PART 3 — The Breaking Point
Aresha didn’t go home after the meeting.
She walked.
And walked.
And walked.
Past the canteen.
Past the empty ground.
Past the back lawn where no one went during class hours.
Her head throbbed.
Her ribs hurt.
Her scalp ached.
But none of it compared to the storm inside her chest.
Her stepmother had managed to fool the teachers—again.
Everyone believed Rina.
Everyone always did.
Perfect smile.
Perfect voice.
Perfect lie.
Aresha sat under the lone banyan tree.
The one place no one disturbed her.
She didn’t cry.
She couldn’t.
Her tears always stayed stuck in her throat, never reaching her eyes.
But her fingers trembled uncontrollably.
She hugged her knees tightly and pressed her forehead against them.
For a few moments…
she allowed herself to feel the pain.
Just a little.
Footsteps approached.
She didn’t look up.
“Why are you hiding here?”
Rehan’s voice. Soft. Hesitant.
Aresha didn’t respond.
He sat down in front of her, leaving some distance.
For the first time, he didn’t look at her like she was a monster.
More like…
someone he didn’t know how to reach.
“I… came to say sorry properly,” he said.
“I shouldn’t have pushed you like that.”
Still nothing.
Rehan’s eyes dropped to her hands.
Small.
Shaking.
Bruised knuckles.
“Does it hurt?” he asked quietly.
Aresha finally lifted her head.
Her eyes were empty, exhausted.
“Everything hurts,” she whispered.
Rehan’s chest tightened.
She wasn’t talking about the injury.
He knew it.
She knew it.
He swallowed. “That woman… your stepmother—she was pretending inside the office. I could see it. She wasn’t… normal.”
Aresha's jaw locked instantly.
“Don’t,” she snapped.
Her voice sharp, defensive.
But it wasn’t anger.
It was fear.
Rehan raised his hands gently.
“I’m not judging. I’m just saying… you don’t have to hide.”
Aresha looked away sharply.
“I always have to hide.”
“Why?”
Her voice cracked—just slightly.
“If I don’t hide… everything breaks.”
Rehan leaned slightly forward.
“And what if… you break first?”
Aresha stiffened.
No one had ever said that to her.
Not Zara.
Not Myra.
Not a teacher.
Not any friend—because she never had friends.
Rehan noticed her shoulders trembling.
He spoke softly, “Aresha, you’re bleeding again. Your bandage—”
She touched the back of her head.
Her fingers came away red.
The cut had opened.
Rehan stood. “Come with me—I’ll take you to the nurse.”
Aresha shot up instantly, stepping back.
“No.”
“Why not—?”
“No,” she repeated firmly.
“I don’t want anyone to see.”
Rehan looked at her with pained understanding.
She was strong—but also hiding, fragile, terrified of exposure.
“Okay,” he said quietly.
“I won’t force you.”
Aresha blinked, surprised.
People always forced her.
Threatened her.
Shouted at her.
But Rehan… simply accepted her refusal.
It made her chest tighten in a confusing way.
He stepped closer—slowly, giving her space to move away if she wanted.
She didn’t.
“Aresha,” he said gently, “whatever you’re going through… you don’t deserve it.”
Her breath hitched.
Those words alone… almost made her break.
But she masked it instantly.
“You don’t know anything,” she muttered.
“Then tell me.”
“No.”
Rehan looked at her bruised arms, her swollen wrist, her limping steps, her trembling voice…
And he realized—
She wasn’t refusing because she didn’t want help.
She was refusing because she thought she didn’t deserve it.
“Aresha…”
He reached out slowly, giving her time to move away.
She didn’t.
His fingers brushed her bandaged hand—barely a touch.
Her breath shuddered.
His voice lowered.
“You don’t have to be strong right now.”
Aresha laughed weakly—brokenly.
“I have never been anything else.”
There was silence.
Wind rustled the leaves above them.
Rehan finally asked, “What will you do now?”
Aresha looked toward the college gate.
Home.
Hell.
The place she would return to tonight.
The place that would punish her for being suspended.
“I’ll survive.”
Her voice was cold, mechanical.
“I always do.”
Rehan stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
“This time… you won’t survive alone.”
Aresha froze.
For the first time since childhood…
someone had stood between her and her pain.
Her voice dropped to a trembling whisper.
“Why do you care?”
Rehan met her eyes—serious, honest, conflicted.
“Because I think you’re not a bad person, Aresha.”
“Just… a hurt one.”
Aresha’s mask shattered for half a second.
Her lips parted—like she was about to say something real.
Something raw.
Something she hadn’t told anyone.
But then—
Rina’s voice echoed from the gate.
“Aresha!”
Her entire body stiffened.
Fear returned instantly—like a snap of chains around her throat.
Rehan saw the terror flash in her eyes before she hid it.
He whispered urgently, “You don’t have to go—”
“Yes, I do.”
Her voice was barely audible.
She stepped away from him.
Her shoulders stiff.
Her spine trembling.
And she walked toward her stepmother.
Rehan watched, helpless.
Rina grabbed Aresha’s wrist harshly.
The wince Aresha couldn’t hide…
was the moment Rehan decided—
He would find out the truth.
He would not let her suffer alone.
No matter what it took.
.
.
.
.
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