Days went by, and Avisha and Manisha often spent their time together around the college campus. To Avisha, Manisha was the only one who treated her with genuine warmth and kindness. She didn't know much about Manisha's family background, but that never mattered. What did matter was the bond they shared — simple, honest, and comforting.

But the joy didn't last long. One day, Avisha received an email informing her that her scholarship had been discontinued due to financial constraints from the sponsoring organization. The news shattered her. With no means to afford her education, a wave of hopelessness consumed her. She felt lost, cornered, and couldn't stop her mind from drifting toward dark and desperate thoughts.

For Avisha, her education wasn't just a dream — it was her lifeline. With the scholarship gone, everything collapsed. Even her basic meals from the hostel mess were covered by the scholarship board. Now, with nothing left to hold onto, she felt completely abandoned. In a moment of despair, she dragged a stool beneath the ceiling fan, tied a scarf around the hook, and prepared to end it all.

Just as she was about to step up, the door burst open.

It was Manisha — cheerful and unaware — holding a box full of fresh jalebis, her favorite. The sight jolted Avisha, and her heart skipped a beat. Manisha's smile faded the instant she saw what was happening. Avisha screamed, her voice trembling, "Stop! Just go away!"

Manisha's expression changed from shock to anger as she stepped forward and scolded Avisha, "How could you even think of doing something so irresponsible? Do you even know what that would've done to the people who care about you?"

Avisha collapsed to the floor, sobbing. "You don't understand, Manisha... My life isn't like yours. It's not easy. Next month, I won't even have food to eat. My scholarship gave me just two thousand rupees — that was enough for my clothes, books, stationery... everything. And now it's gone. There's no one to pay my college fees. I have no one."

She looked up at Manisha with pain in her eyes. "You won't get it. You have everything. We're not the same."

Manisha's voice softened, but her eyes held a storm. "You're right... our lives aren't the same. But do you really think I have it easy?"

She sat down beside her and took a deep breath. "Yes, I come from the Oberoi family. And because of that, everyone wants to be my best friend — not for who I am, but for my surname. Every guy who wants to date me sees me as a ticket to wealth. I'm tired, Avisha. Tired of fake smiles and selfish people."

Manisha placed a hand over hers. "But then I saw you. And for the first time in a long while, I saw something real — the honesty in your eyes, the way you didn't care about where I came from. I knew, in that moment, that you could be my true friend."

"Don't worry," Manisha said softly, wiping away Avisha's tears. "I'll figure something out for you. But promise me, you'll never do anything like this again... nothing that would hurt you like this. You matter more than you know."

In Elysian Crest

The grand gates of Elysian Crest opened as Manisha's car pulled in. The mansion stood tall and regal, with soft golden lights glowing through the windows. Avisha, sitting beside her, looked around with hesitant eyes, her mind still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions.

Inside, Manisha had already explained everything to her parents.

Her father, Mr. Raghav Oberoi, sat silently for a moment before speaking with quiet pride, "You did the right thing, beta. Helping someone in need takes courage. I want to support such a bright student. Bring her here, and don't worry — I'll treat her like my own daughter."

Manisha's mother beamed. She walked up to her and pulled her daughter's ear playfully,
"Kuch seekh le usse! Dekh, kitni samajhdaar aur mehnati hai. Tum bhi thoda serious hona seekho."

Manisha chuckled, rubbing her ear, while Avisha stood by the doorway, her hands clutching her bag tightly, unsure if she should enter.

But not everyone was pleased.

In the corner, Dadi gave a disapproving sigh. Standing beside her was Siddhi, Manisha's elder sister, who addressed Mr. Oberoi firmly, "Bade Papa, main bas itna keh rahi hoon... humein kisi unknown background ki ladki ko ghar laane se pehle do baar sochna chahiye."

Dadi added in a low voice, "Aaj ghar la rahe ho, kal ko koi dikkat ho gayi toh? Anath hone ka matlab yeh toh nahi ki sab kuch theek hoga."

Manisha heard them, her jaw tightening. She turned toward Avisha and said softly, "Ignore what they say. You're not alone anymore. This is your home too now."

Avisha looked at her, overwhelmed. For the first time in a long while, she felt the warmth of being seen — not as a burden, but as someone worth protecting.