Naina Face Reveal

The clock read 11:37 p.m. when Naina's phone buzzed violently on the mahogany side table of her dorm room. She answered groggily, but the voice on the other end jolted her upright.

"Naina... it's Dad. He collapsed. It's a heart attack. We admitted him in City Heart Hospital. And... we don't know how we're going to pay for it."

It was her mother, her voice cracking, fragile. In a moment, the rich-girl mask Naina wore every day cracked. She hung up and stared at the wall for a few seconds before frantically opening her underground racing app.

She murmured, "Just one more race. Just enough to pay the bills. I can't let him die."

What she didn't know was Ishaan had just walked by her room, about to ask her about a student council proposal. Hearing everything through the slightly ajar door, he froze, concern spreading across his face.

Midnight roared into motion. On the far edge of Prestige City, under neon lights and echoing engine revs, the race began. Naina, in her Ducati Panigale V2, looked emotionless, focused. The moment the race started, she tore through the streets like lightning.

She won.

But the victory didn't feel like triumph. As she pulled off her helmet, a slow clap echoed behind her. Turning, she saw them.

The Vipers.

Ishaan. Ria. Niall. Bunny.

Ria: "Really, Naina? This is what you do when your world is crashing? Alone?"

Bunny: "You could've told us. We're not strangers."

Niall stood silently, fists clenched. He looked both hurt and angry.

Naina snapped. "You think I wanted you all to see me like this? My dad's in the hospital, we're in debt. I didn't even know if we could afford a doctor. What would you all have done? Judged me? Felt sorry for me? I don't need pity."

Ishaan: "It's not pity, Naina. It's loyalty. You're one of us. You don't carry this alone."

Naina blinked back tears, finally breaking. "You guys mean everything to me. But I didn't want to be the weakling. I didn't want to lose what little pride I had left."

Ria hugged her tightly. "You're the strongest of all of us. But strength isn't doing everything alone. It's knowing when to ask for help."

They all stood quietly under the streetlights, their breaths visible in the cold night air. Then Ishaan said, "We're going to the hospital. Right now."

City Heart Hospital was a blur of sterile whites and beeping machines. Naina's father lay unconscious, tubes and monitors surrounding him. Naina held her mother's hand while the others waited outside.

Ishaan paced. "We can't let this go on. We need to help."

Bunny nodded. "Medical bills first. I'll take care of it."

Ria: "And the business? Naina told me once her dad was trying to revive a failing conglomerate. We can help there too."

Naina emerged from the room, eyes tired but slightly relieved. "Doctors say he's stable for now. But the business... it's falling apart. My dad wanted me to take over one day, but I don't even know where to start."

Ishaan stepped forward. "Then start with us. You become the CEO. I'll be your strategic advisor. Ria can handle finances. Bunny can use his pharma connections to diversify the product line. We build this from the ground up. Together."

Naina looked overwhelmed. "You guys would do that for me?"

Ria: "We'd do that for family. And Naina, you've been holding us together for years. Let us return the favor."

Niall finally spoke, his voice softer than usual. "And I'll look into logistics. I have contacts in shipping. Just say the word."

Everyone turned to him. Ishaan smirked.

Ishaan: "Look at Mr. Racer turning into Mr. Reliable."

Niall rolled his eyes but then looked at Naina. "You don't have to keep running alone. Let us be your pit crew."

A small tear slipped from Naina's eye as she smiled. "Okay. Okay, let's do this. Together."

Later that night, back on the rooftop of Ishaan's mansion, everyone lay in silence, staring up at the sky.

Ria broke the silence. "You think we'll ever have a quiet semester?"

Bunny sipped his drink. "Not a chance."

Naina chuckled. "Thank you, all of you. For reminding me that I'm never alone."

Ishaan whispered, almost to himself. "Family isn't blood. It's the ones who show up."

As stars shimmered above, the Vipers weren't just a clique anymore. They were something more.

They were a chosen family. And they had each other's backs—no matter what storms came next.