"The only way to stop a bully is to stand up
to them." - Taylor Swift

THE next morning, Sidharth reached the college, the sun just beginning to climb over the horizon. As he parked his bike in the designated area, he noticed Sana pulling into the lot on her Scooty, with Julia riding a pillion behind her. He watched them, his mind still clouded with the lingering frustration from last night.

As Sana dismounted, he overheard her talking to Julia. "This Scooty was my eighteenth birthday gift from Dad," Sana said, her voice tinged with pride and nostalgia. "I had to wait a whole year for it, but it was worth it." Her tone was dreamy, and Sidharth could easily tell how much that Scooty meant to her.

"Daddy's little princess," he thought, a sneer curling his lips.

Sana noticed him standing by his bike and shot him a dirty look before turning away, walking with Julia towards the college entrance. Sidharth stood still, waiting until she disappeared inside, far away from his view-and her hateful eyes.

Once she was out of sight, a twisted idea popped into his mind.

"Let's see how precious that Scooty is now, Baby Girl," he mumbled, a smirk playing on his lips.

He quickly marched towards the stationary shop just outside the college gate and purchased a permanent marker pen-the kind of ink that wouldn't come off easily, if at all. With the marker in hand, he rushed back to the parking lot, his heart pounding with adrenaline.

Sidharth crouched down by Sana's Scooty and, without hesitation, jabbed the tire with a sharp object he found nearby, puncturing it. The hiss of escaping air was like music to his ears. But that wasn't enough for him. He wanted her to remember this day, to know exactly who was behind it.

With deliberate strokes, he wrote "BABY GIRL" in bold letters across the side of the Scooty with the permanent ink. The words stood out starkly against the paint, a mocking reminder of their encounter. The ink was designed to be nearly impossible to remove; she'd have to repaint the whole thing if she wanted it gone.

Standing up, he took a step back, admiring his handiwork. "That should do it," he muttered to himself, feeling a twisted sense of satisfaction.

His plan was childish, perhaps, but it was effective. He knew this would get under her skin, irritate her to no end, and make her hate him even more.

Feeling smug, Sidharth pocketed the marker and made his way into the college, a slight bounce in his step. He might be a bad boy, a bully even, but he was also smart-good at sports, and his academics were top-notch. He knew how to play the game, and this was just the beginning.

As he walked through the hallways towards his class, he couldn't help but wonder how Sana would react when she saw her precious Scooty deface.

"She'll hate me for sure now," he murmured with a dark satisfaction. "And that's exactly what I want."

The day had only just begun, but Sidharth was already looking forward to the moment Sana discovered his little surprise. He could almost hear the outrage in her voice, see the fury in her eyes. It would be the perfect start to his day.

The sun was beginning to set as Sana and Julia made their way toward the parking area, chatting about their day. As they approached, they noticed a group of students gathered around something, laughing and pointing.

Sana's heart skipped a beat when she recognized her Scooty in the center of the commotion. Among the laughing students were members of the Hyena Squad-Sidharth's friends-but he was nowhere to be seen.

"What's going on?" Julia asked, her voice laced with concern.

Sana didn't respond.

She picked up her pace, her eyes widening as she pushed through the crowd. When she finally reached her Scooty, her heart sank. There, scrawled across the side in bold, unmissable letters, were the words "BABY GIRL" written in permanent ink. Even the tire had been punctured, leaving it flat and useless. Her beloved Scooty, the gift from her father on her eighteenth birthday, was now defaced and damaged.

She ran her fingers over the letters, trying to scrub them off with her thumb, but the ink wouldn't budge. Her eyes filled with tears as she realized it was permanent, the damage irreversible.

"No... no, no, no," she whispered, her voice trembling.

This Scooty wasn't just a gift; it had originally belonged to her late grandfather, the man she adored more than anything. She had pleaded with her father to let her have it, promising to take care of it, to keep it safe. And now this...

The laughter of the Hyena Squad rang in her ears, mocking her pain. She felt a hot tear slide down her cheek, unnoticed until Julia touched her shoulder gently.

"Sana..." Julia began, her voice filled with empathy.

But Sana wasn't listening. Anger surged through her like a tidal wave, wiping away the sadness and replacing it with a burning need for retribution. She stood up, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand, her eyes narrowing into slits.

"Where is he?" she demanded, her voice low and dangerous.

The laughter around her died down as everyone sensed the shift in her demeanor. Even Payel, who had been chuckling with her friends, looked taken aback.

"I asked you, where is he?" Sana repeated, her voice rising with fury.

Payel swallowed, her confidence faltering under Sana's intense glare. "He... he's at the basketball court, practicing with his team," she stammered, pointing in the direction of the gym.

Sana didn't waste another second. She took off running, her footsteps pounding against the pavement as Julia and the rest of the Hyena Squad followed in her wake, eager to see the drama unfold.

When she reached the basketball court, she saw him immediately. Sidharth was on the court, dribbling the ball with ease, a look of intense concentration on his face. But as soon as he noticed her storming toward him, his expression shifted to one of smug satisfaction.

"Hi, Baby Girl," he greeted her, that infuriating thug smile plastered on his face. He could see the rage boiling in her eyes and knew she must have seen what he had done to her Scooty.

The way he called her "Baby Girl" with such mockery, combined with that arrogant smile, was the final straw. Without thinking, Sana rushed at him and slapped him across the face, hard. The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the court, leaving everyone frozen in shock.

Sidharth stumbled back, his hand flying to his stinging cheek. His eyes blazed with fury as he glared at her.

"How dare you?" he roared, his voice reverberating with the anger of a wounded lion.

"How dare you?" Sana shot back, her voice equally fierce. She stood her ground, unflinching, despite the intensity of his rage. "That Scooter is precious to me! And you... you had no right to touch it, let alone deface it!"

Sidharth's male ego was wounded, the slap still tingling on his cheek. He couldn't believe she had actually hit him.

"It's just a Scooter," he spat, trying to regain his composure. "I'll pay for the damage. How much do you want?"

Sana's eyes flashed with indignation. "I don't need your money, Sidharth Vyas. You might be rich, but not everything can be fixed with money. I want an apology."

"An apology?" he scoffed, his ego bruised even more. "You're dreaming if you think I'm going to apologize."

"Not just any apology," Sana continued, her voice cold and determined. "I want you to do sit-ups-100 times-holding your ears, saying 'I'm sorry, Sana D'Souza.'"

The demand hung in the air, outrageous and humiliating. Sidharth's face twisted in anger and disbelief.

"You're out of your mind if you think I'll do that," he snapped. "I have a reputation here. You can't make me do anything."

Sana's eyes narrowed as she stepped closer to him, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper. "If you don't do it, it won't go well with you, Sidharth Vyas. Mark my words."

There was something about the way she said it, the sheer defiance in her tone, that made him pause. He felt an odd pull toward her, even in his anger. She was fearless, challenging him in a way no one else ever had. And that... that intrigued him, despite himself.

But he couldn't let her win. His male ego wouldn't allow it. He sneered at her, leaning in closer. "Try me, Baby Girl," he taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.

Before he could react, Sana's hand connected with his cheek again, the second slap harder than the first. The sound echoed even louder this time, drawing gasps from the onlookers. Sidharth was left stunned, his cheek burning from the force of her slap.

Sana didn't wait for his reaction. She turned on her heel and stormed off, flipping him off over her shoulder as she left.

The crowd parted for her, watching in stunned silence as she walked away, leaving Sidharth standing there, seething with a mixture of rage and shock.

Julia and Sidharth's friends looked between the two, knowing that this was far from over. Sidharth Vyas had been humiliated, and they knew that he wouldn't let it go. But as they looked at Sana's retreating figure, they couldn't help but admire her boldness.

Sidharth stood there, fists clenched, his ego bruised beyond repair. He hated her now-truly hated her. And yet, there was something about that slap, about the way she had stood up to him, that stirred something deep inside him. Something he didn't want to admit.

But one thing was clear: this wasn't the end. Not by a long shot.

Sana stormed out of the basketball court, her emotions a chaotic mix of anger, hurt, and something else she couldn't quite place. Julia rushed to keep up with her, concern etched on her face.

"Sana, wait up!" Julia called, finally catching her friend's arm as they reached the hallway.

Sana paused, breathing heavily, her hands trembling with the remnants of adrenaline. She turned to face Julia, her eyes still flashing with fury. "I'm done with him, Julia. That arrogant jerk! Who does he think he is?"

"I know, Sana. What he did was awful," Julia said softly, trying to calm her down. "But slapping him... twice... that's going to escalate things."

"I don't fucking care," Sana shot back, her voice cracking with emotion. "He deserved it. That Scooter is-was-precious to me. It was my grandpa's! And now... look at what he's done!"

Julia pulled Sana into a hug as the tears Sana had been holding back finally spilled over. "I just wanted to keep it safe, to honor my grandpa's memory... And now, it's ruined because of that... that bully!"

"It's not ruined, Sana," Julia whispered, rubbing her back. "We'll get it fixed, I promise. We'll repaint it, and we'll get the tire replaced. It'll be as good as new."

Sana pulled back slightly, wiping her tears. "But it won't be the same, Julia. The sentimental value... he can't understand that."

Julia nodded, knowing her friend was right. Sidharth had crossed a line, and there would be consequences for both of them.

"Come on, let's get out of here," she suggested, glancing over her shoulder as the crowd began to disperse, still buzzing with the drama that had just unfolded. "We can deal with the Scooty tomorrow. Right now, you need to cool off."

Sana nodded, allowing Julia to lead her away from the scene. But as they walked, Sana couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over. Sidharth Vyas was proud, and she knew he wouldn't let go of what had just happened. A part of her was scared of what might come next, but another part-stronger, fiercer-refused to be intimidated. She wouldn't let him win.

Back at the basketball court, Sidharth stood frozen, his teammates and friends gathered around him in stunned silence. His cheek still stung from the second slap, the sensation echoing through his body along with the bruising of his pride.

"Dude... she slapped you. Twice," Akhil said, breaking the silence, his voice filled with disbelief.

"No one's ever slapped you before," Kartik added, still trying to process what they'd just witnessed.

Sidharth's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the spot where Sana had stood just moments ago. His anger simmered beneath the surface, but it was laced with something more-a dark, grudging admiration for her audacity. But that only fueled his anger more. She embarrassed him, humiliated him in front of everyone.

"I know what she did," Sidharth growled, his voice low and dangerous. He turned to his friends, his eyes cold. "And she's going to pay for it."

Payel, who had been silently watching the whole time, spoke up cautiously. "Sidharth, maybe you should just let it go. She was really upset about her Scooty, and..."

"Let it go?" Sidharth interrupted, his voice sharp. "She fucking slapped me, Payel. Twice. In front of everyone. You think I'm just going to walk away from that?"

Payel bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. She knew Sidharth well enough to realize that once he set his mind on something, he wouldn't back down. And now, his male ego was wounded. Nothing good could come from this.

"You'll see," Sidharth muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "She wants a war? Fine. I'll give her one."

Kartik exchanged worried glances with the others, sensing the storm brewing. "Man, just... don't do anything too crazy, okay? This could get really bad."

But Sidharth was already lost in his thoughts, planning his next move. He couldn't let her get away with this. He had a reputation to maintain, a point to prove. No one, especially not Sana D'Souza, could challenge him and come out unscathed.

"Let's get out of here," Sidharth finally said, his voice cold and detached. "We've got work to do."

As the group followed him out of the court, Sidharth couldn't help but replay the events in his mind. He felt a strange mixture of rage and respect toward Sana. She was different, bold, and unafraid to stand up to him. But that only made him more determined to break her spirit.

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