Unseen Rescuer

Author's Note:3678

A huge thank you to all my amazing readers for your constant love and support! Your comments, feedback, and encouragement truly keep me going, and I'm so grateful for each and every one of you. Today's scene was intense, wasn't it? The tension, the drama, and that unexpected rescue—well, there's so much more to come! Stick around, because the journey is just getting started, and I promise you won't want to miss what's next.

Don't forget to follow me on social media for updates, sneak peeks, and a deeper dive into the world of my characters. Your support means everything to me, and I appreciate it more than you'll ever know! ❤️

upcoming chapter uploads:

📅 *Mondays*: 07:00 AM UTC 

📅 *Thursdays*: 07:00 AM UTC 

📅 *Saturdays*: 16:00 PM UTC

Follow me on:

Instagram: @psole23.words

Pinterest: @psole23_words

YouTube: @psole23_words

Thank you once again for your love,

and stay tuned for the next chapter—you won't be disappointed!

🎀^_____^📑^_____^📑^_____^📑^_____^📑^_____^📑^_____^📑

Ria strode confidently down the corridor, the echo of her heels resonating through the nearly empty hallway as students finished their submissions and trickled out of the building. Her head was high, her bag slung over her shoulder, and a sense of accomplishment coursed through her—this was her final exam, and she had aced it. Just as she was mentally celebrating, a familiar and unwelcome voice sliced through the air.

"Oh, look who it is—Miss Rich Ria," Raghav sneered, stepping into her path with his usual gang of troublemakers.

Ria's eyes narrowed. She took a step to the side, determined to avoid a confrontation, but another boy blocked her way.

"Ouch, in a hurry, princess?" sneered Arjun, a lanky figure with a perpetual smirk. "Too busy counting your daddy's money to talk to us peasants?"

Ria sighed audibly, rolling her eyes. "Excuse me," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the nonsense. "Move."

Raghav snorted. "Oh, she's getting mad, guys. Careful, the campus princess might have a tantrum."

"Is this what you guys do for fun? Harass people who actually have a future?" Ria shot back, her tone dripping with disdain. "Pathetic."

The boys exchanged glances, clearly not expecting such a bold response.

"Where's your little friend Anaya?" Arjun taunted. "Oh wait, she graduated and left you behind, didn't she? Guess she realized hanging around you was a waste of time."

A girl from their group, Priya, chimed in mockingly. "Aww, poor Ria. Abandoned and all alone. Must be hard being so rich yet so... lonely." She laughed cruelly.

Ria's jaw clenched, but her eyes gleamed with defiance. "Funny," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Coming from someone whose biggest achievement is being a backup dancer in a TikTok video."

Priya's face flushed with embarrassment, but before she could retort, Raghav stepped closer, invading Ria's personal space.

"You think you're better than us because your daddy's got money?" he hissed. "Newsflash, sweetheart—money doesn't buy respect."

Ria didn't flinch. "Neither does acting like a desperate loser who peaked in high school," she shot back. "What's the plan after graduation, Raghav? Oh wait, you don't have one, do you? Too busy trying to make other people feel small to actually work on yourself."

The group fell silent for a moment, stunned by her boldness. But Raghav wasn't done.

"You're just a spoiled brat who's had everything handed to her," he sneered. "Bet you wouldn't last a day without daddy's credit card."

Ria took a deliberate step forward, closing the distance between them. Her voice was calm but laced with steel. "You think my life's been easy?" she asked. "You have no idea what I've been through, what I've worked for, or what I've achieved. But please, keep projecting your insecurities onto me. It's entertaining."

Arjun laughed nervously. "Oh, she's got a mouth on her, doesn't she?"

"Yeah, and unlike you, I actually use mine to say something worth listening to," Ria snapped.

Priya crossed her arms, attempting to regain control of the situation. "You're just showing off now," she accused. "Trying to prove you're better than us."

Ria tilted her head thoughtfully. "I don't need to prove anything," she said coolly. "But if you insist on embarrassing yourselves, who am I to stop you?"

Raghav's face twisted in anger. "You think you can talk to me like that?" he growled, stepping closer as if to intimidate her.

Ria didn't back down. "I think I just did," she said sweetly. "What's wrong, Raghav? Can't handle a girl who doesn't bow down to your fragile ego?"

The tension in the corridor was palpable. A few students lingered at a distance, watching the confrontation unfold with bated breath.

"You're gonna regret this," Raghav warned.

Ria smirked. "The only thing I regret is wasting my time talking to you," she said. "But hey, thanks for the reminder that some people never grow up."

Raghav raised his hand as if to grab her arm, his face contorted with rage. Before he could make contact, Ria's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

"Touch me, and I swear you'll regret it," she warned, her tone deadly serious. "I've dealt with bigger problems than you, Raghav. Don't test me."

For a moment, uncertainty flickered in his eyes. He hesitated, clearly taken aback by her unwavering confidence.

"You're not worth it," he muttered, stepping back.

Ria lifted her chin defiantly. "Damn right I'm not," she said. "Now get out of my way."

Reluctantly, the group parted, allowing her to pass. As Ria walked away, her heart pounding but her expression calm, she knew she had won this round. She had faced down her tormentors and come out stronger. And she wasn't done fighting—not by a long shot.

🐚__________🐚__________🐚__________🐚__________🐚

Ria's sharp gaze scanned the small crowd of jeering boys blocking her path. She tightened her grip on the folder she held, her knuckles whitening as their snide remarks filled the corridor.

"Oh, look who's done with her exams," sneered Raghav, the ringleader of the group, a smug smirk plastered across his face. "Our campus princess, walking like she owns the place. Must be nice to have daddy's money fix all your problems."

Ria stopped in her tracks, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. "Excuse me?" she said, her voice cool but dangerously firm. Her eyes met Raghav's without flinching. "The hell are you talking about, Raghav?"

"Oh, she's mad now," chimed in another boy, Arjun, who had a reputation for running his mouth more than using his brain. "Miss Rich Ria, the golden princess, upset that the poor commoners dared to speak?" He mock-bowed with exaggerated theatrics. "Where's your bestie, by the way? You know, the one who actually graduated while you're still stuck here. Oh wait—she probably left you behind because even she couldn't tolerate the princess anymore."

A few of the boys burst into laughter. Even Priya, a girl with a penchant for gossip, smirked. "Ouch! That one's gotta hurt," she teased. "Poor little princess, abandoned and alone."

Ria's jaw clenched, but she forced a cold smile onto her face. "First of all, Priya, I don't remember asking for commentary from someone whose biggest achievement is stalking Instagram influencers for outfit ideas. And as for you two clowns," she flicked her gaze back to Raghav and Arjun, "it's funny you mention graduation, considering neither of you will make it past this semester if you keep failing your courses."

The smug smiles faltered slightly, but Raghav quickly recovered. "Big talk from someone who's only here because her daddy pulled some strings. Money makes everything easy, right?"

Ria took a deliberate step forward, closing the distance between them. "You think money's what got me here? Let me educate you since your tiny brain clearly can't handle facts. I earned my place here with hard work and sleepless nights—something you wouldn't understand since you spend most of your time figuring out new ways to be a public embarrassment."

A few bystanders stifled laughs, and Arjun's face darkened. "You're just showing off," he muttered. "Typical rich brat behavior."

"Showing off?" Ria raised an eyebrow, her tone icy. "Sweetheart, if I were showing off, you'd know. Trust me, this isn't even my best work." She crossed her arms, radiating defiance. "And let's not pretend you're some victim of class warfare here. Your dad practically owns half the construction sites in the city, Arjun. Don't throw stones from glass houses—or in your case, poorly built ones."

The boys bristled, their faces turning red with anger. Raghav stepped closer, his voice low and threatening. "You've got a real smart mouth, princess. Maybe someone needs to teach you some respect."

"Respect?" Ria let out a sharp laugh. "From you? Please. The only thing you've ever taught anyone is how to fail at life with style." She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "But go ahead, try me. See how that works out for you."

Priya gasped dramatically. "She's really asking for it now," she said, egging the boys on.

Raghav's hand twitched as if he was contemplating something reckless. "You think you can just talk down to us because you're some fancy rich girl?"

"No," Ria said, her tone razor-sharp. "I talk down to you because you're pathetic." She tilted her head mockingly. "And frankly, I'm doing you a favor by even acknowledging your existence."

The tension thickened, the air practically crackling with animosity. Arjun muttered something under his breath and lunged forward slightly, but Ria didn't flinch.

"Touch me," she warned, her voice lethal, "and I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your miserable life."

The boys hesitated, sensing the steel in her words. Raghav, however, wasn't ready to back down. "You think you're untouchable, huh? Just because you've got money and attitude?"

Ria's eyes burned with defiance. "No, I'm untouchable because I'm smarter, stronger, and frankly better than you in every possible way. And deep down, you know it—which is why you're so desperate to bring me down."

Before Raghav could respond, a voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"Is there a problem here?"

🎀(o|o) 💕(o|o) -----------🎀-----------(o|o) 💕(o|o) 🎀

Ravi's voice cut through the tension like a knife, his tone commanding and low. "Is there a problem here?" His eyes blazed with a fury that no one in the corridor could ignore. Every inch of him screamed danger, and the boys instinctively took a step back. 

Ria didn't even flinch as she turned her head slowly toward Ravi, the cold, steely look on her face not once wavering. The boys, still stunned, looked between Ravi and Ria, unsure of how to react. 

Before they could respond, Ravi's gaze locked onto Raghav, his jaw clenching. He could tell exactly what had been going on—the mockery, the snide remarks, the way they'd been trying to push Ria into a corner all morning. He'd heard their conversation from a distance, their whispered taunts and cruel jabs. But now, it was time to teach them a lesson they would never forget.

Ravi stepped forward, his eyes hard as stone, his body radiating an intensity that had the boys instinctively backing up. Raghav, the ringleader, tried to stand tall, but Ravi's mere presence shattered his bravado. Without a word, Ravi grabbed Raghav by the collar, yanking him forward with terrifying force. 

"Who the hell do you think you're talking to?" Ravi growled, his voice dripping with venom.

Before Raghav could even react, Ravi slapped him across the face with a force that sent Raghav stumbling back. The other boys, still in shock, hesitated, but they quickly realized that Ravi wasn't playing games. They made a move toward him, but it was too late.

Ravi's fists were faster than they could react. With lightning speed, he punched Arjun in the stomach, sending the boy doubling over, gasping for air. Arjun's knees buckled, and he fell to the floor, clutching his stomach in pain.

"You boys think you can push people around and get away with it?" Ravi's voice was a deep growl, his anger escalating with every word. "Not on my watch."

He turned his attention to another boy who had been standing off to the side, trying to assess the situation from a safe distance. Ravi's fist met his face before he could even register what was happening. The boy staggered back, dazed, blood trickling from his nose.

Karan Kukreja, who had been silently observing the whole scene, stood frozen. His eyes widened as he watched Ravi unleash a storm of fury, every punch landing with precision, every move calculated to bring the boys down. It was clear that Ravi wasn't just protecting Ria—he was making sure these guys never messed with anyone again. The fight was brutal, and Ravi was merciless.

As the final boy tried to make a move toward Ria, his hand reaching out in an attempt to grab her, Ravi saw red. He moved so quickly that it was like he had appeared out of nowhere. A sharp jab to the jaw sent the boy crashing into the lockers, and he slumped down, too stunned to even cry out.

The corridor was silent now, the only sounds the labored breathing of the defeated boys. Ravi stood over them, his chest heaving with rage, his eyes never leaving the group.

Raghav, still dazed, tried to stand but collapsed back to the floor. "You… you'll pay for this," he spat out, his voice filled with venom.

Ravi's gaze flicked over to him, a cold smile curling on his lips. "I'm not done with you. But if you know what's good for you, you'll stay out of her way."

Karan, still standing to the side, couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. He had always watched Ria from a distance, unsure of how to approach her. But now, seeing Ravi so effortlessly take control of the situation, something inside Karan twisted. He had always thought he could be the one to stand up for Ria, to be the one she turned to. But now… now it was clear that Ravi was someone Ria respected, someone who could protect her like no one else could.

Feeling a surge of frustration, Karan finally decided to walk toward Ria. "Ria, are you—"

But before he could finish, Ria cut him off with a single, icy glance. Her eyes, usually warm and welcoming, were now focused solely on Ravi as he wiped his hands clean of the encounter. 

"Ria…" Karan hesitated, trying to catch her attention, but she didn't look at him. Not once. Her focus remained entirely on Ravi, her expression unreadable but determined.

As Ravi began to walk away, heading toward the exit, Ria didn't hesitate. She followed him without a second glance at Karan. The weight of the situation was heavy in the air, and Karan stood there, his heart sinking in his chest. He had tried, but it was clear that Ria had already made her choice.

Ria didn't even acknowledge Karan as she walked past him, her eyes never leaving Ravi. She had been through enough, and the last thing she needed was someone who couldn't even protect her when it counted.

Ravi, sensing the tension between them, didn't slow down. He reached for Ria's wrist, pulling her gently toward him. "Come on," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Let's get you out of here."

Ria nodded without a word, her expression softening just slightly as she let him lead her away. 

As they passed Karan, he stood rooted to the spot, watching helplessly. He had wanted to be the one to save her, but it wasn't him—Ravi had taken that role, and in doing so, he had made it clear that Karan was nothing more than a bystander. 

With one last look at Ria and Ravi, Karan slowly took a step back, the realization settling in. He had lost.

(^///^)🟩(^///^)🟩(^///^)🟩(^///^)🟩(^///^)

Ria and Ravi walked in silence, the tension of the confrontation still hanging thick in the air. Every step felt heavy, the weight of what had just happened sinking in. Ravi's grip on her wrist was firm, but not tight enough to feel possessive—it was more like an anchor, grounding her after the chaos of the morning.

Ria didn't say a word, but she didn't pull away either. The sting of the boys' words, their attempts to belittle her, still lingered in her mind. But Ravi, by stepping in so decisively, had taken the weight off her shoulders. For the first time that day, she felt like she could breathe again.

As they reached the parking lot, Ravi stopped near his car. He finally let go of her wrist, his fingers lingering for just a moment longer than necessary. His eyes, usually so controlled, were now filled with a storm of emotions—anger, protectiveness, and something else Ria couldn't quite place.

"You alright?" Ravi's voice was soft, the raw edge of his fury from the fight still present, but there was genuine concern in his tone.

Ria nodded, her gaze never leaving the ground. She had been through worse before, but this was different. Something about the way Ravi had stepped in, his calm yet terrifying presence, made her feel like she wasn't alone. And that, in itself, was a relief.

"I'm fine," she finally whispered, her voice barely audible. She could feel his eyes on her, waiting for her to say more, but she wasn't ready. Not yet.

Ravi didn't press her. Instead, he opened the passenger door of his car, gesturing for her to get in. "Come on," he said, his voice softer now, though there was still an intensity behind it. "I'll take you home."

Ria hesitated for a brief moment, her mind racing. She didn't know what to feel anymore. The words of the boys, the fight, Karan's attempt to talk to her—it was all too much to process at once. But with Ravi here, there was no need to overthink it. She nodded again and slid into the car, the cool leather of the seat feeling oddly comforting.

Ravi got into the driver's seat and started the engine. The sound of the car starting up filled the silence between them, but neither of them seemed inclined to break it. As they drove away from the campus, Ria couldn't help but glance out of the window, her thoughts still a whirlwind.

She had heard Karan's voice calling her name, but she hadn't answered. There was no need to. Not now. Not when she felt this strange pull toward Ravi, something that went beyond the fight, beyond the protection he'd just shown her. It was something deeper, a connection that neither of them had acknowledged but that had always been there, simmering just beneath the surface.

Ravi, for his part, kept his eyes on the road, but his grip on the steering wheel was tight. Ria could sense the tension in his body, the way he seemed to be fighting with himself. She wanted to ask him about it, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she settled for the quiet of the car, her own emotions too tangled to sort through.

After a few minutes, Ravi broke the silence, his voice quiet but determined. "You should have said something sooner, you know," he said, not looking at her. "You didn't have to deal with them alone."

Ria didn't know how to respond to that. He was right, in a way. She could have asked for help, could have stood up for herself sooner. But something about the way Ravi had stepped in, without hesitation, without asking for anything in return—that had caught her off guard. 

"Thanks," she finally said, her voice small but sincere. "For… everything."

Ravi's jaw tightened, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something softer, something she rarely saw. He nodded, but didn't say anything more. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, but for now, it was enough.

They arrived at her place in silence. Ravi parked the car and turned off the engine, but neither of them moved to get out immediately. Ria glanced over at him, the weight of the moment pressing in on her. She didn't know what had just shifted between them, but it was something that couldn't be ignored. 

"You're not going to tell anyone about what happened, right?" Ria asked, her voice almost playful, but there was an edge to it. She didn't want this to be fodder for gossip or speculation.

Ravi's eyes met hers, and there was a flicker of something in them—a hint of a smile, a challenge. "If you don't want anyone to know, I won't say a word," he said, his tone almost teasing.

Ria smiled back, a little relieved, and opened the car door. "Thanks again, Ravi."

Before she could step out, he spoke again, his voice low but intense. "Ria."

She turned back to look at him, confused by the way he said her name. 

"Next time," Ravi continued, his eyes locked onto hers, "if someone touches you again… don't wait for me. Handle it yourself. Don't let anyone get away with that."

His words were blunt, but there was an undeniable sincerity behind them. Ria felt a strange warmth in her chest. She had always been the type to fight her own battles, but hearing Ravi say that—hearing the unspoken promise that he would be there for her, even in the hardest moments—made her feel… protected.

"I won't," she said, her voice steady. She closed the door behind her and stood there for a moment, watching Ravi drive off. But before he turned the corner, she took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest.

There was something about the way he had stood up for her, about the way he made her feel stronger, that was starting to unravel something deep within her. Something she wasn't quite ready to admit yet.

But one thing was clear—this wasn't the last time Ravi was going to be a part of her life.