The school corridors buzzed with the usual energy, students laughing, books shuffling, shoes tapping rhythmically against the floor. But hidden in the shadows, someone else’s mind was spinning dark plans.

Tanisha stood near the staircase, eyes glinting with vicious satisfaction as she overheard Meher talking to a classmate about Ridrakshika.

"She’s... she’s nyctophobic, right? Scared of the dark since childhood?" the classmate whispered.

Tanisha smirked cruelly. "Perfect," she muttered under her breath, her mind already crafting the perfect revenge.

The lunch bell rang.

It was the perfect time.

While everyone was busy in the canteen or playground, Tanisha carefully followed Ridrakshika, who had gone to fetch some notebooks from the supply room near the deserted end of the corridor. As soon as Ridrakshika stepped in, Tanisha swiftly shut the heavy door from outside and locked it, muffling Ridrakshika’s surprised gasp.

“Bye-bye, Miss Perfect,” Tanisha whispered smugly, walking away before anyone could see.

---

Inside the dark, cold storeroom, Ridrakshika’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes darted wildly in the pitch darkness, hands fumbling against the rough wall, searching for the doorknob.

It wouldn’t budge.

Her chest tightened.

“No... no no no... please no...” she whispered, panic rising sharply. The darkness seemed to close in on her, wrapping around her like a suffocating blanket.

She banged on the door. “Open the door!! Someone!! Please!!” Her voice cracked, her heart thudding like a drum.

The memories of long-forgotten nightmares crept in—being trapped, being helpless.

Her knees buckled. She slid down against the door, clutching her head, gasping, trembling as the air felt heavier... thicker.

“I... I can’t breathe…” she choked out, tears welling in her wide, terrified eyes.

“I’m going to die here… I’m going to die…”

---

Meanwhile, Adyansh was passing by the corridor, searching for Ridrakshika. Something felt wrong—too wrong. She’d been gone for too long just to get a notebook.

“Where the hell did this girl disappear to?” he muttered.

And then he heard it.

A faint thud. A desperate voice.

“Help... please...”

His body stiffened, instincts kicking in. The sound was coming from the store room.

Without wasting a second, he rushed there, gripping the door handle.

It was locked.

“Thunder??” he shouted, banging the door.

“Ridrakshika!! Can you hear me??”

Inside, Ridrakshika flinched at the sound. Was it real? Or just her mind playing cruel tricks?

“Ad...yansh?” she whimpered.

“Hang on!!” he growled and with a hard kick, broke the fragile lock open. The door creaked wide.

The dim corridor light poured into the room—and there she was, crouched on the floor, shaking violently, gasping for air like she was drowning.

Her terrified eyes met his.

Without a thought, she scrambled to him, throwing her arms around him tightly, burying her face into his chest. Her body trembled uncontrollably against his.

"I thought... I thought I was going to die..." she sobbed brokenly, clutching his shirt like her life depended on it.

Adyansh froze for a moment—her warmth, her fear, her voice trembling against him... it pierced right through him.

But then instinct took over.

"Shhh... it’s okay... I’ve got you," he whispered softly, holding her close, shielding her from the lingering darkness of the storeroom. One hand gently rubbed her back to soothe her shaking form. His other hand moved to tuck away a stray hair sticking to her tear-streaked face.

“It’s over, Thunder... main hoon yahan... tum safe ho...” he whispered, his own heartbeat racing.

For a moment, nothing else mattered.

No rivalry.

No ego.

No enemies.

Just him. And her.

------

Ridrakshika was still clutching onto Adyansh’s shirt tightly, her face buried against his chest, breathing ragged, heart pounding in panic. Her fingers trembled slightly, gripping him as if letting go would throw her back into that suffocating darkness.

Adyansh could feel her silent sobs, each one hitting him like a punch in the gut. His jaw tightened. He never thought he would see her like this—the fierce, untamed Ridrakshika, so fragile… so scared.

“Thunder…” he whispered softly, bending a little, his voice unusually gentle. “You okay now?”

She gripped his shirt tighter. “Don’t go... please don’t leave me alone...” her shaky voice barely escaped her lips.

Adyansh’s heart skipped a beat.

“I’m not going anywhere… I promise. Just… look at me, you’re safe now…” he said, holding her shoulders carefully and trying to pull her back slightly so he could see her face.

Ridrakshika slowly lifted her tear-filled eyes to him—red, glassy, but finally meeting his gaze. Their eyes locked. Neither blinked.

The fear in her eyes was still there, but along with it… an unfamiliar comfort. His presence was grounding her.

“Sorry… I just… I lost control,” she said softly, brokenly.

Adyansh reached out and gently tilted her chin up with his fingers. “How can Miss Thunder be so scared, hmm?” he smirked, his voice teasing, but soft.

Ridrakshika sniffled, narrowing her eyes at him slightly, the ghost of a smile threatening to appear. “None of your business…” she muttered.

Adyansh let out a short laugh. “I thought you could knock down walls if you wanted to… and here you are—scared of the dark like a little kitten?”

“Try being locked in a dark storeroom someday, Mr. Perfect… then you’ll know how it feels!” she snapped softly, but the panic in her chest was slowly fading.

Adyansh smirked again—a real, genuine smile that rarely touched his lips in public.

But inside… something clicked.

Why the hell did her tears bother him this much?

Why was his heart racing only because she had clung to him like he was her only lifeline?

“It’s temporary… just because she was weak for a moment… that’s all… nothing else…” he convinced himself silently.

Just then, the door flung open and Esha and Sanskar burst in, breathless.

“Ridu!! Oh my God!! Are you okay?!” Esha ran towards her, grabbing her hand worriedly.

Sanskar glanced at Adyansh, standing so close to Ridrakshika—something unreadable flashing in his eyes.

Since when are they this close?! Sanskar thought, exchanging a look with Esha who was clearly wondering the same thing.

“I-I’m fine now…” Ridrakshika said softly, holding Esha’s hand tightly.

Sanskar pulled Adyansh aside and whispered, “Bro… what the hell? Why were you so panicked for her? I thought you two hated each other...”

Adyansh stared at him for a second, confused, eyes dark.

“I… I don’t know... why I cared so much. Damn it…” he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair.

Esha smirked behind him. “Someone’s falling, and he doesn’t even realise it yet…” she thought, amused.

Ridrakshika sat up suddenly, eyes going serious.

“Someone locked me there. I swear. I heard footsteps… laughing too… Someone did this on purpose,” her voice was firm now.

Everyone froze.

“Who?” Sanskar asked, alarmed.

“I don’t know. But I’m sure… Someone wanted me trapped inside…”

Adyansh’s expression turned stone cold. His jaw clenched, eyes flashing dangerously.

“Whoever did this... they won’t get away with it,” he said lowly, dead serious.

Esha and Sanskar exchanged wide-eyed glances, shocked at the sudden protectiveness pouring from him.

------

Ridrakshika was walking slowly towards the classroom, still slightly shaken but trying hard to act normal. Esha was holding her hand tightly while Sanskar walked beside them, throwing concerned glances now and then. Adyansh, as usual, walked silently beside Ridrakshika, hands in pockets, his gaze occasionally dropping to her face to make sure she was really okay.

Suddenly Sanskar broke the silence.

"So... Adyansh Sachdeva—our cold, stone-hearted topper—turned into a knight in shining armour today? What a plot twist!” he teased, grinning wide.

Adyansh shot him a deadly glare. “Shut up, Sanskar…”

But Sanskar wasn’t done. “No seriously, bhai... pehle match chhodha, phir Ridu ko godh mein utha kar rescue... kya baat hai, kya baat hai!!”

Ridrakshika smirked, her old self slowly returning. "Woh toh hai. Nahi toh Mr. Sachdeva ko toh chhoti chhoti cheezon se farak nahi padta tha... par mujhe dekh kar unka dil halka sa dhadak gaya, I guess…”

Adyansh raised a brow, stepping closer. “Dhadak gaya? Tumhare liye? In your dreams, Thunder.”

“Thunder?” Esha gasped dramatically. “New pet name? Wow... Adyansh is giving nicknames now? Ab toh end of the world hai.”

Ridrakshika chuckled. “Yeah. He thinks I roar like thunder all the time. But maybe it’s because he can’t handle strong girls like me.”

“Oh I can handle you just fine,” Adyansh said, smirking darkly, leaning a little too close. Their faces were only inches apart now. Ridrakshika’s breath hitched slightly, heart skipping—her eyes locked with his for a good few seconds before Esha fake-coughed loudly.

“Guys, zara jagah ka khayal karo. Baki students bhi hai yaha,” she teased, dragging Ridrakshika away slightly.

Sanskar laughed. “Bas bas, enemies to lovers ka trailer bandh karo abhi… warna full film yahi start ho jayegi!”

Ridrakshika turned pink but smiled. For the first time in days, it felt... good.

But unknown to them... someone else was watching from far down the corridor.

Tanisha. Her jaw clenched, eyes burning.

"Just wait, Ridrakshika... this was only the beginning."

__________________________________Stay tuned for further updates 🎀

~shanshya🧿