Just as Kritika passed through the kitchen, Preeta left the tasks that she was doing and immediately stared at her.

"Kritika?"

The girl looked at her and gave her a fake smile tiredly. Preeta noticed how her school bag was hanging on her shoulder loosely. She also observed the dark circles. Giving another smile, Preeta asked,"Tiring day?"

Kritika nodded with a pout. "All the stupid assignments and upcoming tests."

Preeta couldn't help but smile apologetically. "Are you hungry? I have made your favourite pasta. May I bring it to your room?" She was expecting a charming smile from her but all she gave was another fake smile.

"Sure, bhabhi. Bring the juice too." She said while finally walking towards the room. Preeta sighed while feeling bad for her. She couldn't see Kritika like this. She knew the girl was suffering and must be extremely stressed. Why wouldn't she be? Preeta remembered her own moments of depression when she herself was blackmailed for the photos. But she couldn't let that happen to Kritika anymore. She herself had thought of suicide.

Preeta gasped. What if Kritika too was depressed to that level? Not wasting anymore time, she readied the plate full of pasta, put forks, and finally a glass of her favourite, mix-fruit juice. Inhaling large amount of air, she finally picked the plate and started walking towards her room.

While walking, fear was settling up in her heart. What if Kritika would break down in front of her? She won't be able to see her cry? Her mother-in-law could get to know. How the hell she would ask her about the nudes? This was so unpredictable. She didn't know if Kritika would actually share her personal topics with her. But in past months, their friendship had reached to another level.

Kritika did tell her about her crushes, and night outs. She shared her stupid, intimate jokes with her. They were like best friends. Preeta felt confidence collecting inside her. She had a positive feeling now. Her and Kritika could solve this together. No one would know and the disgusting plan of Malhotra brothers would go in dust.

Nodding to herself, Preeta entered into Kritika's​ room and noticed, she had changed from her uniform into a loose t-shirt and her printed shorts. Kritika immediately turned to her and smiled briefly.

"Thank you, bhabhi. You are a saviour. I was really very hungry," said Kritika while sitting on the bed.

Preeta shut the door and with a smile on her face, she put the plate on the bed. If she would have been a normal Kritika, Preeta would have been full of gossips from her. But now, she could see the grim expressions on her face. She was quietly eating the food while staring down in a deep thought. Preeta smiled nervously.

"Kritika, is something wrong? You look stressed." She said while gulping in nervousness. She was keenly observing Kritika's expressions. She saw her stiffening and blinking her eyes rapidly.

She further added,"You know, you can trust me. You can share anything with me, Kritika. I know there is something bugging in your mind. Is it a boy..." She stopped when Kritika looked at her suddenly with blank expressions on her face.

"Break up."

Preeta's mouth opened in surprise but she was actually feeling relieved that Kritika wasn't hiding. She felt more positivity in her way and decided to ask more.

"You are a beautiful, rich girl, Kritika. You would get over it soon. I am sure, many other boys would be lining up for..."

"I loved him." Kritika murmured in a hoarse voice while taking the fork full of pasta pieces in her mouth. Preeta gulped at the assurance that was displaying in her tone. She tried again to encourage her.

"It happens in school life, Kritika. We think that we love them but it's just a mere attraction. True love doesn't end up in break ups. If he loved you truly, he wouldn't have let you suffer such heartbreak." That was the moment when Preeta saw tears falling off Kritika's eyes. Her heart clenched at the sight. She immediately shifted the plates aside and pulled her in a hug.

"Kritika." Preeta whispered while rubbing her back as Kritika sobbed on her shoulder.

"I loved him... and he betrayed me. I did so much for him. I bunked classes, I lied to my family, my friends, and he did this to me. He showed up with one of my classmates. He didn't even apologised. Instead, he insulted me by telling me to never see him. He said that I disgusted him. I would never see his face again, bhabhi. He's a monster." She cried while clinging to Preeta, feeling overwhelmed.

But Kritika's words had confused Preeta. She pulled her face back and stared at her in confusion. "He told you to never see him again?"

Kritika's lips trembled and she tiredly nodded. Preeta's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She knew for sure, that Pawan had her intimate pics and would be blackmailing but here, he just told her to never met her.

"But how could he just push you aside? Wasn't he blackmailing you?" Preeta asked in confusion.

Kritika looked at her, totally blank. "Blackmailing for what? He can't blackmail me for anything when I have a status and high class than him, bhabhi. Surely, I loved him but I am not an idiot to get more insulted by him. He did the mistake and now, he would see how his life would be without my attention..." But Preeta still didn't get it.

She shook her head and desperately asked,"But what about the pics? Isn't he blackmailing you about the pics? Look Kritika, if he has threatened you, just don't worry. I am with you and we will both sort this out. You don't have to be scared. Just tell me how he must have got them..."

Kritika cringed and immediately removed Preeta's hand from hers. "What are you talking about, bhabhi? What pics?"

Preeta sighed desperately but got up along with her. Putting her hand on her shoulder, she stated in her eyes and whispered,"I know about the nudes, Kritika. I had seen him blackmail you. Just please explain me everything clearly and I will help you. I know he is blackmailing you..." In a jerk, Kritika removed her hands from her shoulder.

"Nudes? What nudes? Are you out of your mind?" She shrieked while staring at a shocked Preeta. "... How dare you think so low of me? How can you even think about me like that? Do I look so stupid and desperate to you? I was sure as hell in love with him but that didn't mean, I am an idiot, innocent, dumb girl like you who can let a mere boy blackmail her."

Preeta's mouth opened in shock. She stared at Kritika as vision turned blurry. But Kritika again spoke in anger. "... and how the hell you saw me with him? Were you stalking me? Tell me. Who told you stalk me? Huh? Don't you have a life of your own? You wanted to get entertain by listening my rants about my breakups. I didn't expect this from you, bhabhi. I don't understand what's your intention. Do you want to spread sick rumours about me?"

Preeta shook her head and cried out. "No. No. No, Kritika. It was a coincidence. I saw him talking rudely to you. You went off and I tried to warn him to not disturb you again. But he is a bad guy. He told me, he has your nudes. It looked like you yourself had send him. I can understand, he fooled you in love but Kritika, this is serious..."

Immediately a push came on Preeta's shoulder and she staggered back in shock. She controlled herself and straightened to see Kritika glaring at her. Preeta tried to talk again.

"Kritika, I too have suffered the same phase. I know you are depressed. But please, share it with me or someone. I can help you. You don't have to hide it from me..."

"Get out."

Preeta stopped at Kritika's cold voice. Her eyes widened while a tear fell on her cheek. Kritika's jaws were clenched and eyes full of hatred and disappointment.

"If I had to hide it, I wouldn't even have told you about the break up. I used to meet him in secured areas. I used to be alert all the time. He can't reach my room's window on this second floor. There's no access to girl's changing room in my school for boys. How the hell, he has my nudes? Do you think I sent him on my own? What do you take me for, Preeta?"

Preeta heart clenched when she noticed Kritika was disrespectfully taking her name. She gulped and stared at her in shock. "... A characterless girl, a slut." Preeta flinched at the words and shook her head.

"I just want to help you, Kritika. He told me himself..."

"You stalked me. You met him behind my back." Kritika exclaimed while glaring at her.

Preeta gulped. "I wanted to scare him. So, he won't disturb..."

"You have disturbed me with your thoughts, bhabhi. I didn't know, that's how you see me. A spoilt, rich, characterless girl. I was mad in love but not enough to send him my personal pics. I wished you had trust in me. Instead, you took me for a slut... Just get out." She whispered making Preeta's heart drop.

Tears spilled from her eyes as she started weeping. "I didn't want to ashame you, Kritika. I didn't have any intention. I care for you..."

"Intention? To take revenge for your own insults, bhabhi. You want to spread false rumours about me because my brother had blackmailed you too. I thought you had changed now. I didn't know, you would do such thing for exclaiming my character as false." She spat while digging glares at Preeta.

"You are misunderstood..." Preeta tried to speak but Kritika looked away in anger while tears were still filling her eyes.

"Just leave."

Preeta's heart broke at the hatred that Kritika was showing. Feeling helpless, she immediately walked out of room while wiping her tears.

_________

"Bhabhi ji." Kabir cheered just as Preeta received his call. But instead of a hello or a response, a squeak reached his ears. His eyes narrowed.

"Preeta." A brief humming sound came from her and Kabir frowned.

"Hey, you alright? Did I disturbed you? I am sorry, I just wanted to inform that Karan would be late today..." He stopped when all of a sudden he heard a sob. His whole demeanor changed as he immediately stood up from his chair.

"Preeta, hey. Are you crying? What happened? Shall I call Karan?" He asked but suddenly he heard some disturbance and finally, he heard a sniffle.

"No, I am fine. I was sleeping..."

"Look, I have seen you crying so many times so I know, this is how you cry. Now, tell me what's wrong or I'll just inform Karan..." He said feeling totally concerned while Preeta interrupted,"No, Please."

He heard her sighing,"But you will not Karan about this, please. Promise me."

Kabir shook his head desperately and clutched the phone tighter. "Promise, madam. Now, what's the problem that made you cry?"

He heard her exhaling to control her sobs and finally she started explaining in her hoarse voice.

_________