Chapter 9 : "The Beginning of Trouble"
JK, Karthik, Praveen, and Surya walked through the college gates, chatting casually as the morning sun lit the path ahead. Just then, their classmate Suresh hurried over, slightly breathless.
"Why are you guys so late?" he asked, clearly annoyed. "JK, the principal was asking for you!"
JK : nodded calmly. "Okay, I’ll go speak to principal. Surya, you handle the program preparation and check how the rehearsals are going. I’ll head to the principal's room and be back soon."
He turned and walked toward the administrative block, his face composed but focused.
Reaching the door, JK knocked politely.
“May I come in, sir?”
“Come in, Jai Karthik,” the principal responded, motioning him in.
“Sir, I heard you asked for me. Is there any change to the plan we submitted?” JK asked, standing tall, his tone respectful yet direct.
The principal looked at him for a moment before speaking. “I had certain assumptions about you, JK. But you proved me wrong—in a good way. Keep it up.”
JK raised his brows slightly, confused. “Sir, I’m not quite sure what you’re referring to…”
Just then, another knock came.
“May I come in, sir?” It was Rajesh.
“Come in, Rajesh,” the principal said. “Is there a problem?”
“Yes, sir,” Rajesh said bluntly. “I don’t like the concept JK is working on.”
Rajesh, a fellow classmate, had always harbored resentment toward JK and his group. It wasn’t just dislike—it was jealousy. JK and his friends were known to stand up for students in need, always offering help, always receiving praise. And JK’s position as the college leader only made Rajesh’s envy burn deeper. He and his team had made it their mission to oppose JK, no matter the cost.
JK turned to Rajesh. “Which concept are you talking about?”
Before Rajesh could respond, the principal interjected. “Rajesh, I need to have a word with JK privately. If you have any doubts, I’ll address them later. There’s still a lot of work left, and the guests are about to arrive. Please go check on the event preparations.”
“But sir…”
“I said what I needed to say. Please leave now,” the principal said firmly.
Frustrated, Rajesh turned and stormed out.
JK looked at the principal, puzzled. “Sir, what exactly was he referring to?”
“Nothing serious,” the principal said calmly. “He was talking about your orphanage fund concept. Personally, I really liked the idea. I was out of town for a few days, so I had handed over the responsibilities to the HOD. When he called to brief me, I approved it immediately. But tell me, JK—what benefits does this initiative bring to our college?”
JK didn’t hesitate.
“Sir, this isn't something I can do alone. Everyone’s support made this possible. There are many talented children in orphanages who deserve access to quality education. That’s the core idea behind our theme. If even a few of them enroll in our college, we can offer them scholarships to help with their education. No other college in the area is doing anything like this. If we take the initiative, it will give our college a great reputation and help us grow.
“With the help of our guests today, we’ll officially launch this. All final-year students have already contributed, and even our juniors agreed and donated willingly. In fact, we’ve raised more money than expected. And this isn't just for this year—we want the fund to continue every year, even after we graduate. The system will remain, and new students can carry it forward.
“No one was forced to contribute. Everyone gave from their hearts. All we need is your support, sir. Even if others disagree, we can’t let this stop.”
The principal looked deeply impressed.
“Well done, JK. It’s this quality in you—always thinking of others—that will protect you in life. You already have my approval. And don’t let Rajesh get into your head. I’ll speak to him myself. Just make sure today’s function goes well. You’re dismissed.”
“Thank you, sir,” JK said with a respectful nod and stepped out.
He walked straight to the rehearsal hall, where juniors and seniors were busy getting ready. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation.
Some junior girls spotted JK approaching and began whispering to one another.
“Wow... look at JK today,” one of them said, staring admiringly. “He looks amazing, doesn’t he?”
Sumitra, one of the girls, sighed dramatically. “Every girl in college has tried to get his attention, but he’s never shown interest. Do you know how much I’ve tried? My bad luck…”
Another girl laughed. “Forget that—look at how perfectly that outfit suits him. He’s not just hot and perfect on the outside—he’s perfect from the heart too. Whoever ends up with him… she’s truly blessed.”
Just then, Subha joined the group, her eyes wide with excitement. “Do you all know something? JK’s classmate Poorvi actually proposed to him the other day. This whole thing is all over college!”
Sumitra blinked in surprise. “Wait, what? Poorvi? Who is she? We’ve never even seen her before!”
Subha : nodded. “I’ve seen her.”
Sumitra : leaned closer. “Show me! I want to see her too.”
Subha laughed. “Girls like us don’t stand a chance. And you think he’d fall for her?” The group burst out laughing, unaware that Rajesh and his team were standing nearby, overhearing every word.
Rajesh turned to his group, a plan already forming in his mind. “Yes… Poorvi. Let’s make a move. First, let’s go meet her. I’ll tell you what to do next.”
Meanwhile, JK rejoined Karthik and Surya near the stage.
“What did the principal say?” Surya asked.
“Nothing much. He just wanted to talk about the orphanage fund project,” JK replied. “Is everything going smoothly with the preparations?”
Karthik : nodded. “Yeah, everything’s going fine. But Swathi’s friends were asking why she’s so late. We don’t know what’s taking her so long.”
“Let me call her,” JK said, concern starting to show on his face.
He dialed Swathi’s number, but she didn’t answer.
JK : frowned. “I don’t know what’s going on with her today. I’m really starting to worry.”
“Don’t stress,” Surya tried to reassure him. “She’ll come. Just wait.”
Just then, Praveen came rushing up.
“Swathi’s here!” he called.
JK’s eyes lit up. “She’s here?!”
Karthik : chuckled. “Look at him! He was all serious just a moment ago, now his face is glowing!”
Surya : grinned. “That’s love for you. You kids don’t get it.”
Praveen laughed. “So true. Let’s go meet her—she’s heading toward the entrance.”
Rajesh was on the move, searching the college for Poorvi. His eyes scanned the corridors until he finally spotted her on the balcony, standing with her friends. He straightened his posture and walked toward her with quiet determination.
“Hi, Poorvi. It’s me,” he said casually, trying to sound in control.
Poorvi : looked up at him, calm and composed. “Hey… Rajesh. I was looking for you.”
Rajesh : blinked, caught off guard. He had come to talk to her, but now she was the one saying she needed to talk to him. The unexpected shift made him pause for a beat.
“What?” he asked, confused. “You were looking for me? Why?”
Poorvi : Then, turning to her friends, she added, “You all go ahead. I’ll meet you there.”
Once her friends left, she looked Rajesh straight in the eyes. “I need to talk to you. Privately.”
Still surprised, Rajesh quickly regained his composure. “You want to talk to me?” he asked, a smirk playing at his lips. “Alright.”
He turned to his gang. “You all wait here—I’ll be back in a minute,” he said, then followed Poorvi and her friend Harsha as they led him away to a quieter corner.
Rajesh looked around. “Okay, no one’s here. Now tell me—what do you want to say?”
Poorvi hesitated.
“Don’t do this, Poorvi,” Harsha pleaded. “It’s wrong.”
Poorvi : turned to her. “If you truly care about your friend future, stay out of this. If you can’t support me, then go. I won’t stop you.”
To be continued…
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🌸Author's Note🌸:
Well… things just got a little messy, didn’t they?
Hearts are confused, egos are rising, and drama is brewing like a hot cup of chai!
If this chapter made you feel anything—even a tiny flutter—please hit follow.
Let’s face the chaos together! 💫
