Chapter 20: chapter 20

Chapter 20The following day at school, Sourabh couldn’t shake the conversation he had with Nitya ma'am from his mind. Her subtle hints about her relationship with Kartik weighed heavily on him. He was worried about her, but he also knew that he had to respect her choices. That evening, he met Nikita at their favorite café, the bustling atmosphere filled with chatter and laughter.“Alright, spill it! What’s bothering you?” Nikita asked as soon as they settled into a booth, her expression shifting to concern.Sourabh hesitated for a moment, taking a sip of his drink. “It’s about Nitya ma'am. I visited her yesterday, and it sounds like her relationship with Kartik is… well, not what she hoped it would be.”Nikita leaned in closer, her interest piqued. “What do you mean?”“She seemed a bit distant, like she’s realizing he’s not the person she thought he was. I just don’t want her to get hurt,” Sourabh admitted, frustration creeping into his voice.Nikita’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “What if we help her see Kartik for who he really is? We could gather some evidence to show her that he’s not the right guy for her.”Sourabh raised an eyebrow, intrigued but also apprehensive. “You mean, like a stakeout? That sounds risky.”“Exactly! A covert operation to expose his true colors!” Nikita said, her excitement bubbling over. “Think about it—if he’s treating her poorly behind the scenes, she needs to know. We could catch him in the act.”Sourabh rubbed the back of his neck, torn between his concern for Nitya and the ethical implications of spying on someone. “But what if we’re wrong? What if he’s just having a bad day?”Nikita shook her head vigorously. “Sourabh, think about how many people have told you they’re not a fan of him. It’s not just you. If he’s bad for her, she deserves to see it clearly. We’ll just gather some harmless intel.”After a moment of contemplation, Sourabh felt his resolve strengthen. “Okay, but how do we do it without getting caught?”Nikita leaned back, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “We’ll need a plan. We can watch from a distance, maybe set up at that café near her flat. If they’re meeting up, we’ll have a front-row seat to see how he treats her.”Sourabh felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. “Alright, let’s do this. But we need to be careful.”“Absolutely! Operation Kartik Exposé is officially on!” she declared, grinning widely.The next few days passed in a whirlwind of preparation. They plotted out their plan, timing their café visits around Kartik and Nitya’s usual schedules. Sourabh felt a strange sense of camaraderie with Nikita, the shared mission giving their friendship a new layer of depth.Finally, the day arrived. Sourabh and Nikita settled into a corner table at the café, the sun setting behind them, casting warm light across the room. They ordered drinks and kept an eye on the door.“Do you see him?” Nikita asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she scanned the room.“Not yet,” Sourabh replied, his heart racing with anticipation. “What if this is a waste of time?”“Just give it a bit longer. I have a good feeling about this!” she said, her confidence infectious.Moments later, the door swung open, and Sourabh’s heart sank as he spotted Kartik walking in, a confident swagger in his step. He looked around, then spotted a table near the window and sat down. Sourabh’s stomach churned as he saw a girl enter right behind him—someone he didn’t recognize.“Here we go,” Nikita whispered, her eyes widening. “This could be the moment.”Sourabh leaned forward, trying to remain inconspicuous as Kartik greeted the girl with a broad smile. He felt a pang of jealousy mixed with anger. This was the guy who was supposed to be with Nitya ma'am, yet here he was, flirting like he was on a date.“Look at him,” Nikita muttered, disgust evident in her tone. “He’s acting like a complete jerk.”The girl laughed at something Kartik said, leaning in closer. Sourabh’s heart raced. It felt wrong to be watching this, but he also knew they needed proof.“Let’s listen in,” Nikita said, pulling out her phone. “I’ll record the conversation. We’ll need evidence to show Nitya ma'am.”As they leaned closer, Sourabh strained to hear the conversation, his palms sweaty with tension. Kartik was animated, his gestures exaggerated as he charmed the girl. Sourabh felt sick watching the scene unfold, knowing that Nitya was out there believing in this guy.“Do you think Nitya ma'am has any idea what he’s like?” Sourabh asked, his voice tight.“I don’t know, but she deserves to see him for who he really is,” Nikita replied fiercely. “This could be the wake-up call she needs.”Minutes passed as they watched the interaction, and Sourabh felt his heart grow heavier with each passing moment. Kartik leaned in closer, brushing the girl’s hair back in a way that felt far too intimate.“Can you believe this guy?” Sourabh muttered, shaking his head.“Not for a second,” Nikita replied, her eyes narrowed. “He’s playing her like a fool.”As the conversation continued, Sourabh felt a mix of anger and sadness. Nitya ma'am deserved better than this. Suddenly, Kartik’s laughter rang out, loud and arrogant, and Sourabh’s patience snapped.“Let’s confront him,” he said, rising from his seat.Nikita grabbed his arm. “Wait! We need to be careful. If we go over there now, he’ll deny everything.”Sourabh hesitated, torn between wanting to protect Nitya and the fear of escalating the situation. “But we can’t just sit here and do nothing!”Nikita took a deep breath, her voice steady. “Let’s gather what we need first. We’ll have the proof we need, and then we can decide how to handle it. Trust me.”Sourabh nodded reluctantly, sinking back into his seat. He felt restless, every fiber of his being urging him to act. But as he watched Kartik laugh and flirt, he understood the importance of patience.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kartik and the girl stood to leave, still laughing as they exited the café. Nikita turned to Sourabh, a triumphant grin on her face.“Did you get it?” he asked, his heart pounding.“Absolutely,” she replied, pulling out her phone. “Let’s review the footage.”As they watched the recording, Sourabh felt a mix of emotions—anger, betrayal, and a fierce determination to help Nitya ma'am see the truth. This was just the beginning of their mission, and they were committed to unveiling the mask Kartik had been wearing.“Now what?” he asked, looking at Nikita with newfound resolve.“Now, we plan our next move. We’ll show Nitya ma'am the real Kartik,” she said, her eyes glinting with purpose. “She deserves to know the truth, and we’re going to make sure she does.”Sourabh nodded, feeling a fire ignite within him. He was ready to fight for what was right, not just for Nitya ma'am but for himself as well. Together, they would unravel the deceit and help her find the happiness she truly deserved.