---
Beep! Beep! Beep!
"Ugh... stop it already…" Riya mumbled in her sleep.
The sharp beeping sound jerked her awake.
"Ouch!"
As soon as she sat up, pain shot through her body — her burnt hand still hurt.
But her eyes fell on the bandage wrapped gently around it — bandaged by Anshu, with her own tiny hands.
Riya slowly pulled back the curtain…
And saw something she never expected — a long, black Porsche 911 GT3 R parked outside.
A car like that in their narrow street felt like a scene out of a dream.
"Who… who could this be? Such a big car… in front of our house?"
Whispers and murmurs started floating in the neighborhood.
Even Suhana and Riya's stepmother peeked out from behind the curtains.
When Riya looked again — she saw Akshet standing beside the car.
"Akshet? You?"
She ran down in surprise, barefoot, heart pounding.
People stared from their windows — stunned. For them, this scene was nothing short of a miracle.
When she reached him—
"Are you okay? What are you doing here so early? How did you even find my house?"
Akshet smiled faintly.
"Calm down. No time for all that. Don't you have your scholarship exam today? We'll talk later."
Riya hesitated.
"But... my admit card. It got burned…" she said quietly.
"So what? Just bring your roll number. Get in the car. I'll handle the rest."
She hesitated again.
"I... I don't think I can do this. Everything's ruined."
Akshet looked straight at her.
"Fine. If you really believe you can't, then don't.
But remember this — chances like these don't come often.
Don't spend your life regretting the day the car waited outside... and you didn't step forward."
Riya went silent.
She glanced at her hand, the bandage, the pain… and all the things she'd survived.
Then, slowly, she smiled.
"I'll be right back."
The neighbors stared, stunned. It was like watching a scene from a movie.
Riya rushed inside, got ready in a flash.
"All the best!" Anshu called out sweetly.
---
Somehow, she was allowed to enter the test.
Now, all that mattered was giving her best — no matter how broken her body felt.
Her eyes were red from nights of crying, her hand burned, her limbs weak —
but her will... stronger than ever.
"Just give your 101%," she whispered to herself.
---
Days passed. Riya lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
"It's been so long... No call, no message... what's going on with the result?"
From the next room, she suddenly heard her stepmother's voice.
"Why do you want to talk to Riya?" she snapped into the phone.
Riya rushed and snatched the phone from her hands.
And what she heard made her gasp.
She was selected.
"Hurraaaaay!!!"
Riya jumped and spun around like a little child.
She screamed out to Suhana and her stepmother too, not caring how they felt.
She picked up Anshu in her arms and twirled her around the entire room.
Papa and Anshu were glowing with joy.
But her stepmother's face remained stiff, cold.
She wanted to tell Akshet right away —
But he hadn't been around for days.
---
Preparations for school were in full swing.
She had received books, stationery, uniforms — all funded by the scholarship.
Only thing missing: shoes.
Riya planned to pick up a cheap pair from the market while picking up Anshu from school.
But when she reached, she saw some kids laughing at Anshu's torn shoes.
Her little sister's eyes brimmed with tears.
Without a second thought, Riya grabbed Anshu's hand and took her to a shop.
She bought her the shoes she liked, no matter how expensive.
Anshu kept protesting, but Riya had made up her mind.
"No matter what, I'll get you new shoes today."
But in doing so — Riya spent every last rupee she had.
There was nothing left for her own shoes.
"Now how will I go to school?"
She looked at her old Crocs. That would have to do.
"I need to earn more. Take on some extra work."
She was just stepping out of the delivery shop when she heard a voice behind her.
"Riya… wait!"
It was Akshet.
"Where have you been? Are you okay?" she asked.
"Forget me. First tell me — what happened with the results?"
"I was going to tell you, but you never answered your calls," she said softly.
"Yeah… was busy. But now tell me — what happened?"
She lowered her eyes, smiled faintly.
"I got selected…"
Akshet's eyes lit up. He grabbed her hand and spun her in joy.
"I knew it! So when are you joining school? Classes have already started!"
Riya hesitated.
"I'm helping Anshu with her school project. I'll join in a few days..."
"Need help?"
"No, not at all. But thanks."
"Then hurry up — don't miss too many classes."
Akshet walked away.
But Riya… was lost in thought again.
---
That evening, she went to a cheap shoe store.
But the prices were still too high.
She begged the shopkeeper for a discount — but he refused flatly.
Exhausted, she returned home.
When she opened the door — she saw a shoe box sitting near the entrance.
She opened it…
Gucci Limited Edition shoes.
"These must be Suhana's..." Riya thought.
"No, Didi — they're for YOU!" Anshu said cheerfully.
"What?"
"Yes, for you!"
"Where did you get them? Did you take them from someone?" Riya asked, panicked.
"No! A man came... he said once he sold his 1000th pair, he would gift a special one. And he gave these to me — for you!"
It felt strange.
But Riya whispered, smiling,
"Sometimes… even God sends messengers disguised as strangers."
"Now I won't need extra work… and I can finally join school."
"I'm so happy… Thank you, Kanha…"
---