Chapter - 5

Author's Pov.:-

When trio friends reached the corridor. Naitee stopped in her step with wide eyes. Her reaction was like her eyes were about to pop out of their socket. Payal and Adi both frowned at her action and deep down they pictured something horrible which scared them for her.

" What's wrong? " Adi questioned looking at his innocent friend.

" We forget to take my tiffin box. My mother will kill me if I lose it. That lunch box is my father's " Naitee mumbled pulling her hair. Her nerves are kicking her to go back and take the box however her scared kitten heart is warning her not to. Besides she can't lose the box because her mother will question her about the box and she wouldn't be able to master the lie on her face. In the today morning mistakenly her father took her box leaving his on the table which Naitee took with her when her mother explained to her that it all happened in a rush as her father was running late for his work.

She is already in trouble for losing her both glasses and now she has to ask her parents for the new set. Besides she has to master a good lie before them to get new glasses without any problem. After all, if her parents will know about her being bullied in the school they will be upset and like always will question their parenting and blame themselves which Naitee didn't want to see. It hurts her. It breaks her when she sees her parents being weak because of her or her sister. She wants to become their strength, not weakness.

Moreover, for Naitee she is enough mature to face some battle of her life on her own rather than going to her parents and crying in their arms like a five-year-old.

" Oh, Then what's with this face of yours. Smile, these unnecessary frownings don't look good at you " Adi said brushing his index finger over Naitee's forehead.

" Ideat! Have you lost your mind? How can we go back when we have played a super cool stunt to those five stupid creatures. Let's wait here to recess over, then we will fetch the box. " Payal let out slapping Adi's shoulder who looked at Payal with a nervous smile.

" Well, sorry both of you. It all happened because of me. Especially, Naitu to you " Adi apologized to which Naitee instantly decline by shaking her head.

" No, nothing happened because of you. Like you were their target in the previous school. I am their target in this school. Coincidentally, we became friends and all the things link together " Naitee said dryly. Both Payal and Adi group hugged her.

" Don't be a sad girl. Now you have us. We will fight it together " Payal said which sound like she was assuring this to herself. She is worried about the coming up days because she knows that A4M are not some ordinary people and after Naitee and her stunt they aren't going to sit silent and digest the disrespect and humiliation caused by both of them.

" Let's go, the bell just rang. I hope no one ate my lunch box. I am starving to eat anything at this moment " Naitee said making Adi pass her a sad smile while Payal chuckled before saying " Come on, don't be a foody "

The trio went to the cafeteria where the staff members were packing up the stalls and dumping the food plates to the basin.

" Miss, have you seen a steal lunch box? That was on that table. In rush, I forget it there " Naitee questioned the woman who was collecting the plates from the benches as some students left their places on the table.

" Is this today's incident? " the woman questioned back Naitee.

" Yes, " Naitee replied in the hope to get the box.

" Sorry, dear but there was no box. " the woman answered with a sad face.

" Are you sure? " Adi questioned while Payal frowned as something clicked on her.

" Yes, I am sure " the woman let out before going back to her work.

" Seems like I have an idea where it is? " Payal let out when they walked out of the cafeteria and looked at the crowd moving to their classes.

" No, No, No, " Adi said in horror.

" Yea, probably they took it with them or the worst they threw it. I am not sure but they are the reason behind your missing box " Payal explained taking a breath away from Naitee's lungs. Here, a moment before she had promised to herself that she will build distance between her and A4M and will not face them ever but seems like destiny has some different plans for her.

" Don't worry Naitee. We will get the box but for now, we should head back to our classes because our teacher is about to show up in the class in a few minutes as it has been a long since recess over " Adi explained making both the girls jog with him to their classes. They wave at Payal when she reaches her class and jogs to theirs. Due to good luck, the teacher just enter inside after a few minutes when they entered. To their wonder, every student of their class passes them looks.

When Naitee went to her bench she found a paper slip on her bench which says ' the lunch was awesome. From now on you will bring a lunch box for me and if you want your box back then bring the notebooks and take the box or forget it '

' No wonder why everyone was passing strange looks at me. They were here and he put the slip on my bench. Sick people! ' Naitee thought.

Adi tore the slip and dump it in the dustbin. After that none of them said anything to each other, other than study. Naitee has lost hope of getting her box back. So now her mood is sore. Naitee is not at all afraid of A4M because they can't do any more damage to her as in her eyes she has nothing left by which they can cause her pain.

Time skipped and now it's swimming class. Naitee mentally prayed for a miracle to save herself from the swimming classes as she did in her first swimming class by faking stomach ache. However, this time she can't repeat the same act. Naitee and Adi went together to the swimming hall where the coaches divide students according to their physic and weight. Naitee, Payal, and some other chubby girls are grouped by one coach who is going to train them.

Terrified Naitee looked at the swimming pool with wide eyes and a shaking body. The coach observed her condition and frowned. She dismissed the girls to her assistant and went to Naitee to have words with her in private.

" What happened child? Are you okay? " she questioned Naitee who snapped out of her thought and look at the coach.

" Mam, is it necessary for every student to learn swimming? " Naitee questioned back ignoring the coach's questions.

" It is until students have a solid reason for not taking swimming classes " the coach let out.

" Mam, I have hydrophobic. I don't think I can be able to step inside the water. " Naitee explained at which the teacher nodded her head but told her to give a certificate of it.

After that day Naitee's class went well because no coach questioned her for sitting on the bench and doing her homework other than swimming. Naitee's old school was not this classy and rich in activities. In her old school only sports class happens no other activity classes as they have no facilities for that to access them.

" Oh, that's sad. " Naitee let out after hearing the sad story of Adi's struggle in his old school. He suffered all because of A4M as they bullied him like hell. Currently, they both are going to Payal's class as the school is now closed and they are ready to go home.

" Will you come today? " Adi questioned Naitee making her have a teasing smile over her face.

" Why? Are you very eager to cook for me? " Naitee teased Adi but before Adi could answer they both numbed for a snap of moment to their place when they saw Payal in tears gathering her stuff from the floor.

" What happened to you? "

" Why are you crying? What happened here? "

Naitee and Adi both questioned at the same moment. Their panicked voice snapped Payal from her depressing thoughts. Her tearing glassy eyes made contact with Naitee who mask her expressions after looking at the small pieces of the papers.

Before the school closing bell, Payal had gone to the washroom, and seeming it a great opportunity one classmate of her put rat inside of her bag which he had taken secretly from the bio lab. The rat ruined her books and notebooks in a few minutes. All-time Payal didn't realize that something is inside her bag. It was when the bell ranged and class became empty she heard noises coming from her bag. Opening the zipper of her bag she found a rat jumping out of her bag making some small pieces fly in the background.

Eventually, terrified Payal empty her bag on the floor and cried mentally looking at the corner of her notebooks are torn which means she can't use them as fair notebooks anymore. Even though work is saved in the notebooks yet she has to make new ones now.

" Are you fine? " Naitee questioned resting her hand over upset Payal's shoulder while Adi is packing her school bag for her.

Payal explained what happened and hoped to kill the person who dared to ruin her stuff. Her sixth sense is telling her that it's A4M's doing. Nevertheless, she can't break their legs because there is no proof in her hands.

Poor her doesn't know she is doubting on wrong people. The real culprit is her classmate but she saw no one then how will she know.

" It's alright. I will help you in your work " Naitee cheered Payal shook her head with a small sad smile.

" How come? You too have your redo work. Or did you forget what they have done to your notebooks? " Payal's words surprised Naitee would be an understatement because she is speechless.

" How. How do you know? " Naitee shuttered when Adi glared at her as now he realized what happened in the first class.

" Surprisingly I got to know this before the last bell when I was in the washroom. I heard a few girls gossiping about you and how A4M tore your notebooks " Payal said with a sad face.

" Sadly, I got to know about it in this way. I hope next time you share your problem with us right away or at least before anyone could tell us. " Payal said.

" I will and I am sorry. However, I expect the same from both of you guys " Naitee let out hugging her friends.

" Let's go," Adi said taking Payal's bag on his shoulder with his.

They arrived at the parking lot where they looked at the space. Fear embrace their heart when they didn't find their bicycles. They looked around assuring each other that their bikes will be near or around as probably some other bicycle students pushed their bikes out of the parking.

" Uncle have you seen our bicycles. They were parked over there " Adi questioned the watchman who decline right away.

Unaware of the two girls standing at the terrace of the old building Payal, Naitee and Adi continue to search their bikes. Meanwhile, both girls smirked at them with no ounce of regret or pity.

" What should we do to these notebooks? " Mahi questioned her sister looking at the bunch of notebooks which she stole from Naitee's bag.

" Burn them what else? " Shakshi replied in a bored tone. She hates Naitee because if she hadn't taken her scholarship seat in this school then her vacant seat would have been given to her cousin brother and he would have been studying in this school. 

But it's ruined because of Naitee. Naitee is a poor class girl. She could have managed to study in any low-standard school but her cousin is a rich boy who is now studying in another school whose all country ranking is lower than this school because this school is the number one campus in the country ranking. This campus is known for facilities, study material, the best education, curricula activities, sports and placements.

In high society, it matters a lot in which school, University, or campus you are studying. The famous you are in society the best education you get and in high society best education means the highest-ranked campuses. Since then Shakshi hold grudges against Naitee and with time she made Mahi like her. They both hate Naitee, Payal, and Adi because they both are Naitee's friends.

" Naitee! Look, " Payal said pointing her finger at the corner of the shadower place of the old building where some figures are seeing riding bikes in the corridor of the old building. Their chuckling, talks and cursing can be heard.

Trio rushed inside together and stopped when they heard " So, got our notebooks or not? "

This voice was Adinew who is riding Payal's bicycle while Maverick has Naitee's and Aarush has Adi's. Anurag and Avian are drinking soda leaning against the dirty wall.

" By the way, where are our t-shirts? " Maverick questioned putting breaks just an inch before Naitee's figure. Terrific Naitee opened her eyes hearing his voice near her ears. Surprise is all over her face as when she closed her eyes he was before her but now standing beside her and Avian is riding her bike now.

" I will bring it tomorrow," Naitee said to which Maverick nodded his head.

" Give us back our bike. We are getting late " Payal yelled at Adinew who ignored her as if she is not in the room making his friend chuckle after hand. Their chuckling sounds so annoying to the trio friends that they want to punch them.

" Hey, enough is enough now give us our bikes. We are running late. We have strict parents unlike yours who even don't care where their children are! " Adi's words were harsh which he realized when he saw a slight glimpse of hurt over Adinew's face before he jumped down from the bike with a clenched jaw.

The environment turned so cold and calm suddenly because of the silence and cold hard gazes of five pair eyes boring holes to three heads. The trio friends shivered as the cold shiver ran down their spins because of the five pairs of hard eyes.

Parents' topic is a sensitive topic to Adinew. His parents are together but there is no love between them or maybe it's buried under the lack of trust, which caused a bad influence on Adinew and his sibling's life. If he doesn't go for days to his home then no one gonna notice his absence. His father always remains busy in his business, on the other hand, his mother either spends her whole day in child daycare or other social working places which she runs. Ultimately, his parents don't have time for him or his baby sister. Apart from adinew other members of A4M knows what pain Adi is experiencing. They are together and have been each other's back since kindergarten. They know and understand each other as no one can, probably not even their parents. 

" What did you say? " Aarush questioned pulling Adi by his collar. At the same time, Shakshi and Mahi too join the stop with their other friends.

" What's going on here? " Mahi questioned Shakshi looking at the A4M.

" Let's just watch the show," Shakshi said moving to the stop. A4M members didn't give any heads to the Shakshi group.

" What did you say, you bastard? " Arian roared flinching the girls with his cold voice. Every member of A4M is now devasted in anger. They can't digest the fact of hurt clouded Adinew's heart. The hurt they saw in Adinew's eyes is preaching their heart. Adi's words have hurt their friend Adinew pretty deep.

" I.. " Adi couldn't finish his words as Adinew blessed his jaw with a strong punch. Payal and Naitee ran to them to stop Adinew but before they could reach there Shakshi and the gang held them back.

They cried, screamed to stop them from beating Adi but they didn't. However, Adinew didn't beat Adi to dead. He stopped when Maverick pull him back while Adi remain on the floor tossing on the floor in pain. His grunting in pain made Naitee and Payal cry hard. Blood oozes out from his nose. His left eye turned black due to a blood clot around it. A slight long big bruise over the nose and the side of the lip is torn oozing blood out with a black-blue mark around it.

" Anu, he wanted his bikes back, doesn't he? Let's give him his bikes back. His parents must be waiting for their dear son " Avian let out in a mocking voice to Anurag.

" Of course, bro " Maverick said bumping his fist with Avian and Anurag's. The friends want revenge from Adi because he has hurt his friend. So, pain for pain.

The A4M went to the bikes and bang! bang! They broke the bikes suppressing Payal and Naitee's cries under the sounds of the bangs. The dust cloud around them as they continued to kick, bang the bikes. Soon, they break apart the bikes from the tire to the body of the bike.

" Now take your bikes and fuck off " Adinew kneel beside Adi's laying body and said boring his eyes into Adi's. Eventually, getting up on his feet Adinew kick Adi's leg before turning away from him.

For a moment Adinew's eyes made eye contact with Payal's before he walk out of the room followed by his friends. Shakshi and the group followed A4M leaving Payal and Naitee.

" Adi! " both girls helped Adi in standing up. Adi flinched in pain when he stood up on his feet.

" We have to do first aid of your wounds first " Naitee let out giving the last glance at the broken pieces of her bike. The bike has many memories of her old-time to Naitee which will be now lost in the air.

" I just hope mom doesn't see it " Adi let out suppressing the urge to scream in pain as Naitee and Payal are cleaning his wounds. They are sitting before the pharmaceutical store doing the first aid of Adi.

When they were done they left together for their house in Auto-3-wheeler. Their parents questioned them about their bikes. Nevertheless, none of them exposes the truth and got a good lecture and punishment for being careless towards their things as their parents thought that they lost their bikes to some thief.

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