That night onward, Sneha and Anurag no longer found any chance to come close to each other.
Anurag once again became completely absorbed in his father's work. As Sir had instructed, Sneha returned to living an ordinary life.
Ridhiman's family had stopped harassing Sneha's family.
One month later, Anurag Sir left for America with his parents. Sneha could not go to the airport—she only managed a final phone call. "Study hard. Get excellent results and come to America for your PhD. I'll be waiting for you," Sir's voice was heavy with emotion.
Tears streaming down her face, Sneha had replied, "I'll come, Sir… I'll come to you. I'll study hard, get good results, and go to America."
Anurag Sir had believed this would ignite Sneha's passion for studies.
Hearing her voice for the last time filled Sir's heart with deep pain.
Seated on the plane, Sir closed his eyes and thought to himself,
"I'm not leaving you because I don't love you… but because I love you so much that I refuse to ruin your future."
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The first few months were unbearable for Sneha. She couldn't sleep at night; Sir's face would float before her eyes. There was no contact between her and Sir! She cried endlessly.
But time heals everything.
Gradually, Sneha pulled herself together. She focused on her studies and achieved excellent results in her Higher Secondary exams.
A year and a half passed.
Medha and Anirban were still together. They would occasionally take Sneha out—to cafés, movies, parks. Sneha would laugh and talk with them, but seeing them together stirred a hidden longing in her heart—a deep, unfulfilled hope! The desire to be close to the man she loved.
The time for college admission arrived. Sneha took Chemistry Honours, while Medha chose Physics. They joined the same co-ed college. The moment Sneha stepped inside on the first day, a shiver ran down her spine.
Boys were everywhere—laughing, chatting, making eye contact. Sneha had never been surrounded by so many boys in her entire life! And the way they stared at her… at her biological assets!! Their gazes fixed on her chest made her burn with embarrassment from head to toe.
Sneha had studied in an all-girls school since childhood.
This was the first time in her life she was sharing a classroom with so many boys.
In the very first class, she felt terribly awkward. Her hands and feet trembled, and her face turned bright red.
On top of that, one proposal after another kept coming! Poor Sneha was in a complete mess!!!
News spread across the entire college—Sneha had set a record. On her very first day, she received the highest number of proposals! Boys lined up—some offering chocolates, some flowers, some asking directly, "Will you go on a date with me?"
Sneha kept blushing with embarrassment!
She somehow managed to turn everyone down awkwardly. "Sorry… I can't."
Some girls started getting jealous. "How does she get so many proposals?" "Look at those things on her!" "How did they get so big!" "What a cheap girl!!"
But many other girls became her fans. "She's so cool!" "She's so pretty!" "Wow! Rejecting everyone!" "Our queen!"
The proposals didn't stop. A few boys proposed again even after being rejected! Some gave up. A few even bad-mouthed Sneha behind her back. And a few left politely.
One day, a tomboy even proposed to Sneha! She was completely stunned that day—she had no idea what to do or say.
Yet through all of this, she continued focusing on her studies.
One day in the canteen, a group of girls asked her, "Tell us the truth—why don't you say yes to anyone? So many handsome guys, from good families… why do you reject them all?"
Sneha stayed silent for a while. After thinking it over, she said softly, "There's only room for one person in my heart. My Sir. I love him."
The girls were smitten. "Wow! A teacher-student romance? That's so romantic!" "True love! Only one man for her!" "How is that even possible? Tell us the details!"
Sneha felt shy at their excitement, but she also felt a strange sense of warmth inside.
In her very first year, the Chemistry professor, Arghyadwip Sir, took a strong liking to Sneha. He was handsome, young, and kind-hearted.
He would help her in the lab, and after class he would ask, "Is everything okay? Do you need any help? Any problems?"
Everyone in college gossiped about the "perfect couple"—Arghyadwip Sir and Sneha.
But Sneha never said a word.
Because deep down, she still loved her Anurag Sir. She could sense that Arghyadwip Sir had a soft corner for her. Yet she couldn't bring herself to reject him outright, because he had never directly proposed.
She would think to herself—if Sir doesn't say anything himself, how can I stop him?
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Seven years had passed since Sneha and Anurag Sir parted ways. Sneha was no longer that innocent schoolgirl. She had completed both her Chemistry Honours and Master's with top ranks. Her name had spread across India. But her greatest achievement was hidden in her heart—the name of one man: Anurag Sir.
After graduation, her college professor Arghyadwip Sir had proposed marriage to Sneha, but she had turned him down!
In those seven years, she had received countless proposals—from classmates, seniors, even juniors, and boys known to her family.
Her friends would tell her, "Date this guy, give that guy a chance, just have some fun! Enjoy life a little!"
But Sneha never said yes to anyone. In her heart, there was only one person—Anurag Sir.
She would watch couples on campus—walking hand in hand, hanging out, stealing secret kisses, and doing so much more—and a desire would stir inside her. Yet she would control herself, staying focused on her studies and her dreams. She worked late into the night in the lab, wrote research papers—and thought of Sir every single day.
Finally, that day arrived. Sneha had received a fully funded PhD offer from a reputed university in America— in the Chemistry Department.
On the day of her departure, her parents cried. Medha hugged her tightly and said, "Didi, take care of yourself over there! And make sure you meet Sir!"
Anurag Sir was now a professor at a prestigious college in America.
Time changes everything!! Anirban Sir and Anurag Sir, who once couldn't stay apart, had both become so busy with their own lives that they had lost touch. After Anirban Sir lost his phone, months had passed without any contact between them.
Anirban Sir had given Sneha Anurag Sir's address. And Sneha was heading to the very same university where Sir taught.
Since he still had no way of contacting Anurag Sir, Anirban Sir felt deeply guilty that he couldn't inform him about Sneha's arrival.
But Sneha had assured him that she would find Sir herself.
To be continued...