"Welcome to Hillcrest"

Hillcrest College stood on the outskirts of the city, far from curious eyes and louder questions.

Officially, it was opened to improve education. Unofficially, it existed to clean reputations.

Low fees. High facilities. A spacious campus. A fully functional hostel behind the college.

Everything happened here— except studying.

Most students enrolled here had one thing in common: they didn’t want to be students. A few rare exceptions existed, but they learned quickly to stay quiet.

For the past year, Hillcrest had no principal. Not because one wasn’t appointed— but because none lasted.

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Among hundreds of students, three names ruled the campus like an unspoken law.

Akash. Aditya. Ajay.

Together, they were known as the Devil Gang.

Rules bent around them. Authority avoided them. Fear followed them.

Professors taught—or pretended to—only when they felt like it. Students attended—or disappeared—without consequences.

No one questioned anything.

Until one afternoon.

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A big black car entered the campus.

It wasn’t unusual. Outsiders often came to drink tea in the canteen or kill time before leaving.

But this car didn’t stop near the canteen.

It went straight to the principal’s residence.

A man stepped out. Calm. Controlled. Dressed simply.

He made a phone call.

> “Yes,” he said quietly. “I’ve arrived. Send the keys.”

Within minutes, the watchman arrived—confused, nervous—and handed over the keys to the principal’s flat.

Whispers spread like fire.

Another principal.

The last one had survived exactly two weeks.

This one, students guessed, wouldn’t last even that.

The man entered the flat with his luggage, accompanied by Rajveer Bhaiya—the canteen owner, mess in-charge, and the only person everyone trusted.

From hostel windows and corridor corners, eyes watched.

The Devil Gang noticed too.

They decided to wait.

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Two days passed.

No warnings. No lectures. No confrontations.

The new principal didn’t interfere. The Devil Gang didn’t act.

Then, on the third day, a notice appeared:

Mandatory meeting.

All professors and staff.

3:00 PM.

The meeting ended at 6:00 PM.

No one spoke about what happened inside.

But the next morning, something was… wrong.

Every professor was in their classroom. On time. Teaching full lectures.

Students stared in disbelief.

Meanwhile, the Devil Gang stayed in their rooms, laughing, unconcerned.

Until lunchtime.

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The trio entered the canteen.

Rajveer Bhaiya stood behind the counter.

He didn’t serve them.

> Rajveer Bhaiya: “Shekar Sir gave a list. Students who don’t attend classes won’t get food.”

Silence.

> Aditya: “Do you know who we are?”

> Ajay: “You’re joking, right?”

> Akash (smiling coldly): “Leave it. We’ll eat better today.”

By evening, food from expensive restaurants filled the hostel rooms.

Everyone ate.

And everyone knew what came next.

> Ajay: “Midnight?”

> Akash: “Midnight.”

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12:00 AM

Two men climbed over the wall.

They entered the principal’s flat quietly.

What happened inside didn’t stay quiet for long.

Furniture crashed. Fists landed.

But by morning, two bodies lay in the hospital.

And the principal slept peacefully.

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8:00 AM

Rajveer Bhaiya knocked, first-aid box in hand.

Shekar Sir opened the door.

Uninjured. Calm.

> Rajveer: “Sir… were you out last night?”

> Shekar Sir (smiling): “No. But your guests were.”

A pause.

> “Tell me,” Shekar Sir continued, “why does this Devil Gang hate classrooms so much?”

Rajveer sighed.

He told him everything—about rich fathers, neglected children, and a college meant to hide them from the world.

> Shekar Sir: “So they weren’t sent here to study. They were sent here to be forgotten.”

Rajveer lowered his eyes.

> Rajveer: “Sir… please don’t stop their food. It only creates trouble.”

> Shekar Sir: “Alright.”

---

Two days later, food returned.

But classes remained empty.

Still, professors continued teaching.

No one knew why.

Then another order came.

4:00 PM. College ground. Everyone.

---

Shekar Sir stood on the stage.

> “From today,” he announced, “attendance will be rewarded.”

Medals. Rewards. Cash. Trips.

A complaint box.

Whispers turned into laughter.

Questions flew.

“How long will you stay, sir?”

“We came here to live, not study!”

Shekar Sir’s phone rang.

He answered it.

Then he walked away.

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The next day, attendance rose. Not enough.

Those who tried to leave found the gates locked.

> Krishna: “Sir’s orders.”

The Devil Gang smiled.

That night, Shekar Sir’s car was destroyed. Garbage filled his flat.

This time, more men came.

Walls shook. Glass shattered.

Shekar Sir fought.

And this time—he bled.

No one helped.

By morning, the campus lay broken.

Shekar Sir slept in the ruined office.

Everyone believed the same thing:

He finally understood his place.

But no one saw the phone call he made at 2:17 AM.

And no one knew—

Hillcrest had finally found the principal who wouldn’t leave.

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To be continued…