The following day, Aarya was in her room, eagerly anticipating her conversation with Kajal. Despite her efforts to forget about it, she couldn't shake the thought of the chill spray that had protected the children from Bhola.

The day following Bhola's incident, the children recounted the entire tale, detailing how Pooja discovered hairspray, and Nareen distracted one of Bhola's men who kept them confined in Kajal's room.

While Pooja was spraying hairspray, the man struggled and screamed in agony after she sprayed it into his eyes. Faras obtained a gun that Aarya disliked; Faras was exposed to firearms at a young age, and she had already warned him about their negative consequences.

Faras spotted two chill sprays and handed them to Nareen and Pooja. They then silently moved from the living room to the dining room where the men were keeping Anuj, Pramitra, and Aarav.

The children attacked simultaneously, Faras skillfully shot one of the man holding Aarav, who was wounded in the leg. Aarav tackled the other assailant, while the man who Faras shot in the foot was already on the ground, yelping in pain.

While the man holding Pramitra was being sprayed with hairspray by Pooja, Pramitra began hitting him with her shoe, which amused Aarya because he was in pain from the spray but she was still hitting him.

The men holding Anuj were sprayed with chill spray by Priya and Nareen, causing them to be knocked to the ground and subsequently kicked by the children together with Anuj.

Anuj and Aarav had come to her rescue from Bhola, and meanwhile, Pramitra had already rushed to the kitchen to get oil, planning to pour it on the attackers. When she returned, the children were still kicking them.

The attackers struggled to stand up but repeatedly fell, while Pramitra and the children enjoyed themselves, laughing together.

Aarya couldn't help but feel a pang, thinking about the joyous laughter shared by Pramitra and the children without her.

If you're wondering about their guns, the children confiscated them during the punishment.

The other guy who was in Kajal's room...

Aarya's thoughts were interrupted as Kajal poked her head in through the slightly ajar door and stepped inside. "Did you call for me, Sister Aarya?" she inquired.

"Please, join me," Aarya invited, adjusting herself against the headboard and crossing her legs for comfort.

As Kajal settled beside her, her hands gently rested in her lap, seemingly limp.

Aarya contemplated getting down to business and inquired, "What were you doing with the chill spray in your room?"

"They're not mine," Kajal replied, dropping her head and nervously capturing her bottom lip between her teeth.

Aarya, having been with Kajal for years, could always easily spot Kajal's poor lying skills; it was evident whenever Kajal attempted to deceive her.

"Kajal, I have the ability to sense when my loved ones are not telling the truth," Aarya spoke calmly, yet a hint of anger tinged her tone. "Male dominance is a prevalent issue in our society, where they feel entitled to do anything to women, including rape".

Aarya gazed at Kajal with a compassionate expression, and in response, Kajal offered a faint smile, while Aarya gently held her hands.

"I understand that as a teenager, you might be a target for inappropriate advances from perverted men, and this stage of your life is crucial," Aarya spoke softly. "I might not be the best person to discuss this with you, but I want you to know that I care about you deeply."

"On Fridays, our female students have a special class conducted by our female teachers. In these sessions, we cover various topics like emotions, love, puberty, mistakes, challenges, hormones, and much more. Our teachers also provide us with books and materials to deepen our understanding," Kajal explained.

Aarya nodded with pride, expressing her admiration for the school where the kids study. Despite not being an expensive institution, it's an excellent school; it's not likely to receive assistance from prestigious schools regarding such matters.

"I was afraid to encounter Bhola's men or even him outside, given his history as a rapist. What if I'm not fortunate like you and Pramitra, who have good men in your lives - you have Aarav, and she has Anuj? What if no one accepts me?" With tears in her eyes, Kajal voiced her fears and uncertainties.

"You'll find a good man eventually, but for now, focus on yourself. And about Aarav, he's just a friend to me, nothing more," Aarya clarified.

She paused for a moment, pondering why everyone perceived Aarav as someone intimately close to her, despite their friendship, and why she also felt that connection.

Recalling how Kajal had spotted Anuj, Pramitra, and Aarav being held captive in the dining room by Bhola's men through the open door from the compound, Aarya felt grateful for Kajal's quick thinking and thanked her for calling the police.

"You were the one who even called the police; you did a good job," Aarya affirmed.

Kajal, from the compound, noticed the dining room where Anuj, Pramitra, and Aarav were being held by Bhola's men after they carelessly left the door open.

Courageously, she sneaked out of the house to inform the police.

As the door swung open, Aarya gently squeezed Kajal's hand just before Pramitra entered the room. Both Kajal and Aarya turned their attention toward her.

Pramitra's demeanor was serious as she informed Aarya that the men wanted to have a discussion with her regarding Bhola.

Every step from her room to the dining room felt like an eternity for Aarya. When she finally reached the destination, she closed the door behind her, pursed her lips, and closed her eyes momentarily to compose herself.

Upon opening her eyes, she noticed both men staring at her intently as they sat at the dining table.

"Please, have a seat," Anuj gestured towards a chair for her at the dining table, across from Aarav.

She took slow, deliberate steps toward them and lowered herself into the seat, each movement measured and intentional.

Anuj's gaze remained fixed on Aarya as he began, "There's something crucial we need to discuss with you. That's why we asked you to come here." Aarya felt a pang of discomfort, clueless about the purpose of the conversation.

"Aarya, we've been thinking about it. Bhola is back in prison, and it seems unlikely he'll be able to escape, considering it's one of the most secure prisons in the country with no record of anyone ever escaping. However, we still need to exercise caution," Anuj explained solemnly.

Anuj's silence prompted Aarya to inquire, "What do you want to tell me now?"

Extending both arms, Anuj reached across the table to hold Aarya's hands. "Aarav and I believe, for your safety, you need to accompany him to Mumbai and..."

As Anuj hesitated, Aarav stepped in to continue, "Perhaps changing your name might be wise."

"Change my name?" Aarya questioned, unsure if she had heard correctly. She pondered why changing her name was necessary, especially when Aarya wasn't even her real name.

"Change your name," Anuj insisted after releasing her hands and folding his own on the table. "Bhola is after you and will stop at nothing to find you."

"What about the children and you guys?" Aarya questioned, still grappling to comprehend the situation.

"My father indicated that Bhola knows what's best for him and he won't return to the orphanage," Anuj shared.

"He's solely after you and won't risk getting close to them if you're not here," explained Aarav. "If he searches for you, he'll be searching for 'Aarya' and won't find you."

"If I agree to all this, which name should I take?"

"Aarav has chosen a name for you, but you're free to choose any name you want," Anuj mentioned. "I'll leave you two to talk,"

Anuj pushed his chair back, rose, and headed to the door leading to the living room. He opened it, stepped through, and closed it behind him.

Aarav sensed Aarya's unease and moved Anuj's chair closer to her, taking a seat with just a small gap between them in an effort to make her more comfortable.

"Aarya, you can't live entirely alone. You need some kind of support system; everyone needs someone to rely on. Let me be that for you," Aarav earnestly expressed.

Aarya found herself unable to resist his genuine sincerity as she looked into his eyes. "Okay, what name do you think I should go by?"

"Ravya," he replied.

Aarya sighed, feeling a warmth towards the name he had chosen for her. 'Ravya, what a wonderful name,' she thought to herself, impressed by his choice.

"I want to be Ravya, but I can't leave this orphanage, Aarav."

"Why?" Aarav inquired.

"As I mentioned before, I can't simply abandon the children here. Even though Kajal, Anuj, and Pramitra are here to take care of them, I still feel responsible," Aarya explained, her sense of accountability deeply ingrained.

"Remember, it wasn't your fault what happened, and they have people taking care of them. You should try to locate your father," Aarav tried to maintain his composure despite his frustration. "Listen, I can ask a favor from Ruhi, my cousin. Remember her?"

Aarya nodded, looking like a scolded child, fidgeting with her shoes and avoiding eye contact.

"I can go and ask her for help in getting extra hands to take care of the children. Ruhi adores children; she won't say no. We can go together and talk to her. Will you come back home with me if she agrees?" Aarav asked.

She looked at him and nodded, biting her bottom lip. "I'll leave with you anytime you want if she agrees," she finally consented.