Chapter 10 :" The shadows of Doubt "
After some time, everyone put on their black academic gowns and proudly received their Bachelor of Engineering degrees. The auditorium echoed with applause and laughter. Once the ceremony concluded, professors, the principal, and students gathered for a group photo session—capturing memories that would last a lifetime.
Soon after, hugs and goodbyes followed. Students embraced their friends and professors, emotions running high as they realized this was truly the end of a beautiful chapter.
Karthik turned to his friends, smiling wide.
“Can you believe it? We’re finally done with engineering!”
Surya laughed. “Yeah, man. Back then, it felt like college would never end… but now it’s all over. Poor principal and professors—we gave them such a hard time.”
JK looked around the campus thoughtfully. “From now on, no matter where you look in this college, all you’ll find are our memories.”
Just then, a group of juniors approached JK. One of them, with emotion in his voice, said, “Bro, you’ve helped us so much. You’ve always stood by us and made sure nothing ever went wrong. We can't even imagine this place without you.”
JK gave a small smile. “If any one try to trouble your juniors in future, I come to know about it, I won’t stay quiet. Remember that.”
“Nah, boss! No one can replace you,” one of them said proudly.
A junior girl stepped forward nervously. “Can I please take a photo with you?”
Praveen smirked. “If a girl asks, I will give my life—of course I will give a photo.”
Swathi laughed. “She asked for a photo with JK, not with you, Praveen!”
As the group broke into laughter, the evening slowly turned into dusk. One by one, students began to leave. Only a handful of final-year students remained, along with the principal and professors.
Surya scanned the area. “Swathi, have you seen JK anywhere?”
Swathi replied, “Nope. Maybe he’s with Karthik?”
Surya muttered to himself, “Those two—Karthik and Praveen—never take anything seriously. Everything is set in the resort, and our ‘hero’ is also missing.”
He turned back to Swathi. “You stay here with the others. I’ll go find those three and bring them.”
Meanwhile…
Poorvi whispered anxiously, “Rajesh, is everything in place?”
Rajesh nodded. “Yes, everything’s ready. You just make sure your part goes well.”
Poorvi smirked. “I’m always ready.”
Rajesh walked off confidently.
Elsewhere, JK had just finished a conversation with Professor Guru and was heading back when a boy came running toward him, panicked and out of breath.
JK stopped him. “What happened? Why are you running?”
The boy stammered, “A girl… she fainted inside the computer lab. I didn’t know what to do, so I came to call someone for help.”
JK frowned. “Why would a girl be there alone at this hour?”
“I don’t know, sir. Please go check. I’ll go call someone else.”
“Alright. You go get help, I’ll go see what’s going on,” JK said, slightly suspicious. I’ve never seen this boy before… strange.
Still, brushing aside his doubt, JK hurried toward the lab.
When he entered, he saw a girl lying on the ground, motionless—her back facing him. Concerned, he rushed to her side and gently shook her shoulder.
“Hello? Can you hear me? Wake up, please.”
As he turned her toward him, his eyes widened in shock.
“Poorvi?”
He called her name, shook her, tried to wake her up, but she didn’t respond. Desperate, he looked around for water. Spotting a bottle on a nearby table, he grabbed it and sprinkled water on her face.
Slowly, Poorvi opened her eyes.
“JK… thank you… for helping me,” she whispered weakly.
“Forget that. Are you alright? Why are you even here?”
“I… I can’t talk much. Please… help me sit on that chair. Then go bring someone. I can’t move on my own.”
“Okay, hold on,” JK said.
As he reached to lift her up, Poorvi intentionally loosened her hold and made him fall on top of her.
From the shadows, Rajesh’s friend Varun quietly clicked photos of the moment.
Poorvi gasped. “Oh no, I’m sorry, JK… I didn’t mean to make you lose balance.”
JK awkwardly got up. “It’s okay…”
He gently helped her and was just about to seat her in the chair when—
Rajesh burst in, followed by the principal, professors, Surya, Karthik, Praveen, Swathi, and a few other classmates.
“Sir, you always said JK was a good student, right? Look what he’s doing—romancing in the lab! They don’t even have basic decency.”
Surya stepped forward, furious. “Rajesh, watch your mouth! Say one more word against JK and you’ll deal with me.”
Karthik added sharply, “I know why you’re doing this. You’ve always had a problem with him.”
Rajesh shrugged. “I’m just telling the truth. The whole college knows about JK and Poorvi’s so-called love story.”
The principal looked shocked. He turned to the professors. “What’s going on?”
Professor Rajeswari stepped forward. “Sir… we had no idea about this.”
The principal now looked at JK. “JK, what’s happening here? What were you two doing?”
JK took a deep breath. “Sir, I didn’t do anything wrong. That girl—”
Rajesh interrupted with a scoff. “He’ll cook up stories to save himself. Don’t fall for them.”
The air grew tense. JK’s friends glared at Rajesh. Swathi was seething.
“Rajesh,” she said sharply, “don’t open your mouth again if you don’t know the truth. Everyone here knows JK. Don’t spread lies.”
Rajesh smirked. “Oh please. I’m just saying what I saw.”
The friends began to argue, the situation spiraling into chaos.
The principal raised his voice. “Enough! Let them speak. Rajesh, say one more word and I’ll be forced to take action.”
He turned to JK. “Now, tell me clearly—what exactly happened?”
JK replied calmly, though his anger was barely restrained. “Sir, a boy came running to me, said there was a girl unconscious in the lab. I had no idea it was Poorvi. I rushed here, found her unconscious, tried to wake her. I used the water bottle on the table and helped her sit. That’s it.”
The principal turned to Poorvi. “Is that true, Poorvi?”
Poorvi didn’t answer.
“Poorvi, I’m asking you. Why aren’t you saying anything?” he asked again.
JK turned to her, furious. “Say something! Tell the truth!”
Poorvi trembled. She was visibly afraid.
Professor Guru stepped in. “JK, calm down. She’s scared. Don’t frighten her.”
One of Rajesh’s friends spoke, “Sir, if he really came to help… why is she silent?”
The principal looked confused. “JK, what’s really going on?”
JK’s voice rose slightly. “Sir, I’ve told the truth. But if she continues testing my patience, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Swathi stepped closer. “JK, take a breath. Poorvi, please… tell the truth. Why are you staying silent?”
Poorvi : opened her mouth. “It’s just… JK—”
Rajesh : cut in smugly. “Fine. Let’s assume JK came to help. Where’s the boy who called him?”
JK : paused. “I’ve never seen him before. He just asked for help, and I came.”
Rajesh grinned. “Oh really? Some mysterious boy appeared, and you just followed him?”
His friends chuckled mockingly in the background.
Rajesh turned to the principal. “He said he poured water on her, right? So, where’s the water bottle?”
JK pointed. “It was right there.”
Professor Shaun walked over. “There’s nothing here. JK, be honest—what really happened?”
JK looked stunned. The bottle had disappeared.
(Unknown to him, it was all part of Poorvi and Rajesh’s carefully planned trap.)
“It was here… I swear,” JK said, turning toward Poorvi. “Poorvi, I’m giving you one last chance. Tell the truth.”
Professor Rajeshwari interjected.
“JK, I know you’re a good person. But speaking like this to a girl—this isn’t right.”
She gently pulled Poorvi to her side.
The principal asked again.
“Poorvi, why are you quiet? Are the things they’re saying true? Are you and JK… in a relationship?”
Poorvi didn’t respond. She broke into tears.
Rajesh sneered.
“See? The truth’s out. What girl would admit she came here for romance? Now that everyone knows, she’s pretending to cry.”
JK’s eyes were burning with fury. Swathi noticed and suddenly remembered something.
“Sir! There should be a CCTV camera in the computer lab, right? Let’s check the footage. We’ll know what really happened.”
“Yes,” JK said firmly. “Let’s check it right now.”
Karthik, Surya, Praveen, and others joined in support. “Let’s go. This will end everything.”
Poorvi’s face turned pale. Her heart raced.
Oh no… I didn’t think about that. It’s all going to come out. Everything’s ruined. She turned to Rajesh in panic.
Would Poorvi get caught? Could she escape?
To be continued..
🌸Author's Note🌸
A farewell filled with smiles takes a dark turn. Accusations rise, friendships are tested, and silence becomes more dangerous than words.
Stay tuned to know—will truth win or fall apart?
