The sharp trill of the alarm sliced through the quiet morning.

Aahana’s eyes flew open.

“Uff, not again,” she muttered, smacking the clock before jolting upright. She had exactly twenty minutes before she’d be late. Again.

She jumped out of bed, her feet brushing the cold marble floor, and hurried to the bathroom. The warm shower hit her skin, waking every sleepy nerve. She washed her face, tied her hair into a messy bun, and did her minimal makeup just a soft concealer, a hint of blush, mascara that lifted her lashes, and a nude lip tint that made her look naturally fresh.

She glanced at her reflection. Her almond-shaped eyes, warm brown with tiny golden flecks, still held that soft morning daze.

Her face carried a gentle sharpness slim nose, full lips, a delicate jawline.

Her body was petite yet graceful, with a soft curve to her waist.

For the outfit, she chose her favourite:

a white ribbed tank top, layered with a light beige oversized shrug, paired with high-waist blue straight jeans and clean sneakers. A simple chain around her neck, small hoops, and the vanilla perfume she never skipped.

Grabbing her tote bag, she rushed to her car.

~At the College Gate~

The campus was already buzzing cars, laughter, that typical Monday chaos. Ahana parked, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked fast toward the main building, muttering under her breath, “Bas ab late nahi hona chahiye.”

Just as she turned the corner near the auditorium…

She collided into something...no, someone solid.

Her foot slipped.

Her tote bag flew.

Her balance disappeared.

But before she hit the floor, a strong hand gripped her waist, steadying her.

Her breath caught.

Aarav.

It took a second for her brain to register anything except the warmth of his touch. He held her firmly, his other hand brushing her hair away from her face.

“Careful,” he said, voice low, smooth, almost amused.

Ahana’s heartbeat was ridiculously loud in her ears. Their faces were inches apart. For a moment, the world blurred the corridor noise, the footsteps, the chatter everything faded.

His eyes held hers, deep and unreadable.

She wished she could look away.

She didn’t.

Then reality slapped her.

“Uh—I’m so sorry, I was just—late ho rahi thi,” she blurted, stepping back instantly, cheeks warming.

He didn’t move for a second, still studying her as if she’d appeared out of thin air.

Then a faint smile touched his lips. “You should watch where you’re going.”

“Haan, obviously,” she muttered, snatching her tote bag from the floor.

She hurried away, but her heart refused to follow her instructions, beating way too fast.

~In the Classroom~

She slipped into her class, exhaling in relief. Riyansh waved at her from the last bench.

“Teri entry toh filmy thi,” he whispered as she sat beside him.

“Shhh,” she said, still catching her breath.

But Riyansh narrowed his eyes.

“Why do you look like you just ran a marathon?”

Then he paused.

“Wait… did something happen? Bata naa.”

Aahana shook her head, stuffing her hair behind her ear.

“Nothing. Actually—”

She stopped, biting her lip.

Across the doorway, Arav walked past the class window.

Her stomach flipped again.

Aahana’s eyes froze.

For a split second, she wondered if she was imagining him again… but no. This time he stopped, glanced inside, and his gaze landed straight on her.

Her breath hitched.

Riyansh waved a hand in front of her face.

“Hello? Earth to Aahana?”

Before she could respond, the classroom door opened.

Every student turned.

And aarav walked in.

Perfectly calm. Perfectly confident. quiet intensity in his eyes.Wearing a black formal shirt rolled to his forearms, and with the same intensity in his eyes....

Aahana stared.

What is he doing here?

He placed his laptop on the desk, looked at the class, and spoke:

"Good morning, everyone.

"I’m Professor Arav Singh, and from today, I’ll be taking over this course."

A soft gasp rippled across the students.

Of course it did. The owner of the college rarely taught. And definitely not their batch.

Aarav’s eyes swept across the room as if he was addressing all of them but the truth was painfully obvious:

He was looking only at her.

The moment their eyes met, Aahana felt a tiny jolt. A flashback of the corridor...his hand on her waist, the way he’d caught her just seconds before she fell hit her all over again.

Her heart thudded.

Aarav’s lips curved into the faintest smile. The kind that said he remembered it too.

Immediately, she looked away.

Riyansh nudged her. “Why are you blushing? Who is he? Tu bata mujhe—”

“Chup,” she whispered sharply.

Aarav cleared his throat, and the entire class fell silent again.

He began teaching—calm voice, sharp explanations, the kind of presence that made the entire class pay attention.

Except Aahana.

Riyansh leaned closer.

“Bro, he’s kinda strict, no?”

Aahana bit back a laugh. “Focus, idiot.”

But Riyansh continued whispering jokes and commentary, and she couldn’t help smiling.

Every time he nudged her or made a stupid comment, she leaned toward him to reply.

Meanwhile, Arav paused mid-sentence.

His eyes flicked in their direction.

Then again.

And again.

His jaw tightened slightly, but Aahana didn’t notice—she was too busy trying not to laugh at something Riyansh whispered.

When Aarav walked toward their row while explaining a concept, his steps slowed near them. His gaze shifted to where Aahana sat—close to Riyansh, heads almost brushing when they whispered.

Aahana didn’t look up.

She was scribbling notes and arguing with Riyansh about the last question.

Aarav’s fingers tightened around the marker.

He cleared his throat sharply.

Riyansh immediately straightened. “Sorry, sir.”

Aahana blinked up in confusion. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” Riyansh whispered. “We were apparently disturbing.”

“We? Tum hi bol rahe the,” she nudged him playfully and went back to her notebook.

Aarav returned to the board, his expression unreadable… except for the slight tension around his eyes.

Aahana didn’t notice that either.

She was already asking Riyansh for his notes.

The bell rang.

Students shoved their books into their bags and rushed out. Riyansh stretched his arms.

“Finallyyy the lecture is over. I’m starving,” he whispered.

Aahana smiled and began packing her things when she heard:

“Aahana,”

Her hands paused.

Aarav stood at the front, closing his laptop. His voice was calm—too calm.

“Come to my office for a minute.”

She froze for half a second.

Riyansh frowned. “Why is he calling you?”

“No idea,” she shrugged.

She had, honestly, no clue.

Aarav didn’t wait for her response. He simply walked out of the classroom, expecting her to follow.

The hallway outside was noisy, but inside Aarav’s office, everything was too quiet.

Aahana stepped in cautiously.

Aarav was sitting in his chair behind the desk, tall and broad even in that relaxed position. The moment her shadow filled the doorway, he lifted his eyes.

And stood up.

Slowly. Purposefully.

“Close the door,” he said.

His voice was low—calm, but carrying something underneath.

Aahana reached behind and pushed the door, but she was not able to close it like the door knob was now working....

Aarav noticed. Aarav moved.

He walked toward her in a controlled, steady pace until he was right behind her… so close that she could feel his presence at her back. He reached past her shoulder and pushed the door shut, his arm brushing her hair lightly.

Her breath caught.

He didn’t touch her—he didn’t have to.

The proximity alone made the air charge.

Aahana stepped one pace backward, instinctively creating space.

Her head tilted up to look at him because of their height difference—5'2" meeting 6'1".

His eyes were deep, intense, unreadable.

He looked at her as if he was trying to understand something he himself didn’t know.

Aahana swallowed.

“Sir… did I do something wrong?”

For a second, he didn’t answer.

He just stared.

Then he turned away sharply, as if pulling himself out of some trance, and walked back to his chair. He sat, but even sitting, he held an authority that filled the room.

Aahana took a slow step forward and stood in front of the desk.

Aarav exhaled once, controlled.

“You were distracted today,” he began.

“No, sir,” she replied firmly. “We were just discussing notes.”

“We?” His jaw tightened. “You mean Riyansh.”

Aahana blinked.

“Yes. We sit together. And we study together.”

His fingers tapped the desk once—short, irritated.

“You don’t need to talk in the middle of my lecture,” he said. “It wastes your time.”

“We weren’t talking about random things,” she argued. “We were genuinely discussing the question—”

“With him?”

The way he said him was sharp. Too sharp.

Aahana frowned.

“Sir, he’s my best friend. And he actually helps me.”

Aarav’s eyes hardened—just for a second.Then softened again when he looked at her.

A flicker of jealousy he tried to bury, but it escaped anyway.

He leaned back in his chair, trying to appear unaffected, but his voice was tighter now:

“You should rely less on other students. Especially ones who don’t… add value to your performance.”

Aahana’s brows shot up.

“Riyansh DOES add value! I’m not a kid, sir. And we weren’t disturbing anyone.”

Aarav’s control snapped a little.

“You were disturbing me,” he said before he could stop himself.

Aahana blinked, confused.

“What?”

Silence.

He realized what he had said.

His throat tightened. His breath faltered.

He looked away quickly, covering it with frustration.

“I mean,” he corrected, “you were disturbing the class environment.”

Aahana stared at him, completely clueless about the deeper meaning behind his words.

“Okay, sir. Fine. I’ll sit quietly.”

Her voice was calm but slightly annoyed.

She picked up her bag, turned, and walked toward the door.

Aarav didn’t stop her.

But the moment the door closed behind her—

His chest rose sharply.

He dragged a hand through his hair and leaned back, eyes shut, jaw tight.

“Damn it,” he whispered to the empty room.

Why he was feeling jealous.?

Why did he care who she talked to?

Why did he lose control the moment she defended another man?

He stared at the chair where she had stood just seconds ago.

Her presence still lingered in the room.

And then the truth hit him—hard, brutal, undeniable.

“I love her,” he whispered.

“I tried for years not to fall again… but I love her.”

A breath, shaky and honest:

“I want her. I crave her. And it’s driving me insane.”

He pressed his fingers to his eyes, a defeated smile pulling at his lips.

“And she doesn’t even know.”

.

.

.

.

~The end of the chapter~

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