A half an hour later into practical's in the Chemistry Lab, Professor Chauhan had an emergency call with the Principal, and he had to leave. Only a few seconds after he had walked out of the lab, students burst into loud chattering.

Hasan was partnered with Tarun with whom he shared a good rapport. Tarun, like him, was more interested in studies than socializing or partying, or fitting in. Ignoring the babbling around them, the boys discussed the manual.

"Anaisha, that is acid. Be careful." One girl squealed, grabbing everyone's attention. Tarun and Hasan looked up as well. Anaisha was goofing around with a test-tube that had a little amount of a clear liquid. Hasan shook his head and lowered his head. The idiotic girl was few aisles ahead of them. But within few minutes, she appeared at their counter.

"Hey, Nerds," Anaisha called.

Just as Hasan and Tarun looked up, she splashed the liquid on them. It narrowly missed Hasan and fell on Tarun. He yelped in pain clenching his face, while Hasan shrieked as well. There were a collective gasp and students gathered around their counter. Tarun kept screaming in agony while Anaisha stood still, smirking. Hasan felt the liquid on his lab-coat and expected it to have burned. Instead, it felt wet.

"What the?" He touched the wet patch and frowned. Tarun was whimpering, his eyes tightly closed, and hands covered his face. Hasan tried to move his hands away, but he resisted, still crying his eyes out. He forced the hands away and lightly slapped the back of Tarun's head.

"Stop crying, Tarun. That was not acid, it's water." He confessed and Tarun quietened. He felt his wet face and blinked. Anaisha burst out laughing, then she was joined by her friends and the rest of the students. Hasan looked around. Tarun began to hide his face out of shame.

Anaisha clapped, laughing wholeheartedly.

"Why did you do this?" Hasan glared at her, placing his hands on his hips. Anaisha stopped laughing and leaned her hand against the counter, playing with the edge of her side braid.

"I was bored, so." She shrugged.

Hasan scoffed, - "Okay. The great highness was getting bored so we jesters should entertain her, right?"

"Be careful!"- Anaisha pointed a finger at him, - "Do you want to apologize again?"

Hasan pressed his lips, leaning back. He glanced at the gathered crowd. Then, he looked back at Anaisha. She stood there with her arms folded, challenging him to say something further.

He collected his thoughts and then said, - "You think you are cool by playing with someone else's feelings? Don't you have any feelings?"

Anaisha shook her head in a mocking manner, gesturing with her fingers for him to keep talking. Her behavior enraged Hasan and he angrily folded his hands across his chest.

"This was very petty insensitive and not cool, Miss. Singhaniya. Apologize, now." He demanded. Anaisha stopped smiling and her expressions turned serious. She came closer to him and Hasan took a step back. He gulped softly but doesn't look away from her brown eyes.

"I never apologize to anyone." She said in a menacing tone. Hasan scoffed.

"I guessed that. You are arrogant." He said, slowly gaining a little confidence. But his smile dropped when Priyank appeared next to Anaisha. He threw an arm around her shoulder and leaned a little.

"Dude, you are making a big issue out of nothing, okay. Calm down and don't trouble my Jaan." He glanced at Anaisha and then at Hasan.

Hasan dropped his arms and cleared his throat, straightening in his place. Confidently, he looked back into his eyes. Priyank straightened as well, staring at him.

"No one can trouble, your highness. She is enough for that."- Hasan looked at Anaisha, - "Bullies are cowards and so, are you. You think you are untouchable, sitting on the high horse. But you are wrong. You don't care about anyone's feelings. Have you thought how it feels when someone makes you feel like trash."- Hasan lectured, held Tarun's shoulders, - "No one is belittled by apologizing. It takes a big—"

"Will you shut up?" Anaisha interrupted him rudely. She glared at him with fire in her eyes. Priyank held her arm and urged her to come along. She doesn't budge from her place and instead kept watching Hasan. His stare was unmoved from her as well.

"Naisha, leave him."- Priyank pulled her close to him, - "Listen, we will deal with him later." He whispered and threw a glance at Hasan. His gaze only darted to him for a millisecond and then he looked back at Anaisha.

"What is all this ruckus?" Professor Chauhan's voice reverberated in the lab. He looked at the assembled crowd with confusion. Students looked at him and scooted to their places. Tarun quickly wiped his face with a handkerchief from his pocket. Hasan opened his mouth to answer, but he held his hand and silently shook his head, gesturing with his eyes. Upon his insistence, Hasan remained quiet.

Professor Chauhan ranted about indiscipline but abruptly stopped speaking upon hearing the sound of glass crashing.

Anaisha had broken a beaker and her palm had begun to bleed profusely. The girls with her gasped and Priyank grabbed her hand, urgently tying her wound with his handkerchief.

"Take her to doctor and—add the breakage to her name. Clear the due." Professor Chauhan rubbed his forehead in exasperation. Priyank rolled his eyes as he held Anaisha by her shoulders and dragged her with him out of the Lab.

Hasan hurried down the stairs, all the while muttering to himself about being late. As he reached the last steps, he scrunched his nose, inhaling smoke. He turned his head and realized it was coming from behind the stairways. Curiosity got better of him and he tip-toed towards the source of the smoke. Adjusting the sling of the bag on his shoulder, he peeped from behind the staircase.

He was stunned to see about three girls, one leaning against the wall and the other two standing beside her. All three were smoking. Obviously, smoking wasn't allowed inside the College premises and if they got caught, they might end up in deep trouble. Hasan held his breath to avoid the burning smell from tingling his nostrils. He looked at Anaisha, who leaned against the wall. She was dressed in a white printed top and ripped-washed-out jeans, her black hair open and resting over her chest. The lustrous hair had loose curls towards the end and had high lights of brown. Again, was that allowed? Hasan wondered.

He didn't understand why these girls were so mindlessly smoking when it's a man's thing. Though he never smoked his elder brother Zahir did and it seemed normal, but it looked rebellious when girls do. Hasan squinted his eyes and looked carefully at Anaisha. He recollected how she was scolded off by their Professor for chewing gum and later when Hasan was passing by the teacher's room, he saw these same girls sticking gum on a Professor's chair.

He bit his lips tightly, these were also the same girls who were bullying one of his classmates, Tarun.

"What a girl?" Hasan mouthed and shook his head. Then he turned around and once again adjusting the sling of his bag, he walked away.

It has been one month since the new semester had started and today was the beginning of their monthly tests and Hasan couldn't afford to get late. But because of last-minute revision, he got delayed. As he hurried towards his class, someone called him from an empty classroom. He stopped in his tracks, then he heard his name being called again. A male voice called him, and he thought someone was pranking him. But his curious nature got better of him. He took a step towards the class and peeped in. Just then, someone held his arm and pulled him inside.

"Arg—" His voice muffled by a hand over his mouth. The attacker twisted his hand behind his back, and he was thrown into the empty classroom.

Hasan fell on the ground and swiftly turned around. He could only watch in horror the door closing. He struggled to get up on his feet and rushed to the door. Whoever was on the other side, locked the door from outside. Hasan banged on the strong wooden door, but only fleeting footsteps were heard. He sighed, placing his forehead against the door.

"Ya, Rabb! Help." He shook his head, closing his eyes tightly. Taking short-cut costed him dearly. Now, he was trapped. But who could play a prank on him, that too at such a crucial time?

"Anaisha!" He thought, clenching his fist. He couldn't believe she could be so heartless. Maybe, she was taking revenge for that chemistry lab incident. But it has been over a month since that day.

He moved back and began searching his pocket for his phone but realized he had left it in the hostel.

"Damn!" He punched the door. Then, an idea clicked, and he hurried to the window. He was in for another shock as he realized he was on the third floor. Just then, the sound of the door startled him, and he swiftly turned around, almost toppling down the window.

"Hey, nerd!" Anaisha walked in, with her usual swag. Behind her were Priyank and few other guys. Hasan ignored her and dashed towards the door, but they shut it on his face. He yelped, retracting his hand. Anaisha chuckled, folding her arms.

Okay, Hasan who asked you to overact *sigh* Now, you are on Anaisha's radar, dude *hehehehehe*

What you think will happen next, my lovelies? Drop your thoughts about the chapter in the comments, please and Stay Tuned for the next update *lots of love* *hugs and kisses*