Monster's Queen 👑

Chapter 17

As Siya made her way to the cafeteria, her mind still buzzed with the adrenaline from the hallway incident. She pushed open the glass doors and scanned the room, quickly spotting Aarav, Riddhi, and Siddhi at a corner table near the windows. The three of them were already deep in conversation, their expressions a mix of concern and relief as they saw her approaching.

Aarav was the first to notice her, his protective instincts kicking in immediately. He stood up, waving her over. "Siya, over here!"

Siya walked over, her steps a little lighter now that she was with them. As she sat down beside Aarav, she noticed how Riddhi and Siddhi were trying to stifle their excitement, though their eyes betrayed their curiosity.

"Siya, you okay?" Aarav asked, his voice low but filled with brotherly concern.

Siya nodded, offering a small smile. "I'm fine, Aarav. It was... intense, but I'm okay now."

Riddhi couldn't hold back any longer. "We heard what happened! Those idiots didn't know who they were messing with. You totally stood up to them!"

Siddhi grinned, adding, "And then Nandini Di swooped in like a superhero. You should have seen their faces, Aarav-they were so scared when they realized she wasn't just another student."

Aarav frowned slightly, still not entirely at ease. "I'm glad Nandini Ma'am was there, but Siya, you shouldn't have had to face that alone. You should've called me."

Siya placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "I know, Aarav. But I didn't want to drag you into it. Besides, Nandini Ma'am said something that made me feel stronger, like I did the right thing by standing up to them."

Riddhi, her eyes shining with pride, chimed in, "She's right. You did great, Siya. Those bullies only tease you because they think you're this delicate little princess. They don't realize how strong you really are."

Siya blushed slightly at the praise, but she couldn't deny that it felt good. "Thanks, Riddhi. And you too, Siddhi. But honestly, I wouldn't have been able to do it without Nandini Ma'am. When she stepped in, it was like... everything just fell into place."

Siddhi nodded eagerly. "That's Di for you. She has this way of making everyone around her feel stronger. And those bullies? They'll think twice before messing with any of us again, especially after today."

Aarav's expression softened, and he gave Siya's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I'm proud of you, Siya. Standing up for yourself, even when it's hard, is what makes you strong. And you're not alone-you've got all of us here with you."

Siya smiled at her brother, feeling a warm sense of belonging. "I know. I'm really lucky to have you all."

Riddhi leaned back in her chair, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Lucky? Please, Aarav, you should feel honored to have us in your life. We're practically superheroes ourselves!"

Siddhi laughed, nodding in agreement. "Exactly! And with Di-uh, Nandini Ma'am-leading the charge, we're unstoppable."

Aarav rolled his eyes playfully but couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips. "Alright, alright, you're all superheroes. But seriously, thanks for being there for Siya."

As they continued talking, the tension from earlier slowly melted away. The cafeteria buzzed around them, but at their table, there was only laughter and support.

The bond between the four of them had deepened, and as they shared stories and jokes, they knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they had each other to rely on. For Siya, the fear and uncertainty from the hallway encounter were replaced by a renewed sense of strength-one that came from knowing she had a family, both by blood and by choice, who would always stand by her side.