Head on and get over

Next day-

"Why are you two in such a hurry?" Sana was perplexed.

We were running one hour before the schedule. My sisters had only time enough to prepare tea with bread. Shaan including me practically dragged them out of the house.

"I am still hungry", Sama complained.

I settled in driver's seat, Shaan took shot gun and two sisters at the back. Putting on seat belt, I turned towards them. "Eat something now".

"Shall we be afraid of seniors?" Shaan took out a packet of biscuits and tear it open.

Is there any way to throw my dear brother out from the window? Sadly, he would be stuck and unintentionally break it. "We. Are. Taking. Precautions", I ground out the words. "Precautions. OK. Is that clear?"

He laughed with his eyes twinkling. If he was doing it on purpose, it worked. My heart melted.

Sighing, I started the engine and moved out of the main gate with giggling sisters and a naughty brother. I smiled, if this would be the last day of my life, I would have a smile on my face with no regret.

As I parked car in a parking lot, all of us were laughing like maniacs.

"It's a miracle that we arrived here in one piece", Sana exclaimed.

"Four pieces and I would say five if we include our car". Of course, Shaan was the only one with a witty answer.

"Shhhh", Sama was trying to hush us all the while laughing herself. "You guys are exposing yourselves within the college campus. What if a senior sees us?"

"Since when have you become Shayan?" Shaan asked with a fake concern on his face, checking her if she got fever or something.

"Stop it", Sama pushed him or tried to as he was stubbornly blocking her hands with his own.

"Let's go. Or they may catch us", I reminded them.

"Something must have happened to both of you", Sana commented, pointing at me and Shaan.

I wanted to avoid this discussion. Who would ever like to talk about slaps and threats? Besides, both I and Shaan knew that this matter needs to be dumped without letting anyone know in our family.

Shaan's eye brows creased. He looked at me pleadingly.

I raised my finger at him, ready to explain how it is not everytime in my place to be savior.

"Hi".

Then, I noticed her. Wearing a plain green long top that reached her knees, white pajama with green polka dots and same coloured dupatta covering her chest, her hair pulled back into a simple round bun, she looked.... What to say! She held her red backpack on her shoulders. She came to college wearing yellow flats. I haven't seen someone wearing so simple and yet so... Alright. I should stop my disarrayed thoughts.

"Ala! Good morning!", Sana extended her hand towards her which she took with the same gust.

"Good morning", she replied.

"Why do I get a feeling that... You... ", Shaan started. I understood what was his question, that whether she was also running early to get away from seniors. I didn't said that aloud though.

"Yes?"

"Have you come here one hour before the scheduled time to get away from seniors?"

Darn! I was right.

"Why? Of course!" She exclaimed and turned to look at the lecture hall. "Let's go". And she set off by herself without looking back to check if we were following her or not.

Sama said, "Typical".

"And you are cynical", Shaan retorted.

"We should really go", Sana pushed all of us.

We started moving in too.

As we approached the hall, we noticed that the lecture hall was still closed and Ala was standing outside, doodling something on her left hand with a pen. All of us stood in half circle in front of her and noticed the tattoo like design on her right hand.

Ala sighed. "Not fair!", showing fake exaggeration, she bumped her fist at the locked door.

"They don't want their infrastructure to be stolen by thieves", Sana reasoned.

"I don't care", Ala replied.

There was some moment of silence like not one of us could decide what to talk.

"Come", I grabbed left shoulder of Shaan and almost dragged him. "Let's explore this place".

"And being detected by the scary seniors!" He wanted to protest but I glared daggers at him, so he continued, "But we... love scary seniors... right".

Like every college, it was huge with bare walls, humongous pillars and marbled floors. Inside windows were not dusted yet. Staff's rooms, student's section, Principal's office, fees corner, a lot of halls with single padded chairs. We kept a brisk walk.

"Are we spying?", Shaan asked as we approached the back section of the college. I was not surprised to see it in a dark gloomy state. Walls were so old that it's paint was chipping off. Large cracks ran in these walls. Cobwebs ruled this area and layers of dust was lying there.

What the heck?

"Definitely not", but now I wanted to know more about this place.

"It looks like old building or something". He took some steps forward and cleared a small patch of floor with one swipe of his boot. He knelt down and examined it.

"What is it? " I asked.

He shook his head. "Blood stains".

"Bad history, I guess". I commented.

"Let's go. We are taking our chances for too long". He pulled me towards the exit.

"Is this place haunted?" I protested.

But his pull was stronger. "Oh no no. I can't lose my brother here and complete my studies alone. Come on".

Both of us almost ran back to our class. We were at the last corner down the corridor, when we noticed something odd.

There was a large crowd to say the least. We stopped in our tracks.

"Seniors".

I glanced at my brother. His beautiful chiseled face turned grim. His long narrow eyes assessing the situation.

I turned my attention back to the front scene.

There was a clearing around Ala. My batchmates looked like puppies caught in the middle of wolves pack. Sana and Sama stood at the far end behind others. Bless their small heights, they were well hidden.

I didn't want to startle any senior, so I moved slowly towards them taking one step at a time. I could sense Shaan was doing the same thing.

Prince Khan had a smirk on his face. He moved towards Ala. "Eleanor Shah! A beautiful name." He commented while his eyes were roaming up and down her body. I could hear my brother gritting his teeth.

Looking back into her eyes, he continued, "But you don't look as beautiful as your name".

He gave an annoying look at some girl. She must be a senior because she shrugged and made a face.

Prince sighed, "I wonder if I should make an exception in case of you".

"What are you talking about?" She asked perplexed.

"You know a girl wear very little when she is in front of a man".

Her eyes were fixed at his face. Her body went rigid.

"Ah! But you don't look like anything will suit you".

She said in a meek choice. "I don't get you".

Her voice was very low, but I detected a hint of steel behind that. If I was not wrong in reading faces, I suspected she was gathering strength for something.

"Let's have a little chat". He continued.

"What?" A slight raise in her voice was easily detectable.

"Can you tell me when does your period starts?"

Loud gasps heard across the corridor along with some snickers from seniors. Both I and Shaan stopped in our tracks. I noticed other batchmates holding one another hands for support. Girls except seniors had their hands on their mouths. It was getting worse by the second.

As for Ala, she first narrowed her eyes. Till now, she had her hands in front of her chest. She let them free fall to her sides. Others were watching Prince's smirking face and not Ala's right hand which she first flexed.

I immediately nudged Shaan, pointing his attention towards her then fisted hand.

She unfurled her fist, extending it's fingers as far as possible.

Both I and Shaan glanced at each other with shock. Shaan muttered, "no".

It happened within a second. She let her hand fly high enough.

Sound that came after that was so loud, everyone flinched including me. For a second, I couldn't believe my own eyes and I had a fair idea about others not believing it too.

Ala slapped Prince Khan.

There were fires of hell in his eyes. He grabbed her shoulders mercilessly and pushed her. She staggered a little but maintained her composure. Prince shouted, "You little piece of... How dare you?"

Other seniors move to grab her.

"So, you will show your power over a girl! Huh!" She waved them off in controlled voice.

Prince raised his hand to hit her. I moved to interrupt.

But she caught his wrist in mid way.  He used another hand, but she caught it too.

I stopped. It was difficult to decide whether we were amazed or more worried for her.

He tried to snatch away his hands, but on sensing danger, she held his hands tightly.

"Leave me, bitch!"

"No!"

He was fighting to dominate over her but she held on.

Some senior girls moved to stop her. But I was already on their way. I shook my head. "No way!"

"How dare you?" one of them cried at me.

Two senior boys came forward but Shaan spread his hands. "Don't, please".

One of them grabbed him from behind, another one raised his hand to punch him straight in the face.

"Stop it! Stop it! Professor is coming!" It was the voice of a girl.

It had immediate effect. All seniors ran down the corridor from the back side. Prince looked at her one last time. "It's not over".

And then he left.