Beautiful Infatuation

Chapter 1

SIX MONTHS AGO:

Being a scholarship student raises the standard of a student in any school or college. But, not in Maitri Elite College. Here, students with scholarships dread the day when their secret of being a scholarship student will be revealed. Because then, they will become an automatic victim of the biggest bully of the college, Ananya Khatri.

Unfortunately, Sneha is also a scholarship student. She got admission to this prestigious college on the basis of her terrific merit. She was proud of herself. She couldn't even believe it when she got the confirmation mail of her acceptance to M.A in geography in the college.

However, her happiness dropped to zero volts when she saw the condition of students who got admission on scholarship. They were bullied to the extent that they had to leave the college on their own consent...forced consent. The students belonging to rich families tried to have some fun with those who couldn't afford to go against them.

"One more red card." Sneha's only friend in the college, Jyoti, said as she placed her phone on the canteen's table.

Sneha looked at the screen of the smartphone and frowned. The photograph of a first-year boy with a red card in his hand was circulated widely in the college's informal chat group. It was the routine. Whenever a scholarship student got the red card, their photo would be circulated in every chat group so that, anyone can bully the victim.

The anti-ragging law seemed to fail in this college because no one went against the elite families...especially Ananya Khatri... the younger sister of Viraj Khatri.

"What's wrong with her now? Why has she started this red-card nonsense?" Sneha asked Jyoti as she felt concerned for this young boy who would now be bullied to the extreme.

"Have you seen the Korean drama, 'Boys over flowers'?" Jyoti asked.

"No." Sneha answered as she sipped her coffee. It was their free hour. So, they decided to have something in the canteen to freshen up. There were only a few other students in the college canteen.

"In that drama, a group of boys, I forgot their names, give this red card to their schoolmate. And then, the entire school bullies that particular student. Ananya seems to be repeating their logic." Jyoti explained.

Sneha gave a look to her friend.

"God knows what problem she has with the scholarship students!" Sneha mumbled to herself.

"It's good that she doesn't know that we are of the same category. Or else, she wouldn't spare us either." Jyoti sighed.

"I doubt she even knows that we share the same class of EVS." Sneha chuckled. EVS or environmental science was the only subject that they both shared with Ananya.

"Shit. She is here." Jyoti muttered as she looked in the direction of the canteen door. Sneha turned around to look at her too and realized that she was not alone. Along with her were two of her very close friends.

"Oh! Our little boy is here!" Came Ananya's cool voice.

Sneha and Jyoti turned in the direction where Ananya was looking and their faces grimaced. It was the same boy whose photo was in circulation...the red card holder...Ananya's new target. The boy was sitting alone in the chair beside them. They didn't even notice him earlier until now.

Sneha's eyes widened when she saw Ananya walking in her direction.

"Move." Ananya told Sneha and Jyoti in an irritated manner.

Sneha would have taught her a lesson right there. She was a blue belt in karate after all. But, she refrained. She didn't want to come under the radar. Her plan was to pass the exam peacefully and without any trouble. And, engaging with a girl like Ananya was the ultimate definition of trouble. Her brother was the infamous mafia leader and everyone including Sneha knew it.