The gates of St. Monarch's International School towered over
the morning crowd, sunlight glinting off the polished iron bars.
Students bustled past, whispering and laughing, but one
newcomer cut through it all with quiet authority. Niya Sharma
walked in with slow, measured steps. Uniform neat, hair tied
perfectly, her posture straight, her eyes calm yet sharp, taking in
everything. She didn't look scared or nervous, not even slightly.
Across the corridor, the infamous Apex Four lounged against the
lockers. Aarav Malhotra, tall and commanding, noticed her first.
Kairo Sen smirked, curious. Veer Kapoor laughed loudly, like his
energy could dominate the whole hallway, while Soren Das
stayed silent, observing with an unreadable expression.
Veer nudged Aarav. "Who's this? She's walking like she owns the
place."
Aarav smirked faintly. "New girl. Let's see how long she lasts
here. Usually, they panic or stumble."
Not long after, lunch break brought the first real test. A younger
student accidentally spilled water near the Apex Four. Veer, ever
the show-off, raised his hand to flick it back.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" he shouted.
The students froze. But Niya stepped forward, calm and
composed, her bag swinging lightly at her side. "Actually," she
said, her voice soft but cutting, "this is against the rules."
Veer laughed, clearly mocking her. "Rules? Which rules? Show
us, miss smarty-pants."
Niya's eyes swept over him, calm, fearless. "Let's see… Section
11 of the Right of Children to Free and Safe Education Act, 2009
says no child should be harassed in school. Article 21 of the
Constitution guarantees personal safety. And the school's
Disciplinary Code, Clause 6.3, clearly states: 'Students must not
engage in behaviour that harms or intimidates others.' So
technically, you're breaking multiple rules."
Kairo blinked. "She… actually knows the laws?"
Veer rolled his eyes, mocking. "Wow, a walking rulebook. What's
next? Gonna sue me?"
Niya tilted her head slightly, a faint, playful smirk on her lips.
"Funny you should say that. Section 323 of the IPC says
voluntarily causing hurt is punishable. Throwing water
intentionally counts. But don't worry—I'm feeling generous
today. One apology and we can all forget this little… incident."
Veer froze, trying to mask his irritation. "Generous? You're
crazy."
Aarav, leaning against the lockers, muttered under his breath,
"She's fearless. Bold. Interesting."
Soren, as usual, said nothing, but his eyes stayed on her,
calculating.
Niya didn't wait for a response. She simply turned and walked
away, her calm smile leaving a trail of confusion, frustration, and
respect in her wake.
Later that afternoon, Niya spotted a small dispute in the school
garden—a couple of students arguing over a notebook. Instead
of stepping in aggressively, she approached slowly, her presence
alone demanding attention.
"Clause 4.2 of the School Code of Conduct states that students
must respect each other's property and resolve conflicts
peacefully," she said calmly. "I suggest the notebook be returned
and an apology offered. End of argument."
The arguing students froze, then quickly complied. Niya packed
her notebook and walked away as if nothing had happened.
From a distance, the Apex Four watched. Veer muttered,
"She's… bold."
Kairo added, "Not scared of anything or anyone."
Aarav's arms crossed, a faint smirk on his face. "Calm. Smart.
Fearless. Definitely… interesting."
Soren's silence said more than words ever could, his eyes
following her with quiet intensity.
And Niya? She didn't notice them. She simply moved through
the school, calm, collected, leaving whispers and stares behind.
No one knew her secret, no one suspected her true abilities. All
they knew was she was fearless, witty, intelligent, and
untouchable.
For the Apex Four, the real challenge had only just begun.