The atmosphere in the university corridors was as lively as ever, filled with students bustling between classes, exchanging gossip, and making plans for the weekend. But for Komal, Akansha, and Aarav, the day had taken a completely different turn.
It started when Riya, one of Taniya's closest friends and a well-known face in the Arts department, decided to single out Komal. She was tall, effortlessly stylish, and carried herself with the same air of superiority as Taniya. While she had never paid much attention to Komal before, things changed after the business debate. Shumaila's victory over Taniya had bruised the queen bee's ego, and Riya saw an opportunity—if she couldn't go after Shumaila directly, she could certainly go after her best friend.
"So, tell me, Komal," Riya drawled, flipping her straight, shoulder-length hair as she blocked their way in the corridor. "Do you actually think you belong here? I mean, your entire aesthetic screams middle class girl trying too hard."
Komal froze for a moment before regaining her composure. "Excuse me?"
A small crowd had already started forming. Riya smirked, knowing she had an audience. "Oh, come on. Don't act dumb. You don't really fit the vibe of the Arts department, do you? No wonder no one takes you seriously."
Akansha stepped forward, fire flashing in her eyes. "And what exactly is the 'vibe' you're talking about?"
Riya let out a laugh. "You wouldn't understand. People like us—we set trends, we lead. People like her just... exist in the background."
Aarav, who had been silent until now, stepped up beside Komal. "Funny," he said, his voice calm but sharp. "You keep talking about being a leader, but all I see is a follower desperate for Taniya's approval."
The crowd murmured at that, a few snickers echoing around them. Riya's smirk faltered, but she quickly recovered. "How cute. You've got your little group protecting you. But let's see how long that lasts."
She stepped closer to Komal, voice dropping low enough that only the three of them could hear. "I could make things very difficult for you here. I suggest you learn your place."
Komal clenched her fists, her jaw tightening. She wasn't afraid, but she knew engaging further would only give Riya more satisfaction.
The confrontation was interrupted when a voice echoed through the hallway.
"What the hell is going on here?"
All heads turned to see Shumaila striding toward them, eyes blazing with fury. Behind her, Siddarth and Sneha followed, their expressions unreadable but tense.
Word had spread quickly, and the moment the news reached the business department, Shumaila had stormed out of class, barely giving Siddarth and Sneha a chance to keep up.
The moment Riya saw Shumaila, her confidence wavered slightly, but she quickly masked it. "Oh, nothing, just having a friendly chat with your little friend here."
Shumaila didn't even blink. "Does your friendly chat involve insulting people in front of an audience?"
Riya shrugged. "I was just being honest."
"Funny, because from where I'm standing, it looks like pathetic attention-seeking," Shumaila shot back.
The crowd's whispers grew louder, a few students even stifling laughter. Riya's face hardened.
Before she could respond, Siddarth, who had been unusually quiet, finally stepped forward. His eyes were locked onto Riya, sharp and cold. "If you have a problem, why don't you say it to me?"
Komal's head snapped toward Siddarth, surprised at the intensity in his voice.
Riya scoffed. "And what does this have to do with you?"
Siddarth took another step forward, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Well, considering how pathetically desperate you look trying to get back into Taniya's good graces, I'd say it's my business now."
Komal blinked, her heart doing an odd little flip.
Riya's expression darkened, but before she could retort, the sound of a professor's voice interrupted them. "What's all this commotion?"
The crowd began dispersing quickly, not wanting to get caught up in trouble. Riya shot one last glare at Komal before flipping her hair and walking away.
As soon as she was gone, Shumaila turned to Komal. "Are you okay?"
Komal gave a small nod, still processing everything.
Siddarth exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess we just made an enemy out of her."
Sneha huffed. "Like we care."
Aarav let out a short laugh. "Agreed."
As the group started walking away, Komal glanced at Siddarth from the corner of her eye. For the first time, she saw something more in him than just the cocky, carefree guy he always portrayed himself as.
And maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something she didn't see coming.