A V Y A A N

I watched Nitika laugh with her friends. But my gaze kept drifting back to the memory of Atharva, the senior who had winked at her earlier. I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in my chest.

Why did I care that some senior had flirted with Nitika? She was just a friend, after all.

I tried to focus on the lecture, but my mind kept wandering back to Nitika and Atharva. I didn't like the idea of him noticing her, of him possibly pursuing her.

But still, the feeling persisted. I pushed it aside, telling myself I was being ridiculous. Yet, I couldn't help but sneak glances at Nitika, wondering if she was thinking about Atharva too.

She had been ignoring me for days, and I couldn't understand why. Had I done something wrong?

As the lecture ended, I sprang into action, determined to talk to her. "Where are you going?" Karan asked. "I want yesterday's lecture notes from nitika. I was absent."

Karan smirked. "Are you finding reasons to talk to her?"

I rolled my eyes. "What? No, I was just...whatever."

Karan chuckled. "Wait, where did you learn that rolling eyes thing? From Nitika?"

I glared at him. "Oh god, Karan, shut the fuck up and let me go."

But as I glanced at Nitika's seat, my heart sank. She was already gone.

Karan chuckled again, and I shot him a warning look. "Because of you idiot!"

I quickly scanned the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of Nitika, but she was nowhere to be found. I sighed, feeling frustrated and confused. Why was she avoiding me? And why did I care so much?

I turned to leave, but Sophia's voice stopped me. "Avyaan, you can use my notes."

I turned back, dismissing her offer with a curt "No thanks."

Sophia smiled, undeterred. "No worries, by the way, I'm Sophia."

But I was already gone, ignoring her outstretched hand and warm smile.

Karan jogged after me, his voice laced with concern. "You don't have to be that rude, Avyaan."

I brushed him off. "Karan, shut up."

He fell silent, but I could sense his disapproval. "Okay, let's go eat something," he suggested, trying to change the subject.

But I wasn't hungry. I was on a mission to find Nitika. "Later, you go," I said, waving him off.

Karan nodded and left, leaving me to my search.

Finally, I spotted Nitika, engrossed in her book, completely oblivious to her surroundings. I watched as she walked, her eyes fixed on the page, and I knew I had to reach her before she collided with the wall.

But just as I was about to intervene, someone snatched the book from her hands, making her look up in surprise.

My blood boiled as I saw Atharva's smug face, his eyes locked on Nitika's.

Why was he always around her?

I clenched my fists, trying to calm my racing heart. I needed to stay focused, to figure out what was going on between Nitika and me. But as I watched Atharva and Nitika together, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.

She looked nervous and awkward, her eyes darting around before settling on Atharva's face. "Oh, hi," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Atharva smiled, and I could sense his charm turning up a notch. "Hey, Nitika. What's up?"

Nitika fidgeted, her hands twisting together. "Just, uh, reading. Yeah."

I watched as Atharva chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Well, I won't disturb you then."

But he didn't move, just stood there, looking at Nitika with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.

As I approached, I heard Atharva ask Nitika out for coffee, and my gut twisted with unease. She hesitated, clearly uninterested, and I felt a pang of relief.

But then Atharva persisted, his eyes locked on hers, and I knew I had to intervene. My eyes locked onto his, a silent challenge passing between us. I strutted towards him, a confident sway to my hips, and Nitika's eyes widened in shock.

"Can I help you with something, bud?" I asked, my voice low and even. "You seem to have your eyes fixed on my girl here."

Nitika's gaze snapped to mine, confusion etched on her face. We weren't a couple, and I knew I had no right to claim her. But at that moment, I couldn't help myself.

I turned to Nitika, a smile spreading across my face. I grabbed her waist, pulling her close, and her eyes flashed with surprise.

"Tell him you're taken" I whispered, my lips brushing against her ear. "Tell him You're mine, and I won't let anyone else get close to what's mine."

Nitika's eyes searched mine, a mix of shock and amusement dancing in their depths. I knew I was crossing a line, but I couldn't help myself. I wanted to protect her, to keep her safe from guys like Atharva.

N I T I K A

I was taken aback by Avyaan's sudden ACTIONS. We aren't a couple, and I had no idea where this was coming from. But as I looked into his eyes, I saw something there that made my heart skip a beat. A fierce protectiveness, a determination to keep me safe.

I opened my mouth to protest, to tell him that I could handle myself, but the words caught in my throat. Atharva was still watching us, a smirk on his face, and I felt a surge of annoyance. Maybe it was better to just play along.

"Uh, yeah," I said, trying to sound casual. "I'm taken."

Atharva raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh, really?"

Avyaan's grip on my waist tightened, his fingers digging into my skin. "Yeah, really," he said, his voice low and even. "And I'd appreciate it if you keep your distance from my girlfriend."

Jksjkhskkj???

And as I looked into his eyes, I wondered if maybe, just maybe, I wanted to be.

I'm gonna faint now! I know he's just helping me out but still!!!

Atharva chuckled, holding up his hands in surrender. "No problem, no problem. I don't want to get on the wrong side of...whatever this is."

As he walked away, I turned to Avyaan, my eyes narrowing. I raised an eyebrow, my mind still reeling from Avyaan's sudden display of possessiveness. "What was that?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light.

Avyaan shrugged, his smile faltering for a moment. "I was just helping you out," he said, his tone nonchalant. "Don't flatter yourself you're not my type."

I felt a sting from his words, a hint of disappointment. Had I really thought he was interested in me? I pushed the thought aside, trying to focus on the present moment.

"Help me out?" I repeated, my voice laced with skepticism. "By pretending to be my boyfriend?"

"Well, you seemed like you needed a rescue," he said, his voice teasing. "And I just happened to be in the neighborhood."

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide the flutter in my chest. "Next time, just let me handle it myself," I said, trying to sound stern.

"Cool" he said, before turning and walking away, leaving me feeling confused and more than a little intrigued.

I watched Avyaan walk away, feeling a little hurt by his casual dismissal. Don't flatter yourself you're not my type, he had said. As if I was just a charity case, a damsel in distress who needed his help.

I shook my head, trying to push the feeling aside. I didn't need Avyaan's help, and I certainly didn't need his fake boyfriend act. But still, the sting of his words lingered.

I took a deep breath and started walking in the opposite direction, trying to focus on my day. But my mind kept drifting back to Avyaan, to the way he had looked at me with such intensity, such possessiveness.

It was just an act, I told myself. He didn't really feel that way. But the memory of his eyes, his touch, lingered, making me feel all sorts of confused emotions.

I quickened my pace, trying to outrun my thoughts. But they kept pace with me, taunting me with what-ifs and maybes. Maybe Avyaan had felt something real. Maybe he had been trying to tell me something.

I stopped in my tracks, my heart racing with the possibilities. But then I shook my head, laughing wryly. No, I was just reading too much into it. Avyaan had made it clear: he was just helping me out. Don't flatter yourself, indeed.

࣪ ִֶָ☾.

I flopped onto my bed, surrounded by my friends Aleena and Bella, in our cozy dorm room. We were gossiping about the latest developments in Aleena's blossoming relationship with Nishanth. "I know, right? We're totally meant to be," Aleena squealed, with dreamy look on her face.

Bella nodded in agreement, her mind already wandering to her own crush, Karan. "I wish I could get Karan's attention like that," she sighed wistfully.

I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "You'll get him, Bella baby don't worry."

But then I dropped a bombshell. "You know guys, I received a request on Instagram from Atharva yesterday."

My friends' reactions were immediate and dramatic. "OMG, really?!" Aleena and Bella squealed in unison, as if I'd just announced a celebrity had followed me.

"Nitika is collecting hot and handsome guys as if they're whatsapp stickers" Aleena chuckled.

I shrugged, feeling nothing. "Yeah, but I didn't accept it."

My friends' faces fell, but Bella's eyes sparkled with mischief. "You're loyal to Avyaan, right?" she teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I glared at her, my eyes flashing with annoyance. "Don't even say his name," I muttered, remembering how he'd behaved after the fake boyfriend incident.

Aleena and Bella exchanged curious glances. "What happened?" Aleena asked, her voice softening.

I took a deep breath and told them the story - how Avyaan had pretended to be my boyfriend, only to dismiss me afterwards, saying I wasn't his type.

My friends' reactions were instantaneous. "Baby, make him regret it!" Bella exclaimed, her eyes flashing with anger.

Aleena nodded vigorously. "Yeah, show him what he's missing!"

I smiled wryly, feeling a sense of gratitude towards my friends. They always knew how to make me feel better. But deep down, I knew I had to move on from Avyaan. He'd made it clear he isn't interested.

I shook my head, a determined look on my face. "You know what? I've had enough of Avyaan's drama. Now, I'll ignore him."

My friends nodded in agreement, their faces dramatic with excitement. "Yaaas, baby, ignore him!" Aleena exclaimed.

Bella chimed in, her voice high-pitched. "Yes, show him you don't care!"

I smiled, feeling a sense of liberation wash over me. "Exactly. He doesn't care about me, so why should I waste my time thinking about him?"

Aleena and Bella cheered, their voices echoing through our dorm room. "That's the spirit, Nitika! You go, girl!"

I laughed, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "Let's make a pact," I said, looking at my friends. "We'll ignore him together."

Aleena and Bella grinned, their eyes sparkling with mischief. "Deal!" they chimed in unison.

And with that, we sealed our pact, ready to take on. Oh god how dramatic we are.

A V Y A A N

I slammed the door shut behind me, my frustration boiling over as I paced back and forth across my room. Why did I have to say that? Why did I have to tell Nitika she wasn't my type?

I stopped pacing and slumped onto my bed, running my hands through my hair in exasperation. Ahhhh, I was such an idiot. I was into her, I couldn't deny it. But something about her got under my skin, made me want to push her away.

I thought about our conversation, about the way she'd looked at me with those big eyes, like I'd hurt her. And maybe I had. Maybe I'd hurt her more than I realized.

I flopped back onto my pillow, staring up at the ceiling. Why did I do that? Why did I have to be so stupid?

Now I was worried about how she'd react, if she'd even want to talk to me again. I didn't blame her if she didn't.

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. I was such a mess. I didn't know what I wanted, or how to get it. All I knew was that I'd made a mistake.

I lay there for a while. Will she ignore me now?? Finally, exhausted and emotionally drained, I fell asleep, haunted by visions of nitika's hurt face and the words I wished I could take back.

࣪ ִֶָ☾.