chapter 4

Lunch Break...

The lunch bell rang.

Within seconds...

The entire campus came alive.

Students rushed out of their classrooms.

Some hurried to the canteen.

Some sat under the trees.

Some had already formed groups and were happily sharing their lunch.

Maya and Saharshini walked to a quiet spot under a neem tree.

Maya carefully took out her lunch box.

The moment she opened it...

The delicious aroma of homemade food spread into the air.

There was lemon rice, potato roast, curd, and a small box of mango pickle.

Maya smiled warmly.

Maya: "Grandma woke up early to make all this."

Saharshini smiled.

She quietly stood up.

Maya: "Where are you going?"

Saharshini: "I didn't bring lunch..."

"I'll buy something from the canteen."

Before she could leave...

Maya caught her wrist.

Maya: "No."

Saharshini blinked.

Saharshini: "It's okay..."

Maya shook her head.

Maya: "No, it's not okay."

"My grandma always says food tastes better when it's shared."

"So..."

She pushed the lunch box toward Saharshini.

"Sit."

Saharshini hesitated.

"But what about you?"

Maya smiled.

"We'll share."

"Now no more arguments."

Saharshini's eyes softened.

No one had insisted on sharing their lunch with her before.

She quietly sat down.

The two girls began eating from the same lunch box, talking and smiling.

While eating...

Maya casually looked around the campus.

Her eyes suddenly stopped on someone.

"...Food Thief."

A little distance away...

Akshay was sitting under another tree.

But he wasn't eating with students.

He was sitting on the ground with the college security uncle and two housekeeping aunties.

The security uncle was happily telling a story while everyone laughed.

One of the aunties kept serving more food onto Akshay's plate.

Working Aunty: "You've become thinner."

"Eat properly."

Akshay smiled politely.

Akshay: "If you keep serving me like this..."

"I won't be able to walk."

Everyone laughed.

At the same time...

Saharshini looked in another direction.

Her eyes landed on Karthik.

He was sitting beside the same group, eating happily with them.

The security uncle playfully placed an extra vada on Karthik's plate.

Security Uncle: "Eat, son."

"You skipped breakfast again, didn't you?"

Karthik smiled sheepishly.

"...Maybe."

One of the working aunties lightly scolded him.

"You boys only know how to work."

"You don't know how to take care of yourselves."

Karthik laughed.

"I'll eat properly, Aunty."

The aunties smiled with satisfaction.

Maya quietly watched the scene.

She expected someone like Akshay to eat separately.

Instead...

He was laughing comfortably with the college workers.

There wasn't even a trace of pride in his behavior.

Saharshini smiled softly.

Saharshini: "They treat them like family..."

Maya nodded unconsciously.

"...Yeah."

For a moment...

The title "Food Thief" in Maya's mind became slightly less serious.

Just slightly.

Then she remembered...there meet.....

She folded her arms.

"No."

"He still owes me."

Saharshini looked confused.

Saharshini: "Who?"

Maya immediately stuffed another spoonful of lemon rice into her mouth.

"Mmm... nobody."

Far away...

Akshay happened to look in their direction.

He noticed Maya staring for a second.

The moment their eyes met...

Maya quickly looked away and pretended to be very busy eating.

Akshay noticed that and quietly smiled to himself.

Karthik followed his gaze.

He spotted Maya and Saharshini sitting together.

A small smile appeared on his face.

Without saying a word...

The two men continued eating with the security uncle and the working aunties, while Maya secretly wondered...

"Maybe... the Food Thief isn't such a bad person after all..."

_________________

After Lunch...

The lunch break was almost over.

Students slowly started returning to their classrooms.

Saharshini's phone suddenly vibrated.

She looked at the screen.

A small smile appeared on her face.

Saharshini: "Maya... you go to class first."

"I'll come in a few minutes."

Maya nodded.

Maya: "Okay. Come soon."

She walked back toward the classroom.

Saharshini answered the call.

Saharshini: "Hello... Amma."

The voice on the other end was gentle.

It was the warden of the orphanage where Saharshini had grown up.

She wasn't her real mother.

But ever since she was a little girl...

She had been the only person who had loved and cared for her like one.

Years ago...

Saharshini's mother had passed away.

Within a year...

Her wealthy father had remarried.

His new family never accepted Saharshini.

Eventually...

He admitted her to an orphanage.

He paid every expense...

But never came back to take her home.

To the world...

She wasn't an orphan.

But to Saharshini...

She had been one ever since the day her father left her behind.

The warden spoke lovingly.

Warden: "Did you eat properly?"

Saharshini smiled softly.

"Yes..."

"My friend shared her lunch with me."

The warden smiled from the other side.

"So you've already made a friend?"

Saharshini looked happy.

"...Yes."

"Her name is Maya."

"She's very kind."

The warden blessed her warmly before ending the call.

Saharshini held the phone close to her heart for a moment.

Then she started walking back toward her classroom.

As she turned into another corridor...

A familiar voice stopped her.

Senior: "Hey..."

She froze.

It was the same group of seniors from the morning.

The senior who had given her the dare stepped forward with a grin.

Senior: "So..."

"You escaped earlier."

"But now..."

"I've got another dare for you."

Saharshini lowered her head.

"I... I don't want to..."

The senior ignored her.

He folded his arms dramatically.

Senior: "I dare you to propose to me."

He leaned closer.

"Actually..."

"I like you."

"Be my girlfriend."

Saharshini's face turned pale.

She didn't say a single word.

She simply turned around to leave.

The senior's smile disappeared.

Without thinking...

He caught hold of the end of her dupatta.

Saharshini froze.

Fear spread across her face.

For a second...

She couldn't even breathe.

The next moment...

She quickly let go of the dupatta and ran.

Tears blurred her vision.

Without seeing where she was going...

She bumped into someone.

She stumbled.

Before she could fall...

A firm hand steadied her.

She looked up.

It was Karthik.

He immediately noticed her frightened face.

His eyes shifted behind her.

The senior was still holding the loose end of her dupatta.

Karthik's expression turned cold.

Without saying a word...

He walked toward the senior.

The senior instinctively stepped back.

Karthik took the dupatta from his hand.

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

Karthik: "Leave."

That single word was enough.

The seniors looked at each other.

Without another argument...

They hurried away.

Silence filled the corridor.

Karthik turned toward Saharshini.

She was still trembling.

He sighed.

Karthik: "You..."

"You need to be brave."

"If you stay afraid of everyone..."

"People like them will keep troubling you."

Saharshini lowered her head.

Her voice trembled.

Saharshini: "S-Sir..."

"I... I'm trying..."

"But..."

"I'm sorry..."

Before she could finish...

Her eyes filled with tears.

Karthik's stern expression softened slightly.

He realized she wasn't weak...

She was simply carrying fears much older than today.

He spoke in a calmer tone.

Karthik: "It's alright."

"Wipe your tears."

"And go back to your class."

"If anyone troubles you again..."

"Don't run."

"Speak up."

Saharshini nodded slowly.

She wiped her eyes.

A small smile appeared on her face.

Saharshini: "Thank you... Sir."

She gave a small respectful bow...

Then hurried back toward her classroom.

Karthik watched her leave.

He looked once in the direction where the seniors had run.

His jaw tightened.

"These boys..."

"They've crossed the line."

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