I was no longer the same person I was till a week ago. I was no longer the little girl easily hurt, hiding behind her fears. All my fears had come true. I was made fun of, rebuked and used. I had nothing left to lose. This made me stronger. Whatever happened, had set me free from myself. I no longer wanted to be the second best, a shadow of what I could really be. I no longer had to behave, speak or understand things from other people's point of view. I was good enough for myself. I was good enough to take care of myself. I didn't know from where did I get the courage and confidence that was pumping through my veins now. What I did know was that I was finally free of all the barriers that I had built around myself. I was rising back from the ashes.

Looking back at Mahendran, I wanted to kick myself. How could I ever fall so hopelessly for a guy so full of himself. Maybe he was different when he was younger, but all these years abroad had done his personality more harm than good. Yes, he was good looking. Yes, he was charming. Yes, he knew how to sweet talk someone to do his work. And yes, he was an a**hole. All he wanted from me was to get his schoolwork done and to get introduced to people in school. How naive of me was to fall for that. Even though I was shot by my own friends, I was not going to fall down.

At lunch, Shivang and I sat on a different table in the cafeteria. If looks could kill, Prerna would have had me dead by now. I could constantly hear her hissing and feel her eyes piercing through me even though I was not facing her and was sitting several tables away. She was upset because she had lost her pet, me. The new Monali was incomprehensible for her. I was not following her orders, not doing her work and even answering back. A smile cracked on my face.

"What did I miss? What's funny?" , Shivang asked me with his mouth full of food.

"Nothing", I said breaking into another smile.

"Common...tell me. It's not fair", Shivang said in between bites.

"You won't give up, will you?", I punched him lightly on his chest. He pulled back at my touch and laughed nervously.

"I am just wondering, how much longer will it take for Prerna to come up to me and demand me back as her pet.", I said.

"Well, not much longer I think. She is walking towards you now. Don't turn."

I felt a hand on my shoulder soon.

"Monali, what is all this that you are doing?" , Prerna asked with fake concern.

"What am I doing Prerna?", I ask unable to hide the sarcasm in my voice.

"Do you think that you will get away with it? These cheap shots? Trying to spread rumours about me?" , she spat back.

"We both know what is a rumour and what is not a rumour Prerna."

"hmmm.... I understand that you are upset about your little crush not liking you back and shit. So I will give you a chance. Apologise to me and I will let you come back." , Prerna said to me.

"Please keep your fake concern with you darling. There is not a chance in the world of me coming back. I am done with you for good. I am going to show you how it feels like to be a shadow. Are you ready for it bestie?" , my tone is loaded with fake sweetness and there is a smile on my face.

Just then, as if on cue, Rohit came to our table. Prerna froze at the sight of her ex-boyfriend.

"What is this cheating bitch doing here?", Rohit asked in rage.

"Nothing, she was just going away.", I reply, folding my arms.

"It is going going to be this way then, fine. Remember you asked for it Monali." , Prerna said furiously before stomping away from our table.

"Hey Rohit, welcome to the group. Thanks for accepting my offer."

"Like I had a choice. I spent all my time with that bitch and fought with all my friends for her. Then she cheats on me and leaves me for some douchebag. You come along and ask me to hang out with you guys. It was really generous of you. I really had nowhere else to go. At least, no where else where I would not have been made fun of.", Rohit rants out all his feelings. I could see a tear drop forming in his eyes but he quickly wipes it away before it could fall down.

"Hey, its okay. I understand. This is what she does. She uses people and then throws them away when they are of no use to her. It is not your fault." , I hold his hand and try to make him feel better.

"Yeah man, we know how you feel. Don't be so low man. She ain't worth crying over", Shivang pitched in.

"Yeah, you are right. Thanks guys for being there. I thought you would side with Prerna", Rohit smiled and held on to my hand tighter. The poor guy was devastated. I never considered it before, but the guys that Prerna leaves are also humans with feelings. I wanted to kick myself for always siding with her whenever she used to leave a boy for another in the past.