Chapter 6: Midnight Battles & Morning Secrets
841 Words
Dadi's Midnight Meltdown
The old woman waited, tense with anger, for her son to return. The moment Mr. Kapoor stepped inside, she exploded.
"That chicken was for Jayu! I saved it—but that greedy girl ate it all!"
Mr. Kapoor frowned, but his wife spoke calmly. "It's just food, Ma. We can get more tomorrow."
Dadi clutched her chest like she was about to faint. "Just food?! That was imported from Australia—₹800 per kilo!"
Mrs. Kapoor hid a smile. After years of being blamed for giving birth to daughters, she had grown strong. With Jayant, her son, now her advantage, she had more control. "The doctor said Jayu needs to lose weight. No more midnight snacks."
Dadi’s face turned red. "You—!"
Mr. Kapoor, remembering Jayu’s praise for dinner, waved his mother off. "Enough, Ma. Priya needs food too."
Dadi stepped back as if she had been struck. Since when does my son take their side?
The Morning Truce
At dawn, Priya found ₹200 slipped under her door—a quiet act of defiance from Mrs. Kapoor. A small note read:
"Eat properly. Don't let Dadi see."
Priya pocketed the money, touched despite herself.
The Library Standoff
By 6:15 AM, Priya sat near the canteen, whispering her Political Science notes. The spot was perfect—quiet and away from trouble.
But trouble always found her.
"Memorizing? How surprising."
Priya looked up. Her cousin, Lata from Class 11-C, smirked at her.
"This is my spot," Lata said. "Move."
Priya didn’t move. "I got here first."
Lata glanced toward the canteen entrance—where Arjun Malhotra and his friends stood. Her smirk widened. "Ohh, I see now. You’re not really here to study, are you?"
Priya followed her gaze and groaned. Not this again.
Arjun’s group paused, their expressions shifting—first surprised, then annoyed.
"Pathetic," Arjun muttered, walking away faster.
Priya shut her book. I’d rather study in a sewer than deal with this drama.
The Boy in the Shadows
As she stormed off, she almost bumped into Vedant Rathore’s wheelchair.
"Good morning," she said without thinking.
Vedant’s grip tightened on his wheels. This is the fifth time. Why won’t she leave me alone?
Two days later, she saw him again near the basketball court. "Good afternoon. Need help?"
Vedant’s body went stiff. "No."
Priya didn’t give up. She held up her water bottle. "Thirsty? I can—"
"STAY AWAY."
The sharpness of his voice shocked her. His knuckles turned white as he wheeled himself back. His eyes—hidden beneath messy hair—were full of something raw.
Fear.
Priya froze. What did I say wrong?
Scars and Sugar
The Weight of Water
For Vedant Rathore, the offer of water wasn’t kindness—it was a nightmare.
Memories poured in:
Class 3: Mustard powder in his bottle—he choked and gasped for hours.
Class 7: A dead cockroach floating in his tumbler.
Class 10: Laxatives in his juice before an exam.
Every prank ended the same way—with Vedant curled on the bathroom floor, humiliated and alone.
Now, using a wheelchair, even small things were a battle. Drinking water meant needing help to reach the bathroom—another chance for people to hurt him.
So when Priya asked, "Would you like some water?"
His world shattered.
The Ice Wall
Priya noticed the change instantly.
Before:
Vedant hesitated when she greeted him.
His amber eyes flickered—just for a second.
Now:
He rolled past her like she wasn’t there.
His jaw was tight, his hands tense on his wheels.
The classroom noticed, too.
"Even the psycho ignores her now!" Neha sneered. "Desperate," another girl laughed. "She chased Arjun, now this? At least pick someone normal!"
Their laughter reached the back row, where Vedant turned a page of Wuthering Heights. A line stood out:
"Will you live when your soul is in the grave?"
He traced the words. I already am.
The Physics Struggle
Priya rubbed her temples. Newton’s Laws blurred on the page.
Why is rotational motion so hard?
A glance at Vedant’s empty seat made her stomach twist. She had researched Asperger’s during computer class:
90% of autistic kids experience bullying
Most trauma comes from basic needs—food, water, bathroom access
That’s why ‘water’ triggered him.
She felt sick. I hurt him without knowing.
The Candy Misunderstanding
At the campus kirana store, Priya grabbed geometry supplies and a lollipop—a small comfort for a sleepless study night.
She didn’t notice the giggling girls near the snack aisle.
"She’s buying candy again!" one whispered. "Told you she’d c***k," said another. "Three weeks without sucking up to Rahul and Arjun? No way!"
Their gossip reached Rahul Mehta at the basketball court.
"Priya’s back at it!" he laughed, dribbling the ball. "Bet she begs us to take her back by—"
Arjun Malhotra snatched the ball mid-bounce. His voice was cold.
"Enough. We’re here to play, not gossip."
Silence. Even Rahul’s grin faded.
Since when does Arjun defend her?
- Writer
