During the break, most students were either in the canteen or outside on the playground, enjoying the precious moments of school life—free from books, lessons, and teachers.
Even the faculty took this time to unwind, sipping tea in the teacher's office room, chatting with their colleagues. Break time wasn't just a routine, it was a necessity. A brief respite from the rigid structure of school life. These moments, no matter how small, would linger in memory forever.
But it was not common for everyone.
Akshay stood alone in the empty classroom, his elbow crutch pressed firmly against the ground, his gaze drifted outside the window. Beyond the glass, he saw students laughing, chatting, and sharing their meals.
Akshay had brought no tiffin. Some boys had invited him to join, but he had refused—not out of rudeness, but as if something within him resisted the idea of closeness. But, moments ago, right before the math class, he had been bewildered when Raj had turned his gaze away. But why?
Suddenly—
'Buzz… buzz…'
His pocket vibrated, the rhythmic sound of the phone's vibration breaking the stillness. Akshay stiffened. Who would be calling him now?
Akshay first turned to the door, to check if someone was nearby.
In Aditya High School, students were allowed to bring their phones, a little box of technology, but using them during school hours was strictly prohibited. They were only meant for emergencies or contacting guardians after school ended.
That was why during school hours students were never seen using their phones during class breaks.
Akshay hesitated to answer the call, even though the sound of the phone vibration seemed to grow with every passing second, pressing into his mind, demanding his attention.
Akshay, steadying himself with his elbow crutch, moved toward the door. Each step felt cautious, deliberate.
By the time he reached the hallway, the call had disconnected.
As Akshay entered the bathroom, it was empty. Just him, and his thoughts, but then—
'Buzz… buzz…'
His phone vibrated again. Its rhythmic vibration, calling out to him.
The bathroom should be a safer place to answer, he thought that too.
He reached out to his pocket and pulled it out.
The screen flashed the name, 'Nayana'. Two buttons one green and another one red pulsed faintly on the screen, waiting for him to decision.
Akshay frowned. Why was Nayana calling her at a time like this?
His mind spirals with thoughts. Did something happen? Was she in trouble?
Akshay hesitated for only a moment before pressing the green button on the screen. And he slowly pressed the phone to his ear.
"Hello."
Akshay's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Akshay…" a soft voice, drifted into his ear from the other end. It was Nayana's.
"Nayana, what happened?" Akshay asked, his tone filled with concern.
"I am sorry, Akshay, I know shouldn't have called you during school, but—" she said, there was an urgency in her voice.
"Tanaya Di asked me to inform you something," she added.
"What?" Akshay's brows knitted together.
"She got some information about the two Vrikraal from last night," Nayana said. Her voice lowered, uncertainty creeping into her words.
"One of them... might have come from the lord family of the Vrikraals... And…" she said her voice tinged with hesitation.
"Two of his brothers… are still in Aditya High School," she added, a hint of concern crept into her tone, "Please be careful, Akshay."
Akshay frowned, his eyebrows knitting together as confusion clouded his expression. A Vrikraal lord's kin—but why was a member of the Vrikraal lord's family with a human?
Confusion and uncertainty consumed his thoughts, Akshay's mind racing through the implication of what Nayana had just revealed. But before he could process it fully, he heard footsteps approaching—voices echoing down the hallway. A group of boys, likely heading to the bathroom.
Akshay didn't get a chance to respond. Without hesitation, he pressed the red button on the screen, cutting the call.
Sliding the phone back into his pants pocket, he moved quickly, though carefully, towards the bathroom entrance. His crutch tapped against the tiled floor. The last thing he needed now, was to get caught using his phone during school hours.
Exiting the bathroom, he instinctively glanced to his right, then turned left. But just as he took a step forward—only to collide with something solid.
The impact sent him stumbling back, his grip tightening around his crutch to steady himself.
Then—CRACK!
The sharp sound of shattering glass echoed through the empty hallway.
Akshay straightened, his gaze lifted to see what—or who, had halted his steps.
Before him stood five students.
Even with disability, Akshay had a solid physique, but these five weren't just strong, they were built like athletes, their presence commanding. Akshay's height was like most adults, often surpassing some of the female teachers, but the one he had bumped into… Was slightly taller than him.
His posture rigid, his fists clenched at his side, but he and his friends stood frozen, their expression stunned as they stared at the ground.
Confused Akshay narrowed his eyes and followed their gaze.
There, laying on the white tiles, was a phone, its screen was completely shattered, tiny glass fragments scattered around like the remains of something precious—something expensive.
A sinking feeling settled in his chest. He quickly turned his gaze back to them, eyes filled with apology.
"Please, forgive me, brother," Akshay said, his voice calm yet sincere. "I truly didn't see you coming."
The one Akshay had bumped into slowly turned his gaze toward him. His expression was dark, his eyes burning with unrestrained fury.
"You…!"
With a sudden, violent jerk, he grabbed Akshay's shirt just below the collar and yanked him forward before slamming his back against the cold wall.
The impact sent a jolt through Akshay's body, and his crutch slipped from his grasp, clattering onto the floor. He still had one foot planted, but the boy's grip held him up effortlessly—like he weighed nothing.
Akshay grabbed onto the boy's arm, not in defiance, but to de-escalate the situation.
"I know brother… you're mad, but please, let's talk this out, okay?" Akshay's voice trembled slightly, as if he was scared and trying to calm things down.
One of the other boys picked up the broken phone, examining the damage before shaking his head.
"This thing's done for, bro. No way it's getting repaired."
Raunak's grip tightened at the words, his knuckles turning white. His clenched fist trembled, as his furious gaze locked onto Akshay.
"Raunak," another boy spoke up, eyeing Akshay with curiosity. "I don't think, I've seen him before."
"So what?" Raunak snapped, his teeth clenched, voice shaking with rage
Another boy smirked. "Don't you think we should teach him a lesson before making him pay for the phone?"
"Yeah… why not break his other leg too?" Raunak responded, a twisted grin stretched across his lips.
Akshay swallowed hard. His expression was composed, but there was a flicker of tension in his eyes.
"Come on, guys, I am sorry," Akshay said, his tone laced with a pleading edge.
The tension between them was suffocating.
Meanwhile…
Arunika and Vani ascended the stairs, their thoughts clouded with confusion.
"I tried to talk to Nira, but she just brushed me off—rudely," Vani said, her eyebrows furrowed in frustration.
Arunika nodded, sharing the same unease.
As they reached their classroom floor, Arunika suddenly froze. She grabbed Vani's arm, halting her in place.
They saw it, just ahead of them—
Akshay, pinned against the wall, five other students, boys, surrounded him, their posture radiating hostility.
Raunak, the one gripping Akshay's shirt, looked ready to explode.
Arunika immediately pulled Vani back down the stairs, keeping them out of sight.
They exchanged glances. Then—they peeked.
"That's Akshay," Arunika whispered, her eyes narrowing. "Let's see what he does."
Vani gave a slow nod, they knew Akshay wasn't normal. But still, they need to conform what exactly he was.
Back in the hallway…
Raunak's grip remained firm, pining Akshay against the cold wall.
Akshay exhaled, still trying to calm the situation. But tension hung thick in the air.
"I am sorry, I could try to pay for it," Akshay said.
"Nah," Raunak sneered. "I don't need your money, I can easily arrange it." A slow, cruel grin stretched across his face.
"But you…" He tilted his head, eyes gleaming with malice. "You have a decent face. I think I would be more satisfied by messing it up."
Up until now, Akshay had been tense, trying to ease the situation, assuming their anger stemmed from the broken phone.
But now… now he understood.
"So, this is how it is,"
Akshay said, now his tone completely shifted, it was eerily composed and controlled.
In a heartbeat, his composure changed—not just controlled, but in control.
"So, it's not about your phone at all," Akshay said, his eyes locked straight onto Raunak's eyes. "You just need a toy to play with." His tone was now completely different, cold, calculated and unfazed.
One of the other students let out a dry chuckle. "Damn, we got a smart one here."
The group had already closed in, surrounding Akshay.
Raunak's grip on his shirt was still tight, knuckles white with fury—yet Akshay? He just smirked as if none of it mattered anymore.
"Oh… Thank you so much," Akshay said, his smirk and voice dipped with mockery. "At least someone here understands my worth."
Raunak shoved him harder against the cold wall, his brows frowning in rage. "Let's see if you still feel smart after I smash your damn face."
His other hand clenched into a tight fist, knuckles cracking with tension.
"Make sure to break his nose," one of the boys snickered, a grin tugging at his lips.
"Yeah, let's see how smart he looks holding his bleeding nose with one hand and his crutch with the other." Another chuckled darkly.
Laughter erupted around them.
But then—Akshay smirked too, not a nervous or fearful one, but something sharp, mocking.
"You're right," Akshay said smoothly, his voice laced with some unusual amusement. "It's hilarious, isn't it?"
Akshay's eyes gleamed with something unreadable as he continued.
"But you know what's even funnier?" his tone was dropping. "Imagine how amusing it will be when others hear that, five students felt satisfied ganging up on a disabled guy—only to realise they couldn't even hurt him," Akshay added, still smirking, dripped in mockery.
That was it.
Raunak snapped. His fist shot toward Akshay's face with brutal speed. But just as it was about to land—
A sickening crack echoed through the wall, the fist didn't land on him.
Raunak's knuckles slammed into the cold, unyielding wall.
Akshay dodged it, just with a single, effortless tilt of his head. As his lips twisted to a smile.
"Told you—couldn't hurt." His smile dripped with mockery.
Everyone froze, eyes widened. Raunak's fist trembled against the wall, the shock of impact through his bones, but he didn't pull away.
From a distance, Arunika and Vani observing in stunned silence. Though they couldn't hear every word, they saw everything.
Akshay wasn't just provoking them, it was like he was playing with them. Despite being cornered, despite being physically disabled, he acted as if he was untouchable. As if no one here was greater than him.
He looked like he was in control here.
The tension in the hallway thickened. Raunak's fury burned, barely contained. His friends, their frustration clear toward Akshay's expression, their postures stiff and jaws clenched.
Just as the situation was about to get worse—
A voice rang out.
"What are you boys doing?"
A sharp authority in the voice cut through the air like a blade.
Raunak and his friends turned, their expressions shifted as they recognised the source, it was PK Sir.
Pressing his phone against his ear. His brows furrowed, worry and confusion flickering across his face. He pulled the phone away, taking steps toward the students.
"What is going on here?" he asked, his gaze narrowing.
"Sir… actually…" One of the boys stepped forward hastily.
While another quickly bent down, grabbing Akshay's fallen crutch.
"He slipped and fell, sir." The boy straightened, forging concern. "We are just helping him, sir."
Akshay let go a chuckle, amused by how effortlessly they lied about it. And what was even funnier? It was the same excuse as the last time Akshay used.
PK Sir and others turned to Akshay, at the sound of his Chuckles. While the boys were bewildered at his expression.
PK Sir asked, "Are you okay, Akshay?" his voice carried a hint of concern.
Akshay met his gaze, and with a smile replied.
"Yes sir. I am okay"
Just then, Raunak's friend stepped forward, handing Akshay his crutch. Akshay took it, adjusting his grip as he regained his balance.
Raunak, however, hadn't moved, his expression still filled with frustration. His intense gaze was still locked on Akshay, his grip on Akshay's shirt lingered for a moment longer—before he finally released it, hesitantly.
Akshay straightened and looked straight at Raunak's gaze, with a seemingly polite smile.
But to Raunak it didn't feel polite, his smile felt like mockery. A quiet taunt that he couldn't do anything to him.
"Thank you… brother," Akshay said, his tone was controlled, making it deceptively gentle and appreciative.
Raunak's fist twitched.
"Now go back to classes, the break is about to end." PK Sir instructed, his tone was a little firm this time.
"Yes sir," the students responded in unison—except for Raunak. His mind was still drowning in frustration.
His friends nudged him, urging him to leave. Raunak finally turned, following them, but not before shooting Akshat one last glare.
His gaze burned with anger and frustration… hatred.
As they disappeared down the hallway, PK Sir turned back to Akshay.
"Are you sure, you're okay?" he asked, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder, his concern evident.
"I am okay, sir," Akshay nodded, a smile lingered on his lips.
"Good," PK Sir exhaled, relieved.
But just then—
'Dong… Dong… Doooong…'
The school bell rang, its chime echoing through the corridors, signalling the end of the break. As students from the playground and canteen, students began streaming back into their classrooms.