Women are expected not to share their monthly periods with boys, not even their fathers or brothers, forget about close male friends. Because it's a bad thing and shushes! Lips-tight, mouths closed, with their own secret mission to hide this biological fact from them, trying their best not to give any idea or hint about what they have to go through every month till eternity, alas!

Dev had acquired knowledge about periods and related matters through discussions with friends and the vast expanse of the internet. On that particular day, the realization had struck him with profound sadness-the burden that girls must bear each month, enduring not only physical pain but also the weight of societal pressures and taboos that have plagued them since birth. From that moment onward, he vowed never to cause harm to any innocent girl, even unintentionally. Perhaps he possessed a maturity beyond his years, or perhaps it was simply his innate innocence shining through.

Armed with this understanding, Dev found himself able to assist his beloved as she writhed in agony from her first menstrual flow, marking the onset of her puberty-a moment that tugged at his heartstrings.

"I've brought the pads; now, how do I explain to her how to use them?" Dev muttered to himself upon entering the room, where his sister and Arvika anxiously awaited the arrival of the much-needed pads.

"Bhaiya, you're finally here. Thank goodness," Sakshi exclaimed with relief as she caught sight of her brother, clutching a paper bag.

"How is she?" Dev inquired anxiously, scanning the room for his beloved, who was nowhere to be seen-likely still in the washroom, he inferred.

"She's in pain, but it's not as intense as before," Sakshi replied, feeling a bit edgy discussing such private matters, particularly regarding feminine hygiene.

"Here, take my phone and, umm... look up how to use these," Dev said, his own discomfort evident. Sakshi offered a nervous smile to Dev before accepting his phone and the paper bag, understanding his silent plea for assistance in helping Arvika.

"Password is 7078," he even disclosed his password to her which he had never done before! Forget about password sharing, he hadn't even let her touch his phone, but now he himself was giving her his phone along with his password, making Sakshi a little shocked, she hadn't seen this side of him, ever.

"If you weren't here, I don't know what would've happened. Thank you so much, Bhaiya," she embraced her brother tightly before making her way towards the washroom, the packet of pads clutched in her hand along with his phone. Dev turned towards the window, his gaze fixed upon the majestic mountains visible from the glass pane.

"Arvika, here, take this," Sakshi gently tapped on the washroom door, alerting her best friend of her presence. Arvika, startled, quickly stood up from the commode, securing her towel around her torso, and approached the door, opening it slightly.

"Here's the pad and take this phone. Open YouTube and search how to wear a pad," Sakshi whispered softly as she handed over the items. Arvika glanced at Dev, who stood by the window, his back turned to her.

'So, he bought these,' she thought to herself, expressing her gratitude to Sakshi before closing the door. Arvika's mind buzzed with thoughts about Dev, who now presented a different image compared to his previous bad-boy persona.

1st encounter - Funny bully!

2nd encounter - Funny clown!

3rd encounter - A gentleman!

Today, he had shown her a side she hadn't expected. Despite his rough exterior and rumours about him being a bully, he had a compassionate heart, coming to her aid in her most vulnerable moment.

After watching a YouTube tutorial with a mix of awkwardness and shyness, Arvika finally managed to apply the pad to her fresh underwear.

"Finally, it's done," she murmured to herself, expressing gratitude for the unexpected help from Dev. Yet, her apprehension lingered about facing him outside the washroom, considering the embarrassment she'd have to face. It was a girls' thing after all.

But Dev harboured not a shred of concern for embarrassment or societal taboos; his only concern was for Arvika, unaffected by the myths and prejudices that plagued society.

"You okay?" he asked the moment he saw his girl out of the shower, looking as pure and fresh as a soft flower after a rain shower!

Arvika felt more embarrassed than ever, clad in a knee-length skirt and a pink top, she couldn't help but feel like a child in his presence. Meanwhile, Sakshi stood by the table, where the remaining necessities were laid out, all brought by none other than Dev himself. A smile of relief graced her lips as she observed Arvika's healthy appearance.

"Yeah, thanks Bhai...I mean thank you," Arvika's voice carried a hint of awkwardness, though a small smile adorned her beautiful face, easing Dev's tension. However, her gaze soon fell upon his dishevelled state, blood staining his knees and shorts, causing a wave of nausea to wash over her.

"You need to take a shower too, Bhaiya," Sakshi's voice broke the moment, her concern evident as she addressed her brother's state, unnoticed earlier.

"Take care of her, Sakshi. If her pain returns, give her these tablets, and here's a hot water bag as well. Okay, good night," Dev spoke briskly before leaving their room abruptly, avoiding the temptation of Arvika's enticing presence in her modest attire, lest it stirs unwelcome desires within him.

Arvika watched his retreating figure, once again reminded of his unpredictable nature, while Sakshi breathed a sigh of relief.

"Come, let's sleep now. I'm feeling sleepy too, and we have sightseeing to do in the morning," Sakshi stifled a yawn, leading them both towards the bed, ready to drift into the realm of dreams.

As Sakshi quickly succumbed to sleep, Arvika found herself unable to doze off. It wasn't her abdominal pain keeping her awake, but rather the newfound feelings stirring in her heart because of Dev's actions that day-his help in her most vulnerable moment.

Though she knew him as a bully, today had revealed a different side of him, a kind-heartedness boy she couldn't ignore.

"I'll thank him again tomorrow," she whispered to herself, pulling the duvet closer, a soft smile gracing her lips.

****

"Dev, where have you been all this time?" The sudden voice made Dev pause on his way to the washroom, recognizing the intruder without needing to turn around. It was unmistakably Rohan, his best friend.

"Still awake, buddy?" Dev responded, avoiding turning to face Rohan, unwilling to reveal his crimson-stained shorts and knees to his closest friend.

"You didn't answer my question," Rohan persisted, approaching Dev with each step.

"Let me just use the washroom first, then I'll fill you in," Dev attempted to evade the inquiry, hastening his steps toward the washroom. But Rohan was no stranger to Dev's evasion tactics; they had been best friends since childhood, and Rohan could see through his friend's facade.

"Not so fast, buddy... What the Hell!" Rohan's exclamation filled the room as he caught sight of Dev's shorts, drenched in what appeared to be blood, sending a shiver down his spine.

"Calm down, Rohan, you'll wake everyone," Dev responded casually as if the blood staining his clothes was nothing more than mud.

"Calm down? Are you kidding me, Dev? There's blood all over your knees! And you expect me to calm down? Did you murder someone tonight? Good grief!" Rohan's words fell out in a flurry of shock and disbelief, trying to make sense of the gruesome scene before him.

Before Rohan could utter another word, Dev swiftly pulled him towards the balcony, covering Rohan's mouth with his palm to prevent any noise that might disturb the sleeping occupants of the room.

"Just be quiet, I didn't murder anyone," Dev swore, sensing Rohan's resistance to his sudden move and unplanned explanation.

"Then what's with the blood?" Rohan inquired, his tone filled with confusion and impatience, desperate to unravel the mystery behind the crimson stains on his friend's knees and shorts.

"Do you recall the girl I mentioned before?" Dev began, but Rohan cut him off with an expletive.

"Enough! If you interrupt me again, I'll throttle you," Dev threatened, not keen on prolonging the conversation any further, feeling the fatigue of the late hour creeping in.

"Fine, fine, I'll zip it now," Rohan mumbled, pressing a finger to his lips, unwilling to further provoke his already edgy best friend.

"She's Arvika, Sakshi's best friend from school. Today, she experienced her first menstrual cycle, which left her utterly distraught. Sakshi called me as her guardian, and upon seeing Arvika's distress, I embraced her, hence the bloodstains," Dev explained solemnly, gazing up at the night sky.

"So, the tough guy has finally fallen in love," Rohan quipped, latching onto the revelation amidst the chaos, earning a glare from Dev.

"Don't give me that look, I know you too well," Rohan retorted, sparking their familiar banter.

"I love her, though sometimes it feels like it's moving too fast. I've only met her thrice, and yet, here I am," Dev admitted, a soft smile playing on his lips as he reminisced about their initial encounter.

"According to a wise philosopher, it only takes four minutes to fall in love, buddy," Rohan mimicked a famous Love Guru aka Shahrukh Khan, eliciting a laugh from Dev at his comical impression.

"Yeah, yeah, now let me take a shower," Dev chuckled, heading toward the bathroom to let the warm water wash away the tension and stains of the night.

As the water cascaded over him, Dev's muscles relaxed, and thoughts of Arvika flooded his mind, reaffirming his feelings for her. His love for her was undeniable.

His love, his one & only Arvika!

'Her menstrual blood on me was it some kind of hint by the Almighty?' Dev mumbled to himself and washed down the crimson-red blood that plummeted down his legs as if he too was bleeding like Arvika.

****

"Indeed, Mother, I'm here with Sakshi, she's doing well," Arvika reassured her mother over the phone, which she had borrowed from her teacher.

"Remember, her father is a business associate, so keep things amicable and stick by her side wherever she goes," Arvika's mother's tone was more focused on business arrangements than her daughter's well-being, despite sending her off to Ooty, over 1200 kilometres away from Mumbai!

"Understood, Mother," Arvika responded wearily before ending the call, unwilling to endure another round of her mother's lectures.

"Thank you, sir," she expressed her gratitude to her teacher, who had kindly lent her his phone for the call. It was still early morning, and while Sakshi and the other girls were lost in slumber, Arvika found herself navigating through the corridors of the resort.

Today, they had to visit a few of the famous places of Ooty with other students but Arvika didn't want to go. She still had pain in her abdomen, how could she even walk.

As the morning progressed, Arvika joined the other girls in the lounge area, where they were served breakfast before their scheduled sightseeing activities.

During the meal, Arvika made eye contact with Dev, but this time, instead of fear, she conveyed a silent thank you with a gentle smile. Dev, captivated by her gesture, was oblivious to Rohan's playful nudges, lost in Arvika's presence.

"You're completely spellbound, buddy," Rohan teased, drawing amused glances from those around them, breaking Dev's trance.

"You're such a goof," Dev retorted, shaking his head as Rohan chuckled.

After breakfast, everyone departed for their activities, leaving Arvika behind as she wasn't feeling up to joining them.

Alone in her room, she idly watched TV until she overheard unfamiliar voices outside.

"His name is Dev Kapoor, a student in eleventh grade," a voice said.

"We'll need to teach him a lesson for what he did last night. Dev will pay, I assure you," another voice vowed.

Arvika's heart sank at the ominous words, causing her to drop the TV remote in shock. She was gripped by a sense of terror, unlike anything she had ever experienced.

****

Ego can be fatal, it can take lives, it can burn someone, it can destroy someone, mercilessly.

Saket Reddy, too, nursed an ego wounded to its core by none other than the sixteen-year-old Dev, who left him bruised and battered, forcing him to confront his true worth and veracity. Consumed by shame and disgrace, Saket cautioned his subordinates to keep the incident under wraps, threatening severe repercussions for any leaks. Fearing the wrath of their tyrannical leader, they obediently complied with his futile directive.

This silence allowed Dev to remain calm and composed, as no formal complaint reached his school authorities. Despite of the vindictive fury needed to pursue action against Dev, Saket recoiled at the thought of the humiliation he would endure-a twenty-five-year-old beaten by a mere sixteen-year-old was too embarrassing to contemplate, sending shivers down his spine.

However, lurking within Saket's sinister mind brewed something far more nefarious and dishonourable-a plan that spelt impending disaster.

****

"What? You're in love and you didn't even clue us in? Shame on you, Dev! How could you keep something like this from us? Have we failed you as friends? You've shattered our bro-code, man. Now, spill the beans-everything about her. I haven't even laid eyes on her," Dev's close friend Ashish exclaimed dramatically, placing a hand over his heart and adopting the demeanour of a heartbroken lover.

"Pipe down, Drama Queen. It only dawned on me today that she means more to me than anything else. And don't you dare breathe a word of this to anyone else! You and Rohan are the only ones who know, so keep it that way, okay?" Dev's tone carried a hint of concern now, wary of Rohan's tendency to spill secrets in front of Ashish.

"Alright, alright, our lips are sealed. Now spill it," Ashish urged eagerly, keen to learn all about his friend's newfound love interest.

"Well, she's Sakshi's best friend-a sweet, innocent girl," Rohan chimed in, noting Dev's unusual silence on the matter.

"Ohho! Every beast falls in love with an angel," Ashish laughed humourlessly, making both Rohan and Dev glared at him.

"I mean, we're the infamous bad boys, man, and you've gone and fallen for an innocent, sweet girl like all the other bad boys," Ashish chuckled gleefully, oblivious to the simmering anger in his friend.

"Dev isn't some kind of bad boy, he's just mischievous" Rohan attempted to defend his friend, but Dev nudged him aside, stepping closer to Ashish.

"Because it's always the angel who tames the beast, isn't it?" a smirk played on Dev's lips, observing the sudden shift in Ashish's demeanour, a change that was certainly warranted.

"Yeah, yeah, so did you guys kiss? Spill the details," Ashish managed to maintain his composure, though his excitement was palpable, sending a jolt through Dev akin to a surge of electricity at the mere mention of one innocent-seeming yet potentially life-altering word.

Kiss!

That one action which was beyond words, which couldn't be explained by any philosopher or any writer even! The emotions associated with a kiss couldn't be written within the boundaries of a pen and a paper, it's much more beyond that, fusing two souls with one another to an unknown imaginary land of just love and love.

"No. I don't see her in that way," Dev immediately spoke out, with his heart galloping on its own horse of deeply-rooted emotions and of course, undeniable, innocent love.

"Of course, it's Dev Kapoor we're talking about here. Remember his recent crush on that twenty-five-year-old English teacher, Tara Ma'am?" Rohan quipped sarcastically, shooting a knowing glance at his best friend, who was blushing ever so slightly. Dev turned away, hoping to hide his embarrassment, but Rohan's keen eyes saw right through him.

"Yeah, I remember. He was head over heels for her. But now, he seems like a completely different person," Ashish remarked, noting the newfound change in his friend, who was blushing in front of them for the first time.

"Don't talk nonsense, guys!" Dev attempted to make a quick exit, but his friends were relentless, refusing to let him off the hook until they had all the answers to their countless questions.

"No, tell us, how do you feel when you see her, maybe we can help you," Rohan held Dev's elbow and made him sit on the bed, the same bed which was allotted to three of them in this resort. These three musketeers had not gone for the tour with other kids, citing some ridiculous excuses to their beloved teachers, and they too had not even argued much with these guys, knowing how problematic they could be at the tour if their words weren't heard!

"I don't feel all those things that you guys want to hear from me," Dev gritted out crossly.

"Oh, really, Dev? So, is she just a sisterly figure to you, or does she not fit your fantasy of 'hot and sexy'?" Ashish taunted, finding himself on the receiving end as Dev's hands tightened around his neck.

Dev couldn't stand to hear such remarks about his feelings for Arvika. He loved her deeply and passionately, not as a brother or in any other trivial way. And to comment on her attractiveness? That was beyond disrespectful. Who was Ashish to judge Arvika like that? How dare he objectify her to mere physical attributes!

"Man, you're suffocating me! Let go! I'm sorry!" Despite Dev's grip being somewhat restrained, Ashish felt the weight of his friend's anger bearing down on him.

"Dev, calm down! He was just joking, buddy. Let him go, Dev!" Rohan intervened, knowing full well the danger of Dev's temper. Dev was capable of anything when he was angry.

"You better watch your mouth next time, or I won't hesitate to shut it for you, bastard," Dev warned, his possessiveness over Arvika fueling his rage. The memory of Saket's insults from the previous night only added to his fury.

"If I'm a bastard, what does that make you? Too scared to kiss the girl you claim to love? Are you a coward, Dev? Or maybe you're just not interested in girls at all?" Before Ashish could finish his taunt, a punch sent him sprawling to the ground, blood streaming from his mouth. Yet, despite the pain, Ashish continued to provoke Dev, pushing him further into a frenzied rage.

This altercation was escalating far beyond Rohan's expectations. Ashish's relentless taunting only served to stoke Dev's anger, transforming him into a savage beast in the eyes of those watching.

"Dev, stop! Please, just stop!" Rohan pleaded, pulling his friend away from Ashish, who lay battered and bloodied on the ground.

"How dare he call me impotent! I will show him how big of a man I am," Dev's adrenaline rush had played a major role in this incident, inciting him more and more to kill the one who had invoked a new rage and venom in him.

"Easy, Dev, you nearly took him out. I'll look after him. You should get some air and cool off before things escalate further," Rohan's calming words eased Dev's tension slightly, prompting him to leave the room and seek solace elsewhere, shooting one last glare at Ashish, now his sworn nemesis.

"How dare he question my love and my masculinity like that! What nerve! I never knew he had it in