Vaishnavi ka heartbeat abhi bhi normal nahi hua tha.
Aarav uske saamne khada tha— eyes burning, voice rough—
"Because if you keep looking at him the way you looked at me…"
He stepped closer.
"I won't survive watching that."
Uska chest tighten ho gaya.
For one stupid second—
She almost gave in.
Almost believed him.
Almost let herself hope again.
Then she remembered—
Hope was all Aarav ever gave her.
Never certainty.
She swallowed hard.
"Then stop making me feel like I have to move on."
Silence.
Aarav stared.
Speechless.
Again.
And that told her everything.
A hurt smile touched her lips.
"Exactly."
She stepped back.
"You always say just enough to stop me…"
Another step.
"…but never enough to keep me."
His jaw tightened.
"Vaishnavi—"
"No."
Her eyes locked with his.
"Until you can tell me clearly what I am to you…"
Her voice dropped.
"You don't get to act like I belong to you."
And she walked away.
Leaving him standing there.
Broken.
Silent.
Again.
Next Day —
College felt strange after the trip.
Same campus.
Same people.
But everything had changed.
Vaishnavi entered with Naina.
Laughter around them. Students everywhere.
And then—
She saw Aarav.
Already looking at her.
Like he had been waiting.
Her heart reacted.
She ignored it.
And walked past him.
Without stopping.
Without smiling.
Without even saying hi.
Aarav's expression darkened instantly.
Classroom
Without hesitation—
Vaishnavi sat beside Sumit.
Not Aarav.
Not even near him.
Sumit raised a brow.
"Damn. Promotion mil gayi mujhe?"
"Temporary arrangement."
"Main permanent ka form bhar raha hoon."
She laughed.
Soft. Real.
Aarav saw it all.
And nearly crushed his pen.
Mid-lecture break me—
One classmate grinned at Sumit.
"Bro just admit it, you and Vaishnavi are dating now right?"
Entire row turned.
Silence.
Vaishnavi blinked.
Sumit smirked.
"Kya lagta hai tumhe?"
Laughter erupted.
Vaishnavi should've denied it immediately.
She knew that.
But instead—
She just smiled awkwardly.
And stayed quiet.
Aarav's entire body went still.
His gaze locked on her.
She didn't deny it.
She didn't deny it.
Cafeteria
Aarav cornered her the second he got chance.
"Why didn't you correct them?"
Vaishnavi calmly opened her water bottle.
"Kya correct karti?"
His voice sharpened.
"The dating rumor."
She shrugged.
"People assume things."
His jaw clenched.
"And you're just letting them?"
Her eyes met his.
Cold.
"Why does it bother you?"
That shut him up.
For exactly two seconds
.
"Because it's not true."
She tilted her head.
"Then maybe stop acting like my personal life is your concern."
And walked away.
Leaving him furious.
Rhea Escalates It
Later corridor me—
Rhea arrived.
Perfect timing.
As always.
She walked straight to Aarav.
Looped her arm through his casually.
"There you are. We're still on for tonight, right?"
Vaishnavi froze.
Not visibly.
But inside?
Everything dropped.
Aarav immediately frowned.
"Rhea—"
"Don't tell me you forgot."
Then sweetly to Vaishnavi:
"He promised me first."
And walked away with him.
Vaishnavi stood there.
Silent.
Numb.
Then forced herself to think:
Good. This is good. Now stop hoping.
Sumit Notices
Library me us din—
She was too quiet.
Too distracted.
Too hurt.
Sumit closed his notebook.
"Okay enough."
"Kya?"
"Tum fake okay ho.
She blinked.
He leaned closer.
Softer now.
"Talk."
And something about his voice—
Made her walls crack.
"Maybe I'm just tired…"
She whispered
"…of caring about someone who can't choose me properly.
Sumit's playful expression vanished.
He stared at her for a long second.
Then said quietly—
"Then stop waiting for someone who treats certainty like a favor."
Her breath caught.
Memorable Sumit Moment
Later
Vaishnavi skipped lunch.
Didn't even realize.
Until Sumit dropped food on her desk.
"Eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"Not optional."
"Tum order kab se dene lage?"
He sat beside her.
"Since you started pretending not eating counts as emotional healing."
She stared.
Then laughed despite herself.
He smiled softly.
"There. Better."
That tiny moment hit her harder than it should have.
Because he noticed.
Always.
Aarav Snaps
Evening sports ground ke paas—
Vaishnavi and Sumit walking together.
Laughing.
Again.
Sumit casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear—
Just playful.
Natural.
Close.
Aarav lost control.
He strode toward them.
Grabbed Sumit's wrist mid-motion.
Hard
Both froze.
Aarav's voice was ice.
"Don't."
Sumit yanked his hand free.
"Excuse me?"
"I said don't touch her like that."
Dead silence.
Vaishnavi stared in shock.
Then anger.
Pure anger
"You don't get to do that!"
Aarav looked at her.
Still furious.
"Then stop letting him act like—"
"Like what?"
She stepped forward.
Voice shaking.
"Like someone who actually cares enough to show it?"
That landed.
Hard.
Sumit looked between them.
Understanding dawning.
Everything suddenly clearer.
Cliffhanger
Night.
Campus nearly empty.
Vaishnavi stormed away.
Aarav followed
Caught her wrist.
Again.
She turned instantly.
"Stop grabbing me every time you lose control!"
He froze.
Actually froze.
Then slowly let go.
Voice lower now.
Raw.
Dangerously honest.
"Then stop making me watch someone else do what I should have done first."
Her breath caught.
His eyes never left hers.
"Because I'm running out of ways to pretend I don't want you."
To be continued.....