In the bustling halls of St. Teresa's College, Shubman Gill is known as much for his cricket prowess as for his aloof demeanor. Balancing the demands of being a top player for the Gujarat Titans and a dedicated student, Shubman has little patience f...
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Sara was walking to class with Shubman when suddenly the assistant to the principal approached them and said, "Shubman, madam is calling you."
Shubman nodded. "Sara, you go ahead to class. I'll speak to ma'am and join you later."
Sara gave him a reassuring smile before heading off, while Shubman made his way to the principal's office. When he entered, he was surprised to see Vikram and his parents already seated.
"Ma'am, you wanted to see me?" Shubman asked, his voice calm but his gaze cautious.
Mrs. Kulkarni, the principal, gestured for him to sit. "Yes, Shubman, please take a seat."
As he sat down, she leaned forward, her expression serious. "I've been informed that you assaulted Vikram. Is this true?"
Shubman didn't hesitate. "He misbehaved with Sara," he replied bluntly.
Vikram's mother scoffed, crossing her arms. "So what?"
Shubman blinked, stunned by her response. "So what?" he echoed, his voice rising slightly in disbelief. "He harassed a girl. He made her terrified, and she couldn't sleep the whole night because of what he did."
Vikram's father cut in, his tone dismissive. "Just because you're a famous cricketer doesn't give you the right to beat up my son."
Shubman clenched his jaw, trying to remain composed, but the frustration and anger were bubbling beneath the surface. Before he could respond, Vikram's mother turned to Mrs. Kulkarni. "I demand to meet his parents. They need to answer for this."
Shubman mumbled, "They don't live here."
"Oh?" Vikram's father raised an eyebrow mockingly. "Parents left you all alone, did they? No wonder. It's clear why they did. A boy like you doesn't deserve anyone."
Shubman's chest tightened, his mind racing. His pulse quickened as the man's words triggered painful memories—memories of Kiara, of her parents blaming him for what had happened. The accusations, the looks, the weight of guilt he carried.
He felt the familiar ache in his chest, a storm of emotions he'd buried deep. He fought to keep his composure, but every word Vikram's parents said felt like a knife reopening old wounds.
"Ma'am," Shubman finally said, his voice thick with restrained emotion, "may I leave now? I have class."
Mrs. Kulkarni hesitated but nodded. "Yes, Shubman, you can go."
Without another word, Shubman stood up and left the office, but the harsh words continued to echo in his mind, amplifying his own self-doubt. As he walked down the hall, his steps felt heavier. He kept replaying the meeting in his head—Vikram's parents' insults mixing with his old fears of abandonment and failure.
When he entered the classroom, he saw Sara and Abhishek chatting, seemingly unaware of the turmoil that was consuming him. Shubman sat down in Abhishek's seat without a word, his eyes distant, lost in thought.
