Chapter 3: A Second Chance—And New Dangers

Neha’s screams—"Help! Rape! Robbery!"—cut through the dawn, but I kept walking. My fists clenched, memories of ruin and betrayal swirling in my mind. I would not make the same mistake.

Later, as I reached the exam centre, I teamed up with Kunal, the rich boy no one spoke to. We walked in silence, the crunch of gravel and our ragged breaths the only sounds. The invigilator’s sandals slapped the floor; outside, a hawker’s bell rang, selling nimbu-paani to anxious parents. The exam questions felt easier, the gods finally watching over me. That night, Dadi lit a diya, muttering, "Ab toh sab theek hoga, Bhagwan."

But peace was short-lived. As I ate hot khichdi, the door banged open—Amit burst in, rage on his face. The wooden stick cracked against my shoulder with a dull thud, sending a jolt down my arm. I smelled the sharp tang of sweat and cheap hair oil as we grappled. The khichdi bowl shattered. I fought back, ramming him with my head, punching his ribs. Outside, Sharma uncle, aunty, and Neha watched, stunned. My cold gaze met Neha’s; hatred simmered beneath the surface. Despite everything, they were determined to ruin me.

The neighbours gathered. Aunty from next door clutched her dupatta to her mouth, whispering behind her hand. Someone’s pressure cooker whistled in the background, cutting through the tension. Sharma aunty wailed, "Colony president, dekho! Hamari Neha ki zindagi barbaad ho gayi—sab iski wajah se!" The colony president asked me to explain. I bared my wound, voice trembling but clear: "If I didn’t see anything, how could I help? Why attack me instead of the robber?" Dadi’s cries rose above the crowd—"Oh Ram, what has my Munna done to deserve this?"

The colony president ruled, "Let the police catch the robber. Don’t stop Munna’s exams. He’s our only hope now." The Sharma family left, humiliated, and Dadi made me a sweet chai, her hands gentle on my bruised shoulder. For the first time, hope flickered.