Kavya's POV:
Such a beautiful day… filled with stillness and peace.
I love silence.
I was passing by the cafe I work at, "The Corner Cup." I wasn't stopping today, just going straight to school, when something caught my eye.
A narrow, hollow passage beside the cafe.
I wouldn't usually bother… but something about it felt off.
Suspicious. I slowed down. Then stopped my cycle.
For a second, I hesitated.
I shouldn't meddle…
But what if something's wrong?
I took a small breath.
"Okay, Kavya… just do what's right."
I parked my cycle and stepped into the narrow lane.
And that's when I saw it.
A boy, wearing the same school uniform as mine, was gripping a younger boy, maybe 15 or 16, by the collar. The kid looked scared.
That was enough.
"Hey, you!" I shouted. "Stop right there!"
The boy didn't let go.
Instead, he looked at me, calm, almost warning.
"Stay out of this," he said.
I stepped closer anyway.
"You shouldn't bully someone younger than you," I snapped. "Leave him… or deal with me."
"I'm not the one you should be stopping," he replied.
"I don't need your explanation," I shot back. "I can see what's happening."
I didn't wait for anything else.
I charged forward.
But before I could reach him, he suddenly stepped aside.
I almost fell face-first, but something caught my hand.
I turned. It was him.
Before I could think, I pulled my hand back and twisted his arm from the elbow, trying to lock his movement.
But he didn't resist.
He simply shifted, just enough to break my grip.
That threw me off.
"You think you can just walk away after that?" I snapped.
He didn't answer.
"You think this is funny?" I said.
"No," he replied simply.
"Then why were you holding him like that?"
No answer.
That was it.
I stepped forward again, pushing him slightly.
"Say something!"
He caught my wrist mid-air before I could push him again.
Firm. Controlled.
Not hurting. Just stopping me.
"Stop," he said.
"Let go!" I snapped, trying to pull my hand free.
For a second, his grip tightened,
then he released it.
Just like that.
I stepped back, more irritated than before.
I stumbled forward
and almost lost my balance.
Before I could fall, his hand caught my arm again.
Steady.
I pulled away immediately and pushed him hard enough to make him fall on his knees. Then I quickly took out my scarf and tied his hands with it.
"Don't dare to touch me. You don't know what I'm capable of."
In between all this chaos, that little boy escaped. Maybe he got scared of the fight.
"Let's go," I said, pulling him along.
We stepped into the cafe.
"Uncle! Aunty!" I called out.
They came out immediately.
"Kavya? What happened?" Aunty asked, worried.
I pushed him slightly forward.
"I found him bullying a minor," I said.
Uncle frowned. "Bullying?"
The boy finally spoke.
"I wasn't doing anything," he said calmly. "She's assuming. That boy was a thief."
I let out a short, dry laugh.
"Of course. And now come the excuses."
"Kavya, beta… are you sure?" Aunty asked gently.
"I saw him holding the boy by the collar," I replied firmly. "What else does that mean?"
Uncle looked at him.
"Is that true?"
"He tried to take my wallet," the boy said.
"And I'm supposed to believe that?" I snapped.
"He ran," the boy added.
"That proves nothing," I said quickly. "If anything, it proves he was scared of you."
Aunty looked between us, unsure.
"Kavya… maybe we should check"
"I don't need to check, you can if you want," I interrupted. "I saw enough."
There was a brief silence.
Then he spoke again
"You really should learn to listen before deciding."
His voice was a bit frustrating.
I ignored it.
"I'm already getting late," I said, turning away. "I'll leave him to you"