Neil pov:
After all the chaos and that ultimate prank war with Nitin, I finally entered my room to freshen up. It was my second day of college-no way I was taking a leave and risking Priya's wrath.
Because let me tell you, once madam starts scolding, there's no going back. "Aur uska moo toh bohot chalta hai, I swear".
I quickly got ready. Picked out a clean white half-sleeves T-shirt with collar, paired it with blue jeans. Did my usual skincare routine-yes, you heard that right. Why should girls have all the fun, when it comes to glowing skin?
"Aur main aisa waisa munda nahi hoon, handsome hoon bhai", so skincare is mandatory.
After grooming my hair just right, I wore my smartwatch, laced up my shoes, grabbed my bag, phone, and car keys-and headed downstairs.
Mom was already doing the morning puja. In our house, attending puja daily is a must-unless someone's sick or there's an emergency, there are no excuses.
I waited, took the prasad respectfully, then walked over to her. She handed me my lunchbox with her usual warm smile, and like always, I kissed her cheek before heading out.
Time for college.
Priya pov:
I was sleeping peacefully, wrapped like a burrito in my cozy quilt, completely lost in my dreamland... until a blinding light hit my face. Ughhh.
Annoyed, I turned to the other side, pulling the quilt tighter. Sleep mode: restarted.
But not for long.
Suddenly, someone yanked my quilt away-I groaned and peeked from one eye. Of course... Mom.
"It's morning already! Get up, Priya! You have to get ready for college!"
"Mummm... five more minutes, please," I mumbled, eyes still half-closed. "Pakka wake up after five minutes."
But did she listen? Nope.
"If you don't wake up now," she warned, "I'll throw water on you."
"Arrey! Neil kam tha kya jo aap bhi paani phekogi mujhpar? Please mom, bas aur five minutes, then I promise I'll get up!"
She raised an eyebrow and said sweetly, "Okay then, I'll just tell Neil to go to college without you..."
Neil.
I shot up like someone pressed my emergency button.
"NOOO! Don't tell Neil!" I yelped and sprinted to the bathroom to freshen up before she could say another word.
Behind me, I could hear her laughing her heart out at my reaction.
After freshening up, I wrapped a towel around myself, rubbing my hair dry as I walked to the wardrobe to pick out my outfit for the day.
I chose a sleeveless orange chikankari kurti and paired it with light grey jeans. Once I was dressed, I added a few final touches-small oxidized jhumka, matching bangles, and my favorite nose pin (don't worry, it's the press-on type; I haven't gathered the courage for a real piercing yet).
Then came the makeup-just a little something for that soft glam. A light tint on my cheeks and lips for that natural flush, smokey eyes with a touch of kohl, and I curled my hair into soft waves then paired with white shoes.
Feeling ready and looking cute, I grabbed my phone and bag and headed downstairs to join everyone for breakfast.
As I sat down, I casually asked, "Mom, where's Neil?"
She raised a brow, hiding a smile. "When did I say Neil was at home?"
Dumbfounded.
She got me. Again. I stared at her in disbelief as she tried not to laugh at my expression.
I pouted like a child, mumbled through breakfast, and finished up quickly. Soon after, Makesh uncle, our driver, arrived to drop me off at college.
As soon as I stepped onto the college corridor, I spotted him-Neil. But what made me pause was that he wasn't alone.
There he was, standing with a girl, talking-smiling. Excuse me??
I narrowed my eyes and strode toward them, each step fueled by pure possessive rage.
Without a second thought, I grabbed his arm, clung to him sweetly, and said in my most seductive voice, "Oh Neil, what are you doing here? I've been waiting for you for sooo long..."
Then I looked at the girl, still holding onto him. "And who is this?"
I could feel Neil freeze beside me. But do I care? Nope. Not after the ice cream betrayal yesterday.
You think you're the only one who can play the possessive game, Neil Singh Shekhawat? Wrong move, baby.
The girl awkwardly stepped back and excused herself. I smirked internally-yeah, keep walking, girl. I've seen enough opportunity-hunters to know the type.
Once she left, I turned toward Neil, who was still staring at me like I'd grown two horns.Mouth wide open. Eyes nearly popped.
I rolled my eyes and placed a finger under his chin to gently close his mouth. "Tch. Flies will go in."
He blinked and finally came back to his senses, crossing his arms and glaring. "What was that, Priya?"
I smirked. "Wahi jo tumhe nahi dikh raha..."
He raised an eyebrow.
I crossed my arms back and added, "Kyunki wo tume thaad rahi thhi gandi nazar se... aur sir chala help karne. Pagal."
"Achha matlab, koi bhi ladki mere paas aayegi, toh tum hamesha aisa hi karogi?" Neil asked softly, his voice calm-but his eyes held something else. Something deeper. Something more than just friendship. Just then she noticed him looking at her outfit then nosepin and then jhumka then returning back to her eyes..
(Neil, lost in the moment, couldn't help but think-she looked nothing less than a goddess. Yes, that's exactly what she was to him right now. His goddess)..
I looked right into his eyes, unwavering. "Haan. Hamesha karoongi aisa hi. Kisi ko tumhare paas nahi aane doongi." my voice was firm, but my heart? It was racing.
I saw it now-what I had always tried to hide from myself. His possessiveness wasn't just about care, and it wasn't just about friendship.
There was something more.
Love.
And I knew it.
But I also knew... admitting it could change everything. Could I risk our friendship?
Neil stood there, stunned. My words had hit something inside him he didn't yet understand. He looked at me, really looked-not as his best friend, but as something... more.
We stood close, lost in each other's eyes, silence wrapping us in a moment that felt too real to ignore.
But then-"Priya!"
A voice snapped us out of our trance.
We turned.
It was Akshat.
He had noticed our closeness, the awkward tension-but said nothing. Instead, he simply smiled and said, "Chalo, class shuru hone wali hai."
Me and Neil quickly looked away from each other, the magic of the moment lost in that one interruption. The awkward silence hung between us as we walked side by side to class.
We took our seats-but my minds?
Still stuck on what almost happened.
Author's pov:
Once the class started, everyone was deeply focused. Notes were taken, whispers were rare, and even Priya stayed quiet-well, mostly.
After a few sessions, the lunch break bell rang, and the chatter quickly returned. During this time, something unexpected happened-Neil and Akshat began to warm up to each other. As they talked, Neil realized Akshat wasn't bad at all. He was actually kind-hearted and genuine.
And for Akshat, who had always been a bit of an introvert, finding someone to talk to felt good.
Neil, surprising even himself, said, "Let's eat together?"
Akshat smiled, a little taken aback but clearly happy. "Sure."
The three of them headed to the cafeteria. Neil brought out his lunchbox while Priya ordered a chicken pizza, Neil got a pepperoni one, and Akshat went with a farm house pizza. When the food arrived, something adorable happened.
Without a word, Neil and Priya started cutting their pizza slices in half and exchanged one-half with the other.
Akshat, blinking in confusion, asked, "Wait... what just happened?"
Neil chuckled, glancing at Priya before turning back to Akshat. "Oh, that? It's just our thing. We always share like this. No matter what we order, we split and trade. Been doing it since school."
Akshat finally understood just how deep their bond went-not just memories, but habits, unspoken rituals, little pieces of their lives woven together over the years.
They all dug into their food, laughter and light conversations filling the table. And for the first time in a long while, Akshat didn't feel like an outsider.
Once lunch was done, they walked back to class, stomachs full and hearts a little lighter.
After lunch, the first class was with Ms. Shalini. Unlike the other professors who maintained professionalism, she always seemed a little off. Her overly friendly behavior, especially towards the male students, and her choice of dressing - even in sarees - was always revealing more than it should. Most of the boys in class reacted in different ways: some ogled, some looked away in discomfort, but Neil... he never spared her even a glance. From day one, something about her didn't sit right with him.
As class began, Ms. Shalini walked straight to Neil's bench and asked him to stand. She smiled - too sweetly - and said she wanted him as her subject helper. He'd be responsible for sharing study material and updates with other students. She told him to meet her in the staffroom after class. Neil, not wanting to create a scene, nodded in agreement.
As soon as class ended and he stood to leave, someone grabbed his wrist. It was Priya.
She had been watching. The way Ms. Shalini looked at Neil hadn't escaped her eyes. Neil frowned, confused. "What happened?" he asked softly. She shook her head, let go of his wrist, and simply said, "Be careful." He looked at her a moment longer but chose not to ask further. Instead, he walked away toward the staffroom.
Inside the room, Ms. Shalini sat comfortably at her desk and gestured for him to take a seat across from her. She began asking questions - about his schooling, past grades, interests. She seemed impressed with his academic background and handed him a model assignment to review. Neil focused on the paper, pointing out a few corrections.
But then... she moved.
She stood from her chair and walked behind him. Without warning, she leaned down, hovering just over his shoulder - far too close. Neil tensed immediately. The fabric of her saree had shifted, and now her cleavage was clearly visible. A large portion of her hip was also exposed. Disgust filled him. He turned to look at her sharply.
She smirked.
With a sickeningly sweet tone, she asked, "What happened, Neil? Like what you see?"
His blood boiled.
Neil stood up so fast the chair nearly toppled. His eyes, sharp and furious, stared right into hers. She flinched at the intensity. Without saying a single word, he turned and walked out.
Straight to the garden.
There, under the shade of a tree, he sat down. Closing his eyes, he tilted his head back, trying to calm the storm inside him. His fists were clenched, jaw tight. He was still breathless - not from fear, but from pure, seething rage.
Meanwhile, back in class, Priya and Akshat were growing restless. Neil hadn't returned after his meeting with Ms. Shalini, and it was unlike him to disappear without a word. As the next class ended, both of them stepped out of the classroom, determined to find him.
They searched around for a while, until they finally spotted him - sitting under a tree in the garden, eyes closed, fists clenched, face clearly troubled. Priya's brows furrowed in worry, and without hesitation, she walked up to him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Neil jolted, eyes snapping open. His reflexes kicked in, and his hand flew up instinctively, nearly striking her.
Priya gasped and flinched in fear.
But the second Neil registered who it was, his eyes softened. Without a word, he pulled her into a tight hug, holding her like his life depended on it.
Priya stood frozen, shocked at first, but slowly her arms wrapped around him, rubbing his back gently in comfort. Akshat, who had followed behind, stood a little away, watching Neil with quiet concern.
Neil nuzzled his face into Priya's neck, inhaling the calming scent of her hair. Just being close to her seemed to settle the storm within him. After a moment, he pulled back, looking guilty.
"I'm sorry, Priya... I almost hit you. I didn't mean to scare you," he said, his voice low.
She shook her head, brushing it off. "It's okay. But what happened, Neil? Who made you this angry?" Her tone had changed - firm and serious.
Neil took a deep breath and told them everything.
He described what happened in Ms. Shalini's office - the inappropriate closeness, the way she leaned in, the suggestive remarks, and how disgusted and violated he felt. Akshat's jaw dropped, shocked at the revelation, while Priya's eyes blazed with fury.
"That behen-pakodi!" Priya shot up, fists clenched. "Uski toh main aaj jaan nikaal doongi! Mera naam Priya nahi agar main usse chhodu-"
"Priya!" Neil quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to sit beside him. "You can't act out like this. No one's going to believe us. They'll blame me or say we're defaming her. We could get suspended or worse... expelled."
Akshat nodded. "He's right. We need to be smart. She can't keep doing this. But we need a plan - one that'll expose her without putting us at risk."
Both of them agreed, nodding silently.
Then, suddenly, Priya's face lit up.
"I have an idea!" she exclaimed, eyes gleaming with mischief.
Neil's eyes narrowed immediately. He knew that look far too well.
"Nahi maata, tu chup reh," he said, suspiciously backing up a little. "Main kuch sochta hoon. Mujhe pata hai teri 'ideas' kitni khatarnak hoti hai. Meri jaan mat le lena apne plans ke chakkar mein."
Priya put a hand dramatically over her heart and gave him the most exaggerated hurt puppy face she could muster.
Neil chuckled under his breath, despite the heaviness of the situation. Even now, she could make him laugh.
"Fine," he said. "Bata apna khuraafaati plan."
As Priya started narrating her plan, both Neil and Akshat leaned in, listening intently. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, her voice steady with confidence. By the time she was done laying out every detail, Akshat was left speechless, eyebrows raised high in surprise.
"OMG, Priya! You are a genius," he said, breaking into a wide smile. "Seriously, I'm impressed. Not just beautiful outside, but beauty with brains, huh!"
Priya blushed at the compliment, ducking her head shyly.
But someone wasn't amused.
Neil, standing right there, narrowed his eyes sharply, the hint of a scowl forming as he watched Akshat openly flirt with his Priya.
Yes. His Priya.
"Abe oy bhai," Neil interrupted, voice calm but tinged with jealousy, "sambhal thoda... teekey?" He didn't even try to hide the slight edge in his tone.
Then, without giving either of them a chance to respond, he smoothly pulled Priya to his side and stood between the two, forming a literal wall of possessiveness. Priya blinked, surprised, while Akshat just tried not to laugh at the drama unfolding in front of him.
"Okay seriously," Neil continued, trying to get back on track. "The idea's good. I'll admit that. But how exactly are we going to initiate it?"
Priya gave him a devilish smile, proud and smug, raising her chin like a queen in command. "Uska tum fikr mat karo, main hoon na," she said, acting like she was adjusting an imaginary collar.
Neil muttered under his breath, "Wahi toh darr hai..." But of course, it didn't go unheard.
Priya glared at him playfully, giving him a light punch on the shoulder, while Akshat barely held back his laughter. Neil, caught red-handed, gave a sheepish grin to play it off.
Soon, they all made their way back to class. During one of the periods, Neil stood up, asking for permission to go to the washroom. As he walked past, he exchanged a look with Priya and Akshat. She gave him a confident thumbs-up, and Akshat mirrored it.
Neil nodded and left, gears already turning in his head.
Later that day, the final bell rang, signaling the end of classes. Students started pouring out of classrooms, the corridors buzzing with noise. Everyone was heading home.
Neil, Priya, and Akshat joined the stream of students, walking together with their plan already quietly in motion.
The storm was coming.
And Ms. Shalini wouldn't even see it.
As they reached the college gate, Neil turned to Akshat and asked, "So, you coming with us? We're heading to Priya's place to work on the plan."
Akshat nodded eagerly. "Yeah, I'm in."
All three piled into Neil's car and drove off, the energy between them buzzing with anticipation. Once they reached Priya's house, they walked inside, laughing and chatting. Her mom was in the living room and greeted them with a smile, but her expression quickly turned curious when she spotted the new face.
Raising an eyebrow, she looked at Priya with a silent question. Priya caught on immediately.
"Mom, this is Akshat," she said cheerfully. "He's our new friend from college."
Her mom's expression softened. She smiled warmly and asked Akshat a few questions about his family and studies. He answered politely, making a good impression. A few minutes later, she brought out juice and snacks for them.
After a quick bite, Priya stood up. "Let's go to my room," she said, and both boys followed.
But before Neil could reach the stairs, Priya's mom called him back. "Neil, beta?"
He paused and turned. "Yes, aunty?"
She looked at him with a bit of concern. "That new boy... Akshat, right? He's okay, na?"
Neil smiled, knowing exactly where that was coming from. He leaned in a little and said, "Don't worry, aunty. I won't let any guy near Priya without checking them myself." He gave a reassuring grin.
Her mom chuckled, visibly relaxed by his answer. "That's good to know," she said warmly.
Neil nodded and headed upstairs to Priya's room.
Inside, the three of them were settling on her bed. Naturally, Neil took the center spot-there was no way he'd let Akshat sit too close to Priya. Akshat just rolled his eyes with a smirk, used to Neil's possessiveness by now.
They opened the laptop and began finalizing their plan. Ideas flowed, screens clicked, and strategies came together. Finally, when everything was set in motion, the three of them shared a look and smirked.
"Ready?" Priya asked, raising her hand.
"Always," Neil and Akshat said in unison.
They high-fived, then pulled into a group hug, their bond tighter than ever.
After a little while, the evening rolled in and it was time to head back. Neil and Akshat left Priya's house, each carrying the fire of their secret mission, and a new level of trust between them.
Ms. Shalini had no idea what was coming her way.
REVENGE TIME...
The next morning, the trio reached the college earlier than usual. With determined faces hiding beneath calm expressions, they made their way straight to the principal's office. A short while later, they stepped out casually-cool and composed-like nothing had happened, blending in with the rest of the students as the day began.
Classes went on like usual until the much-anticipated period arrived-Ms. Shalini's class. But she didn't show up.
A few minutes passed before a breathless student ran into the room, panting and wide-eyed. "Guys... the principal... he's going to fire Ms. Shalini! Something about... inappropriate behavior with students!"
Gasps echoed across the classroom. Everyone looked at one another, shocked.
Well... almost everyone.
Three particular students sat quietly, unfazed-Neil, Priya, and Akshat. Their poker faces couldn't quite hide the glimmer of satisfaction in their eyes.
Within moments, a crowd had gathered near the principal's office, trying to eavesdrop. Inside, the principal's voice boomed loud enough for the hallway to hear.
"You've brought shame to this institute!" he roared. "Your behavior was disgusting. Seducing students? What kind of teacher are you?"
From inside, Ms. Shalini's tearful voice pleaded, "Sir, no! I didn't do anything, please! Someone has framed me!"
But the principal wasn't buying it. "Don't try to fool me. I've had my doubts about your behavior for a while, but now I've got proof. You're blacklisted from this university. Pack your things and leave."
Stunned silence followed as Ms. Shalini walked out, wiping her tears, her face pale. The students stepped aside, whispering among themselves, shocked at the real reason behind her dismissal. She walked back to her office, humiliated, to collect her belongings.
In the corner of the hallway, three very familiar figures leaned against the wall-Priya, Neil, and Akshat-calmly sharing a Five Star chocolate bar.
Neil took a bite and smirked. "Eat Five Star..."
Priya completed with a grin, "Do nothing..."
Akshat popped the last piece into his mouth and laughed. "Mission accomplished."
They chuckled together, proud of their victory. The wicked was gone, justice was served, and their bond grew even stronger.
Flashback
As the trio stepped into the principal's office, the air shifted.
The principal looked up from his desk, his brows furrowing at the unexpected visit. His sharp gaze landed on each of them before settling on Neil. "Yes? What brings you three here so early?" he asked, voice laced with curiosity and a hint of suspicion.
Neil took a step forward, confidence radiating from his calm expression. "Sir, we wanted to speak to you about something important," he said firmly.
The principal leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Go ahead."
Neil reached into his bag, pulled out Priya's laptop, and opened a folder. He turned the screen toward the principal, playing a video. At first, the principal looked confused, but as the footage continued, his expression shifted. His eyes widened in horror, his jaw clenched tightly, and a wave of fury washed over his face.
On-screen, Ms. Shalini's inappropriate behavior was captured in undeniable clarity-her actions toward not just Neil, but several male students who had visited her office under her instructions. The truth played out without filters.
The principal slammed the laptop shut.
He looked at Neil with a new expression-one of sympathy and respect. "I'm... I'm really sorry you had to go through this. Thank you for showing me this. I promise, I'll handle it from here."
Neil nodded, then said quietly, "I don't want anyone to know that it was me behind this. Please."
The principal straightened and gave a firm nod. "Your identity will remain confidential. I assure you."
His gaze shifted to Priya and Akshat. "And you two? Are you also victims?"
Akshat's eyes widened in alarm. "No, sir! I-I'm just Neil's friend. I came to support him."
Neil glanced at him and smiled with pride. It felt good to have someone like Akshat stand by his side.
Priya stepped forward, voice calm but strong. "Thank you, sir. For understanding. It means a lot."
The principal's serious expression softened into a small smile. "You three are brave. And smart. Now go on, attend your classes. I'll take care of the rest."
With that, they exited the room.
As soon as the door shut behind them, a silent smirk passed between the three of them.
They didn't need words. The look in their eyes said it all.
This time, they had taken revenge. Not with shouting. Not with chaos. But with truth, strategy, and power.
And the show was just about to begin.
Yes-revenge served cold, and perfectly planned.
*****************************
Hi dear lovely readers,
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I tried to make it a bit longer to help you really dive into the scene and feel the emotions as they unfolded. As you may have noticed, the bond between Priya and Neil is deepening in ways even though they haven't fully realized yet. Their smart and subtle revenge marks just the beginning of a powerful shift in their story.
Don't miss the upcoming chapters-there's so much more to come! Changing equations, unexpected turns, and a lot of suspense is waiting for you.
If you liked this chapter, please leave your thoughts, drop a comment, and hit that like button-your support truly means the world to me. And if you're enjoying the story, do recommend it to your friends. It would help me a lot in growing this little world we've created together.
With love,
Your's author
Delululove03 ❤️
********
Write a comment ...