Vishal approached Wick and Nick with urgency in his tone. "The principal wants to see you both. Now."
Wick exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Oh, come on! First, I deal with these idiots, and now I have to sit through a lecture from him?"
Nick, ever the voice of reason, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's just go and see what he has to say."
With reluctant steps, they made their way to the principal's office. As they arrived, the peon raised a hand, signaling them to wait. But patience had never been Wick's strong suit.
"I don't have time for this," Wick muttered before pushing the door open and striding in.
The principal's head snapped up in irritation. "Jesus, Wick! You can't just barge in like this! We were in the middle of something. Get out and wait until I call for you."
Wick's eyes landed on the two boys sitting across from the principal's desk. The color drained from their faces as his intense gaze locked onto them. Without missing a beat, Wick spoke, his voice cold and authoritative. "Out. Wait outside."
The boys hesitated, exchanging nervous glances, but before they could stand, the principal barked, "Sit down!"
One of the boys swallowed hard and, after a moment of silence, muttered under his breath, "No disrespect, sir, but that lunatic comes to my house. You wouldn't."
The principal sighed, rubbing his temples as if questioning his life choices. "Why do I even bother? Just get out and wait."
Wick smirked faintly as the boys practically ran out of the office. He turned back to the principal. "Mind if I sit?"
The principal exhaled heavily, gesturing towards the chairs. Wick and Nick took their seats, the room now thick with tension.
"The fight you had with the politician's son has turned into a serious issue," the principal began, his voice carrying the weight of the situation. "Effective immediately, you are suspended from the college until further notice. That means no attending classes, no stepping foot on campus without permission... and no competing in the selection matches."
Nick glanced at Wick, expecting an outburst, some sign of anger, but instead, Wick simply leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. He drummed his fingers lightly on the armrest, his posture exuding indifference.
"Do you even care?" the principal asked, exasperated.
Wick stood up without answering and walked out. As he stepped into the hallway, his gaze landed on Sanjay, who was harassing a younger student.
Something inside Wick snapped.
His strides quickened, and before anyone could react, his fist was already swinging.
"Wick, no!" the principal's voice rang out behind him, but it was too late.
The sound of the punch echoed down the corridor. Sanjay staggered back, blood trickling from his lip.
Wick didn't stop.
Blow after blow landed as chaos erupted around them. Students gasped, some stepping back, others watching in stunned silence. The principal rushed forward, yelling, "Wick! We just talked about this!"
Nick, realizing this could spiral further, grabbed Wick by the arms, pulling him back. "Enough, Wick!"
With a final glare at Sanjay, Wick jerked his arms free and stormed off, Nick close behind.
---
Hours later, Roy and Jai found Wick sitting on the rooftop, staring out at the city, lost in thought.
Jai handed him a file. "We got the report."
Wick opened it, scanning the contents. His eyes narrowed as he read the words Vikram Kashyap - Not Recommended.
He frowned. "That... that doesn't make sense."
Jai exhaled, shifting uncomfortably. "With your suspension, you can't compete. They don't want to waste a slot on someone who won't be allowed to play. Instead, they're offering you a position as the college team's advisor for the inter-college tournament."
Before Wick could react, the sports teacher walked in, clearing his throat. "I wanted to offer my condolences. I know this must be disappointing, not being part of the team. Given the situation, we believe the best course of action is to have you serve as a consultant-"
Wick abruptly stood up, cutting him off with a short laugh. His smirk returned, though there was no humor behind it.
"You can't afford me."
Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving them speechless.
The next morning, Nick sat across from Wick, a deep frown creasing his forehead. He tapped his fingers on the table, his gaze locked on his friend.
"Brother, you've made me confused," Nick finally blurted out, shaking his head in disbelief.
Wick, who was casually sipping his coffee, raised an eyebrow. "How's that? What did I do?"
Nick sighed, leaning forward. "You know I have a crush on Varsha, but I can't confess my feelings to her."
Wick nodded. "Yeah, I know that. But how is that my fault?"
Nick gestured dramatically. "Because the most heartless, the coldest person I know—the guy who doesn't even think about love for a second, let alone express feelings—is suddenly showing emotions! Dude, you're in love! If you can fall in love, then maybe... maybe I should give it a shot too."
Wick stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter, nearly falling out of his chair. "Bro, I can't help you with that one," he said, still chuckling. "That's your battle."
A few hours later, Nick found himself in the library, pacing the aisles before spotting Varsha at a corner table, engrossed in her book. Taking a deep breath, he walked over and leaned slightly toward her.
"Hey, Varsha," he greeted with a confident smile.
She barely glanced up, her expression indifferent, before returning to her book. Nick frowned but didn't back down.
"You look like you're either angry at me or... maybe you changed your name," he mused. "I think I'll just call you mine instead."
Varsha finally looked up, unimpressed. "Stop flirting with me, Nick."
His smirk didn't falter. "I'm not flirting with you," he said, his voice quieter now, more sincere. "I'm telling you the truth—I've started loving you."
A hush fell over the table as Varsha's friends, who had been sitting nearby, exchanged surprised glances. Varsha, however, looked more irritated than moved. She let out a sigh and turned to her friends. "Don't take him seriously."
Nick, undeterred, took a step closer. His usual playful demeanor softened, and his voice carried an unfamiliar intensity. "They don't have to take me seriously, but you do. My feelings, my words—they're not a joke. And don't worry, Varsha... I'll try again and again until you say yes." He paused, his eyes locking onto hers. "Or until I stop breathing."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving behind a stunned silence. Varsha's friends stared at her, waiting for a reaction, but she simply clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening around her book. She refused to look after him, yet for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to turn the page either.
To be continued...