Wiping the sweat off her forehead, Preeta smiled at Arjun. There was no sunlight falling on the silent street due to tall and shady trees but that wasn't helping them much.

"Arjun, will you help me in doing Maths homework? I didn't understand today's topic," she said in her angelic voice.

No one could deny doing such little favors for the people they care for. Just like always, without any doubt, Arjun shrugged his shoulders and nodded casually.

"I will teach you. Don't worry."

Arjun grinned at her broad smile and shook his head. She would always get so happy at such little things. His little helps would mean so much to her that he felt like a great human being.

But truly, seeing her smile had always satisfied him that he was a good best friend to her.

Suddenly, the peaceful afternoon-walk to their home was disturbed when a gang of bikers entered the silent street. The sound of raging tires filled their surroundings as the six bikers started approaching them.

Arjun's eyes widened just as he saw them parking their bikes five steps away and removing their helmets. His face turned terror-stricken when he recognized the leader who was getting off his bike threateningly.

The Karan Luthra.

Before Preeta could even think about what was happening, the angry spoiled-brat grabbed the collar of Arjun's school shirt.

"Your father must not be having any idea, with whom he has been showing carelessness to."

Sweat beads started glistening Arjun's forehead as he heard the danger in that cold and calm tone. He gulped and nodded at the boy who was in his twenties but was the guy, not-to-mess with.

"My-My father is trying hi-his best, Sir. He-He will soon return the money," he choked out while feeling his heart thumping loudly in his chest.

But were those words enough to chill down the fury raging in Karan's eyes?

"When is he going to pay the money? When! We have given you enough time to collect that amount by doing all that bloody hard work you people do," yelled Karan while clutching the collar more tightly. He glared at the teenager boy in front of him and gritted his teeth to continue, "Tell your useless father. Return the money in two days or he will lose his job."

Hearing the deadly threat, Arjun was already mortified. But then, Karan shook his head at him.

". . . and don't think, I will leave you alone if he won't return the money. Pay or be ready to get tormented."

Arjun swallowed the bile rising in his throat. He was having an internal fight in his mind imagining all the things, his soon-to-be tormentor promised.

"Am I Clear?"

Arjun's legs shook in fear. He wasn't able to speak, so nodded shakily.

"Speak with your fucking mouth! Am I clear?" yelled Karan on his face, shaking him to the core.

A loud scream echoed in the street since Arjun wasn't the only one to get affected. Karan's loud voice had terrified another soul.

No one had realized till then, that the innocent girl standing behind her weak best friend was watching the whole scenario. She was horrified by this much yelling and threatening. Coming from a family full of polite-spoken people, this whole scene was foreign and frightening at the same time.

The scream swapped Karan's attention to the girl's scared-- yet beautiful face and that was the time when the scenario changed.

The boy's heart stopped beating.

Her beauty had stolen his heartbeats. Her brown eyes had reached his soul. Her fair skin had spread a new brightness in his vision.

He forgot all business of collecting his father's money.

He absent-mindedly left the collar.

The innocence on that face had done some magic on him. He was charmed. He was spellbound.

Realizing that bad boy was staring at her, Preeta shyly hid behind her best friend and peeked through his shoulder.

Karan caught her actions and came back to his senses immediately. He actioned at her with his finger.

"You. Come in front."

The sudden attention churned her stomach, making her breath hitch in terror.

A natural action of protection was performed by Arjun as he pushed back his best friend behind him gently.

Karan controlled his rage by fisting his hands and glared at the boy who was acting protective in front of him. He smiled dangerously at the girl and repeated, "I said. Come. In. Front."

Arjun gulped and shook his head hesitantly. "Si-Sir, she is innocent. She doesn't talk to-to strangers," he stuttered. He was actually shocked with his bravery by pleading to the devil who looked monstrous then.

At his audacity to interrupt, Karan angrily grabbed Arjun's chin and warned him again, "Little boy, don't ever try to tell me what to do."

Arjun was ready to pee in his pants as he see the monstrosity in those dark eyes. He shakily nodded and finally breathed when Karan left his chin.

"I will not repeat this time. Come. In. Front," warned Karan while looking at the girl who was shivering in fear. He saw her finally taking little steps and standing beside Arjun.

Everything blurred for Karan, except her.

Her eyes were full of her fear yet he couldn't deny how mesmerizing they were. Her cheeks were rosy which made her look more lively over that fair-skin. Her waist-length brown hair were tied in a high pony tail while some strands were on the sides of her face, making her look humble and ethereal.

His eyes roamed on her perfect curves, her long milky-white legs covered till her thighs under that school's platted-skirt. He looked back at her face and swallowed.

He just couldn't take his eyes off her.

Suddenly, she blinked and he observed the fear lurking in her amber eyes. Realization hit him instantly as he came back to his senses. He breathed and nodded at her.

"What's your name?"

Being terrified yet obedient, she replied,"Preeta."

Preeta

He repeated her name mentally while looking at her with a strange expression on his face.

Girls in his college had always get head over heels for his look. His killer charms had always been able to attract all the girls around. His teachers would blush when he would give them stupid excuses for not completing homework, in his husky voice.

He had money, looks and a big name.

But this girl had melted all his arrogance. He felt as if that all was nothing, comparing to her beauty and innocence.

"Sir, she is no-not comfortable. Pl-Please let us go ho. . ."

Arjun wasn't able to complete his sentence. Because, in next moment, his face was attacked by Karan's heavy punch.

He was irritated by this boy's interruption in his moments of adoring the girl.

Arjun was screaming and moaning in pain because of the deadly punches and kicks but he didn't stop.

Preeta let out a loud scream and tried to intervene, "Please, stop. Please."

She tried to come in between them but two of Karan's friends held her arms and stopped her to watch her best friend's misery, helplessly.

"Stop. Please, stop. Please don't kill him. Please stop," she cried but no one else was there in the silent street to hear her.

Seeing the concern for her best friend in her eyes, Karan felt his heart burning. He started punching the boy in the stomach.

Arjun's face was covered with blood. His face was bruised and he was clutching his stomach in pain.

Punch!

The last one hit exactly, at the center of his chest. Arjun's mouth opened in extreme pain while Preeta's eyes widened in horror.

"No!" She yelled and freed herself from the boys who easily let her go. Her legs were shaking in fear at seeing her best friend who was breathing harshly.

"Arjun," she sobbed while slapping her face. "No. No. Don't. Try to breathe. Please. Breathe. Breathe, Arjun."

She was oblivious to Karan's gaze who had stopped moving and was watching her panicking.

"Arjun, please try to breathe. I am bringing it to you. Just breathe," she sobbed while running to pick his school bag from the road.

With shaky hands, she opened the zip and tried to find the inhaler. Just as she found it, she quickly got up and ran back to Arjun.

Putting it's face in his mouth, she nodded. "Breathe. Breathe. Don't panic. I'm here with you, Arjun. Breathe."

Tears streamed down her face endlessly when Arjun widened his eyes and clutched the inhaler wholly. His whole face had turned red and mouth was bleeding.

Preeta's lips trembled at realizing about how serious it was. He could die if he won't get to properly breathe soon.

She gasped when the inhaler fell on the road along with Arjun's​ upper body. Her face turned horrified as she slapped his cheeks.

"Arjun?"

She fearfully turned to Karan who was watching her from the past ten minutes, blankly. She didn't have the courage to show her anger. But she couldn't control the horror that was crawling in her heart.

She stared at him while her lips trembled. "My-My friend. He-He is asthmatic."

A sob erupted from her chest as she breathed hard to control it and saw the boy blinking. "His father is a hardworking man. I am sure, he must have taken all the money for his son's medical treatment only and you just wasted all that money, he had spent on him."

She blinked and let out another sob. "He borrowed money from your father to save his life and you just wasted your help."

She bit her lip and sniffled. "Money can be returned. If not today, then tomorrow or any other day." She pressed her lips tight and breathed.

"But if my best friend dies, will you be able to return his life?"

Karan stood there dumbfounded as she stopped an Auto-rickshaw. The driver helped her in picking the boy's unconscious body without any question. She picked both of their bags and looked at him for last time before sitting inside the Auto-rickshaw.

He gulped.

His lips parted as he felt something in his chest. His heart was beating fast. Extremely fast as if it would come out and follow her.

Because he felt as if it didn't belong to him anymore.

She had stolen it with her kindness-- her innocence.

He stared at the place where she was standing a moment ago and was speaking those words.

How could she affect him just like that?

His eyes lowered in deep thought but narrowed when they found a tiny, yellow smiley-ball. He picked it up and put it in his pocket quietly.

His heart beats had still not calmed and her face wasn't leaving his mind. He swallowed and breathed.

Was it for real what he was feeling?

Could someone really leave such an impact on you in such a short time? He felt struck. Struck by her.

Was it the thing that people often call?

The Love at First Sight.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

"Do you believe in love at first sight?"

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