The ticking of the wall clock echoed in the silent library. Karthik Iyer gripped his book tightly, pretending to read, but his mind refused to cooperate.
Ananya Yadav was still here.
Sitting across from him. Flipping through pages without a care in the world.
He glanced up for a brief second. She wasn't reading. Not really. Every few moments, she would peek at him from behind her book, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Do you need something?" Karthik finally muttered, unable to hold back his irritation.
Ananya grinned, lowering her book. "Nope."
"Then why are you staring?"
She rested her chin on her palm. "I'm just curious."
Karthik frowned. "About what?"
"You."
Silence.
Karthik's grip on his book tightened. His heartbeat quickened slightly, though he hated to admit it.
"That's unnecessary," he said flatly, looking back at the pages in front of him.
Ananya chuckled. "Says who?"
"Says me."
She leaned forward slightly. "Well, I think it's necessary."
Karthik exhaled sharply, frustrated by how easily she could throw him off balance.
Ananya didn't belong here. Not in this quiet, forgotten corner of the school where he could be invisible. She belonged with her group of friends, laughing in the canteen, basking in the attention of everyone around her.
So why was she here?
Why was she bothering him?
Ananya's Thoughts
Ananya studied Karthik as he tried to ignore her. It was almost funny how hard he was trying to shut her out. Most boys in school would jump at the chance to talk to her, to impress her.
But Karthik? He just wanted her to go away.
That only made her more interested.
She had always enjoyed people-watching—seeing how different students behaved, how they reacted in different situations. But Karthik Iyer was unlike anyone else she had met.
Quiet. Mysterious. And guarded.
She wanted to know why.
An Unwelcome Interruption
Just as Karthik was about to respond, the library doors swung open.
"Oi, Ananya! What are you doing here?"
A loud, confident voice cut through the silence. Karthik suppressed a groan as he turned toward the entrance.
It was Rohit Varma—one of the most popular boys in school. Captain of the cricket team, effortlessly charming, and one of Ananya's closest friends.
Ananya turned to him with a surprised look. "Oh, hey, Rohit! Just… reading."
Rohit scoffed. "Reading? You?" He smirked before glancing at Karthik. His expression shifted slightly, as if only now noticing who Ananya was sitting with.
"Didn't know you liked this kind of company, Ananya," he said, his voice casual but laced with something Karthik couldn't quite place.
Ananya frowned slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Rohit raised his hands in mock innocence. "Nothing, nothing. Just… surprising, that's all." His gaze lingered on Karthik for a moment longer before turning back to Ananya. "Come on, let's go. The others are waiting."
Karthik clenched his jaw. This was exactly why he didn't talk to people.
Ananya hesitated. For a second, she glanced at Karthik, as if considering something.
Then, she stood up.
"Alright. See you later, library boy," she said with a playful wink before following Rohit out of the library.
Karthik didn't respond. He simply watched as she left, her presence fading along with the sound of her footsteps.
Finally, the library was silent again.
But for some reason… it didn't feel as peaceful as before.
End of Chapter 3