Flashback Continued-

The Canteen was buzzing with excitement and cheers, students were gathered to watch, judging, whispering behind hands.

Avneet sat with her legs crossed, sunglasses on her head, a smirk on her lips.

She was the center of it all. The queen. Untouchable. Worshipped.

And she knew it.

Avneet leaned back, unimpressed.
"This should be fun," she muttered.

As the boy began singing, his voice cracked with nerves. He missed a few notes. The crowd shifted uncomfortably.

Then Avneet laughed. Loudly.

"Is this singing or is he calling cows?" she called out, voice dripping with fake sweetness.

Everyone laughed. The boy froze.

The boy's face turned crimson. His hands trembled. But he kept going.

Avneet rolled her eyes dramatically, stood up, and faced the crowd.

"Please," she called out, addressing everyone like a host. "Let's save our ears. Do something else, Dance for me!"

Laughter. Applause. Whistles.

The boy ran off embarrassed.

A few people looked uneasy. Some even glared. But no one said a word. Not when it was her.

From the back, Siddharth watched it all in silence. His jaw clenched. His eyes didn't blink.

He wasn't laughing.

Not even a twitch of amusement.

Avneet noticed.

And for some reason, that annoyed her.

Later, outside the Canteen, she found him alone by the steps.

"Didn't enjoy the show?" she asked, arms folded, one brow raised.

Siddharth looked at her.

"That wasn't a show. That was bullying."

She scoffed. "Oh please. If he can't take a joke, he shouldn't be in this college."

He looked at her for a long moment, calm but firm.

"You humiliate people to make yourself feel bigger. You think that's power?"

She smirked, masking the tiny sting of his words.

"I think you talk too much for someone who pretends not to care."

He didn't smile.

"You're scared someone might see you for what you really are."

That hit her. Right in the gut.
But she didn't show it.

She stepped closer, her voice sharp.

"You don't know me."

"No," he said quietly, "but I see enough to know I don't want to."

He walked away.

For a moment, just a moment, the queen was left standing alone...
And it burned
---

That night, the music was loud.

Avneet stood in the middle of the party, surrounded by noise, lights, and laughter. But none of it was touching her.

She should've felt powerful.

But all she could hear...
"You humiliate people to make yourself feel bigger."
"You're scared someone might see you for what you really are."

Siddharth's voice haunted her like an echo in the dark.

She hated how calm he was. How sure. How it felt like he'd peeled something open inside her without even trying.

He didn't know her.
He didn't get to judge her.

Still, his words wouldn't leave.

She downed the drink and forced a laugh at something Jannat said, shaking her head.

"I swear," she said, louder than she needed to, "some people around here take themselves way too seriously."

Faisu, her boyfriend slung an arm around her waist. "You talking about Siddharth?"

She grinned, bitter.

"Yeah. Him. How did you know?" Avneet asked surprised!

"Jannat told me, you don't like him so much" Faisu replied taking a sip from his drink.

" He Thinks he's better than everyone else."

"I think he is good person, he just loves to be alone. You are thinking too much." Faisu smiled.

"You know him personally?" She asked eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, he is my friend." Faisu replied.

She paused... then smiled coldly.

The Next Day

Avneet showed up to college early, dressed sharper than usual-heels clicking, eyes hard.

She didn't wait for him to come to her.

She found Siddharth by the library stairs, earphones in, reading a book.

"Hey!" she said sweetly, flipping her hair.

He looked up.

"Can I help you?"

"Just wanted to thank you," she said sarcastically . "For your life advice yesterday. Really helped me remember who I am."

He raised an eyebrow. "Glad to hear it."

She stepped closer.

"You think you're better than me? You're not. You're just a sad little charity case playing philosopher because no one ever paid attention to you before."

A few students walking past slowed down. She didn't care.

Siddharth didn't flinch. His voice was quiet.

"And yet, here you are. Still trying to get mine."

That stopped her. Just a second.
Just enough for him to see it.

She wanted to slap him. Scream. Laugh. Anything to stop feeling what she was feeling.

But instead, she smiled-icy and cruel.

"You'll break, Siddharth. Just like everyone else who steps in my world."

He met her gaze. And for the first time... there was something sad in his eyes.

Not for himself.
For her.

"That's the saddest thing I've heard all week."

He walked past her.

And Avneet, queen of the college, heartbreaker of boys, destroyer of egos
Stood frozen.

Because for the first time, someone hadn't been scared of her.
They'd been disappointed.

And that hurt more than she knew how to admit.
She was not going to let him get away with it. She will make him want her. She will break him, she determined.