Destiny|| A Rutkarsha Story

13.

Tum saath ho, ya na ho
Kya fark hai
Bedard si zindagi, Bedard hai...💌

~•~

Utkarsha stumbled into her room, her shoulders heavy with the weight of the day. She shut the door quietly behind her, the silence of her home settling around her like a suffocating blanket. Her tears, which she had held in check all the way home, finally broke free. She collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow, her body wracked with sobs.

"Why did it have to end like this?" she whispered to herself, her voice breaking in the stillness of the room.

The memory of what had happened, the pain, the confusion—it all came rushing back. But it was the memory of the day she first met Rutu, the one that had changed everything, that gripped her heart now. It felt like a lifetime ago, but every moment of it was still vivid in her mind.

Flashback: School Days

It was the beginning of 10th grade, a fresh start in the new school year. The air was filled with excitement as students filled the corridors, chatting eagerly about what the year would hold. Utkarsha walked into her classroom with her best friend, Navya, both of them brimming with anticipation.

"Utkarsha, can you believe we’re finally in 10th grade?" Navya exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "This is going to be our year!"

Utkarsha smiled, feeling the same surge of optimism. "I know, right? I’m so ready to take on the challenges ahead."

They found their seats and sat down, but the chatter around them seemed to quiet as the teacher, Mr. Sharma, stepped to the front of the class.

"Welcome, students! I’m Mr. Sharma, your class teacher for this year. Let’s make it a great one!" he said with a broad smile, his voice carrying a sense of authority and enthusiasm.

Just as the teacher began taking attendance, the door opened, and a figure stepped inside. Rutu, with his signature mischievous grin and carefree swagger, walked into Section A like he owned the place. Everyone knew Rutu—he had a reputation for being a little wild and rebellious, a far cry from the studious, rule-abiding students of Section A.

"What is he doing here?" Utkarsha whispered to Navya, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "He’s always in Section D."

Navya giggled, her voice barely audible. "I know, right? I heard he begged Mr. Sharma to transfer him to Section A. I guess he wants a change."

Rutu, overhearing their conversation, flashed a smirk in their direction. "Hey, I’m trying to change my ways," he said, his tone playful yet defiant. "Be a good boy and all that."

Utkarsha rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. There was something about him, something that made him stand out. Even though she tried not to admit it, she couldn’t quite shake the feeling that he intrigued her in some way.

The day continued on, and Utkarsha found herself caught up in the whirlwind of school life. After lunch, she found herself on the kho-kho field, playing with her classmates, the thrill of the game filling her with energy. Her heart raced as she sprinted across the field, her body soaked in sweat, the competitive spirit driving her forward. But after the game, she headed back to the classroom, looking for a moment of peace.

As she entered the classroom to grab her bag, she didn’t expect to walk into the scene that awaited her. Her heart dropped as she froze in the doorway. There, in the middle of the room, one of the guy was holding her sanitary pads, a cruel smile on his face.

"Oh, look at this! Utkarsha’s little secret’s out!" Aman jeered, holding them up for everyone to see.

The laughter of her classmates filled the room, but to Utkarsha, it felt like the walls were closing in on her. She stood there, frozen, her heart pounding in her chest, unable to speak. The humiliation surged through her like a tidal wave, and she wanted nothing more than to disappear.

But then, something unexpected happened.

Rutu, who had been there with them in the room, glared at them. His eyes were sharp, angry.

"Shut up, man!" Rutu shouted, his voice filled with fury. "That’s enough! You think it’s funny to make fun of someone like that?"

Aman, taken aback by Rutu’s sudden outburst, stammered, clearly not expecting this reaction.

"Hey, chill out, Rutu..." Aman said weakly, his bravado faltering under the weight of Rutu’s anger.

"No, I won’t chill out!" Rutu snapped, his voice steady with conviction. "You’re being a jerk!"

Utkarsha remained silent, her body still numb from the shock. She couldn’t find her voice, couldn’t find the words to defend herself. But Rutu didn’t wait for her to speak.

“Apologize to her!” he demanded, his gaze intense.

Aman hesitated, but eventually muttered a reluctant apology. "Sorry..."

Rutu turned to face Utkarsha. His expression softened, a flicker of concern flashing across his face as he looked at her. His earlier anger seemed to dissipate, replaced by something almost gentle.

"Sorry..." he repeated, his voice quieter now, as if trying to reach her through the haze of embarrassment and shock.

Utkarsha, still in a daze, didn’t respond. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything, not when her mind was spinning in a hundred different directions. Rutu, sensing her silence, silently handed her her Sanitary Pad. She took it from him, her movements mechanical, as though she were on autopilot.

"Just get out of here." Rutu’s words were directed at the backbencher, his voice firm.

The room fell silent as Aman scrambled out of the classroom, and Rutu turned to leave, his footsteps heavy as he walked away.

Utkarsha stood frozen in the center of the room long after Rutu had left. The echoes of the incident still rang in her ears, but something else lingered in her heart—a strange, unfamiliar feeling.

As she watched Rutu disappear from view, she felt a tug in her chest, an inexplicable longing that she couldn’t quite understand.

“I don’t even know him that well... but there’s something about him...” she thought, her heart racing.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized what it was. The way Rutu had defended her, the way he had stepped in without a second thought—it made her feel safe, something she hadn’t realized she needed until that very moment.

“I think I might be falling for him...” The thought hit her like a punch to the gut. It was unexpected, confusing, and yet, it felt right.

Utkarsha sank down into the nearest chair, her mind reeling. She didn’t know what to do with these feelings, how to make sense of them.

“What do I do now?” she whispered to herself, feeling a sense of helplessness take root.

And in that moment, she realized that her world had just shifted—her heart was no longer hers to command. It was a feeling she couldn’t escape, and one she didn’t know how to navigate.