Chapter 21: chapter 21

Chapter 21The atmosphere at school the next day was charged with anticipation. Sourabh and Nikita had a mission, and the weight of their plan pressed heavily on them. They decided to meet after school in the library, a quiet place where they could strategize without interruptions.Sourabh arrived first, finding a secluded corner table piled high with books and a few scattered papers. He felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety, his mind racing as he prepared for what lay ahead.Nikita soon joined him, her expression serious. “Okay, so we’ve got the footage. We need to figure out how to show it to Nitya ma'am without making her defensive.”“Right. We don’t want her to think we’re attacking her or that we’re jealous,” Sourabh agreed. “It has to come from a place of concern.”Nikita nodded. “What if we frame it as a casual chat? We can invite her to hang out, maybe watch a movie, and then ease into it.”“Sounds good,” Sourabh said, feeling more confident. “Do you think she’ll agree?”“Of course! She loves spending time with us. Just be casual about it,” Nikita encouraged. “Let’s do this.”After school, they made their way to Nitya ma'am’s flat. Sourabh’s heart raced as they approached the door, his palms sweaty with anticipation. He knocked lightly, and a moment later, Nitya ma'am opened the door, her smile brightening up the room.“Hey! It’s great to see you both!” she exclaimed, inviting them inside. “What brings you here?”“We thought we could hang out and watch a movie,” Nikita suggested, her voice light and casual.Nitya ma'am’s eyes sparkled with delight. “That sounds perfect! I’ve been looking for an excuse to unwind.”As they settled into the living room, Sourabh felt a mixture of hope and nervousness. He exchanged glances with Nikita, silently communicating their plan. They picked a fun comedy to start, allowing the atmosphere to become relaxed before diving into the heavier conversation.The movie rolled on, and laughter filled the room as the three of them enjoyed the silly antics on-screen. Sourabh felt his earlier tension begin to ease, grateful for this moment of normalcy. He watched Nitya ma'am, noticing her smile and the way her eyes sparkled with joy. But he also remembered the Kartik situation, reminding himself of their goal.Once the movie ended, Nikita stretched her arms and yawned theatrically. “That was hilarious! But I have something more serious to discuss.”Sourabh's heart raced again as he prepared for the transition. “Yeah, we wanted to talk about something important, Nitya ma'am.”Nitya ma'am’s expression shifted slightly, curiosity piqued. “What’s on your minds?”Nikita took a deep breath. “We’ve been noticing some things lately. Things that we think you should know.”Sourabh felt a lump form in his throat. He wanted to proceed carefully. “It’s about Kartik. We’ve seen him with someone else.”Nitya ma'am’s brow furrowed, a hint of confusion on her face. “What do you mean?”Nikita pulled out her phone, her fingers shaking slightly as she navigated to the video. “We have proof. We didn’t want to believe it either, but…”“Just watch, okay?” Sourabh added, trying to soften the blow.Nitya ma'am’s eyes widened as she watched the footage of Kartik flirting and laughing with the other girl. Sourabh watched her closely, searching for any signs of pain or disbelief. The playful atmosphere from earlier had vanished, replaced by an undeniable tension.After the video ended, Nitya ma'am sat in stunned silence, her face pale. “I… I can’t believe this.”“We didn’t want to hurt you,” Nikita said gently. “But you deserve to know the truth. You deserve someone who respects you.”Sourabh’s heart raced as he watched her process the information. He could see the flicker of realization in her eyes, the moment she began to understand what Kartik had been hiding.“I thought… I thought he was different,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.“You are amazing, Nitya ma'am,” Sourabh said, leaning forward. “You deserve so much more than this. We just want you to be happy.”Tears welled in her eyes, and she wiped them away quickly, taking a deep breath. “Thank you for telling me. I can’t believe I let myself get wrapped up in him.”“We’re here for you, no matter what,” Nikita said, her tone supportive. “You don’t have to go through this alone.”Nitya ma'am looked at both of them, gratitude shining through her sorrow. “I appreciate you both so much. I just need time to process this.”“Take all the time you need,” Sourabh reassured her. “We’ll be right here.”The three of them sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation settling around them. It was a heavy burden, but there was also a sense of relief. Nitya ma'am had been given the truth, and now she could make a choice.After a while, Nitya ma'am spoke again, her voice steadier. “I want to confront him. I need to know why he acted this way.”Sourabh nodded, feeling a surge of support for her decision. “We can help you. We’ll stand by your side if you want.”Nikita chimed in. “You shouldn’t have to face this alone. We’ll go with you.”“Thank you,” she said, her expression firming with resolve. “It’s time I took control of this situation.”As the evening wore on, the mood shifted slightly. They spent time talking about lighter topics, sharing stories and laughter, but the earlier conversation hung in the air as a reminder of the changes ahead.By the time they left her flat, Sourabh felt a mix of hope and uncertainty. Nitya ma'am had taken a significant step toward reclaiming her happiness, and he knew it wouldn’t be easy. But together, they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.Later that night, as Sourabh lay in bed, he reflected on the day’s events. He felt a sense of pride in standing up for what was right, and in supporting Nitya ma'am in her time of need.He closed his eyes, hoping that this was the beginning of a new chapter—not just for Nitya ma'am, but for himself as well. Change was coming, and he was ready to embrace it, whatever form it might take.