A day

The Day of the Freshers' Party

The entire college was buzzing with whispers. Word had spread like wildfire-no one dared to even look at Bhumi or Shristi the wrong way. Everyone knew who was behind it.

Shristi stretched and groaned, turning toward Bhumi and Khusi. "Wake up already! Today's the party, and we should be on time."

Bhumi yawned. "Relax, we still have time."

Khusi smirked. "She's just excited to see someone."

Shristi shot her a glare. "Oh, shut up."

The Shristi gets ready first and goes alone to the campus to explore. The campus was alive with music, lights, and a crowd of students eagerly waiting for the event to begin.

Shristi stormed down the hallway, her anger boiling beneath her skin.

She found Wick leaning against a pillar, casually talking to Aryan.

"Vikram."

He looked up, mildly amused. "Shristi."

She crossed her arms. "Why the hell did you warn every guy in college to stay away from me?"

Wick smirked, tilting his head. "You noticed?"

Her eyes narrowed. "You don't control me. I don't need your permission to talk to people."

Wick stepped closer, his smirk fading. "You're new here, Shristi. You don't understand how things work."

She held her ground. "Then explain it to me. Because all I see is you treating me like property."

Nick whistled. "Damn, Wick. She's got a point."

Wick exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "It's not about control. It's about safety. There are people in this college you shouldn't trust."

Shristi's jaw tightened. "And I suppose you're one of the 'good ones'?"

Wick let out a low chuckle. "No. But I'm the only one standing between you and a real threat."

She stared at him, searching for cracks in his confidence. For the first time, she saw it-a flicker of something deeper.

Something personal.

But she wasn't going to let him win this argument.

"I can handle myself, Wick. You don't get to decide who I talk to."

Wick's eyes darkened, but before he could respond, she turned and walked away.

This time, he was the one left standing there, watching her go.

Later day...

A Day of Unspoken Tension

---

College Courtyard

Khusi nudged Shristi, pointing ahead. "Look over there."

Shristi followed her gaze. Across the courtyard, Nick was laughing with a few students, casually throwing a ball between his hands. A group of girls nearby were clearly smitten, whispering and giggling amongst themselves.

Khusi sighed dreamily. "He's so cool. And do you see how effortlessly he talks to everyone? Tall, athletic, and just..." She let out a dramatic sigh.

Shristi rolled her eyes. "You're hopeless."

Bhumi smirked. "I thought you had a crush on that senior from the science department."

Khusi gasped. "That's different! I can appreciate multiple people, you know?"

Shristi scoffed. "You mean you can crush on multiple people at once?"

Khusi pouted. "You don't get it. There's a difference between admiration and a crush."

Bhumi chuckled. "Sure, sure."

Just then, Kritika walked past them, carrying a few books. Noticing their conversation, she raised an eyebrow. "What are you guys whispering about now?"

Khusi grinned. "Oh, just discussing how Nick is effortlessly cool."

Kritika smirked. "You're not wrong. Though, to be fair, half of his charm is just confidence."

Shristi scoffed. "Or arrogance."

Kritika laughed. "Same thing, sometimes."

---

At the Library

Shristi scanned the collection, occasionally picking up a book and flipping through the pages. Khusi, on the other hand, was more interested in watching people than in buying books.

Khusi suddenly tugged on Bhumi's sleeve. "Look! Nick just walked in."

Bhumi sighed. "Why are you acting like this is some big celebrity sighting?"

Khusi grinned. "Because it is."

Nick was casually browsing through a table of fiction books, looking surprisingly focused.

Shristi smirked. "Didn't expect him to be a reader."

Kritika, who had just arrived, overheard and chuckled. "He's not. He's just here because Wick dared him to buy a book and actually finish it."

Khusi laughed. "So he's just pretending to be interested?"

Kritika shrugged. "Probably. But who knows? Maybe he'll surprise us actually I'm kinda busy right now so I'll be going but if you need to know more you can reach out Annu."

---

As they walked out of the auditorium, the conversation shifted.

Khusi turned to Annu. "You seem to know everything about everyone. What's the deal with this college? I keep hearing different stories about people."

Annu smirked. "That's because this place runs on stories. Everyone has their own version of things."

Shristi crossed her arms. "Oh? Then what's your version?"

Annu thought for a moment. "Simple. Some people like the attention, some people avoid it, and some people don't care either way but still end up getting noticed."

Khusi frowned. "Who falls into which category?"

Annu grinned. "You'll figure it out soon enough."

Shristi raised an eyebrow. "That's a vague answer."

Annu chuckled. "Because you're asking vague questions."

Before they could continue, Kritika appeared, looking slightly annoyed. "The principal is calling a few students to his office."

Annu groaned. "Now what?"

Kritika hesitated. "He also called Shristi."

Shristi frowned. "Why me? I didn't do anything."

Kritika shrugged. "No idea. But we should go."

---

---

The air in the principal's office was thick with unspoken tension. The Shield's core members-Vikram (Wick), Aryan (Nick), Dev, and Annu-stood in front of Principal Sinha's desk.

Principal's Office

The principal's voice was firm. "It's your responsibility to ensure nothing goes wrong today."

Annu whispered, "Where's Wick?"

Dev smirked. "You know he never takes the principal seriously."

Sinha folded his hands, his sharp eyes locking onto Wick.

"I assume you're aware of the situation," Sinha said, his voice calm but firm.

Wick raised an eyebrow. "Enlighten me."

Sinha sighed. "New students are here. Senior students. And they're all joining The Legacy."

A flicker of amusement crossed Wick's face. "So?"

The principal leaned forward. "So, I need you all to maintain peace. I don't want this college turning into a warzone because of your egos."

Aryan smirked. "Sir, you make it sound like we start fights for fun."

Sinha's sharp gaze didn't waver. "Don't insult my intelligence, Aryan. I know exactly what you're all capable of."

Wick chuckled, folding his arms. "And here I thought you called us here for something important."

Sinha's voice dropped to a deadly calm. "You don't want me to make it important, Vikram."

The room went silent. Wick's smirk froze for a second. Then, slowly, it returned.

"Duly noted, sir," he said, his tone mocking but his eyes cold.

Sinha exhaled sharply. "You may leave. Except for Shristi."

Wick's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something dangerous in his eyes.

Shristi frowned. "Why me?"

Sinha slid a package across the desk. "From your uncle. A gift from home."

Shristi hesitated. "I'll take it later."

Sinha nodded. "Fair enough. Dismissed."

To be continued...