𝟐.|𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒏 𝑼𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝑱𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚

The morning sun was warm against Sitara's skin as she sat next to her father in the auto-rickshaw, her heart beating rapidly with both excitement and anxiety.

She wore a delicate yellow chikankari kurti paired with white palazzo pants, her long hair neatly tied into a loose braid. Her eyes, framed with dark kohl, gave her an air of quiet confidence, while her pink lips, enhanced with a simple balm, added a soft glow to her nervous smile.

"Are you ready, beta?" her father asked, his voice calm yet carrying an undertone of concern. They were approaching the towering gates of the University of Elites, a place far removed from the world she had grown up in.

"Yes, Papa. I'm ready," Sitara replied, though the knots in her stomach told her otherwise. Her father smiled, pride and worry mixing in his eyes.

"You've earned this, Sitara. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise," he said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. She nodded, forcing a small smile as the auto-rickshaw came to a halt in front of the imposing entrance.

"I'll call if I need anything," she promised, stepping out and watching her father wave as the vehicle drove away. The weight of his words hung heavily on her as she turned to face the massive gates.
Taking a deep breath, she walked through them.

★

The classroom buzzed with chatter when Sitara walked in, her heart hammering in her chest. She quickly spotted an empty seat at the back and made her way to it, clutching her books tightly as she passed by students who barely noticed her. She slid into the chair, grateful to have avoided any attention.

A girl sitting next to her smiled warmly. "First day?" she asked, her tone friendly.

Sitara nodded, still adjusting to her surroundings. "Yeah, I'm Sitara."

"I'm Meera," the girl introduced herself, her wavy hair bouncing slightly as she shifted in her seat. "Don't worry. This place is intimidating, but you'll get used to it." She flashed a grin. "Mostly."
Sitara smiled, grateful for the kindness.

"Thanks, I was worried I wouldn't fit in here."Meera chuckled softly. "Just avoid the rich snobs, and you'll be fine."

Before they could talk further, the professor entered the room, silencing the students. He was a serious-looking man in his fifties, and he commanded attention as he moved to the front of the class.

"Let's begin with introductions," he said, his voice firm. "Stand up, say your name, where you're from, and one thing about yourself."

One by one, students stood and gave their introductions, most of them dropping names of famous or influential parents, as if that was their greatest accomplishment. Sitara's nerves grew with each passing introduction, knowing her turn was coming.

When it finally arrived, the professor looked at her expectantly. "You, at the back. Your turn."
Sitara stood up slowly.

"I'm Sitara Sharma," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I'm from a small village."

The professor nodded, prompting her to continue. "And?"

"I'm here on a scholarship," she said, her cheeks flushing slightly as the words left her lips.

The professor smiled approvingly. "Ah yes, our scholarship student. Congratulations on earning your place here."

But Sitara could feel the weight of judgment in the room. The other students shifted in their seats, some whispering to each other. She sat down quickly, trying to ignore the growing sense of unease.

Meera leaned over and whispered, "Don't mind them. They're just stuck up."

Sitara smiled weakly, but the discomfort lingered. She knew that being a scholarship student in a place like this would make her a target.

★

After class, Sitara gathered her things quickly, hoping to slip out unnoticed. But just as she stepped into the hallway, she found herself blocked by a group of students. Leading them was Anshita, her cold eyes narrowing as they fixed on Sitara.

"Well, look who it is," Anshita sneered, her voice laced with venom. "The scholarship girl."

Sitara felt a knot of anxiety tightening in her chest. "Excuse me," she muttered, trying to sidestep the group, but Anshita's friends moved to block her path.

"Where do you think you're going?" one of them asked mockingly, her tone dripping with condescension.
"I... I don't want any trouble," Sitara stammered, feeling her throat constrict.

Anshita smirked. "Too late for that. You think you're better than us because you got in here on a scholarship? You don't belong in this world."

Before Sitara could respond, a deep, smooth voice interrupted. "What's going on here?"

The group parted slightly, and there stood Kabir, his tall frame casting a shadow over the hallway. His piercing eyes scanned Sitara with a mixture of amusement and something darker. He was wearing a casual shirt, but his air of arrogance made it feel like he owned the space around him.

"Well, well. The scholarship girl," Kabir drawled, his smirk widening as he stepped closer. "What's your name?"

"S-Sitara," she whispered, her voice barely audible under his intense gaze.

Kabir leaned in, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper. "Pretty name for a pretty girl." His words dripped with suggestive undertones, making Sitara's stomach twist in discomfort.

He circled her slowly, his eyes sweeping over her in a way that made her feel exposed. "So, you think you're special because you got in here on merit?" he taunted, his smirk deepening.

Sitara's throat tightened, her heart racing. She wanted to disappear, to melt into the walls and escape the humiliation.

Kabir moved closer, his voice low and teasing. "How about this? Spend a night with me, and I'll make sure your time here is... easier. What do you say?" His fingers brushed against her arm, making her flinch.

Sitara's breath hitched in her throat, her mind reeling with shock and disgust. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Kabir's smirk widened at her silence. "Come on, think about it. One night, and all your problems go away."

"No," Sitara whispered, her voice trembling.

Kabir raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "No? Are you sure about that?" He leaned in closer, his lips dangerously close to her ear. "You wouldn't want to make enemies here, would you?"

Tears pricked the corners of Sitara's eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall.

Anshita watched the exchange with barely concealed jealousy, her lips pursed as Kabir's attention stayed fixed on Sitara. She crossed her arms and huffed but didn't dare interrupt him.

Kabir straightened up, his smirk never faltering. "I'll give you time to reconsider, Sitara." He winked at her before turning to leave, his entourage trailing behind him. Anshita shot Sitara a final glare before following Kabir, her irritation obvious.

As they disappeared down the hallway, Sitara stood frozen in place, her body trembling. Her mind was racing, replaying every humiliating second of the encounter.

The mocking laughter, Kabir's cruel words, the unwanted touch—they all crashed down on her like a wave.
The hallway emptied, but Sitara remained standing there, tears finally spilling over as the weight of everything crushed her. She felt dirty, humiliated, and completely powerless.

Unable to bear it any longer, she rushed outside. She had no plan, no destination in mind—just the overwhelming need to escape.

Her feet carried her out of the building, her legs shaking with every step. She stumbled onto the main road, blindly flagging down a bus. The driver barely stopped for her, but she didn't care. She climbed aboard, her chest heaving with silent sobs.

As the bus speed away from the college, Sitara pressed her head against the window, her tears falling freely. She felt small, insignificant, and utterly broken. The world outside blurred as she shut her eyes, trying to push away the pain, but it clung to her like a shadow she couldn't escape.

She had never felt so alone.