Pooja’s voice echoed in the background like a haunting memory.

"Hi, I am me. And don’t expect anything good from me, because my life is a mess—full of pain and regret. I’m Pooja… and I’m in charge now.”Her voice was heavy with sorrow, as if each word carried years of suffering.

*1980s, Mumbai, India*

*Hallmark High School*

Kareena stood confidently with her usual gang—Mahika, Munni, Palak, Saif, and Raghav. They lounged near the courtyard, their eyes following the crowd, gossip swirling around them like perfume.

“She really thinks she can take over?” Kareena scoffed, her voice dripping with venom. “We’ll make that Pooja girl suffer. How dare she try to steal my place?”

Mahika clenched her fists. “Yes, Kareena. You’ve always been the best. But that brat took first position in class. She needs to be taught a lesson.”

Just then, Pooja walked by. Her presence was quiet, almost invisible—but not to Kareena’s crew. They moved like a storm toward her.

Pooja flinched as they surrounded her, eyes narrowing, voices sharp. Fear flickered across her face, but she didn’t say a word.

Elsewhere, Rohan sat with his friends, speaking with a faraway look in his eyes.

“I don’t know why, but there’s something about her,” he said softly. “Pooja… I think I’m in love with her.”

Malik rolled his eyes. “Man, we’re tired of hearing about your love life. Give it a break.”

Ayush leaned forward with a grin. “Alright, lover boy. I have a question for you.”

Rohan smiled, his heart full of emotions he didn’t yet understand—unaware of the storm already forming in Pooja’s world.

*Hallmark High – Empty Classroom*

Pooja stood trembling, her voice barely above a whisper. “Please… what do you want from me?”

Kareena and her gang burst into mocking laughter as they stepped into the room.

Kareena crossed her arms, her voice dripping with contempt. “A lowlife like you has nothing to offer me.”

Pooja’s eyes welled with tears, but she clenched her fists, holding her ground. “Okay then,” she said sharply, and without another word, turned and stormed out of the room.

The girls were left stunned.

“Did that lowlife just walk away?” Kareena barked, still in disbelief.

“We need to teach her a hard lesson,” Palak muttered darkly.

*Meanwhile...*

Ayush and Rohan were sitting under a tree outside a building. Ayush leaned in with curiosity.

“What if someone offered you a big sum of money or your dream job, but only if you left Pooja?” he asked.

Rohan didn’t even hesitate. He shook his head firmly. “Never. Nothing will separate me from her.”

Ayush and Malik exchanged surprised glances.

*Later That Afternoon – Principal’s Office*

Pooja had reported Kareena to the principal, Mrs. Kajol Singh. Kareena stood before her, arms folded and attitude blazing.

“Stop shouting at me, Mrs. Singh. I’m not your child,” Kareena snapped.

Mrs. Kajol’s expression turned to stone. She rose from her chair, eyes narrowed.

“How dare you, Kareena? I don’t care who your family is. But if you ever bother Pooja again, there will be consequences.”

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

The sun had barely risen when the silence in the Kapoor household was shattered by shouting.

Pooja, dressed in her school uniform and tying her hair in front of the mirror, froze mid-motion. The loud voices—her parents’—echoed from the living room. She clenched her fists, already knowing what she’d find, but hoping—just hoping—that this morning would be different.

She stepped out quietly, heart thudding. From the hallway, she could hear her father's angry tone rising and her mother's soft, pleading voice. As she peeked into the living room, her breath caught.

Her mother, Suhana, lay on the floor, crying, while her father, Amit, stood over her, gripping a leather belt. His expression was hard and unfeeling, a stark contrast to the pain in Suhana’s eyes. The belt… had been used.

Pooja rushed to her mother, kneeling beside her.

“Mum… are you okay?” she asked, her voice shaking.

Suhana wiped her tears quickly and forced a small, broken smile. “I’m fine, beta,” she whispered, nodding. But Pooja could see the truth written all over her mother’s bruised face.

“Go to school,” Suhana added softly, her voice weak but firm.

Before Pooja could respond, Amit appeared and roughly grabbed her hand. “Enough delays. Get in the car,” he said coldly.

She didn’t resist. As he drove her to school, the ride was silent. Just as she stepped out, Amit muttered, “Have a nice day. Study well.” Then he drove off without another word.

Pooja stood there for a moment, her schoolbag feeling heavier than ever. Her heart ached, but she forced herself to walk toward the building.

Meanwhile, things were shifting at Hallmark High. Principal Kajol had been dismissed by her superiors—word had spread like wildfire. Her once-feared reign was over. In her place stood the newly appointed Principal Mukesh, a man known for discipline and fairness. But Pooja barely noticed; her mind was still at home.

On the other side of the school gates, Kareena and her gang were waiting. Palak, Saif, Munni, and Raghav stood with arms crossed, all eyes fixed on the path ahead.

“There she is,” Kareena muttered, her lips curling into a smirk.

Pooja appeared at the entrance, walking beside her only true friend—Meera Sinha. The two girls talked quietly, unaware of the trap ahead.

“There’s our little star,” Kareena sneered sarcastically, stepping forward.

Pooja stopped in her tracks, her eyes meeting Kareena’s. Meera stood beside her protectively, sensing trouble.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Kareena said, flipping her hair. “We just wanted to welcome you properly.”

The gang chuckled.

Pooja swallowed hard, bracing herself. It was going to be another long day.

Meera knelt down beside Pooja, her eyes filled with regret. "We’re so sorry, Kareena. She didn’t know what she was doing," Meera pleaded softly, hoping to calm the angry girl.

Kareena’s eyes flashed with fury, but Meera’s sincere apology seemed to have an effect. Slowly, Kareena’s friends stopped laughing, and the tension in the air thickened.

Kareena sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, Meera, you’re so convincing." She looked down at Pooja, who stood frozen, confusion and hurt battling across her face. "Tell your little friend to apologize," Kareena demanded.

Pooja’s heart pounded fiercely. She felt shock and despair wash over her, unable to find the words to respond. The cruel mockery stung deeper than she expected.

Meanwhile, in a quieter corner, Suhana confided in her friend Swara about the turmoil at home. Her voice trembled as she spoke, the weight of her secret heavy on her shoulders.

"Swara," Suhana whispered, tears brimming in her eyes, "you have to help me. Amit’s anger… it’s getting worse. I don’t know how much longer I can take it."

Swara’s face hardened with concern. "You need to leave him, Suhana. Divorce him before things get even worse."

Suhana shook her head fiercely, tears streaming down her cheeks. "No, if I do, Pooja will be devastated. She’s already struggling… seeing him hit me every day breaks her too."

Swara’s heart clenched at the admission. She knew this was only the beginning of a long, painful journey for them both.

---

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

The tension inside the Kapoor household was unbearable. Suhana sat silently, trying to brace herself for yet another confrontation with her husband, Amit. The walls seemed to close in as Amit’s anger simmered beneath the surface, erupting like a volcano at the slightest provocation.

“How is she traumatized?” Amit demanded aggressively as Suhana tried to explain the pain their daughter, Pooja, was enduring.

Suhana’s voice shook, but she found the strength to speak. “You fight me every single day, Amit. For Pooja’s sake, you have to stop this. It’s tearing our family apart.”

Amit’s face twisted into a mask of fury. “How dare you tell me what to do?” he roared. “Am I your mate? You think you can order me around?” Without warning, he raised his hand and slapped Suhana across the face.

The shock of the slap echoed in Suhana’s ears as tears welled up in her eyes. Clutching her stinging cheek, she whispered, “I’m only trying to protect our daughter.”

Amit sneered, “You’re not even on my level. I’m punishing you, not fighting you.” With that, he stormed out, leaving Suhana trembling, tears streaming down her cheeks.

---

Outside, the storm of violence had not yet passed. On the roadside, a brutal fight unfolded. Kareena’s gang had surrounded Rohan, beating him mercilessly. Pooja was dragged toward Kareena, whose eyes blazed with fury.

“You are nothing!” Kareena spat venomously. “You will never be better than me.” Her hand shot out, slapping Pooja hard across the face. When Pooja stumbled, Kareena didn’t stop. She punched her mouth, and blood trickled down in a stark contrast to Pooja’s pale skin.

Despite his own injuries, Rohan struggled to stand. “Please,” he begged, his voice thick with pain. “Don’t hurt her. I love her so much.”

Kareena laughed coldly, her voice dripping with contempt. “Oh really? And who are you to say that?”

Rohan’s voice was steady as he answered, “I’m her boyfriend.”

The words seemed to ignite a new fury in Kareena. She snarled at her guards, “Get him inside the car!” The guards obeyed without hesitation, pulling Rohan away from Pooja. Kareena climbed into her car, and as the vehicle drove off, the sense of dread around Pooja grew heavier.

---

Back at home, Suhana wiped away her tears and tried to gather strength. She knew this battle was far from over — for her, for Pooja, and for the family that was slowly fracturing before her eyes.

---

Inside Kareena’s sleek car, tension filled the air. Rohan’s eyes darted nervously as he gripped the door handle tightly. “Please, miss,” he pleaded, voice trembling with fear. “Let me go. I won’t say a word.”

Kareena’s gaze hardened. “Break up with Pooja, and I’ll give you a job. You look like a worthless loafer to me,” she snapped coldly.

Rohan’s heart pounded. “No... I can’t,” he stammered.

Without warning, Kareena pulled out a gun and pointed it at him. The cold metal sent a chill down Rohan’s spine, and he froze, utterly shocked.

“I’m giving you a better deal,” Kareena said, her voice low and menacing. “Break up with her, and I’ll give you five million and a job at Gandhi’s Industry. Refuse, and you’ll face a slow, painful death.”

Rohan’s mind whirled in panic. He was terrified but also tempted by the offer. As the eldest son of a very poor family, he desperately wanted to provide for them, and this job could change their lives.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, the driver was recounting the recent events to Suhana and Amit. Suhana’s eyes filled with worry. “We need to report this to the police,” she urged.

Pooja, tears streaming down her cheeks, nodded fiercely. “Yes, Mum. Make that cruel girl pay.”

Amit’s face darkened with anger. “Are you both out of your minds?” he shouted. “The Gandhis are powerful people. How can I stand against someone like them? Pooja, you’re a human being, not a pawn. Fight back.”

His voice cracked with emotion as Suhana wiped her tears, determination growing in her eyes. The battle was far from over.

---