"Sometimes, the brightest light appears in our darkest moments... but even light casts a shadow."

The school bell rings, signaling the start of another day—another battle for Arjun.

His bandaged hand is a constant reminder of Diwali night, but instead of sympathy, he's met with cruelty.

"Burnt Hand!"

"Cursed Boy!"

"Stay away from him!"

Mocking whispers follow him down the hallways. His classmates avoid him like a disease, their laughter sharp as knives. Teachers turn a blind eye. Even those who once spoke to him now keep their distance.

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Alone.

Lunch break arrives, and Arjun sits in the farthest corner of the schoolyard, his untouched tiffin beside him. His fingers dig into the soil, frustration bubbling beneath his skin. The voice... the explosion... was it all his fault?

Then, a shadow falls over him.

He looks up.

A girl—fearless eyes, an air of quiet confidence—lowers herself beside him. She doesn't speak. Doesn't hesitate. Just sits.

Arjun stares, expecting her to leave. She doesn't.

The next day, she sits beside him again. And again.

When others mock him, she speaks up. "Say it again, and I'll break your teeth."

For the first time in years, someone stands by his side.

Days turn into weeks. Their bond deepens. She meets his family, slowly weaving herself into his world.

Arjun dares to believe... maybe he isn't alone anymore.

But Bhairaa lurks beneath the surface, waiting.

And fate is already choosing its next victim.

Has Arjun truly found a friend, or is she unknowingly stepping into a darkness she cannot escape?