Chapter 5 : she's Mine to Bully

The morning started like any other, though the tension in the air was palpable. I got ready quickly, pulling on my usual outfit-a simple kurti and jeans. My reflection stared back at me, but it wasn't entirely mine. It was also Aaradhya's face, her features, her expressions. But inside, it was me. Aaradhyanshi.

Today was important. Daksh was coming. For the first time since everything changed, Aaradhya's brother was coming to see her-or rather, me. He was happy that his sister had called him after so long, and I could sense his excitement even through his texts. But I was nervous. What if he didn't believe me? What if he saw through the facade?

Tanu  walked beside me as we made our way to college. "What if Daksh doesn't believe me?" I asked her quietly.

She shrugged with a small smile. "It's okay, Anshi. You made me understand, didn't you? It wasn't easy for me either, but we can't change what's already happened."

I nodded, her words offering some comfort. Still, the unease lingered.

When we entered the college, I noticed something strange. The usual glares and mocking whispers were absent. Instead, people were staring, but it wasn't with malice. There was curiosity, maybe even a hint of respect.

"What's going on?" I muttered to Tanu.

Before she could answer, a commotion from down the hall caught our attention. Someone rushed past us, shouting, "Come quick! Fav x , Vikrant, is beating up Pratik and Simon!"

Tanu and I exchanged a glance. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, but she just shrugged. "Let's go see what's happening," she said, already moving toward the crowd.

The room was dimly lit, the scent of sweat and blood thick in the air. A makeshift boxing ring stood in the center, surrounded by students cheering and jeering.

And there he was.

Vikrant sat on a chair in the corner, his legs spread wide, exuding an aura of dominance. His boys-Aryan, Rihan, and Karan-were in the ring, pummeling Pratik and Simon mercilessly. The two bullies who had tormented Aaradhya before and tried to bulky ne yesterday were now at their mercy, their pleas for forgiveness drowned out by the roar of the crowd.

I stood at the edge of the room, watching the scene unfold with a cold detachment. Bloodshed didn't faze me-I had seen far worse in the battlefields of my previous life. But this? This was unexpected.

Pratik and Simon were eventually dragged out of the ring, bruised and battered. They stumbled toward me, falling to their knees at my feet. "Please, forgive us," they begged, their voices trembling.

I stared at them in confusion, then glanced at Tanu. She looked just as shocked as I felt. The crowd had gone silent, all eyes on me.

I shifted my gaze to Vikrant. He was watching me intently, his expression unreadable, as if waiting for my reaction. I held his gaze for a moment before giving a small nod, my face emotionless.

The bullies were dragged away, and the crowd began to disperse. I turned and walked out, Tanu following close behind.

"What was that about?" I asked her as we stepped into the corridor.

She hesitated, then said it rather asked , "Vikrant and his boys beat them up because they bullied you yesterday? "

I stopped in my tracks, staring at her. "What?"

"It's true," she said, shrugging. "I mean, it's the first time in college history anyone has done something like this. I think it's because of you."

I didn't respond. I hadn't told Tanu about my encounter with Vikrant last night-it didn't seem important. But now, everything felt more complicated.

Later, when we were sitting in the canteen, I finally told her.

She was silent for a full two minutes, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "Wait, wait," she said, shaking her head as if to clear it. "He followed you last night? And you didn't think to tell me?"

"It wasn't important," I said.

"Not important?" she repeated, her voice rising slightly. "Anshi, this is huge! Maybe he likes you."

I snorted. "First of all, no, he doesn't. And second, even if he did, he'd be liking Aaradhya, not me."

Tanu sighed, her expression softening. "Anshi, I know you don't like him because of your own past life . And I know you're angry about everything that happened with Aaradhya. But think about it-he's never done anything like this before. He never even glanced at Aaradhya before, and she told me herself that her crush on him was just a passing thing. She didn't feel bad about the rejection, just the humiliation."

"Isn't that enough to hate him ?" I asked.

"Of course it is," she said firmly. "But...he's trying now. In his own way. He texted you, he talked to you, even apologized -he's never done that with Aaradhya before."

I stayed silent, her words sinking in.

She reached out and hugged me. "Anshi, I know it's hard. But you're living now. Not just for Aaradhya, but for yourself too. Don't forget that."

Her words were comforting, but I still couldn't fully accept them.

We were eating and chatting when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned to see a guy from our class holding a single red rose.

"Hi, Aaradhya," he said nervously. "I was wondering if you'd like to go out sometime?"

I smiled politely. "Thank you, but no."

He looked disappointed but nodded. "That's okay. Here," he said, handing me the rose. "Just as friends."

I accepted it, and he walked away.

The girls at the table immediately started teasing me. I shook my head, laughing softly. But in the back of my mind, I couldn't stop thinking about Vikrant.

Why was he doing all this?

I knew exactly why I beat them.

It wasn't because I cared about college rules or wanted to protect anyone. No, it was because of her. Aaradhya-Or My Little Kitten . Wild , fierce , sassy sarcastic, fearless kitten .Ever since the night I followed her and she turned my world upside down with her fiery defiance, I hadn't been able to stop thinking about her.

When I entered the college this morning, the first thing I heard was THEM badmouthing her again. Whispers about her being different, rumors that didn't sit well with me. My fists clenched as I walked past, and before I knew it, I was in the boxing room, watching my boys-Aryan, Rohan, and Karan-teach those bastards a lesson.

Pratik and Simon, the ones who dared to bully her yesterday, were on their knees, bleeding and begging for forgiveness. But she...she didn't even flinch.

She walked into the room like she owned it, her eyes cold and emotionless as she watched the fight. Not a single reaction to the blood or the violence. It was almost as if she'd seen worse.

And that intrigued me even more.

She left without a word, just a small nod in my direction, and I was left standing there, wondering how the hell she had gotten under my skin so quickly.

Later, as I walked toward the canteen, I spotted her again. She was sitting with her best friend, laughing softly about something. Her smile-it was rare .

Then I saw him.

Some idiot walked up to her, a nervous smile on his face, holding a rose. He asked her out-right there, in front of everyone. And she...she smiled. She didn't accept the date, but she took the rose.

My blood boiled.

The sight of her accepting something from someone else, even as a friend, made my possessiveness surge to the surface. She was so calm, so composed, as if it didn't matter. But to me, it did.

I turned and gestured to Karan, who was standing nearby. "Bring him to the empty classroom. Now."

Karan nodded, understanding the unspoken command.

The room was dimly lit, the blinds drawn, and the air heavy with tension. The boy was shoved inside, stumbling as Karan pushed him forward. I was already waiting, leaning against the teacher's desk, my arms crossed.

He looked up at me, confusion and fear evident in his eyes. "W-what's going on?"

I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I stepped forward, my boots echoing against the tiled floor. "Do you know who I am?"

He nodded quickly. "Y-yes, you're Vikrant. Everyone knows you."

"Good," I said, my voice calm but laced with menace. "Then you should also know what happens to people who cross me."

"I-I didn't do anything!" he stammered.

I grabbed him by the collar, pulling him close. "You gave her a rose."

His eyes widened. "It was just as friends! I swear!"

I slammed him against the wall, the impact making him wince. "She doesn't need your friendship," I growled. "She doesn't need anything from you."

He tried to protest, but I wasn't done. My fist connected with his jaw, sending him sprawling to the floor. "You don't look at her. You don't talk to her. And you sure as hell don't give her roses."

He coughed, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. "Why? What's it to you?"

I crouched down, grabbing his face and forcing him to look at me. "Because she's mine."

The words came out before I could stop them, but they felt right. True.

"She's mine to hate," I snarled, my grip tightening. "Mine to bully ."

He stared at me in shock, too scared to say anything.

I stood up, towering over him. "If I ever see you near her again, you'll wish you'd never set foot in this college. Do you understand?"

He nodded frantically, scrambling to his feet and bolting out of the room as soon as Karan opened the door.

I stood there for a moment, my chest heaving as I tried to calm the storm inside me.

She was messing with my mind, with my control, without even trying. And I hated it.

But more than that, I hated the idea of anyone else having her attention.

She didn't know it yet, but she was mine.