The girls entered the car, and as they settled in, Annu waved them off. "Come back soon, alright?"
Shristi turned to Wick, her voice laced with suspicion. "What exactly did you say to the warden? Both of them were scared as hell."
Wick, without even glancing at her, replied nonchalantly, "Nothing much. Just asked if I could take you all with me for a while."
Shristi wasn't convinced. "That's it? You didn't threaten them or anything?"
Wick's lips curled into a half-smirk. "Do I look like the kind of person who needs to threaten?"
Shristi crossed her arms. "Yes. Absolutely."
Wick ignored her and asked, "How long will it take to get your documents and package?"
"Probably thirty minutes."
"Alright, then. I'll drop you there and head off to finish some work. You guys can go shopping or do whatever you want."
After ten minutes, the car pulled up outside the location.
Wick turned to Shristi. "Call me when you're done. In the meantime, I've asked someone to keep an eye on you."
Shristi's expression hardened. "Seriously? Why do you keep treating me like a child?"
"Because if you're in touch with me, you're probably in danger," Wick said matter-of-factly.
Shristi exhaled sharply. "Fine. But just this once. And... thanks for helping. Maybe I was wrong about you. Maybe we can even be friends."
Wick's face remained unreadable. "I see."
And with that, he drove away.
---
A Change of Plans
As Wick glanced at the rearview mirror, he asked the remaining girls, "So, where do you want to go?"
Hazel, already browsing her phone, named a store.
"Won't work. That shop's closed today," Wick informed them. "So, what now?"
Hazel sighed. "Ugh, not today then. Let's just go back."
Wick shook his head. "Not happening. I have someplace to be."
Hazel exchanged a look with Bhumi before turning back to him. "Okay, then. We're coming with you."
Wick gave them a pointed look. "Fine, but stay in the car. Listen to music, scroll through your phones, do whatever-just don't step out."
---
Curiosity Leads to Trouble
After reaching the location, Wick reminded them once more. "Stay. In. The. Car."
Then he disappeared through the gates.
Minutes passed. Boredom crept in.
Bhumi drummed her fingers on the dashboard. "Why am I even listening to him? He's not my boss."
Hazel glanced at her. "What are you thinking?"
Bhumi unbuckled her seatbelt. "I'm going out."
Khusi hesitated before following.
The moment they stepped out, they were met with loud music, flashing lights, and the unmistakable energy of an outdoor pool party.
Bhumi's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell? This guy left us in the car and is having fun here?"
Before she could react further, a stranger approached her.
"Hey there, beautiful," the man said with a sly grin. "Looking for company?"
Before Bhumi could respond, Wick's voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Get the hell out of here, you stupid bastard," he growled, stepping in between them.
Then, turning to Bhumi, he spoke in a low, dangerous tone. "Did I or did I not tell you to stay in the car?"
Bhumi lifted her chin defiantly. "I do whatever I want. I'm not your slave, Wick. You don't control me."
Wick held her gaze for a moment before sighing. "Fine. Just get back in the car. I'll be done in ten minutes."
Bhumi huffed but complied.
---
Another Close Call
Five minutes later, Bhumi was back outside.
This time, another man approached her, offering a drink. "You look thirsty. Coke or Mojito? Don't worry, just soft drinks."
Bhumi smiled, completely unaware of the danger. "Coke, please."
She took a sip-
And suddenly, Wick was there.
His fist collided with the man's face, sending him crashing to the ground.
Bhumi turned on him angrily. "What is wrong with you?! You can't just hit people whenever you feel like it!"
Wick grabbed the drink from her hand, sniffed it, and immediately threw it away. "There was alcohol mixed in it."
Bhumi froze. "What?" Her stomach twisted. "Oh, hell no." She turned to the man, her eyes blazing. "You bastard!"
Wick grabbed her wrist and pulled her away before she could cause more of a scene.
"You should listen to me next time," he said, voice cold.
This time, Bhumi didn't argue.
---
Wick turned the keys in his hand and glanced at the others.
"Alright. You guys head to the mall and finish your shopping. I'll go pick up Shristi," he said in his usual calm, assertive tone.
Khusi hesitated, then took a step closer.
"Actually... I don't really feel like shopping. Mind if I come with you?" she asked, her voice casual but eyes searching his face.
Wick shrugged slightly. "Okay. No problem."
Hazel and Bhumi exchanged looks, then smiled.
"We'll catch up with you later then," Hazel said cheerfully.
As Wick and Khusi walked off, Bhumi suddenly gasped.
"Oh no! I left my phone in the car!"
Hazel tried to reassure her. "Don't worry, it's probably still there. You were taking videos, right?"
Bhumi nodded with a groan. "Yeah, and the battery was almost dead. Just my luck."
---
[Later — Outside the Office]
Wick leaned against the hood of the car, waiting. A few minutes later, Shristi stepped out, looking relieved yet tired.
He glanced at her.
"Done? Is your work finished?"
She nodded, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Yeah. Thanks for waiting."
Wick said nothing, just turned toward the car.
"Let's go then."
The ride was quiet at first, the city lights casting fleeting shadows on their faces. Shristi finally broke the silence.
"Where are the others?"
Wick kept his eyes on the road.
"Still shopping."
A beat of silence.
"And Khusi?" she asked, frowning slightly.
Wick's jaw tensed.
"I left her. On the road."
Shristi blinked.
"What? Why?"
"She was insulting my brother. I don't tolerate that." His voice was sharp, but controlled.
Shristi crossed her arms. "Then maybe you should leave me too."
Wick glanced at her briefly.
"That's not going to happen. Just sit quietly."
"And what if something happens to her?" she snapped.
"I booked her a cab. She'll reach the hostel safe."
Shristi gave a bitter smile.
"Wow. Bravo. The gentleman himself, Mr. Wick."
---
[At the Mall Parking Lot]
As they pulled in, Bhumi was the first to approach.
"Shristi, everything went fine?" she asked, then looked around.
"Wait... where's Khusi?"
Shristi gave a dry smile.
"Ask him." She tilted her head toward Wick.
Wick exhaled.
"She caused a scene. I left her and booked her a cab. She should be at the hostel by now."
Bhumi's expression darkened.
"Of course you did. Typical. Just stop the car and let me out too."
Wick's grip on the steering wheel tightened.
"That's not happening."
"I said stop the damn car, Wick!" Bhumi shouted, voice trembling with frustration.
He pulled the car over and turned to her, his voice low and firm.
"You came with me. You'll go back with me. You're my responsibility, Bhumi. Whether you like it or not. So sit tight and remember that."
Bhumi stared at him, stunned into silence.
---
[At the Hostel Gate — Night]
The car rolled to a stop. Wick turned to Bhumi as she grabbed her bag.
"Bhumi..." he began, his voice quieter now.
"I'm not perfect. I screw things up. I'm not the ideal brother, or a good leader all the time. So don't expect too much from me. I don't take orders well, and I can't always stay calm."
She looked at him for a long moment, then smiled coldly.
"Don't worry, Wick. I stopped expecting anything from you a long time ago."
With that, she stepped out and walked into the hostel without looking back. Wick sat there for a moment, the weight of her words lingering in the silence.
---
Wick and his friends sat in a bench at courtyard.
Annu: "So, Wick, I heard a very interesting rumor today."
Wick, barely glancing up: "Not interested."
Annu: "Oh, but you will be. See, apparently, a certain scary, brooding, untouchable guy has a soft spot for a girl with a sharp tongue and pretty eyes."
Dipanshu, catching on, smirked: "Who could that be?"
Annu clapped her hands: "Well, let's see! He fights for her, sits next to her in class even though he 'hates people,' glares at every guy who talks to her, and-oh yeah!-carried her books the other day. Would you like to guess, Wick?"
Wick, expression unreadable: "Are you done?"
Annu grinned wider: "Oh no, I haven't even started." She turned dramatically to Shristi, who had just sat down. "Shristi, dear, would you like to share what our Wick did when you got that paper cut last week?"
Shristi blinked, confused: "Uh... he gave me a tissue?"
Annu gasped: "Exactly! The same man who once told Aryan, 'Stop whining, it's just a scratch,' saw you with a paper cut and nearly lost his mind."
Dipanshu: "Wait, what? Wick actually helped someone with a papercut?"
Wick, voice low: "Annu."
Annu, grinning: "Relax, Wick! I'm just making sure the world knows how special Shristi is to you."
Wick: "Do you have a death wish?"
Wick turned to her, eyes narrowing, but before he could respond, Annu clapped her hands. "This is fun! Who knew our Wick had a heart?"
For the first time, Wick had no comeback. Annu and Shristi exchanged a victorious look.
---
The Breaking Point
Later that night, Wick found Nick sitting with a group of boys, a cigarette between his fingers and an open bottle beside him.
Wick's heart sank.
"What the hell are you doing, Nick?" he demanded.
Nick turned lazily, his eyes clouded with intoxication. "Oh, so you finally showed up."
"Let's go. Now."
Nick laughed bitterly. "And why the hell would I do that?" He took another drag before exhaling slowly. "You never valued me. You just used me, Wick. You're a selfish asshole."
Wick clenched his fists. "Nick. Stop this. If you don't, you'll be removed from the team."
Nick's expression turned into a mocking smirk. "Ah, there it is. You just wanted to get rid of me." He took another swig from the bottle. "You don't deserve to call me a friend. You sure as hell don't deserve to call me a brother."
The words hit Wick harder than any punch ever could.
The boys around them, sensing Wick's rising fury, quickly scattered.
Nick sneered. "Bravo, Wick. You scared them away. Just like you scared everyone else away."
For the first time in a long while, Wick felt something dangerously close to heartbreak.
"If that's what you want, Nick..." Wick's voice was hollow. "Then I'll leave."
He turned and walked away, his hands clenched, his eyes burning-but not with anger.
As he disappeared into the darkness, only one thought haunted him-
Why did Nick suddenly change?
To Be Continued...