Chapter 2 (Part B): Backstories

Unpaid Dues

(Flashback to Ramya, Vicky, and other students in the principal's office.)

At the reception, the principal's secretary was scolding Vicky for his unpaid fees. He stood there silently, his head bowed. SIGH.

Vicky thought, I'm used to this. I didn't tell them at home because I know their money problems. I don't want to trouble them.

Vicky returned to class, and Rocky immediately asked, "What happened?"

"I have to pay the fees by tomorrow," Vicky said quietly. Rocky felt a pang of sympathy for his friend.

The teacher finally allowed Rocky back into class. He noticed both Ramya and Sara now had bandages on their heads, Ramya even had a new bump. He awkwardly shuffled to his seat. Ramya glared at him, and Rocky's eyes widened in panic. He tried to apologize to Sara, but she just looked angry.

Rocky thought, My life is over. He began to cry dramatically, then looked at Sara again. She still looked upset. Then Ramya gave him a full-on death glare. Oh no, I'm doomed, he thought, crying even harder.

During lunch break, he trudged towards his friends, looking utterly depressed.

"What happened?" they asked in unison.

"It's all over," Rocky declared, his voice muffled by tears. "My life is finished."

Anjali comforted him like a small child, while Vicky chuckled, secretly happy to see Rocky smile amidst his tears.

In the days that followed, every time Rocky tried to talk to Sara, Ramya seemed to materialize out of thin air, hitting him on the head. Vicky, meanwhile, buried himself in his studies. Anjali would often stare into space, lost in thought, sometimes glancing at a guy in the front row. (His back was all we saw for now.)

On their way home, the trio walked together, laughing despite their daily college woes.

Anjali thought, We've been friends since childhood. I remember drawing quietly at a table while Rocky and Vicky ran around, playing trains. Rocky was the one who pulled me into their game. He's the reason we became friends. He's always been mischievous, always.

Vicky's mom and Rocky's mom saw them walking together.

Vicky's Mom: "You three look good together."

Rocky's Mom: "He's so mischievous. Anjali, you have to take care of him like a big sister!"

Anjali, hearing this, made a quiet decision to truly take care of them. She'd changed a lot because of them, though how, exactly, remained a mystery for now.

The New Arrangement

The next morning, Anjali was on the bus, lost in thought. When she got off, she saw Rocky and Ramya walking towards college, glaring at each other. Anjali called out to Rocky, but he ignored her. Annoyed, she ran up and kicked him, sending him WHOOSH! flying through the air once more. Ramya, seeing Anjali's unexpected aggression, decided it was safer to stay clear of her.

In class, Rocky sat with a fresh bandage on his backside. After class, he was surprised when the bell rang. Ramya was called to the principal's office – this was Rocky's chance to talk to Sara. He quickly slid closer to her.

Rocky: "I've wanted to talk to you for a long time, but Ramya wouldn't let me."

Sara: "Why?"

Rocky: "You're beautiful. I fell for you the moment I saw your face." He suddenly remembered their heads bumping. "Sorry for that head bump the other day. I was scared when both of you cried."

Sara: "It's okay."

Rocky: "You always say 'it's okay.' You should talk more, or at least scold me. I want to know what you're thinking."

Sara smiled, a soft, shy smile.

Rocky's internal monologue kicked in: A smile, and I'm already halfway there!

Rocky: "Can you sit in the middle? It would make me feel a little better."

Sara: "Why?"

Rocky: "Because I need to set you up, you know?"

Sara: "What...?"

Rocky: "Oh, well... Ramya is causing some problems. If you sit in the middle, I'll be a bit safer."

Sara: "Why do you guys fight so much?"

Rocky: "It started with an incident, you know? It's been a constant fight since then. Anyway, why bother with that now?"

Sara: "I thought you two were very close."

Rocky: "No way, I'm not close to her at all. You could be the close one, though."

Sara: "Me?"

Rocky: "Yeah... of course. Why not? You sit this way. I'll take care of the rest."

Sara: "Okay."

Sara scooted her desk closer to Rocky's.

Rocky revelled in the moment with Sara, wiggling with delight. Jiggle Jiggle Jiggle!

Just as Rocky was enjoying himself, Ramya silently appeared in front of them. Rocky JUMPED back in his seat, startled. Ramya's face was terrifying, like a ghost, staring intently at both of them, especially Rocky. Rocky's words failed him. He managed to ask in a low voice:

Rocky: "When did you come?"

Ramya: "Just now..." She paused for a beat. "Move aside," she commanded Rocky. Ramya began packing her bag.

Rocky asked, a surge of happiness bubbling up, "You're going? Wow, super... where to?"

Ramya shot him a furious look. GRRR!

Rocky looked outside the classroom. He saw Vicky packing his bag in the corridor. Rocky didn't understand what was happening and immediately rushed out.

Rocky asked Vicky: "Where are you going?"

Vicky: "Home."

Rocky: "What actually happened?"

Principal's Office: The Truth

(Flashback to Ramya, Vicky, and other students in the principal's office.)

Principal: "What is this? Why haven't so many of you paid your fees on time, huh? What happened, Ramya? You said you'd pay today, right? And you, Vicky, you also said you'd definitely pay today, right? What happened? This won't do. Pack your bags and go home. Maybe your parents will pay the fees on time when they see this."

(End of Flashback)

Rocky: "How can you just send them away like that? You need to understand the situation!"

Ramya shrugged. "They didn't understand. There's nothing we can do."

Rocky just stood there, staring at them, utterly helpless. He walked away, deep in thought. He saw Anjali peering into the class, gesturing with her head, asking what had happened. Rocky didn't know what to do and simply stood there, numb.

He eventually sat back in class, lost in thought. Even when the teacher was talking, he was in his own world. Sara, sitting next to him, watched him, noticing that something was clearly wrong.

The scene jumped from the teacher hitting the bench in frustration to the loud DING-DONG! of the lunch break bell. Anjali called out to Rocky, but he ignored her, walking slowly, dejectedly. Anjali, annoyed, ran and kicked Rocky again. He flew through the air, WHOOSH! once more.

Now Rocky and Anjali sat down for lunch.

Anjali asked: "Hey, what actually happened?"

Rocky: "Sometimes, I just don't understand what goes on in his head," Rocky muttered, staring off into the distance. "No matter how many times I ask, he never tells me anything. How am I supposed to know what's going on if he won't talk?"

Anjali: "He's your friend, Rocky. You've been by his side since childhood. Does he look like someone who shares everything? Some things, you just have to figure out for yourself."

Rocky sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't even realize Ramya was facing the same situation."

Anjali didn't know what to say. She remained silent, sensing the weight of his unspoken worry.

Later, as college let out, Rocky was still lost in thought. He walked slowly, his mind a whirlwind of possibilities, each one darker than the last.

Anjali: "Don't overthink it, Rocky. He'll be back tomorrow."

Rocky nodded, a distant look in his eyes. He remained deep in thought, even later that night, lying on his bed at home. The moon cast a pale, lonely beam through his window, illuminating the silent room.

The next morning, Rocky walked briskly to the bus stop, waiting for his friend. But Vicky never showed. Time was ticking by, and eventually, Rocky figured Vicky might already be at college. He headed there, a knot tightening in his stomach.

But when he arrived, both Vicky and Ramya were absent.

Sara (the quiet girl with glasses): "Why didn't Ramya come to the bus stop today? Do you know anything?" she asked, her voice soft with concern. Rocky just stared, a blank look on his face.

Just then, the professor, Mr. Sharma, also asked Rocky about Ramya.

Mr. Sharma: "Rocky, do you know why Ramya isn't in class today?"

Rocky: "No, sir," he mumbled, falling silent, his gaze still fixed on the empty seat.

Sara watched him, a sad, knowing look in her eyes.

Anjali quickly borrowed a phone from a friend and called Vicky's home. Vicky's mom answered.

Vicky's Mom: "He's already gone to college," she said, her voice sounding tired.

Anjali: "What happened, Aunty?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Vicky's Mom: "Nothing much, dear."

Anjali then revealed the truth. "They sent him home yesterday because he hadn't paid his fees."

Vicky's Mom: "Oh, I didn't know," she replied, her voice filled with sudden worry.

Anjali (to Rocky, her voice hushed): "He hasn't even told them at home. Where could he have gone?"

Finding Vicky

Meanwhile, by the beach, Vicky sat alone on the sand, his backpack beside him. He stared out at the vast expanse of the ocean, lost in thought, a solitary figure against the crashing waves. CRASH! WHOOSH!

Rocky and Anjali found him there, eventually. Rocky's anger flared briefly, then softened into concern as he saw the dejection etched on Vicky's face.

Rocky: "What's wrong with you, man? Why didn't you tell us?" he began, his voice laced with frustration and worry.

Vicky: "You know the situation at home, right?" Vicky replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I didn't know how to tell them."

Rocky: "That's why Anjali had to tell his mom!"

Anjali: "Don't overthink it, Vicky. Just come back tomorrow. Mom will give you the fee money."

The next day, as Vicky walked cautiously up the steps towards the principal's office, the principal saw him.

Principal: "Okay, if you keep paying your fees on time like this, you won't have any problems in the future."

Rocky, still a little angry about the whole ordeal, grabbed Vicky's arm. "Come on, let's go!" he muttered, pulling him along.

Once they were upstairs, away from the principal's earshot, Rocky turned to Vicky, his expression serious. "From now on, whatever problem you have, share it with me too. We'll study together, okay?"

Ramya's Return

As Rocky was walking back to his own class, he spotted Ramya. Her presence was a surprise, a relief.

Rocky: "Hey, you haven't dropped out of school yet?" he asked, a playful grin touching his lips as he looked her directly in the face, a teasing glint in his eyes.

Ramya's expression darkened, a flash of annoyance. FIST CLENCH! Without a word, she delivered a swift upper cut. WHACK! Rocky reeled back, staggering slightly.

Rocky: "Whoa, okay!" he rubbed his jaw, a wider smile now. "It was so boring without you. I'm so happy for you to be back again!"

Ramya looked at him, a mixture of shock and shyness on her face. Her cheeks flushed a faint pink.

(Camera angle shifts, showing Ramya's slight wiggle as she glances at Rocky from the corner of her eye.)

Rocky: "Hey, you go over there and send her this way. That'd be even better for me!" he teased, gesturing to Sara nearby, implying he wanted more attention from Ramya alone.

Ramya's embarrassment turned to renewed anger. GRRR! She punched him again. THUMP! Rocky yelped, pretending to be utterly devastated.

With the college chapter closing, Rocky knew this was only the beginning of a much larger story, and he eagerly awaited what came next.