Shubman and Sara were sitting in the classroom, side by side, as the professor began the lesson. Sara was focused on her notes, but Shubman's attention kept drifting toward Vikram, seated a few rows away. The tension between them hadn't eased since the confrontation.

Partway through the lecture, Vikram raised his hand, interrupting. "Sir, I had a doubt in this integration question."

The professor glanced at the board and said, "Vikram, Sara has already solved it. You can ask her during the break."

Vikram smirked, his gaze settling on Sara. She sighed, feeling Shubman tense next to her. Rolling her eyes, Sara tried to ignore Vikram's lingering stare, but the professor, unaware of the undercurrent, added, "Sara, please help Vikram with his doubts."

Sara reluctantly nodded, glancing at Shubman, who clenched his fists but kept silent. His jaw tightened, and Sara could sense his growing frustration.

When the break finally came, Vikram was already waiting for her near the desk. Shubman shot him a warning look, but he held back, trusting Sara to handle it for now.

Sara walked up to Vikram, crossing her arms. "What do you want, Vikram?"

He leaned in slightly, his tone smug. "You."

Sara rolled her eyes and said sharply, "Stop messing around. I'm here to help you with the question, nothing else."

Reluctantly, she sat down and started explaining the problem, keeping her tone as neutral as possible. But Vikram wasn't paying attention to the lesson. Instead, he inched closer to her, trying to place his hand on hers. Sara immediately noticed and withdrew her hand, glaring at him.

"Vikram, stop," she snapped, her voice firm.

He laughed softly, leaning back but not taking the hint. "Oh, come on, Sara. We both know there's more here than just this math problem. You're wasting your time with that cricketer."

Sara's patience snapped. She stood up abruptly, pushing her chair back. "I'm not interested in your games, Vikram. If you try anything like that again, I won't be as nice."

Just then, Shubman, who had been watching the entire exchange from a distance, walked over. His face was hard, and there was no mistaking the fury in his eyes.

"Vikram," Shubman's voice was dangerously low, "if you lay a finger on her again, I'll make sure you regret it."

Vikram stood up, smirking as if unfazed by Shubman's threat. "Relax, Shubman. I was just asking for help. No need to get so possessive."

But Shubman wasn't buying it. He stepped closer, his fists clenched. "This is the last warning I'm giving you. Stay away from her."

Vikram shrugged, acting casual, but there was a flash of uncertainty in his eyes as he realized Shubman wasn't joking. Without saying another word, Shubman turned to Sara and took her hand gently, guiding her away from the scene.

Once they were far enough, Sara sighed, feeling the tension leave her shoulders. Shubman still looked angry, but his grip on her hand softened.

"Shub, it's okay," Sara said softly, trying to ease his temper. "He's just trying to get under your skin."

Shubman stopped walking, turning to face her. "I can't stand the way he looks at you, like you're some prize to win. He doesn't respect you, and it drives me crazy."

Sara stepped closer, placing her hand on his chest. "I know, but I'm with you. Not him. And I always will be."

Shubman's anger slowly melted away, replaced by concern. He lifted his hand to gently brush a strand of hair from her face. "I just don't want anyone treating you like that."

Sara smiled, leaning into him. "You're my angry bird, always protective. But you don't need to worry. I can handle him."

He chuckled softly at the nickname, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I just don't like anyone coming between us."

"They won't," Sara reassured him, looking up into his eyes. "They never will."

With the tension between them easing, they walked hand in hand back to the classroom, their bond even stronger after the confrontation. And as they sat down together, Shubman couldn't help but feel grateful to have Sara by his side, knowing that, no matter what, they would face everything together.

Sara had been studying late into the night when she realized she had run out of stationery. Feeling the need to get some fresh air and clear her mind, she decided to step out to a nearby store, not thinking much about the late hour. The streets were quieter than usual, a cold breeze brushing against her skin as she walked down the dimly lit road.

The store was only a few minutes away, and after grabbing what she needed, she began her walk back. As she crossed through a narrow alley to take a shortcut, she heard footsteps behind her. Sara quickened her pace, but the sound of the footsteps grew louder.

Before she could react, a hand grabbed her arm forcefully, pulling her back. She gasped in shock, turning to see Vikram, his eyes dark and menacing.

"Well, well, look who's all alone," Vikram sneered, his grip tightening on her arm.

Sara's heart raced, her breath catching in her throat. "Let go of me, Vikram," she demanded, trying to pull away, but he wouldn't budge.

"You think you can just walk away from me like you did earlier? Think you're too good for me, huh?" His voice was filled with anger and entitlement, his face inches away from hers.

Panic surged through Sara as she tried to push him off, but Vikram was too strong. He shoved her against the wall, his hands gripping her shoulders as she struggled.

"Stop it! Get off me!" Sara cried, tears welling up in her eyes as fear overwhelmed her.

Vikram laughed darkly, leaning closer. "You're always running to that cricketer of yours. But what's he got that I don't?"

Just as Vikram's hands roamed where they shouldn't, a voice roared through the alley.

"Vikram! Get away from her!"

Abhishek came sprinting out of the shadows, his fists clenched, fury written all over his face. Without hesitation, he grabbed Vikram by the collar and yanked him away from Sara, shoving him hard against the wall.

Vikram stumbled back, clearly not expecting anyone to intervene. "What the hell—"

But before he could finish, Abhishek punched him square in the face. Vikram fell to the ground, groaning in pain. "If you ever come near her again, I'll make sure you won't walk away next time," Abhishek spat, his voice filled with venom.

Meanwhile, Sara stood frozen, trembling with fear, her hands shaking uncontrollably. The moment Vikram hit the ground, her legs gave way, and she collapsed into Abhishek's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, I've got you," Abhishek whispered gently, holding her close as she cried. He could feel her entire body trembling in his arms, and it broke his heart to see her like this. "You're safe now, Sara."

He carefully helped her to her feet, her body still weak from the shock. Without wasting another second, he grabbed his phone and dialed Shubman's number.

"Shub, you need to come to my place right now," Abhishek said, trying to keep his voice calm despite the rage simmering inside him. "It's Sara. She's been—just get here as soon as you can."

Shubman's voice was tense on the other end. "What happened? Is she okay?"

"She's shaken up. I'll explain everything when you get here. Just hurry."

Abhishek hung up and looked down at Sara, who was still leaning against him, her face pale and her breathing shallow. "Let's get you home, okay?" he said softly, guiding her toward his car.

The drive to Abhishek's house was quiet, Sara still too shaken to say anything. He kept glancing over at her, feeling a mix of anger and protectiveness. He knew Shubman was going to be furious, but more than that, he knew how much this would hurt him. Shubman loved Sara more than anything, and seeing her like this would tear him apart.

When they arrived at Abhishek's house, he helped Sara inside and sat her down on the couch, wrapping a blanket around her. "I'll get you some water," he said, heading to the kitchen.

Moments later, the doorbell rang, and Shubman burst through the door, his face pale with worry. "Where is she?" he demanded, his eyes scanning the room until he saw Sara curled up on the couch.

His heart sank. He rushed over to her, kneeling beside her. "Sara, are you okay? What happened?" His voice was filled with concern, his hands gently cupping her face.

Sara looked at him, her eyes red from crying, and whispered, "Vikram...he...he tried to..."

Shubman's expression hardened, his fists clenching as anger surged through him. "Where is he?" he growled, standing up as if ready to storm out and find Vikram.

Abhishek stepped in, placing a hand on Shubman's shoulder. "Shub, I took care of him. Right now, she needs you."

Shubman looked down at Sara, his anger fading as he saw how fragile she looked. He sat back down beside her, pulling her into his arms. "I'm so sorry, Sara," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. "I should've been there."

Sara buried her face in his chest, clinging to him. "It's not your fault," she whispered back. "Just...don't leave me."

"I won't," Shubman promised, holding her tighter. "I'm never letting you go."

As Sara lay nestled in Shubman's arms, the exhaustion and trauma of the night finally caught up to her. She slowly began to doze off, her breathing soft and steady. Shubman looked down at her peaceful face, gently brushing a strand of hair from her forehead, his heart heavy with guilt. She had been through something terrifying, and all he could think about was how he wasn't there when she needed him the most.

He carefully stood up, laying her down on the couch, covering her with a blanket. The rage he had tried to suppress was building up again, his mind replaying the fear in Sara's eyes when she mentioned Vikram. His jaw clenched tightly. He couldn't let this go.

"Watch over her, Abhishek," Shubman said quietly, his voice cold and steely. Abhishek didn't need to ask what Shubman was planning. He could see the determination in his best friend's eyes.

"Shub, don't do anything reckless," Abhishek warned, standing up. "Vikram isn't worth it."

Shubman didn't respond. His mind was already set. He turned and headed out the door, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

The night was still dark, the rain now only a light drizzle as Shubman walked with purpose through the quiet streets. He knew exactly where to find Vikram, and tonight, he wasn't going to let him get away with what he had done to Sara.

When Shubman arrived at the usual hangout spot, a small alley where Vikram and his friends often loitered, he saw him sitting alone on a ledge, casually smoking a cigarette as if nothing had happened.

"Vikram!" Shubman's voice echoed through the alley, filled with fury.

Vikram turned, a smug smirk spreading across his face. "Oh, it's the cricketer boyfriend," he sneered. "Come to protect your precious girlfriend, huh?"

Without a word, Shubman stormed toward him, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him against the wall. Vikram's cocky expression quickly disappeared as he felt the raw power in Shubman's grip.

"What the hell—" Vikram tried to speak, but Shubman's fist connected with his jaw before he could finish.

The impact sent Vikram reeling, stumbling back, but Shubman didn't give him a chance to recover. His fists flew, each punch fueled by the anger and frustration he had bottled up since hearing what Vikram had done to Sara.

"This is for what you did to her!" Shubman roared, his voice shaking with emotion as he landed another punch to Vikram's face, sending him crashing to the ground.

Vikram tried to defend himself, but Shubman was relentless, his knuckles bruised and bleeding as he pounded into Vikram, not stopping until Vikram's face was black and blue, his body slumped against the wall.

"You ever go near her again," Shubman spat, grabbing Vikram's shirt and lifting him slightly, "I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life."

Vikram coughed, groaning in pain, barely able to speak. "Okay, okay, man... I won't... I swear..."

Shubman shoved him one last time before stepping back, breathing heavily, his fists throbbing from the impact. He stood over Vikram, his chest rising and falling as he tried to calm the rage burning inside him.

Satisfied that Vikram had learned his lesson, Shubman turned on his heel and walked away, leaving him beaten and bloodied in the alley. His mind was already back on Sara, the only person who mattered right now. All he wanted was to be there for her, to protect her from people like Vikram.

As he walked back to Abhishek's house, the rain began to pick up again, the cool droplets washing away some of the heat of the fight. His fists still hurt, but he didn't care. He'd do it all again if it meant keeping Sara safe.

When Shubman arrived back at the house, he quietly stepped inside. Sara was still fast asleep on the couch, her face calm and peaceful. He knelt down beside her, brushing a gentle kiss on her forehead, the sight of her easing some of the tension in his chest.

Abhishek stood by the doorway, watching Shubman closely. "You okay?"

Shubman nodded, his gaze never leaving Sara. "Yeah. I'm okay now."

In the quiet of the night, Sara stirred, her mind slowly coming out of the haze of sleep. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of a nearby lamp. As she blinked her eyes open, the first thing she saw was Shubman, fast asleep next to her on the couch, his arm draped protectively over her waist.

For a moment, she felt a sense of peace, seeing him there, watching over her. But then, as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she noticed something that made her heart skip a beat—Shubman's knuckles were bruised and swollen, with faint traces of dried blood on his skin.

Her breath hitched in her throat, and she slowly sat up, careful not to wake him. She gently took his hand in hers, inspecting the damage more closely. The sight of his bruised knuckles sent a wave of worry crashing over her. Her fingers traced the cuts and swelling, and her heart ached knowing he had been in a fight.

Her mind immediately connected the dots. Vikram. She knew Shubman must have gone after him while she was asleep. A mix of emotions flooded through her—gratitude, fear, and guilt. She didn't want Shubman to hurt himself for her, but at the same time, she knew he couldn't let Vikram get away with what he had done.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she leaned closer to him, gently running her fingers through his hair. She whispered softly, "Shub..."

He stirred slightly at her touch but didn't fully wake up, his face still peaceful in sleep. Sara bit her lip, trying to keep her emotions in check. She wanted to scold him for getting into a fight, but more than anything, she just wanted to hold him and make sure he was okay.

Carefully, she stood up and walked to the kitchen, grabbing a small cloth and soaking it in warm water. When she came back, she sat beside him again, gently dabbing at his knuckles to clean the wounds. As she worked, she kept glancing at his face, her heart heavy with love and concern.

After a few minutes, Shubman's eyes fluttered open. He blinked, groggy from sleep, and saw Sara sitting beside him, tending to his hand.

"Sara..." he mumbled, his voice thick with exhaustion.

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with both worry and tenderness. "Shubman, what did you do?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I had to. He... he hurt you. I couldn't just let him get away with it."

Sara's eyes filled with tears again, and she gently squeezed his hand, careful not to hurt him. "You didn't have to do this for me. I don't want you getting hurt because of me."

Shubman sat up, his eyes locking with hers, a fierce protectiveness burning in his gaze. "I'll do anything to keep you safe, Sara. You mean everything to me."

She sniffled, wiping away a stray tear as it fell down her cheek. "But this... your hand... it scares me. I don't want to lose you because of something like this."

Shubman reached out, cupping her face in his hand, his thumb brushing away her tears. "You won't lose me. Ever."

Sara leaned into his touch, her heart softening as she looked at him. "Promise me you won't go after him again," she whispered.

He nodded slowly, his voice soft but firm. "I promise. It's over now."

Relieved, Sara leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Shubman held her just as close, burying his face in her hair, taking in the familiar scent that always calmed him.

After a few moments, Sara pulled back slightly and looked at him with a soft smile. "You're my angry bird, you know that?"

Shubman chuckled lightly, his smile returning despite the heaviness of the night. "And you're my everything."

Sara smiled through her tears, leaning in to press a gentle kiss on his lips, her way of saying thank you for everything he had done for her. They stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other, the world outside forgotten.

Finally, Sara rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. She felt safe with him, no matter what.

"Let's get some rest," Shubman murmured, stroking her back gently.

Sara nodded, feeling her body relax against his. With her hand still resting on his bruised knuckles, she closed her eyes, grateful for the man who had fought for her, protected her, and loved her with everything he had.