Rithul's expression changed.
The faint smile disappeared.
Something sharper took its place.
"If that's true…" he said slowly, looking straight at her,
"then answer me this, Aria."
His voice wasn't loud—
but it hit harder than shouting.
"Why did the same court that was supposed to give her justice… question her clothes?"
"Why did they question the time she walked outside?"
"Why did they question her dignity… her identity?"
Aria's breath slowed.
She didn't answer.
"Why did society—" he continued, his tone tightening,
"the same society that should have stood beside her—
question her purity instead?"
"Why did they turn her pain into shame?"
His eyes darkened.
"Why are the criminals still out there?"
"Walking freely… laughing… living their lives like nothing happened?"
"Enjoying luxury. Status. Respect."
"And she?"
He gestured behind them.
"She's here."
"Barely alive."
Silence.
Heavy.
"Tell me, Aria," he said, his voice dropping,
"why is everyone blaming her… and not them?"
A pause.
"If this is 2026—
why hasn't anything really changed?"
"Why is justice still different for the rich… and the poor?"
Aria looked at him.
Speechless.
Rithul continued, quieter now—but more painful.
"She did go to court."
"She tried."
"And do you know what she got?"
"Laughter."
"Questions."
"Doubt."
"They made her relive everything all over again… in front of everyone."
His jaw tightened.
"And after that—
they tried to silence her."
"Almost killed her."
Aria's eyes widened slightly.
"The lawyer. The judge. The people who are supposed to protect…" he said bitterly,
"…they all stood there."
"And still—
they blamed her."
His voice cracked just a little.
"Was it her mistake?"
Silence fell again.
Rithul looked at her.
"Tell me, Aria."
Aria lowered her head.
She had no answer.
Rithul let out a bitter breath.
"Unfortunately… we're living in a country where people in power have made statements that sound like—
when something like this happens… just lie down and enjoy it."
His jaw tightened.
"And the worst part?"
He looked straight into Aria's eyes.
"This didn't happen on some random street."
His voice dropped.
"It happened in the very places where laws are made."
............
..
.....
...........
...
.
Silence lingered between them.
Heavy.
Unbearable.
After a moment, Aria's voice broke through.
"…What?" she asked softly. "Who?"
Rithul didn't look away.
"The son of the chairman of GHSS."
Aria's eyes widened.
Her breath caught.
"…Sinas?"
Rithul didn't answer.
He just looked at her.
That was enough.
Understanding hit her.
Hard.
Rithul spoke again, quieter now.
"If I just say it… you won't believe me."
A pause.
"So after seeing all this…"
His gaze didn't leave hers.
"Do you still think it's just a misunderstanding?"
Aria's legs gave in.
She dropped to the floor.
Her hands hit the ground, trying to hold herself up—
but she couldn't.
Her mind spun.
Everything blurred.
"No…" she whispered.
Then it broke.
Tears.
Uncontrollable.
She cried—loud, raw, helpless.
Rithul watched her for a moment.
Then slowly—
he knelt down beside her.
He pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I didn't want to hurt you," he said softly.
"But you need to know the truth."
A pause.
"You have to."
His voice grew heavier.
"The law… the system… all of it—
it stands with the ones who have power."
"And the ones who suffer…"
He closed his eyes briefly.
"…are people like us."
He held her a little tighter.
"I don't want you to end up like them, Aria."
"I won't let that happen."
Aria didn't respond.
She just cried—
holding onto him—
as everything she believed in slowly fell apart.
***************************
After 2 days ___
Two days passed.
Aria didn't go to class.
She stayed in her room the entire time.
The curtains were half-drawn.
The air felt still.
Heavy.
She barely ate.
Barely moved.
Her mind—
Stuck.
On that day.
On those words.
On everything Rithul had shown her.
She sat on her bed, phone in her hand, scrolling again.
Searching.
Reading.
Digging.
Nothing.
There was no solid proof.
No clear evidence against Sinas.
Just articles.
Rumors.
Gaps.
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
"I can't…" she whispered to herself.
She couldn't accept it.
The Sinas she had known for years—
the one she admired—
the one she believed in—
How could he be that person?
Her thoughts kept clashing.
Rithul's words.
Clara's condition.
That shelter.
Reality.
She shut her eyes tightly.
"This doesn't make sense…"
A soft sound broke the silence.
The door creaked open.
Nanny stepped in quietly.
A middle-aged woman, her hair tied back neatly, a few strands of grey visible. Fine lines rested on her face—not just from age, but from years of care and worry. She wore a simple, modest dress.
Her eyes softened the moment she saw Aria.
"honey… please eat something."
Aria didn't look up.
"I'm not hungry, Nanny."
Nanny walked a little closer.
"You haven't eaten properly for two days," she said gently. "At least have a little."
No response.
Aria was still lost—
somewhere far away.
Nanny stood there for a moment.
Watching her.
Worried.
Helpless.
Slowly, her shoulders dropped.
She turned toward the door.
"I'm going to visit a friend," she said softly. "I hope you'll be okay."
"…Yeah," Aria replied faintly. "You go."
Nanny paused at the door.
"Should I stay? Or… do you want to come with me?"
Aria shook her head slightly.
"No, Nanny. I'm not in the mood."
A small nod.
"Okay."
Nanny hesitated for a second longer.
Then quietly—
"Don't forget to eat."
She closed the door gently.
Silence returned.
Thicker than before.
Aria didn't move.
Didn't smile.
Didn't react.
She just sat there.
Her thoughts pulling her back again—
To that place.
To that room.
To Rithul's voice.
And the truth she still couldn't accept.
Clara…
She wasn't just any student.
She was the pride of GHSS.
A national-level chess champion.
That year, she represented Mumbai in a major competition—states from all over the country participated.
And she won.
First place.
She made Mumbai proud.
She made GHSS proud.
Her name was everywhere.
Trophies. Medals. Recognition.
She had everything.
And Sinas—
He was always there beside her.
Not officially.
Never announced.
But the way they were together—
Anyone could see it.
Even Clara believed it.
She thought… they were something real.
She was just waiting for him to say it.
But he never did.
So that day—
After winning—
She decided she would.
She took her medal…
And went to meet him.
He was in the resting area of the auditorium.
That's what he told her.
But then—
He asked her to come to the back side of the building.
Said they could spend some time alone.
There was a forest area behind it.
Quiet.
Isolated.
Before that, he texted her to wait near the back restroom.
Clara felt something was off.
But she ignored it.
Because it was him.
When she went there—
He was already waiting.
Smiling.
Like always.
She walked up to him.
Gave him the medal.
And then—
She confessed.
Everything she had been holding in.
She thought he would finally accept.
That this was the moment.
But instead—
Voices.
Laughter.
A group of boys stepped out.
Surrounding her.
Mocking her.
Turning everything into a joke.
Clara froze.
Humiliated.
She tried to leave.
But they didn't let her.
They grabbed her.
Touched her.
Held her down.
And Sinas—
He didn't stop them.
He was part of it.
What happened after that—
Didn't end there.
The next morning—
She woke up in a place she didn't know.
And from there—
She wasn't free anymore.
She was passed around.
From one powerful hand to another.
Without consent.
Without control.
Without even awareness sometimes.
Students.
Rich men.
People with influence.
People with power.
Even those who sit in positions meant to protect.
She tried to escape.
And one day—
She did.
She went to the police.
She went to court.
She fought.
For justice.
But the system—
Was never on her side.
Everything was controlled.
Twisted.
Her story was changed.
Her pain was questioned.
Her character was destroyed.
They called her names.
Said she did it for attention.
Said she used people to rise.
Even her medals—
Were taken away.
Declared invalid.
The chairman stood in front of everyone and said—
Only deserved victories matter.
And that he wouldn't protect someone who brought shame to the institution.
He played the role perfectly.
And Clara—
Became the accused.
Not the victim.
After that—
It only got worse.
More abuse.
More silence.
More damage.
Until—
She disappeared from the world that once celebrated her.
And ended up here.
In that shelter.
Along with others like her.
Girls who were used.
Broken.
And then thrown away.
And even there—
They aren't safe.
People are still trying to shut that place down.
To erase them.
To erase the truth.
Because if they exist—
The truth exists.
And the people behind all this—
They can't afford that.
That shelter…
is barely surviving.
Supported quietly.
Fought for silently.
But it's slipping.
Any moment—
It can fall into their hands.
And if that happens—
Everything ends.