Anaya tried to focus on the lecture, but Ishaan wouldn't stop whispering jokes under his breath. He even passed her a poorly drawn doodle of a "ghost girl with coffee." Despite herself, she chuckled, shaking her head.
As the lecture ended, Anaya quickly packed her things, eager to escape.
But Ishaan was already waiting for her at the door.
"Hey, since I saved you from a caffeine crisis the other day," he said, falling into step beside her, "how about you treat me today?"
Anaya raised an eyebrow. "You want coffee as a reward for buying me coffee?"
"Exactly. That's how karma works."
She rolled her eyes again but didn't protest when he subtly steered her toward the campus canteen. They found a quiet corner and ordered iced coffee and sandwiches.
To her surprise, it wasn't awkward. Ishaan was unexpectedly easy to talk to—goofy, but grounded.
"You know," she said thoughtfully, sipping her drink, "you're not exactly the guy I expected."
"Because I'm charming and irresistible?" he smirked.
"No," she shot back. "Because you're not a total jerk. But don't get used to compliments."
He raised his glass. "Noted. One compliment per semester."
They both laughed.
---
Meanwhile, across town…
Nitya stared blankly at her phone.
The group chat buzzed with Mira's message: "He really went to her hostel last night?"
Confirmed. Aarav had gone to beg for Anaya's forgiveness.
A tear slid down Nitya's cheek, unnoticed.
Everything she had done—all the scheming, all the waiting—was for him. But he still chased someone else. Someone who had already chosen someone else.
Hurt turned into anger. Then recklessness.
She grabbed her bag and stormed out, ending up at a dimly lit bar. The music was loud. The drinks stronger than she expected.
By her third glass, her vision blurred and emotions crashed over her. She pulled out her phone and, in a haze, dialed Aarav.
---
Aarav's room
He was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling, still feeling the sting of Anaya's rejection.
His phone buzzed.
Nitya.
He almost ignored it—but answered when he saw the time.
"Nitya?" he asked, hearing slurred sobs.
"Why… why nobody likes me?" she cried. "Am I that bad? I did everything. E-everything…"
"Nitya, where are you?" Aarav asked, alarmed by her tone. In the background, he could hear laughter and a voice saying, "Hey pretty girl, want some company?"
"Get away from me!" she shouted at someone. "Aarav… I don't wanna be alone—"
"Nitya!" Aarav yelled. "Turn on your location—now!"
Luckily, she did. He bolted out the door and raced to the bar.
---
By the time he got there, Nitya was swaying near the entrance, fending off a guy who was clearly drunk and persistent.
Aarav grabbed her hand. "She's with me. Back off."
The guy muttered and walked away. Nitya collapsed into Aarav's arms, sobbing.
"It's okay," he said gently, holding her upright. "I got you."
He sat her down on a bench nearby and called her roommate. Then booked a cab.
As they waited, Nitya leaned against him, drunk tears wetting his shirt.
"I like you," she murmured. "I don't want to be your friend. I want to be… yours."
Aarav froze.
Her voice trembled. "You never looked at me… not once the way you look at her. But I still waited."
He didn't know what to say.
He had just come from a heartbreak, and now someone was handing him a heart that he hadn't asked for.
The cab arrived.
Aarav helped her in, gave her roommate the destination, and stood on the sidewalk as the car disappeared into the distance.
He exhaled shakily.
What now?