Waiting for the Sun ☀️

Chapter 7 - Friends ?

The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of blooming jasmine as Akshara knelt in the garden, her fingers gently brushing over the petals of a vibrant red rose. The cold dew dampened her skin, but she barely noticed. It was better to be here than in school, better to lose herself in the quiet company of flowers than to face the mess waiting for her there.

"Akshara !"

She jolted, turning to see her mother standing at the doorway, arms crossed.

"Why aren't you getting ready for school? You're going to be late!"

Akshara hesitated. "There's no school today," she lied, avoiding her mother's sharp gaze.

Her mother frowned, unconvinced, but sighed. "If you say so. At least have breakfast before you disappear into this garden all day."

Akshara nodded, guilt twisting in her stomach. She hated lying, but after everything that happened, she couldn't bear to go back just yet.

_

At school, Meher wasn't having a good morning either.

Her family had received a call from the school, and the disappointment in their voices had been worse than any punishment. Now, standing in front of Abhimanyu, arms crossed, she scowled.

"I can't believe they're making me apologize to that girl," she huffed. "It's ridiculous !"

Abhimanyu barely spared her a glance, leaning against the lockers with a smirk. " Let me handle it."

Meher's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean ?"

His smirk widened. "I'll make her regret stepping foot in this school."

Leaning in, he whispered his plan. Meher listened, a small grin creeping onto her lips.

_

By afternoon, Akshara decided to stop avoiding her problems. She grabbed her bag and headed to school, arriving just in time for lunch. As she rushed up the stairs, her foot slipped on the last step. She gasped, bracing for the fall—

A strong hand caught her wrist.

"Whoa, careful."

Akshara's breath hitched as she looked up into Karan's deep brown eyes. His grip was steady, warm. He pulled her up with ease, concern flickering across his face.

"Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah," she stammered.

Karan nodded, giving her a small smile before walking away. Akshara watched him go, her heart thudding against her ribs.

What was that ?

_

Later, she sat in class, scrolling through old pictures of her friends from back home. Laughter, inside jokes, memories of carefree days—it all felt so distant now.

She missed them.

"Akshara ?"

She looked up to see a girl standing beside her.

"The headmistress wants to see you."

Her brows furrowed. "Katrina ?"

Why would she call her now ?

Still puzzled, she got up and followed the girl outside. But as soon as she stepped into the corridor, two boys grabbed her arms.

"What the—"

Her struggles were useless. She recognized them—Abhimanyu's lackeys. Fear crawled up her spine.

"Let me go !" she shouted, kicking wildly.

They didn't respond, just dragged her through the empty hallways. Then she saw him.

Abir.

And behind him—the place where she had first seen them bullying that boy.

Her blood ran cold.

The boy stepped forward, his face tight with something she couldn't quite place.

"Apologize," he said, voice flat.

Akshara glared at him. "For what ?"

The boys holding her tightened their grip. Without warning, they shoved her forward, dunking her head into the cold water.

She gasped, water filling her nose, her screams muffled. They yanked her up just as quickly.

"Apologize to Abhimanyu Birla," the boy demanded.

She coughed, gasping for breath. "I was the one who saved you, and this is what you do ?"

His jaw clenched, but he didn't back down.

They shoved her down again.

Her lungs burned, her limbs flailed. But even as they pulled her up once more, she spat out water and glared at them.

"Fuck Abhimanyu !" she snarled. "And fuck all of you !"

The boy hesitated, guilt flashing in his eyes, but he didn't move.

Just as they were about to shove her down again—

"Stop !"

Everyone froze.

Meher stormed in, phone raised, camera flashing. "I'm recording everything. Let her go, or I'll send this straight to the headmistress!"

The boys hesitated, exchanging panicked glances before shoving Akshara away and fleeing.

Akshara coughed violently, struggling to sit up. Meher crouched beside her.

"You okay?"

Akshara blinked at her, still dazed.

Meher sighed. "Come on. Let's get out of here."

From that day on, something shifted between them.

Meher, once her biggest tormentor, had become her unexpected shield.

At first, Akshara kept her distance, wary of this sudden change.

But Meher was relentless—dragging her to cafés, restaurants, shopping sprees.

Slowly, cautiously, Akshara let her in.

Katrina noticed the change too. Watching Akshara laugh, seeing her surrounded by people who cared—it made her heart swell.

Maybe things were finally changing for the better.

And as for Akshara...

Well, every time she saw Karan, her heart fluttered just a little more.

Maybe school wasn't so bad after all.

To be continued ...

So sorry for the wait, let me know what you think 💭 !

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