Arjun stood silently at the massive iron gate of St. Dominic High School.
For a moment, he didn't move.
His fingers tightened around the straps of his worn-out school bag, the fabric rough against his skin. The bag had been with him for years—faded, slightly torn at the corners—but today, it felt heavier than ever.
In front of him stood a world that didn't feel like his.
Tall glass buildings. Clean pathways. Students walking confidently, laughing, talking as if they owned the place.
Everything looked… perfect.
Too perfect.
And Arjun knew one thing very clearly—
He didn't belong here.
"Hey! New admission?"
The guard's voice broke his thoughts.
Arjun blinked and nodded quickly.
"Yes."
The guard looked him up and down for a second, then pointed inside.
"Go on."
Arjun stepped forward.
The moment he crossed the gate, something inside him shifted.
Like he had just stepped into a completely different life.
The classroom was already half full when he entered.
Students were chatting, some scrolling through their phones, others laughing loudly.
But as soon as Arjun walked in—
A few eyes turned.
Then more.
And within seconds… almost everyone had noticed him.
Arjun felt it immediately.
That look.
The silent judgment.
"Class, settle down," the teacher said, entering the room.
The noise slowly faded.
She glanced at Arjun.
"You must be the new student."
He nodded nervously.
"Come forward. Introduce yourself."
Each step toward the front felt heavier than the last.
Arjun could feel dozens of eyes on him.
He swallowed.
"My name is Arjun… I just transferred here."
Silence.
For a brief second.
Then—
A soft chuckle.
"Transferred? From where?" someone whispered.
"Village school probably," another voice added.
Laughter spread.
Not loud.
But enough.
Arjun's fists tightened slightly.
But he said nothing.
The teacher ignored the whispers.
"Alright, take your seat."
There was only one empty bench.
Last row.
Corner.
Arjun walked there and sat down.
Alone.
The entire class went on like normal.
But for Arjun…
Every second felt different.
Every whisper felt louder.
Every glance felt heavier.
Lunch break finally came.
Students quickly formed groups.
Friends gathered.
Laughter filled the room again.
Arjun quietly opened his lunchbox.
Two rotis.
Simple.
He stared at them for a moment.
Then took a bite.
"Hey, new guy."
Arjun looked up.
A group of boys were watching him.
One of them leaned back in his chair, confident, almost arrogant.
"I'm Rohan," he said. "Come here."
Arjun hesitated.
But something inside him told him—
If he ignored them now, things would get worse.
So he stood up… and walked toward them.
Rohan smirked.
"So tell me… how did you get into this school?"
Arjun stayed silent.
"Scholarship?" one boy laughed.
"Or charity?" another added.
The group burst into laughter.
Arjun felt something burn inside his chest.
But he controlled it.
"I got in because I deserve it," he said quietly.
The laughter stopped.
For a second.
Then Rohan stood up.
Slowly.
"Oh really?"
He stepped closer.
"So prove it."
The rest of the day passed in a blur.
Books knocked off his desk.
Sarcastic comments.
Laughter.
Arjun didn't fight back.
Not because he couldn't.
But because
He didn't know how.
Evening.
He walked home slowly.
The streets were familiar.
Small houses. Narrow roads.
This… was his world.
His mother opened the door.
"You're late," she said softly.
"How was your first day?"
Arjun paused.
For a second.
Then forced a smile.
"It was good."
She smiled back.
"That's good. Go freshen up. I made your favorite."
Arjun nodded and walked inside.
But the moment he entered his room—
The smile disappeared.
Night.
The house was silent.
Arjun sat by the window, staring at the dark sky.
"They were right…"
His voice was barely a whisper.
"I don't belong there."
Tears rolled down his face.
But he wiped them away quickly.
Angrily.
"No…"
His eyes hardened.
"I'll prove them wrong."
Just then
His phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
He frowned.
Opened the message.
"You don't belong there… because you belong somewhere else."
Another message appeared.
"If you want power… come to the old building behind your school tomorrow at 6 PM."
Arjun's heartbeat increased.
"This is your only chance."
The screen went black.
Arjun stared at the phone.
Confusion.
Fear.
Curiosity.
Something inside him whispered
Go.
The next evening…
Arjun stood in front of the abandoned building.
The door was slightly open.
Darkness inside.
Silence.
He took a deep breath.
And stepped in.
The door slammed shut behind him.
A voice whispered from the shadows—
"Welcome, Arjun…"
"…we've been waiting for you."