The corridors were filled with students leaving their classrooms, discussing the questions from the last papers and the celebration for the end of the semester. But the three musketeers had their faces dull as the sky above.

There were dark clouds above ready to pour rain within some moments. The air was blowing swiftly.

Aarush shook his head watching the smile on everyone's face. All of them looked happy and so was he. Another semester ended, exams ended. But their problems? He sighed heavily.

"How did it go?" He asked when he saw Sakshi coming his way, leaving her allotted room. Aditi was already walking with him, smiling back at passing students.

Sakshi let out a huge breathe. "I will pass," she replied, hanging her bag on her shoulder and walking along them.

"Unless the professor wants you to," muttered Aarush while clenching his jaws, remembering the taunt about Miss Khanna again. He didn't love her for real. But he did like her and she was an innocent, independent lady. She never looked like she would play intimate with a monster like Kabir.

"Well, he can't fail us to blackmail Sakshi?" Aditi asked immediately, frowning at her.

Sakshi didn't know what to say. Her mind was freed from the pressure of exams but the burden of those marriage gossips, the heartbreaking episode with Shrey and the real talks with his brother had overwhelmed her. She was exhausted.

"Nothing will happen." She gulped while walking slowly, staring ahead. "He can't do anything mean to us. We all have performed fine enough-"

"What if he gives you the highest score to please you?" asked Aarush, his nerdy side getting on.

Sakshi shrugged her shoulders, not really thinking about it. "I'll appreciate it. And appreciate doesn't mean marrying him," she said, letting out a small smile. "I'll go home this weekend, will have some cheat days. Things will be fine once my brother is aware of everything. I wouldn't have to fear that psychotic professor then."

"But for now. . ." Aarush mumbled as he watched Mihir approaching them with a knowing smile on his face.

"Hey Guys! How did the exam go?" He asked, looking at all of them.

When none of them answered, Aditi smiled embarrassingly. "Uh, it went well."

Aarush looked at Aditi with narrowed eyes, not liking that she cared to reply a guy whose brother was disturbing Sakshi. He looked away and felt his heart dropping when he caught Ronnie glancing at him from far, standing with his group.

"That's great. Well, we seniors are organising some party at this club. You all must have gotten the messages already. Check it out, do come. All the Juniors are invited," smiled Mihir, glancing at Sakshi. "No teachers, I promise."

"Perverts and Stalkers?" taunted Aarush while looking away from Ronnie, his jaws tightening.

Mihir chuckled, now feeling the awkward environment. "There'll be well wishers and best friends to protect the pretty girls. Right?"

Aditi blinked softly as he looked at Sakshi and said, "I know, things are being forced upon. It's pressurizing and unlikable. But giving a chance might change things, Sakshi."

"Your repulsive brother doesn't deserve any chance," muttered Sakshi through gritted teeth, flaring her nostrils. Her eyes looked tired, surrounded by bags. The troubles in her life wasn't letting her sleep well, most importantly, her dreams that were full of Shrey and would fill her heart with more love for him.

Mihir looked amazed but his eyes turned serious when he replied, "He has a painful past. There are reasons why Kabir is like that. He has some issues which he struggles with personally and then, the side effects fell on the people that surrounds him."

Aarush was rolling his eyes when Mihir gave him a sad look. "Kabir didn't have an easy childhood with his mom being sick most of the time. He has been ragged, suffered chain snatching one time. There are these little incidents that made him avoid people. He barely had friends and which is why he doesn't know how to deal with all this crush on you. He genuinely likes you," he emphasized.

Aditi was speechless while Sakshi gulped quietly. She was strong at heart but her own misery was turning her eyes glossy.

"Look, this doesn't cover up all the shit he made Sakshi dealt with. She has been affected brutally and these conversations are for nothing," said Aarush, making Mihir nod quietly.

"I know Sakshi likes another guy and that just makes it more complicated. But trust me, Kabir isn't that bad. He just has a giant egoistic attitude, is mysterious and all that creepy shit. But he was quite serious about the wedding thing. It was neither my mom nor his that started the whole thing. Right?" He told Sakshi.

"Your tai ji was planning to make me see you. I denied because my Dad isn't all positive about intercaste marriages. I have my own girlfriend too. So, my mom suggested Kabir to your Tai ji. It was just a suggestion. But your tai ji was fascinated and gave us nods. We didn't know if she asked you or not. Kabir's parents were interested too but he himself wasn't. I forced him to know things about you and your family." Mihir explained slowly.

Sakshi blinked slowly, listening to him while Aarush again caught a glance from Ronnie.

"Kabir formed a crush on you. He is a nerd and is serious about everything he does in life. On top of that, your Tai ji kept giving positive responses from your side. We were told for that blind date and boom, we spoiled it by cat-fishing you. Kabir was shy about it."

"Shy?" Aarush let out a sarcastic chuckle. "You think, we still buying that shit?"

Mihir breathed out heavily. He looked at Sakshi and blinked, "Look, I know. I know that he talks dominantly and mistreated you. But there are reasons. I am not saying, it is fine to treat the way he does. But give him a chance if he offers to change for you, Sakshi. Because since last two days, he had been asking me if he should give you highest score to please you?"

Aarush gasped while Sakshi looked around, fearing if anyone was looking at them, hearing to this nuisance.

"That was shocking for me as Kabir has always been very passionate with his profession. He never compromise. But for you, he was ready to take risks and lower his self-respect. I denied him but he is still thinking, I know." Mihir shrugged his shoulders, taking a step back. "I don't know. Just don't hate me for being his brother. He is like that. He is weird but has a good side too. You'll be lucky if you see that side of his, you know. He is a passionate guy."

"A passionate stalker," mocked Aarush, glancing at Ronnie who was not looking at him anymore. The boy had been creeping him out for days.

"Whatever you say," smiled Mihir. He glanced at Aditi and finally rested his on Sakshi. "You have a boyfriend, but your family is engaging him with you. It's not all of his fault, you know. He was led on by your family. There's no loss at saying a yes and trying him, Sakshi. You'll have fun for life. There'll be no taunts of false rape cases and insecurity of suicidal attempts."

Sakshi stared at him in shock as he gave her a nod and finally turned to leave.

"How dare he?" Aarush gasped, "Did he just taunt you about Shrey?" He gritted his teeth and was about to follow him when Aditi clutched his elbow.

"How many will you stop?" Aditi said while looking at him. "Just don't take his words to heart and ignore all of it. Let's just go to some Cafe and have some shots. We have been studying and fretting like crazy. I need to chill out and you guys should too. . ." She said while hugging Sakshi from the side.

Don't take his words to heart?

Sakshi swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat.

She definitely took each word to her wrenching heart.

______

"See you, later. Bye." Ronnie chuckled while waving at his friends. He clicked the keys, opening the car door and was about to sit inside when someone patted him on the shoulder.

He turned around and his eyes turned stunned at seeing a smirking Aarush.

"Man, you have been creeping me out. Have you formed a gay crush on me? Because I have started to feel bad seeing you looking at me like a lost lover. As if I have broken your heart," said Aarush while staring at him.

Ronnie looked at him, his eyes narrowing. "I don't have time for this." He was again turning around to sit in the car when Aarush patted his car's roof.

"Look, the things you said those days. I didn't understand a word you said. I am unaware of everything you blamed on me." Aarush told him seriously. "You know that I am not a bad guy. I don't have to prove you that I care about my friends. Everything is platonic with Sakshi and Aditi is mine, you know already. I don't understand what worse I did to disappoint a harasser like you." He mocked.

Ronnie's eyebrow raised. "That was a year ago. Don't you get it? I am over Sakshi from a long time. She doesn't exists for me much. I have tons of choices. It's you whose doing bullshit-"

"What bullshit?" Aarush asked immediately. "This is what I want to know. What are you blaming me for?"

Ronnie looked around the parking lot and finally glared at Aarush. "As if you don't know about the pics?"

Aarush's face straightened. "What pics, man?" He whispered.

Ronnie breathed angrily. "Professor Kathapalia had asked me to assist him in logging in to your class' practical performances. I went to the lab, did work with him. When I move on to the computer you performed on, I sign in to your University account and the teacher grades you. At the time of logging out, deleting the accounts for the next batch's exam. What do I see?"

Aarush was quiet.

Ronnie smiled wickedly. "Your email account opened."

"Not possible. I am not that careless. I didn't even use mail. The examiner wouldn't have allowed it. Someone must have cheated."

Ronnie raised his eyebrows, was now confused. "Of course, I know you cheated. You must have seen some hints from PDFs or what."

"I am the topper of my class," Aarush gritted his teeth.

Ronnie rolled his eyes. "Which is why you used your email account. Yeah, I get it." He chuckled sarcastically, making Aarush more angry. "Dude, there were teachers with me. I didn't do any misuse. But I had hacked the account before logging out your University account."

Aarush was speechless because he had been using all his accounts all finely.

Ronnie turned serious as he told him, "Later, at night. I log in to your account and finds some online shopping bull. But in between, on Dec 3, there's a mail of you sending some nude pictures to some guy."

Aarush widened his eyes. "Are you kidding me? I am not gay. Even if I was, I would never share my intimate pics. Oh my God!" He started laughing. "It must be someone else."

"There's no other Aarush in your class." Ronnie exclaimed. "And it wasn't of a man. Those were. . ." He hesitated, now secretly believing Aarush. "Those were of girls."

Aarush was stunned. "What was the roll number? The ID?"

"I don't fucking remember, man. But the ID, it involved your name for sure, with some game character name. Nonsense," Ronnie said while looking at him, unimpressed.

"Demigodaarush132. . ."

Ronnie widened his eyes. "Yes. That was it."

"Fuck!" Aarush paled. "That's my ID."

Ronnie flared his nostrils, ready to punch him.

"I used it some months ago but later, I had forgotten the password and never gave a shit about resetting since it was barely used. Neither did I used that ID ever in University labs. Someone is misusing my name," he said, worriedly.

Ronnie blinked. "Well. . ."

"I never took my own naked picture. Why will I take of a girl? Were they like good? Like wallpapers, photoshoot? Or some stupid drunken, blurry nude shit?" asked Aarush, quietly.

Ronnie looked away, remembering all the pics. "The latter kind. But it truly looked like the girl in the picture never knew. Her face isn't visible. The side looks that aren't even recognisable, fast moving, blurry, improperly taken. But totally nude. Sometimes, while removing undies."

Aarush gulped, rubbing his forehead. "Damn! Poor girl. All those girls in my class talk shit but this is something serious. She could get blackmailed or. . ." He stopped, the word blackmail triggering the lights in his mind.

Aarush gulped, shaking his head. "Look, you can doubt me but just know that it's not me. I can barely watch porn since it distracts me from studying. Takes me like a week to get out of that zone and go back to study. I avoid it all. I don't even need to do these shots. I have Aditi. I could never be creepy enough to do these things. I am all normal. It's some other guy spoiling my name. Just give me the password, I'll see the mail."

Ronnie smirked, shaking his head. "Now. Now, why would I do that?"

Aarush's eyes turned scared. "Man, please. I'll do you a favor, someday."

Ronnie laughed, enjoying the superiority here. "It's your ID man, you reset your password and everything. I won't help you in this. Do it on your own."

Aarush stared at him. "So, being all that protective student and being empathetic to this poor girl was all an act. Because clearly, now you aren't helping me find this creep." He stressed angrily.

Ronnie's smile faded as he gave him a Stern look. "I felt that anger because I never got that low myself. Okay? I am still not stopping doubting you. You could be making a fool of me for now."

Aarush sighed and closed his eyes. He looked at Ronnie and nodded. "I understand. You still doubt me. Fine, just tell me which computer it was in the lab. I can remember who must be sitting there. And who the hell can get to know my email and password?"

Ronnie was staring at a car, listening to him. A doubt was forming in his head on someone else other than Aarush. It was stronger since all the proofs and clues matched to that student's profile. But could he tell Aarush that? He could just blame it back on him.

"Can you recognize the girl if I tell you one thing about the pics?" asked Ronnie while looking at him.

Aarush breathed slowly, nodding quietly. "It's not like I have seen each girl in my class naked. I can try to recognize the side looks and hair, maybe."

Ronnie bit his lip, thinking that he had to play careful. Aarush could be clever and snatch his phone if he just showed him the pics. "Um, I am sending you two of the pics. The one which shows the most," he said, observing discomfort on Aarush's face. "You try recognizing it. Because I have recognized the girl."

Aarush widened his eyes. "You did?"

Ronnie nodded, thinking hard. "Yeah, if you too catch her name. Then, I'll be confirmed. If not, then, we can't warn any of the girl or save her. We can only go after the man using your email."

Aarush raised his eyebrows and nodded. "You're right. I won't be able to tell even to the one if I recognized her. What if she blames it back on me? I'll be dead."

"Just see the pics, see for any similarities to the one you know. It could be Sakshi or Aditi too," Ronnie warned him, making his lips part. "Tell me about it and then, we'll see what to do. And I am only doing this if you aren't the stalker I am talking about. I swear. Because if you are, I'll kill you."

Aarush laughed sarcastically. "Sure, you will. I'll kill myself if I found myself sleepwalking and taking girl's pics. Right? Man, I am not the one. Trust me on this. J saved Sakshi from you, last year. You were almost raping her."

"I didn't intend to do that, you moron." Ronnie nearly yelled. "You still don't get it. Sakshi was giving me these gorgeous looks. I felt like we could have some fun but I wasn't forcing on her. She was fine when we danced and went to a secluded corner, nearly kissed. She started crying when I tried to do more, gently." He made quotations with his fingers, widening his eyes at Aarush.

"It was her who didn't say properly. She needs to learn to refuse and protect herself," he added, glaring at Aarush. "My ego is thicker than my lust. If a girl doesn't give me look, I won't even know her."

Aarush rolled his eyes, stepped back to give him space to open the car door. "Yeah. Yeah. . ."

"By the way, don't share this with Aditi and Sakshi or anyone else. At least, until we found out who did this and who is the victim here."

Aarush nodded and sighed heavily, waving a hand when Ronnie pulled out the car and drove away. His legs were shaking from the doubts that were appearing on his mind. Moreover, the carelessness he did had filled him with full of regret. He couldn't believe that something like this was happening right under his nose.

"Nudes," he muttered through gritted teeth when received two messages from Ronnie immediately.

He shook his head and walked away, thinking about dealing with this new trouble.

______

"What do you think?"

Please vote and comment.

This one was more of a filler chapter for me because next one will be plot thickener. Next update will be soon.

____

Please go, give a try to my book- 'Misty'. 💓