CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: RIYA’S ENTRY

Noticing that everyone’s attention had been piqued, Raju sat forward with a mischievous grin.

"Several days ago, I bumped into Alex. Guess what he’s doing now?"

The classmates immediately sat up at attention.

"What job?"

"Yeah, go on! He was the best student in our course, he must be doing great."

"Exactly, probably working huge amounts of money by now."

Their curiosity hung in the room, expectation thick in the air.

Raju sighed loudly, his expression dripping with false pity.

"Alex... he’s now working as a security guard at the industrial park."

The words dropped like a bomb.

The room fell silent for a second, then erupted.

"The former school idol, a security guard? No way!"

"That doesn’t make sense. I heard Alex got an offer from a TCS company before graduation."

"His initial salary was to be in the tens of thousands. How did he wind up like this?"

"We don’t believe you, Raju."

Their claim from Raju was real.

They could not fit the picture of the gentle, untouchable school idol with a man in a security outfit.

Incredible.

"It was true that the economy was cruel and employment rate is low."

"But Alex? Top of his class, university graduate? Ending up like this was just a joke."

Raju slumped back with a sigh, as if burdened by the harshness of fate.

"I’m not lying to you. It’s true. When I went to my father’s company with Priya, I saw him there with my own eyes standing watch in a uniform."

He shook his head slowly.

"Sometimes life is just like this."

His eyes flashed toward Priya, measuring her response.

But Priya said nothing, her face impassive.

That silence did the trick.

The classmates looked at her, then at each other.

Her silence had all but admitted the truth.

A tension hung in the air.

In college, Alex had been the fantasysomeone thousands envied but couldn’t reach.

And now? Brought down to this?

It was not easy for them to swallow.

But just as the whispers were getting louder, the door opened.

Everyone spun around.

And in came Alex.

He smiled calmly, his composure evident.

"Raju, sorry I was stuck in the morning work, so I arrived late," he said carelessly.

The room came to a standstill.

And then suddenly voices erupted.

"You’re late? Did something go wrong?"

"Being a security guard must be dangerous, Alex. You have to be careful."

Raju straightened, hiding behind a mask of feigned concern.

"Yes, Alex, you have to be careful. This kind of work is dangerous."

But Alex smiled simply.

"It’s okay. The job is simple. I can slack off the majority of the time. Honestly, it’s relatively laid back."

His attitude was relaxed, totally unconcerned.

Raju prodded another question, refusing to quit.

"Well... working as a security guard is well paid, isn’t it?"

Alex nodded with a calm smile.

"Not bad. Meals and drinks paid for, weekends off. The pay isn’t great, but it’s good enough for me."

Raju’s smile froze.

Still, he pushed on.

"What about a girlfriend? Got one yet?"

Alex cocked his head, eyes fixed on him, his smile holding a secret.

"No," he said flatly, the look he gave Raju like watching a clown act.

The female classmates giggled, gesturing to Alex.

"School idol, sit with me!"

"I’ve got space here too!"

They were thrilled, really elated to welcome him.

His job as a Security guard didn’t stop them to appreciate his looks.

All of the girls has same thoughts, "Isn’t it good for him to be simply stay at home, with looks of his any girl will wish to be with him, whether he has a decent job or not."

At the same time, they all gave Raju cold stares.

Everyone had seen through him now.

Each word he uttered was dripping with sarcasm, moving in a circle back to Alex’s occupation as a security guard.

In the midst of the classmates stood one straightforward fellow—Arjun.

He banged his fist on the table and glared at Raju.

"Enough is enough! You’re constantly harping on Alex being a security guard just to prove that you’re very successful, right?"

"But why? Why must you bring this up? Society is open now. Provided that one isn’t violating the law or committing crimes, every profession is worthy of respect. There’s no high or low!"

Arjun then clapped Alex on the shoulder.

"Alex, sit with me. Pay no heed to this rubbish."

But suddenly he found himself cold, turning he saw girls glaring at him.

"Ooops!, no turning back now."

With a tight pull, he yanked Alex down into the chair next to him.

Hehehe.....

Raju’s lips twitched into a smile, but he remained quiet.

Inside, however, he was triumphing.

His mission had been accomplished.

Everyone now knew Alex was a security guard.

That picture was sufficient to erode at Alex’s previous fame.

If he kept taunting, it could rebound and turn the class against him.

So Raju sensibly closed his mouth, enjoying his minor victory.

But.

Just then—

The door creaked open again.

Clang~

Every head turned simultaneously.

And in strode a woman, tall.

The first thing they noticed her black leather boots, tapping on the floor.

Then her height—well over 1.6 meters, her stance commanding.

She was dressed in a tight black skirt, accompanied by a crisp white sleeveless top.

Plain. Classic. Killing.

But what actually left them gawking was the V-shape of her shirt.

It hung just low enough to suggest danger, but was still classy and tasteful.

That subtle flash multiplied her attractiveness a thousandfold.

A woman who lacked confidence, who didn’t have the perfect body, would never have the nerve to wear it like this.

The room became silent.

Then gasps erupted.

"Oh my god... who is she? Is she even in our class?"

"No way! Our class never had anyone this beautiful."

"Did we... get into the wrong room?"

The lads barely blinked, their eyes fixed on her.

The girls couldn’t resist stealing glances, comparing themselves in hushed tones.

The woman was Riya.

She lived close to her family, and earlier, while messaging Alex on WhatsApp, she discovered he would be here for the reunion.

On a whim, she offered to come too.

Why?

Those who knew didn’t require an explanation.

Riya was declaring something.

And she wanted to do it with Alex.

Alex instantly understood her subtle intention.

But he said nothing, only smiling faintly as she entered.