The staff room was one of the worst places to be unwinding after a lesson. The noise, the clatter, the sheer proximity between the desks irked Drishti. She needed a quieter more open space to collect her thoughts.

She put up her timetable and placed the picture of her parents on her desk. She smiled seeing them. The picture was taken on their anniversary a few days back. Even after all these years, their smile was still intact. After admiring them she went back to setting up her desk. She was so engrossed that she didn't realise one of her colleagues was standing beside her.

"Excuse me." He started.

Drishti turned to the owner of the voice. He was taller than her. A blue button-up shirt accompanied with a black tie. From the looks of it, a non-teaching staff. "Can I help you?"

"No, but I can help you."

"I beg your pardon."

He held up his lanyard containing his identity card around his neck. "I m rakshit, the school counsellor. I was..."

"Suppose to give me a school tour this morning." she finished for him. She had waited at the study hall for him but he never turned up.

"Yep, I sincerely apologise for missing out. I had a student crisis to look after."

"No sweat I get it. I'm Drishti by the way." she smiled warmly and shook hands with him before going back to organising her desk.

"Need some help with that?" He asked

"Sure, grab a box." They both got to work laying out her stuff. His dangling tag reminded her of his position. She frowned her brows in confusion. "Can I ask a question?"

"Shoot."

"If you're the counsellor, Why were you assigned to give me a tour? Isn't that usually done by another teaching staff or a student?" a counsellor was usually limited to taking care of the emotional and mental wellbeing of the students and staff, not handling newcomers.

"Honestly, I'm not sure as well. I guess the principal thinks I have a lot of time and no students." He chuckled.

"From what I've seen so far, I'm going to say it might not be totally untrue." From the past few hours, she had observed quite a lot about the students from her form class. Given a choice, they would not even come to school. Nevermind staying in school for more time than required.

"These students don't really like counselling."

"I can name three who seriously do," she said through gritted teeth.

"Midnight spirits," he stated rather than guessed.

"Are they that famous?" she asked, a bit shocked. Even the counsellor knew them. How messed up was this pack. She was never one to judge a book by its cover. But these 'midnight spirits' had let their actions speak for themselves. Although Ragini seemed to be the smart one from the group.

"Well famous and infamous. The former for their music and the latter from their pranks, stunts and their ways of 'teaching a lesson' to those who meddle with them."

"They are in high school, what's the worst they can do?" she asked as her phone buzzed.

"I wouldn't underestimate them if I were you. You should maintain some distance."

"I'll say," she took out the buzzing phone from her pocket. "I've got to go but catch you tomorrow? I would like to know more about this nightmare pack," she said as she finished reading the message from her mom.

"Sure thing."

She gathered her staff and made her way to her car as she waved goodbye to rakshit and drove off.

---broken promises---

"I say we lock her in the storeroom," Divya suggested as the four of them waited for dinner to be prepared. They were gathered in her room, each occupying their own corner; lakshya leaning against the window, shikar on the chair with his feet on the bed, Ragini in the hammock and Divya at the second floor with her feet dangling over their heads. "With creepy crawlies."

Her car had been sent to the garage for repairs, So the two brothers were sending her and Ragini home. It was pretty late in the evening because they were practising for their upcoming performance so her mom asked them to stay for dinner.

"Not the storeroom, warehouse down the street." shikar smirked. "After lodge industries cleared the stocks and the place hasn't been used."

"That place is surrounded by forest. How is she going to get out? What if she gets attacked by wild animals?" Ragini tried reasoning although it didn't really make sense. The animals didn't leave the forest to attack urban civilization. "She could get seriously injured."

"We won't let that happen. Our intention is revenge not to kill someone. You know that." lakshya argued. He was just as much a prankster as Divya and shikar but was calmer. They would never let it get that far. He and Ragini made sure of that. The other two were short-tempered and more aggressive but the 'mom and 'dad' of the group kept them grounded.

"For the first time, you're right, lucky donkey. But how do we scare her? Creepy crawlies are becoming old. Let's do something new." Divya smiled and rubbed her hands together before continuing. "We need to find out what scares her. Maybe heights..."

"Yeah, just walk up to her and ask. I'm sure she would be more than willing to share with you her deepest darkest secrets because you are her long lost best friend." Ragini deadpanned.

Divay coed at her cuteness and made her way down towards the hammock. "Someone is jealous I see."

"What? I'm not jealous and I just happen to not be losing my mind."

"Don't worry Meri Jaan. You're always going to be my number one," she looked at the boys adding, "All of you. You guys are my number one priority. I wouldn't trade it for the world."

Ragini giggled and got out of the hammock. "Lucky, shikar. Did you guys hear that?"

Laksh hung his arm over her shoulders. "is it a confession?"

Shikar got up and stood beside lakshya. "Stop it lucky," he said, holding in his laughter but in vain. "Divi is emotional. We should support her. Give her a shoulder to cry." The three burst out laughing while Divya stared angrily at them.

"I hate you guys,"

They chuckled, wrapping their arms around her. She was reluctant at first but eventually gave in and returned the hug. It's not that she didn't care about them, no she loved them to the moon and back, it was just rare for her to say it out loud. She wasn't very expressive about her feelings. So when she says something like that, they know she really means it.

Another reason was something had happened to upset her. They knew it the second she said, no one hurts my family. This was her way of telling them. They guessed it was because of popcorn but also know there is more to it than that. she would tell them when she is ready. Until then they would support and be there for her.

The sound of clapping interrupted their moment. "Looks like we have been forgotten," Anjali said, wiping her fake tears. "Let's go Aditya." she tugged on her husband's arm.

Turning to them, the kids shared a knowing glance. "No mom, dad, we didn't forget you." Divya chuckled gesturing for them to join the hug. Her parents happily joined the hug.

"We love all of you." the band assured.

Divya closed her eyes and to absorb this feeling, this sense of belonging. She was adopted yes, but never once had these people made her feel like an outsider. Her friends were her lifelines and her parents were her heartbeat. The five of them were all she needed. She doesn't care that the day was shit because they were all with her at this moment safe and sound. Right now, that's all that mattered.

---broken promises---

"I'm going to run some errands. Do you want anything?" Vidya asked, coming up behind her husband.

"Ice cream!" He replied, smiling sheepishly.

She playfully rolled her eyes and walked out the door promising to get some.

Sarthak sighed and went back to working on his laptop. she was going to the park just like she does every year on this day. It was Divya's favourite place. She would insist on going there every day after school when he was picking them up. Her pout had more effect on him than her mother. She would go there every year hoping that her bunny would turn up one day.

He missed his daughter too. She was his little buddy. He was one who protected her from Vidya's scoldings. The one who would wake up in the middle of the night to eat ice cream with him. They were partners in crime.

He remembers the sinking feeling when he found out his daughter was missing. Someone had drilled through him and ripped his guts out.

The three of them exchanged worried glances before getting up in search of his daughter.

When it was confirmed that she was not at home, they raced off to search for her around the streets. Drishti stuck close to her father as they repeatedly called for her. They stopped by her favourite candy store but she wasn't there either. They went to the park to catch their breath and think of what to do now?

"This is getting ridiculous. We've been at this for hours! Where is she?" He asked in frustration.

"We have to find her. She is out there somewhere. I need to find her." Vidya murmured as she took off.

Sarthak caught up to her as they reached the street. He grabbed her and pulled her back just as a car sped by.

"What are you doing?" He shouted at her, keeping a firm grip on her arm. "You could have gotten yourself killed!"

"I...I..."

"We will find her." He softened his voice, "wherever she is. We will get our daughter back."

"What if she got hit by a car? It nearly happened to me!"

"We will find her," he assured her and pulled her in for a hug. "There is a police station down the road. Let's go and lodge a missing person report,"

He called Drishti from the bench she was sitting on the whole time watching the ordeal. She looked so-

"Hey, dad." Drishti greeted bringing him back to reality.

"Hey princess. How was your day?" he lowered the screen of his laptop giving her his full attention.

"Tiring. this school is filled with whackos."

"I take it that your first day went well then."

"Teenagers are so weird and delusional. And the principal needs literature lessons. How can someone call their students walls?"

"First of all, they are teenagers, of course, they are wired and delusional. You were like that too. I remember someone breaking the window just because no one was listening to her."

Drishti's cheeks turned red and averted her eyes. "No, I wasn't!"

"Yes, you were. And second of all, your principal called her students walls?"

"Yeah, and then she gave me an indirect challenge."

"What challenge?"

"A challenge to change these millennials into better students. Ones who would listen in class and not play pranks on... basically turn them into well-behaved students." she huffed.

"And you accepted it...?" he asked hopefully.

"What no! I'm a..."

"Teacher and my job are to teach blah blah," he sighed. "You have made yourself very clear."

"Good," she stood up and grabbed her bag. "I'll get started on dinner soon." She said walking to her room to shower.

Sarthak sighed at the retrieving form of his daughter. She was never the same after Divya left. She kept all relationships professional. Never wanting to make anything personal. Vidya and himself had always encouraged her to make friends and be open but she never paid any heed to their advice.

He engrossed himself in his laptop again, not wanting to drown in thoughts of the past.

---broken promises---

Sleepovers were not uncommon for the girls, especially when Ragini's parents went on business trips during this time of the year. She didn't like the lonely quiet house.

Ragini walked back into the room after washing up for the night. Throwing her towel carelessly into the laundry basket, she looked around for her best friend. The room was empty.

She crept around the house not wanting to wake the sleeping parents. She was worried that Divya had left the house in the middle of the night. Listening carefully for any sounds that told her otherwise, she went up to the terrace. Sure enough, Divya was lying on a mat staring up at the sky. She sighed and took a seat beside her.

"I hate when you do that," she said.

"sorry."

"Wanna talk about it?" she asked gently.

"About what?"

"You know what."

"There is nothing to talk about."

"Then why are you sitting here? Whenever you do, it means there's a problem or you are upset."

"I came here cause I wanted to see the stars," she answered, keeping her focus on the tiny shining dots up on the black canvas above them. "They are beautiful."

"Yes, they are and also you sitting here at 1 am," when she didn't get an answer she asked again, "what is bothering you?"

"I don't want to talk about it!" Divya snapped, sitting up. She clenched a fist taking deep breaths to prevent herself from lashing out.

"Talking about it helps you know." Ragini wasn't fazed by this behaviour. Divya didn't want to talk, but that wasn't going to stop her. She was going to get through to her by hook or by crook.

"Was it the accident?"

"No."

"Is it because of your birth..."

"No," she growled. Yes, it was her birthday. Yes, she didn't like this day. Yes, this day gives her nightmares, but not everything revolved around her damn birthday.

"Then what?" Ragini softened her voice and rubbed her back. The other girl instinctively leaned into the touch. A habit they had developed over the years.

"I was scared," she whispered, hugging her knees to her chest and burying her face in them. "I was so so scared."

Ragini scooted closer to the rockstar and pulled her in for a side hug. "what were you scared of?"

Divya looked up at the sky again, letting the cool breeze hit her face. "When the car hit. I felt my heart stop for a second. The first thing that ran through my mind was if you were okay. I would have never forgiven myself if something happened to you."

"But I was fine."

"thankfully you are."

"Is that why you were arguing with that woman ?"

"She wasn't getting what I was saying." Divya faced the other way to hide the tears that were slowly making their way down her cheeks. "I couldn't care less about the headlight. I was worried about you. The hit had come from your side. Do you have any idea what could have happened?"

"I do but nothing happened. You are fine, I'm fine, we are okay," she assured, giving her a comforting squeeze.

"It just... it just kept going on in my head. You were hurt or at worse dead."

On the way back to school after that, her imagination was running wild. Different scenarios played out in her mind. Each one of how badly things could have played out. It scared her; it scared her to the very core.

"I'm fine Jaan but If you punched her, it could...no would have resulted in serious consequences."

"It's not the first time I've dont that."

"I know and it probably won't be the last. And like every other time, She doesn't deserve what you were about to do. It was what it was. Just an accident."

Divya looked Ragini in the eye. She was right. She could imagine a hundred other ways things could have turned out, but the fact remains that she is here safe and sound at home. The most damage done was a headache and that was because of her getting into that verbal match. But if she had raised her hands, Drishti would have landed in the hospital.

"You are right. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. I'm sorry."

"So promise this won't happen again?" Ragini stared at her waiting for an answer like it was simple.

Divya shook her head. "I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I can't. I can't control it. I can promise I will try not to lash out, but I can't promise it will never happen again," it would be a lie if she did. "The sole reason this started was that I was scared of losing you. If it happens again I will try to contain it but I can't make promises."

"I don't need saving. I don't need someone protecting me. I can fight my own battles."

"I agree but that's not going to stop me. I can't help it. Besides, you're going to make sure it doesn't happen."

Ragini smiled. she wasn't happy that this might happen again but the knowledge that her friend cared this much warmed her heart. "I love you."

Divya smiled back. "I love you too."

"Does that mean you are going to leave her alone?" she asked hopefully.

"Dream on."

"Ragini?" Divya called after a moment.

"Hmm."

"I'm hungry," she told her rubbing her tummy.

Ragini rolled her eyes but still kept that smile on her face. She rested her head on the rockstar's shoulder as they turned their attention back to the stars. Their Surroundings sight peace. It was serene.

---broken promises--

"lucky, shikar, have you guys had your dinner?" Arya asked her sons as that came home that night.

"Yes, mom. I'm drained so, I'm going to crash." shikar told her and ran up to his room.

"Laksh?"

"I've eaten mom. you?"

"Yea. So how is practice coming along?" she asked as they got settled on the couch.

"Pretty good. I think our new song is going to make the audience cry!"

"I'm proud of you. Now, I'm going to get some sleep. I have work early in the morning tomorrow. Goodnight son.'' She kissed his forehead and moved to her room.

"Goodnight mom," he said, walking to his own room.

Shikar and lakshya were tired but sleep was far away from them.

Something wasn't right. Lakshya tossed and turned in bed. Divya was upset, yes. But it wasn't just because of her birthday. Every year she would be moody but not angry. The accident? But nothing major happened for her to be this pissed.

It wasn't just a feeling. He was sure. He knows all three of them in and out. He was the 'dad' of the group.

They stopped him from leaving. If it weren't for them, he would have gotten on that bus and left. That would've been the biggest mistake of his life. Not just leaving his friends but walking out on his brother when he needed him the most. They saved him and he was going to help them in any way he could.

He frowned hearing a knock on his door. Everyone was sleeping so who was it at this hour. He carefully approached the door and opened it.

"Shikar, what brings you here at this hour ?" he asked, stepping aside to let him in.

"somethings not right," he said.

"Yea you being here at this hour and your brain." lakshya chuckled.

Shikar shot him an unimpressed look. "Not funny bro. anyways, why was Divya so pissed today?"

"Birthday?" Lakshya guessed although he wasn't convinced himself.

"Nah, something else. She is moody on her birthday but something else happened. I thought it was an accident at first."

"But why would she be so pissed. From what Ragini said, it was just a little bump. If they got seriously injured it makes sense..." he trailed off as they both looked at each other smiling.

"Ragini was with her..."

"When she got hit so..."

"She was scared that something could..."

"Have happened and she ..."

"wants to get back at Miss Sharma for almost..."

"Almost killing someone she cared about." shikar finished.

"That means, she got reminded of that." lakshya sighed. They tried so hard to not let her be reminded of it.

"Can you blame her? she lost her family and she can't even remember them. I wouldn't be happy if someone tried to take away the only other one I have left." they didn't know the full story but over the years they managed to put this much together.

"True. So what do we do know?"

"For now we let Ragini deal with it in her way."

"And if it doesn't work?"

"We do it our way. But let's be honest if anyone can get to her it's Ragini."

"In that case, we focus on getting back the new teacher."

Shikar patted his back."Don't worry. I have already got my detectives at work." he informed.

"Remember..."

"Yes, I remember only her weakness and fears. Not anything else about her personal life." he rolled his eyes. "You and Ragini are the same."

They wished each other good night and were back to their own thoughts.

Shikar closed the door of his room and sat on the inbuilt window seat. He sighed leaning his head back against the wall.

He felt bad. His friend was suffering and he couldn't do much to help. He had learned to step aside and let Ragini handle the talking a long time ago. But that doesn't mean he does nothing. Sometimes just being there and providing support was enough. He made sure she knew she could fall back on him. He was going to make sure their plan was successful.

For him, Midnight spirits were not just any other band. It was his world. The world that they had built. At first, it was just to get away from his messed up lives. But then it became his motivation to keep moving. It gave him a reason. He will always be there for them the way they were always there for him.

He moved to his bed and slept with a small smile playing on his lips. Tomorrow was going to be a good day.  

A/N: Dont forget to R&R!