Aara and Minnie strolled through the college gate, their scooty parked just outside under the shade of a neem tree. The morning sun spread a golden warmth across the campus, making the red-brick buildings glow softly. Around them, students moved in little clusters, their laughter and chatter adding life to the fresh day.
"Aara, that proposal yesterday was so sweet, right? I swear, I could feel the love in the air," Minnie gushed, her eyes twinkling with the memory. "And your cake surprise? Uff, chef's kiss! You really made it perfect for them."
Aara smiled wide, her eyes glittering under sunlight. "They just looked... happy. That was enough."
Minnie walked a little faster, then turned back with a playful grin. "Okay, but tell me one thing, why did you give your rose to them? The one Ransh got for you? You do this all the time, you know, like decorating tables at the café or giving those flowers to random customers. It's sweet, but honestly, it's starting to feel... like you're avoiding something. You really don't feel anything for Ransh? Not even a flicker?"
Caught off guard, Aara looked at her friend, brows lifting slightly. She took a moment, brushing back a strand of hair that had escaped her loose braid.
"It's not what you think, Minnie," she said finally. "I... I respect his feelings. That's why I've never directly asked him to stop. But I don't feel the same way. Not yet, at least. He's a good friend. I like that, and I want to keep it that way... for now."
Minnie grinned like she'd just caught her red-handed. "Aha! Not yet? That means there's a chance! There's totally a chance! Tell me! Don't hide, I know that tone!"
Aara let out a laugh, half amused, half embarrassed, and gave Minnie a gentle nudge. "You're seriously on a roll today, huh? You've been talking non-stop since we got here. Let's go before you start interviewing me about my future wedding guest list."
Minnie pouted dramatically, placing a hand on her heart. "Fine, I get it, madam mystery. I've got some work at the Accounts Department anyway. But don't think this conversation is over!"
Aara just laughed and waved her off, the two parting ways with ease.
Her footsteps echoed in the corridor as she made her way to class. The golden sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting long, dappled shadows across the floor. The building was still waking up, quiet, save for the hum of ceiling fans and distant conversations.
Then, out of nowhere, came a sharp voice, rising above the quiet like a crack of thunder.
She paused.
Up ahead, Sana stood like a queen in battle mode, flanked by her two ever-present friends. Before her, a younger girl, probably a fresher, stood frozen, her hands clutching her bag, eyes wide with fear. The tension in the air was thick, and students nearby pretended not to see, walking faster, heads down.
"You clumsy little..." Sana snapped, her voice laced with venom. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"
"I... I'm sorry," the girl stammered, visibly shaking. "I didn't mean to spill coffee on your shoes. It was an accident..."
Sana's glare could've burned a hole through concrete. She looked down at her now-stained designer heels like they'd been personally betrayed. "An accident? Do you even know how much these shoes cost? Who's going to pay for this?"
That was enough.
Aara stepped forward calmly, her voice soft but carrying just enough weight to cut through the hostility. "Calm down, Sana. It must've been an accident. Let her clean it up, and that's it."
The girl immediately nodded, eager for the lifeline. "Yes, I will get it clean."
Sana scoffed, her eyes flicking coldly between the girl and Aara.
"Who are you to tell me what I should do?" Sana snapped, her voice laced with venom. Her eyes scanned Aara with a sneer, dripping superiority. "What can we even expect from someone like you, who probably can't afford to touch anything branded, let alone understand its worth." She turned her attention back to the trembling girl. "And you, you'll clean it. After ruining it once, you expect me to hand them over so you can wreck them completely? You little shit."
Aara's jaw clenched. Her voice, still composed but sharper now, sliced through the air. "Sana."
Sana's eyes narrowed as she turned, undeterred, almost enjoying the provocation. "What? You want her to clean it? Fine. Then let her do it right here, right now, with her tongue."
The corridor fell still.
The girl gasped, her voice cracking with disbelief as she stepped back. "Are you crazy? I'm not doing that!"
Sana's fury boiled over. Without another word, she yanked a chocolate shake from her friend's hand, turned, and flung it toward the girl with full force.
But before the drink could land, Aara moved, quick, instinctive, protective. She stepped in front of the girl like a shield. The cold, sticky liquid splashed across her white shirt, soaking it instantly, making the fabric cling to her skin. She blinked, stunned, as gasps filled the corridor.
Phones were out now, some students too entertained by the drama to intervene, others too shocked to react.
And then came the sound of fast footsteps... Ransh.
He stormed through the crowd like a storm gathering speed, his face twisted in disbelief and fury. The moment his eyes landed on Aara's drenched figure and the shaking girl behind her, something inside him snapped.
"What the hell!" he barked.
Without pause, he stormed up to a boy recording the scene, snatched the phone from his hand, and slammed it against the wall. The screen shattered on impact, shards scattering like broken tension. The boy stood frozen, staring at the broken pieces of his phone in stunned silence.
Sana, jolted by Ransh's presence and still off balance, stumbled backward and landed hard on the floor. Her friends rushed to her, but the atmosphere had shifted entirely. The power she'd held just seconds ago had vanished into thin air.
Aara stood motionless, her arms stiff by her sides, the sugary shake dripping down her shirt and hands. Her chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, a mix of humiliation and disbelief washing over her.
And then... softly, without a word, a long brown coat settled over her shoulders.
She turned, and there stood Ruhaan.
His eyes met hers, calm and steady, holding a kind of quiet fire. He didn't ask what happened. He didn't need to. In that moment, his actions said everything. He gently pulled the coat tighter around her shoulders, hiding the mess, shielding her from the staring eyes and the cold bite of embarrassment.
His presence alone silenced the corridor.
Then, with a tone that left no room for defiance, Ruhaan's voice rang out, strong and unshakable. "Enough. Stop this nonsense."
The students froze, the authority in his voice heavier than anything said before.
He looked at the group with a stare that demanded obedience. "All of you—to the principal's office. Right now."
Silence. Shame. The group moved hesitantly, their heads low, their bravado shattered.
Ruhaan turned to Aara, his voice softening. "And Miss Aara... you come with me."
She looked up at him, her eyes wide, lips parted in confusion—but she didn't resist. She just nodded, clutching the coat around her tighter as she followed him.
As they walked away, Ruhaan turned back one last time, his eyes sweeping over the group.
"Principal's office. Now."
The corridor echoed with nothing but the fading footsteps.
And off to the side, Ransh watched it all—his fists clenched, his chest tight, a flicker of jealousy burning quietly in his gaze.