ABLAZE.✔️

Chapter 15. 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆

Third Person POV.
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The Dehradun sun shone with deceptive calmness over the prestigious campus, but inside the school's grand canteen, a silent storm brewed.

The air buzzed with laughter, the clatter of cutlery, and muffled whispers. On one side sat the untouchables—the "IT crowd." Saksham Singhal, the enigmatic and dangerously composed School President, sat at the head of the table like a lion on a throne. Beside him: his ever-loyal Vice President Abeer, the charming but oblivious best friend. On either side, the radiant Sana Singhania and ever-composed Alisha Ahuja, while Karan, Nikhil, and Pari Kapoor added to the noise and glamour.

But Saksham wasn't listening to them.

His deep, coal-black eyes never left the other corner of the canteen.

There—bathed in sunlight from the high windows—sat Falak. His Pearl.

Her laughter rang like church bells as she covered her mouth, amused at something Deep Singh had said. Naina rolled her eyes beside her, while Shubh grinned and playfully threw a paper napkin at Falak.

And Saksham burned.

His hand slowly clenched around the silver fork until his knuckles turned white. The steel bent slightly. The only one who noticed was Alisha, who placed a soft hand on his arm.

"You okay, Saksham?" she asked quietly.

He didn't answer. His eyes were fixed.

Right then, Pari Kapoor—glittering in confidence and cleavage—slid closer to him, her arm brushing his. Her glossy lips curved in a wicked smile.

"You're awfully quiet today, Mr. President," she purred, placing her hand over his on the table.

He didn't move. Didn't pull away.

Because he knew who was watching.

Falak.

She looked up, almost instinctively, and met his gaze. Her smile dropped. Her face paled. But she didn't look away.

Pari leaned closer, whispering right into his ear. "Why don't we continue what we started last night?" she smirked, loud enough for half the table to hear.

Sana let out a laugh, "Oh my God, Pari...you're so shameless."

Saksham tilted his head toward Pari, his expression unreadable.

"Maybe I like shameless things," he said, loud and clear.

Across the room, Falak's lips trembled. She turned to look at Deep, who instantly leaned closer in concern.

"What happened? You okay?" Deep asked gently.

But Saksham had already seen it.

That small, unconscious lean from Falak toward Deep.

His jaw tightened.

Abeer chuckled, trying to keep the mood light. "Dude, not in the canteen, please. Let's keep it PG here, Pari."

Sana, sipping her iced latte, smirked and threw a glance toward Falak. "Not everyone can handle adult conversations, you know. Some people still belong in kindergarten."

That hit. Square in the chest.

Falak stiffened.

Shubh frowned, glaring. "What the hell was that for?" he whispered angrily.

Falak swallowed the lump in her throat. "It's fine," she whispered back. But her knuckles were white on her juice box.

Saksham didn't say a word to Sana. He never scolded her. She was his little sister figure. His untouchable.

But he didn't miss the slight quiver in Falak's lower lip.

That was what he wanted.

Emotion.

Pain.

Feeling.

Because as long as she felt, it meant she still cared.

Alisha leaned toward him again and whispered in warning, "You're playing with fire, Saksham. Falak's not like us. This isn't her world."

He finally turned to her. "Exactly. That's why I keep her out of it."

Across the room, Deep handed Falak his water bottle, his hand brushing hers.

That was it.

Saksham stood abruptly.

Everyone at the table looked up.

He didn't explain. Didn't say a word. He simply walked, like a shadow given form, past the rows of tables—his presence turning heads—until he reached the other side of the canteen.

Falak froze. Deep and Shubh instinctively leaned toward her, tense.

He didn't speak to any of them.

He just bent down slowly beside Falak's ear and whispered:

"Laugh with him again...and I swear, Pearl—I will bury this entire school in ash."

Her eyes widened. Breath hitched.

And just like that, he was gone.

Back to his throne. As if nothing had happened.

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𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘥!