"There is no force so strong as a women determined to rise."

Kashika marched to the director's room, determination clearly etched on her beautiful face as she stood in front of the wooden door, taking a deep breath she tried calming down the anger boiling inside her some what.

exhaling loudly she knocked twice on the door when she heard the voice asking her to enter, she strided inside the room.

She stared as the elegant lady sitting in front of her like a queen sitting on her throne, ready to face anything.

"Kashika, everything alright" the lady asked her, her voice full of concern as she stared at the girl she help raised

"Yes mam, just a small matter" Kashika stated standing straight in front of her not forgetting the  decorum

"So what brings you here, my dear" the lady asked her.

" Mam, I want your permission to enter my team in the inter college fest that's going to happen in Goa next month. I want a room for practice and permission to stay here after college hours and here is the application" she stated boldly her stance oozing confidence and determination

" alright, everyone will get the official notice by tomorrow any thing else" the lady asked her, not at all surprised by her bold stance or following proper guidelines.

"Yes mam, we were thinking of arranging a face off, just for entertainment purposes nothing else so  I wanted to know when the freshers party will be organized." Kashika questioned a calculative look etched on her face as the she devil thought of crumbling the ego of the persons responsible for causing the person she loves the most pain.

" the freshers party will be organized on the coming sunday and may I know who are the famous members of the heathens." The director questioned her a smirk gracing her features

"Sure, heathens is a dancing and singing group. the dancers are led by our own cute captain Tanish then their is Satvik, Subhmaan, Abhi, Aradhya And I and as far as the singing group is concerned it is lead by Satvik then their is Kulfi, Aradhya and Tanish" Kashika informed casually

"Hmmm, anything else cadet" lady asked a teasing glint clear in her eyes

"Naah, captain" she replied dryly as she left the director's office.

The lady leaned back on her chair, watching a better version of her leave her office. Sharon Singhania stared at the girl who was so much like her yet so different. The girl was just, bold and full of life, her fierceness everything was magical. The girl was magical and her daughter by heart. Even though Kashika never considered her as her mom, she loved Omisha too much to think of anyone else as her mother. But she loved both Tanish and Kashika as her children. She could do anything to see their  heart warming smiles.

Kashika exited the director's office with a haughty smirk gracing her lips as she walked towards her family.

On her way to her gang, she saw the scared girl again sitting on the staircase hunched over a diary, scribbling something. She thought for a few moments and then went towards her.

" hi" she greeted her softly and was surprised when the girl looked up at her startled, fear clouding her gaze

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you" she apologized quickly, not wanting her to be scared of her

" hi...it's fine, I was oblivious to the surroundings I guess" she replied timidly a shy smile glancing her features.

"it's fine what's your name sorry I forgot" she stated sheepishly

"It's not your mistake, it's just that I never introduced myself. I'm Dhriti Malhotra" the girl introduced herself, her smile so adorable that automatically a smile graced Kashika's face

"Im Kashika Randhawa, Nice to meet you  Dhriti" she stated her eyes smiling with mirth, her tone soft

"I know who you're, everyone knows you" she exclaimed happily

"Not everyone, I'm not a celeb or something" Kashi answered truthfully blushing slightly

"But you're" exclaimed Dhriti again firmly against Kashi's not a star statement

Kashika smiled bashfuly at the statement before asking dhriti "do you know where Misha is right now"

"Ugh....no....they don't have any class right now" she answered looking at Kashi bewildered

"Oh, I thought of informing them about something, I guess I've to find them" Kashika stated thoughtfully

"I'll help you find them" Dhriti answered smiling softly as she searched along with Kashi for the dazzlers.

The duo finally found the group in an empty classroom, sprawled on the benches talking lazily among themselves.

Dhriti entered first timid as ever in the presence of the people who always downcast her. She was feeling more awkward when all of their gazes were on her.

"I told you to not come here now, didn't I" Anam asked her with a perfectly arched eyebrow

"And she came here because I wanted to meet you people" a bold voice answered Anam's question as all of them look surprised to see Kashika standing beside Dhriti like she own the whole place

"So, now you started bringing enemies to our dugouts huh" Linoy taunted Dhriti, his voice full of scorn

"She is a heathen and she can take me anywhere she wants and what you mean by our dugouts, it's a classroom where anyone can come whenever they want" Kashi replied in a flat tone her eyes staring at Linoy as if he was an Idiot

" now the great Heathens has started snatching members of other groups huh" Nikhil taunted looking at Kashi

" what can we do if the others don't know how to treat their members" Kashi replied flatly

" did you come here to just  taunt us" Misha questioned Kashi

"Naah, I came here to tell you, you want to fight us. So, let's battle on the freshers party. Winner gets it all" Kashi stated haughtily her eyes shinning with mirth

" done" Misha said meeting Kashi's gaze

"Let's go then Dhriti" Kashi spoke to Dhriti, ready to leave this room

"Dhriti if you go with her now, remember our friendship is over, forever" Misha warned her as she stared at her

Dhriti looked once towards Misha's challenging gaze then looked towards Kashi's welcoming gaze, making her mind she followed Kashi out of the room.

Leaving fuming dazzlers behind. The battle has just begin.