Page 34 of Born in Sin

“We heard there’s been a leak of the end of term exam papers.” Varun waved to someone over Virat’s head.

Virat didn’t bother to turn and look. When you were face to face with a cobra, you didn’t look away, even for a second.

“We want in,” Varun said now.

Virat raised an eyebrow, still not saying a word.

Varun shrugged. “I’ll trade you. What do you want?”

“Leave Dhrithi alone.”

Varun smirked. “Aren’t you with that other girl? The teacher’s kid? What’s her name?”

“Celina.” Majid’s cold voice came from behind Varun’s broad shoulder.

“That’s right.” Varun clapped Virat on his shoulder. “Celina. You can’t have Celina and Dhrithi, man. That’s just not fair.”

Virat looked at Majid, who smiled and said, “Feel free to let Celina go any time. I’d be happy to console her.”

Virat shrugged. “Guess you guys don’t need the papers then.”

Varun’s eyes flashed, malice bleeding through. “Careful Jha. You don’t want to get on our wrong side.”

“Is there a right side?” Virat’s hand clenched around the straps of his school bag. “You want the papers? You know my ask.”

“I can just get it from the source,” Varun snapped.

Virat smiled. “If you could have, this conversation wouldn’t be happening. Leave Dhrithi alone and maybe Parash has a hope of passing the term.”

He turned away from them, not bothering to look back.

“You don’t want to mess with us, Jha.”

“You don’t mess with my friends,” he replied, glancing back one last time. “And I won’t mess with yours.”

“I want the papers.”

“You know what to do for it,” Virat tossed over his shoulder before striding off to join Amay and Ishaan at the end of the corridor.

“Problem?” Amay asked, the minute Virat reached them, his angry eyes boring into Varun.

“Nothing I can’t handle. Let’s go.” They walked through the corridor and took the stairs to the lower floor. They had a free period and Virat hoped to make the most of it.

Celina was waiting with Dhrithi at the bottom of the stairs. His heart lightened as he caught sight of her. The pain of the raw, bruised muscles in his back were nothing compared to the emotion flowing out of his battered heart.

“Was that Varun I saw you talking to earlier?” Dhrithi asked the minute they reached them.

Virat nodded. The moment his foot reached the bottom step, Celina shifted to stand beside him, automatically aligning her body with his. Magnets, he thought, they were like magnets…the ones that constantly sought out their other half.

“Are you okay?” Amay asked Dhrithi, his voice dropping in concern. “Is Varun still hassling you?”

Virat was watching her closely and that’s why he saw her flinch at Amay’s worry for her. His heart sank as the import of that hit him. Whatever game Varun was playing with Dhrithi, it looked like he was winning.

“Virat.” Celina’s worried voice pulled his gaze to her. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” He smiled reassuringly. “I’ve got this. I’ll fix it.”

Chapter Thirteen