for her? What's wrong with him?
"Aare koi nahi. He loves you na toh maan karta hoga na usko bhi, to spoil you. Tu aam kha, gutli mat gin" Shreya bumped her shoulder playfully. But Thabal still didn't look convinced.
Meera sighed and threw her arm on her shoulder.
"Dekh Thabal. Ek baat bol. Tu agar doctor ban gayi. Samajle. You are getting paid. Will you buy things for him? Will you pay things and surprise him with gifts every chance you get?" She asked. Thabal nodded without any second thought.
"Haan of course" she answered immediately. Meera smiled at it.
"Toh wahi. He is doing the same. He have a job Thabal. He has been doing it since years. Abhi sara paisa urata toh nahi hoga, haina? He must have saved it maybe for future. Now he have you, you are his future now. Aab banda tumpe paise kharch nahi kare toh kispe karega bolo" Meera asked with a raised brow, making Thabal speechless.
"Aab jyada mat soch. Tu jab intern ban jayegi toh payment milega na. Uske liye gifts le lena tu bhi. Hisab barabar. Abhi agar meine dekha tu fhir depression pe chali gayi because of this shit. Mein sachmein amma behen pe aajawungi" Shreya fake glared, earning a laugh from Thabal.
"Aacha thik hai- thik hai" she chuckled softly and together, they entered their classroom.
"Gana gaya tha woh?" Meera asked excitedly. Thabal chuckled and hummed.
"Haan"
"Meine select kiya tha woh song. Bhai 3 din lag gaye select karne mein. I went through almost 15 manipuri songs. And finally settled on it" Meera huffed to show tired she felt. Thabal laughed softly and took her seat on the third row.
"Bohot aacha choice tha" she grinned. Meera smirked and lifted her invisible collar with swag.
"Huh! Uska chor. Mera idea tha hall pe frames ka. Frame ka choice bhi mera tha. Aacha tha naaa??? It's so damn aesthetic. Oh my God!" Sherya squeled dreamily.
"Haan bataya Vikram ne. Bohot aacha tha. Dekhke hi samaj gayi tum dono mein se kisine bola hoga" Thabal smiled and shook her head.
"And you know the way he sang. Bhai it was so cute and funny at the same time. Uska accent itna funny tha. I wish I had recorded it" Thabal laughed loudly remembering it. But immediately quitened down realising she was in class right now.
"Koi nahi. Woh bolte haina, the most beautiful moments are captured by eyes, not by camera" Shreya winked playfully, earning chuckles.
"Sahi hai" Meera smiled and nodded.
"Oii. Meine abhi notice kiya. Tere eyes itne fhule-fhule kyu hai. Royi thi kya?" Shreya pointed out. This caught Meera's attention. She started inspecting too.
"Aare haan. Aankh ekdam fhul gaye hai" Meera said with a frown. Thabal sighed and subconsciously touched her eye. This was the result of the intense crying.
Her eyes which usually didn't have any eyelids. Were now having big puffy eyelids. That was the first thing she noticed when she woke up this morning. She sighed slowly.
"Woh kal confession ke time thoda rona dhona hogaya tha" she muttered in embarrassment. The two grinned slyly looking at each other.
"Ohhhhh" they said together teasingly.
"Sir ne kya itna emotional speech de diya ki tu ro hi pari?" Meera laughed along with Shreya.
"Nahi matlab romantic hi tha. But the words he used, it was kinda emotional sooo" Thabal shrugged and chuckled.
"Aur kuch gift kiya tereko?" Shreya asked in excitement. Thabal smiled and shook her head.
"Nahi. Bas yahi tha. And it is more than enough. Also he made Kavita aunty prepare my traditional food. Usne itna efforts diya, itna kuch prepare kiya. Wahi bohot hai" she smiled, remembering the moments. Her heart warming at it. Shreya and Meera looked at each other for a spilt second and smiled.
They were genuinely happy for their friend.
Just then the professor entered the class. All of them stood up in respect and sat back down after a second.
Here comes the long assss lecture.
🦋🦋🦋--------------
The lecture finally ended, the clock ticked at 2:15 pm. And the professor walked out. The students scramble out slowly. The trio walked along with the crowd.
"Uff! Itni garmi hai" Thabal muttered and fanned herself with her hand. She wore a knee length frock. Even then the heat was eating her up.
"Kash mein ladka hoti. Jindagi mein shirt kabhi pehenti hi nahi. Gym jati, body banati. Aur shirtless rehti. Ekdam mast. With just a half pant" Meera sighed dreamily. Earning chuckles.
"Yeh ladkiyon ki jindagi itni jhand kyu hai?" Shreya tched and continued walking out of the University campus.
"Heyy!! Kyu na hum girls trip pe jaye?" She suddenly suggested with a grin. Meera scoffed at her words.
"Girls trip? Sapne dekhna aachi baat hai. Lekin sapne-"
"Hogaya behen. Hogaya" Shreya cut her off. Thabal laughed at it.
"Kabhi possible huwa toh dekhte hai. Dur kahi nahi. Yahi pass pe hi chota sa picnic karte hai" she suggested. Meera and Shreya nodded at it.
As they walked towards the waiting seat area, suddenly they halted on their steps when three tall figures blocked their way.
It was Ransh and his friends.
"Thabal, i wanted to talk to you about something" Ransh started. Thabal just stood there and hummed, signalling him to continue.
"Idhar nahi. Kahi cafe pe chalte hai. Pass hi hai. Let's sit there and talk properly" he requested.
"Nahi. Baat karna hai toh idhar karo. Mein kahi nahi ja rahi. I am busy" she said straight forwardly. Ransh sighed and stepped an inch closer.
"It's just a matter of 10 minutes Thabal. Just 10 minutes. Meine kabhi tumhare saath misbehave kiya hai kya? I have always been respectful to you. Please, I swear i won't make you uncomfortable" he tried again. Thabal tsked and closed her eyes for a second.
"Ransh it's not that. Mujhe kisi bhi ladke ke saath rehne mein comfortable feel nahi hota hai. Tum koi exception nahi ho. Please samjho and respectful chale jawo. I don't want to get involved with you. I am not interested in you" she cleared for the upmteenth times.
"But tum uske saath toh jati ho. You kiss him. You hug him. You go with him-" he started but stopped when Thabal glared at him hatefully.
"Are you stalking me?" She asked calmly, yet the calmness held a hint of danger. Ransh kept mum at it.
"Dobara agar mere piche pare ya wapas se stalk kiya. Toh case kardungi tumpe mein. I am bearing you for months doesn't mean you take me for granted. And for your kind information. Mein usse kiss karu. Hug karu. Mein uske saath kuch bhi karu. That's my decision to take. I love him. He loves me. Tum third person banke hamara peaceful life kharab mat karo please" she sneered, eyes burning with anger.
"Wooooo" Shreya and Meera cheered from behind, clapping their hands with a wide grin.
"That's my girl" Meera smirked.
"Itna sunne ke baad agar tu uska piche still karega toh bhai tere se jyada besharam, behaya, baddimak, gadha kabhi nahi dekha hoga meine. Abhi patli gali se nikal. Pyaar se bol rahi hai woh. Hum pyaar se nahi bolenge" Shreya signalled with her finger for them to go.
Ransh clenched his jaw but didn't looked at her.
"I am not talking to you. I talking to Thabal" was all he said. And then his two friends stood infront of Shreya and Meera, covering them so that they don't disturb him.
"Abe oiii. Hatt warna asa marungi tujhe ki teri nani yaad aajayegi" Meera gritted her teeth and pushed him, but the guy didn't bulge.
Thabal felt a surge of adrenaline, her protective instincts for her friends flaring up alongside her own irritation. She moved to push past Ransh to get to them, but Ransh grabbed her upper arm, his grip tighter than it had ever been.
"Baat suno meri, Thabal. Tumhe lagta hai woh officer tumhe khush rakhega? Think practically. He will get old soon, you will still be as young as ever. He isn't fitting for you-" his rant was sliced in between.
"Haath chhodo mera" Thabal said, her voice dropping dangerously low. She looked at his hand on her skin with a look of pure disgust.
"Ransh, I am telling you for the last time. Haath chhodo" she warned him calmly. Her eyes glaring at him. Ransh was still persistent. By now few people started watching them, whispering among themselves. Some of them filled the scene.
"Nahi. Pehle meri baat suno. I am far better than him Thabal. Think wisely. I am younger, richer, more compatible than him. I will love you more. I will provide you everything which he can never" he desperately begged.
"Just say yes once. Mein kuch bhi karunga tumhare liye. Anything. Literally anything you say-" Thabal pushed him off with force and looked at him with disgust.
"Usse better toh dur. You aren't even behind him" she spat bitterly.
"I felt pity for you, watching you behind me. Socha innocent crush hoga, that's why I never said anything to you. Thought ki jyada harsh boldungi toh dil tuth jayega tumhara. But you came out to be so fucking mad" she hissed and was about to walk away when his words stopped her.
"Kabtak rahogi uss buddhe ke piche? He will leave you on his own one day. Ya toh tum usse chor dogi-" SMACK!
His words were silenced by a loud slap. Everything felt silent except the gasps by the onlookers.
People started gathering, stopping and watching the live drama. Ransh palmed his left cheek, where he was slapped. Thabal looked at him with eyes filled with hate.
"Aaj keh diya. Aagli baar mere Vikram ke baare mein ek shabdh nahi bolna. Muh tod dungi tumhara mein" she gritted her teeth in anger. Ransh clenched his jaw in irritation and anger. The earlier determined and requesting eyes changed into sharp angry ones.
"Thabal. Pyaar karta hoon tumse. Isliye pyaar se baat kar raha hoon" with that he grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him.
And just then Shreya kicked the guy stopping her, making him crouched down in pain.
"Abhi ke abhi uska haath chor. Warna tera haath kaat dalungi mein" Shreya warned him. Ransh glared back at her in anger.
"Dekh Shreya. Apne kam se kam rakh. It's her and my matter" He spitted harshly, tightening his hold over Thabal's hand.
Thabal winched at it. She tried to break free from his hold but his strength was double from her. Suddenly she stopped struggling. Ransh took this signed in a wrong manner.
"See, now you understand right? Let's talk calmly Thabal. See- ahh fuck!" A firm hand wrapped around his forearm, the one holding Thabal. He felt a brutal squeeze. The sound of his bones groaning under the pressure was audible.
"Ahhhhh" he immediately left her hand and cried in pain. His friends tried freeing him but instead got kicked away brutally, landing on the stone seat. One of them groaned in pain as his body collided against it, also the kick on the chest was immense.
The other stepped back in fear, gulping down a lump. He shakily moved away. Ransh finally turned to see his tormentor. And he was greeted by Vikram. Standing stiff, veins protruding against his skin on his neck. His jaw was clenched.
"Aey! Abhi ke abhi nahi chora na toh kahi ka nahi chorunga mein tujhe. Teri jindagi barbad nahi ki na, toh mera naam bhi Ransh nahi-" He didn't get to finish. Vikram's fist connected with his jaw with a sickening thud.
Ransh went flying back, hitting the floor hard. Vikram stepped over the fallen boy, grabbed him by the collar, and hauled him up just to land another brutal punch in his stomach. Ransh buckled, gasping for air, but Vikram wasn't done. His face was a mask of cold, calculated fury. He was going to break him.
Thabal looked away and winched. She couldn't bear looking at the violence. She felt sick. He looked like a monster right now. A blood thirsty monster. Who had no mercy.
"How fucking dare you touch her" Vikram whispered, his voice was deep and chilling. Ransh shivered slightly at the intensity of his tone. He tried to act brave, but couldn't manage the mask more.
Vikram grabbed his right hand and twisted it until Ransh shouted in pain.
"Ahhghhhhhgg! Ahhhhhhhh" he tried to hit Vikram with his other hand, but Vikram didn't buldged.
"More more. Raise your voice more. Sunai nahi de raha mujhe" Vikram said causually and continued twisting his arms, until he heard a crack.
"Ahhhhhh! Ahahaaaaaaaa. Pleaseee!" Ransh shouted with a choked sob. He felt like his arm was broken into pieces.
Vikram finally left his arm, to his relief. But he crouched near him making his fear thousand times more. What the fuck was this phycho upto now?
Vikram however placed his hand on his throat and started squeezing it painfully. Ransh widened his eyes and started gasping for air.
"Apologise" was all Vikram said. Ransh started choking, trying to chase for air greedily.
"S-sorry. Sorryy. S-s-sorry" he cried as Vikram tightened his hold against his throat.
Vikram felt a primal instinct in him. He felt his eyes glowing with a need. A need to just press more and snap his life. Just a few more tightening and his life would be no longer his.
"Vikram! Bas. Hogaya. Mar jayega woh!" Thabal immediately clutched his arm, her voice breaking the spell of his rage. He turned to her slowly, Thabal almost flinched at the look in his eyes. She gulped hard. Right now he looked no longer a human.
Vikram turned to Ransh. Stared at him for a second before landing a bone cracking punch on his face. The sound came out harsh and loud, making everyone witnessing it winch.
Thabal flinched back in fear. This version of him was something she never wanted to see. It horrified her.
"Dobara uski taraf aankh uthake bhi dekha toh tumhari yahi dono aankhein nikal fhekunga mein" he warned at his now unconscious body. Vikram stood up slowly and looked at Thabal who was frozen on her place. She was still crouched down.
The sight of her being lost and frozen in her place, hit him harder. The fire in his eyes flickered, replaced by a dark, heavy guilt.
"Thabal" he said, his voice still raspy from the adrenaline. He reached out a hand to help her up, but she instinctively tensed. He froze, his hand hovering in mid air, before slowly pulling it back. He realized he was still covered in the aura of violence.
He sighed softly and crouched down infront of her gently. He turned to Meera and Shreya, signalling towards the crowd. And they understood immediately.
"Oii. Kya dekh rahe ho tum sab. Jawo. Drama khatam. Sab apne-apne ghar jawo" they shooed the crowd away.
Vikram looked at her for a moment and then softly called her.
"Chand" Thabal stiffened, she couldn't muster up the courage to look up at him.
"Babu meri taraf dekho. See here" he gently and slowly cupped her cheeks. Thabal slowly looked at him. The fear in her eyes vanished as soon as she locked her eyes with his.
His earlier anger filled eyes were replaced by the soft one which Thabal has always seen.
"Dar lag raha hai mujhse?" He asked gently, caressing her jaw. Thabal looked at him, now calmer. She shook her head in answer.
"I- I was just scared that he would die. Fhir aap ko kuch hogaya toh. Aap pe case lag gaya toh? And you looked so uncontrollable that moment. It-it scared me a bit" she sighed softly. Vikram looked at her, listening to her quietly while he caressed her soft skin.
"You don't ever have to be scared of me Chand. I will always be the Vikram you love" he assured her softly.
"Dobara asa mat karna aap" she whispered to him, with pleading eyes. Vikram watched her for a moment before smiling. He nodded slowly and signalled her to come to him.
Thabal inched towards him and hid her face in the crook of his neck. Vikram hugged her tightly, as if trying to safeguard her. He hid her away from the foul view behind him.
'but I will always do this, if it's for you. I will continue doing this' his inner voice muttered.
"Jyada lagi?" He asked touching her arm gently. Thabal shake her head in no.
"I am fine" she muttered against his neck.
"Did he do something more? Before i came?" Vikram asked softly, running his hand on her hair. Internally planning to ruin his life.
Thabal pulled back from the hug and looked at him.
"Nahi. Bas haath pakra tha. Aur pata nahi kya-kya aandu mein bol raha tha. Aapke baare mein bhi bola. Mujhe itna gussa aaya meine ek thappar mara usse" She huffed proudly. Vikram chuckled at it and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Aacha? I am so proud of you baby" saying so he placed a kiss on her forehead. Thabal smiled at it.
"I love you" she whispered to him, genuinely. Vikram smiled at her and leaned closer to her.
"I love you" he muttered and leaned in to kiss her but back off as they heard a cough. They saw Meera and Shreya just in the background. Meera smirked, fake coughing.
"Public place hai sir. Thoda toh sochiye" Shreya sighed dramatically. Thabal blushed at it.
"You must be exhausted from the events happening. Ghar chalte hai" Vikram decided and helped her stand up. He made sure, he was hiding Ransh's unconscious body. As Thabal seeing it would scare her.
He would always protect her. Always. She was his world afterall.
__________🌸_________
And heroes protect their world😔🫂✨
Hope you enjoyed ittt
Stay safe sweeties🐻🌻
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