After an hour, Adhyay woke up. She found Geeta sleeping beside her.

A small smile appeared on her face. For the first time in a long while, she felt soft peace around her.

Quietly, she got out of bed and went to freshen up.

A few minutes later, Geeta woke up and noticed that Adhyay wasn't beside her anymore.

She sighed softly and sat up.

Since it was dinner time, everyone gathered downstairs. After dinner, after dinner, they went to their rooms. Geeta chose to sleep with Adhyay again.

The next morning,

Everyone was having breakfast at the dining table.

Arth looked at Adhyay with concern.

Arth: Adhyay, don't go to school today.

Adhyay (looking up immediately): But Papa, I have a test.

Arth (concerned): Is it really that important?

Geeta (rolling her eyes dramatically): Of course not. She's obviously planning to bunk classes just like Saransh.

Saransh rolled his eyes at the taunt. While Adhyay stared at Geeta with wide, shocked eyes.

Suppressing a smile, Geeta turned towards Adhyay.

Geeta: (gently): Beta, if you feel uncomfortable or unwell at school, tell your teacher to call us. Either I or Arth will come and pick you up immediately.

Adhyay nodded obediently.

After breakfast...

Arth went to his room while Adhyay headed upstairs to get ready. Saransh was about to leave when Geeta stopped him.

Geeta: Saransh, listen.

Saransh: (turning back): Yes, Mom?

Geeta: Take care of Adhyay in school.

Saransh (groaning): Mom, she isn't a kid.

Geeta: (crossing her arms): I know that. But what's the problem in checking on her once or twice? I'm not asking you every day. She's not feeling well today.

Saransh (shrugging): Why do you care so much? Leave it. She'll manage.

Geeta's expression softened.

Geeta: Because I want both of you to be safe and happy.

Saransh looked away.

Geeta: (firmly but lovingly): Maybe you don't consider her anything, but for me she's my daughter. And that makes it your responsibility to make sure she's okay.

Saransh froze for a second.

Saransh (quietly): Fine.

He walked away toward his room.

But Geeta's words continued echoing in his mind.

"Maybe you don't consider her anything, but for me she's my daughter."

"It is your responsibility to make sure she's okay."

Shaking away his thoughts, he picked up his bag and went outside.

Adhyay with Arth and Geeta were already waiting for the school bus.

Soon the bus arrived.

Adhyay sat near a window while Saransh took a seat a few rows away.

As the bus moved, his mother's words refused to leave his mind.

Saransh's POV:

"If Mom finds out what I did to Adhyay... will she hate me?"

"What about Dad?"

"How will he feel when he learns that I scared his daughter so much?"

"I kept threatening him that if he ever hurt Mom, I'd make him suffer."

"And what did I do?"

"I made his daughter suffer instead."

"No."

"I promise, Mom."

"I won't hurt her anymore."

"I'll keep my distance from her."

Saransh's POV end...

His thoughts broke when someone nudged his shoulder.

Someone: Let's go. School is here.

Saransh blinked and realized they had reached school.

He nodded and followed them.

---

During lunch break, Saransh was standing with his friends, laughing at some joke, when suddenly one of the boys arrived dragging Adhyay by the arm.

Her eyes were red and tears were streaming down her face.

Saransh's smile disappeared instantly.

Boy 1: She's messing with me. She deserves punishment.

Adhyay tried to pull her arm free but failed.

Saransh stepped forward.

Saransh (coldly): Adhyay, go to your class.

Boy 1 (tightening his grip): No.

Saransh grabbed his friend's wrist.

Saransh (voice hardening): I said let her go.

Another boy smirked.

Boy 2: Arrey, leave her, yaar. Can't you see how desperate Saransh looks after seeing her in your grip?

He laughed.

Boy 2: She's our bhabhi after all.

Adhyay's eyes widened in horror. Fear instantly spread across her face.

Saransh (glaring at him): Stop talking nonsense.

Then he turned to Boy 1.

Saransh: Let. Her. Go.

Boy 1 (challenging him): nd what if I don't?

Boy 2 (laughing): Come on, bhabhi hai yaar.

The boys burst into laughter.

Boy 1 finally released Adhyay's arm.

Immediately, she stepped back.

Saransh (without looking at her): Go to your class.

Lowering her head, Adhyay ran away.

The moment she left-

Boy 2: Looks like Miss Nerd is the love of Mr. Chocolate Boy.

Saransh (rolling his eyes): As if I'd ever choose someone like her.

The boys laughed.

Saransh (carelessly): Honestly, I'm just bored of her.

He tried to distract them.

Boy 1 (smirking): True. Playing with the same toy for so long gets boring. Scaring the scared is boring.

The group laughed again.

Saransh forced himself to stay silent.

Saransh's POV

"Mom..."

"I promised you."

"No matter what, I won't cross your words again."

Saransh's POV ends...

---

Meanwhile, Adhyay rushed back to her classroom.

Her heart was racing.

The boys' words kept repeating in her head.

"Bhabhi..."

"Love of Mr. Chocolate Boy..."

She wiped her tears and sat down quietly.

Adhyay's POV:

"He told me not to tell anyone the truth."

"Then why were his friends calling me bhabhi?"

"What is happening?"

"Will he start troubling me again at home?"

"Will he punish me for this?"

Her fingers tightened around her notebook.

"No..."

"I'll stay away from him."

"As far away as possible."

Adhyay's POV ends...

And with those thoughts, the days passed.

Both Saransh and Adhyay maintained a careful distance from each other.

To Be Continued...