Niki's footsteps echoed down the street, fast and determined, as if she were trying to outrun something — or maybe herself. Ravi's house was far behind her now, but the turmoil inside her refused to settle. The morning sun glimmered faintly, casting a soft warmth on her face, but she barely noticed it. All she felt was a strange restlessness, a weight she couldn't shake off no matter how fast she walked.
As soon as she pushed open the front door, her mother's voice pierced through the silence.
"You stayed at Ravi's house all night?"
The question held more accusation than curiosity. Niki slipped off her shoes, keeping her head down, and headed straight for her room.
"Yeah, mom. We were working on a project," she replied hastily, hoping the conversation would end there.
But her mother wasn't done. "Don't go to work after college today. We need to go shopping for your sister's wedding."
Niki sighed, running a hand over her face. "I don't really understand all these things. Take Didi; she'll enjoy it more."
Her mother's sharp glare pinned her in place. Niki threw her hands up in surrender. "Okay, fine. I'll take the day off."
Once in her room, she collapsed onto her bed. The ceiling stared back at her, blank and unyielding. The soft hum of the fan filled the silence, but the noise in her mind refused to quiet down. Memories she'd long buried began to resurface — the past she wanted to forget, and a face she never wished to see again.
---
A New Day
The next morning, Niki entered college with only one plan: to bury herself in her books. She walked straight to the library and settled into her usual corner. The silence should have been comforting, but her thoughts wouldn't cooperate. She flipped through the pages mindlessly, her eyes skimming the words without absorbing anything.
Her heart felt heavy. No matter how much she tried to focus, her mind kept drifting back.
"Hey, Niki!"
The sudden voice jolted her. She looked up to see Deepsi, her overly enthusiastic classmate, grinning down at her.
"Come on! They're planning the freshers' party in class. You don't want to miss it!"
Niki hesitated. Parties weren't really her thing. But sitting here, stewing in silence, wasn't helping either. She sighed, stuffed her book into her bag, and followed Deepsi to the classroom.
The room was alive with energy. Students huddled in groups, arguing over music playlists and decoration ideas. The air buzzed with excitement, but Niki felt detached, like an outsider watching through a glass window.
Then the door creaked open.
A group of PG students walked in, their laughter cutting through the noise. Among them was Aditya.
---
The Encounter
Aditya stepped into the classroom, casually scanning the room. His friends nudged each other, cracking jokes about the party. Then his gaze landed on her.
Niki.
His heart stopped for a moment. The easy smile slipped off his face. His grip on his bag tightened.
She was here.
Niki felt his eyes before she saw him. Her body tensed. Slowly, reluctantly, she turned — and their eyes met.
Time stood still.
Aditya's stare was cold, piercing. His dark eyes burned with an emotion that made her heart race. The familiar weight of their shared hatred settled heavily between them.
Niki clenched her jaw. Every muscle in her body screamed at her to look away, but she refused to be the first to break eye contact.
The air grew thick. The noise of the classroom faded into the background. All that remained was the silent war waging between their locked eyes.
Aditya didn't blink. He stood there, unmoving, daring her to flinch.
Niki's fists curled at her sides. Her breathing quickened. She couldn't stay here. Not with him. Not like this.
Without a word, she grabbed her bag and stormed out of the room.
Aditya stood frozen, watching her leave. Even after the door swung shut behind her, his eyes lingered on the empty space where she'd been.
---
Niki's feet carried her to the basketball court. She dropped onto the stands, burying her face in her hands. Her breaths came in quick gasps. Her heart pounded against her ribcage.
"Why him?" she whispered. "Why now?"
She stood up, pacing back and forth. Her emotions boiled over, and she kicked a nearby chair, sending it skidding across the court.
"Damn it!" Her voice echoed in the empty space. "I was done with him! I erased him from my life!"
The boys playing basketball stopped mid-game, staring at her. She ignored them. Another chair met the same fate, crashing against the bleachers.
"If he thinks he can just show up and —" She clenched her fists, her breathing ragged. "I'll just ignore him!" she shouted to the sky. "I don't care!"
Her hands trembled. She wiped her face, trying to calm herself down, but the anger wouldn't leave.
---
Aarav's Entry — Comic Relief
Aarav had been chasing after the basketball when he heard the shouting. Curious, he followed the sound and found Niki mid-meltdown, kicking chairs and ranting to herself.
He arched an eyebrow. "What now?"
She stood there, fists clenched, eyes blazing. "If he crosses my path again, I swear…" She punched the air, her voice trailing off.
Aarav bent down, picking up the ball. "Ball."
Niki ignored him completely. She resumed her pacing, arms flailing dramatically. "I'll just ignore him!" she screamed. "I don't care!"
Aarav blinked. Then he laughed. Loudly. The ball slipped from his hands as he doubled over, clutching his stomach.
His teammates stared in confusion. "Who's that?" one of them asked.
Still chuckling, Aarav spun the ball on his finger. "No one special… just the most entertaining student in college."
Niki heard the laughter but refused to look back. She grabbed her bag and stormed off, her fury trailing behind her.
Aarav watched her retreating figure, a smirk tugging at his lips. "She's always a show to watch."
As the sound of her footsteps faded, Aarav tossed the ball into the hoop and rejoined the game. But his mind lingered on the girl who punched the air and kicked chairs like they owed her money.
"Interesting," he murmured. "Very interesting."