AUTHOR'S NOTE
"It's not necessary to know everything all at once. It's okay if some things remain a secret for a while, so that there can be plot twists in the story.
So, have patience."
*************************************
ASHVI'S POV:
Morning lectures always kill me. Ughhh. My rest day is officially over. Now I have to go back to attend those boring lectures again. And after everything that happened, Dad has increased my security even more. Either I come with Ayaan, or Dad himself will come to pick me up.
Horn blows.
"What the hell? Why are these people honking in the middle of the road?"
"Where else are they supposed to honk? At home?" my brother spoke up.
"My head is already messed up. And you don't make it worse by saying all this."
"Wow, sister. You woke up in the morning and your brain is already messed up? You even had a proper breakfast today, so why is your brain still messed up?"
And just like that, my brother started honking too.
"Can a person only lose their mind because of food? Can't there be other reasons too?" I said, annoyed.
"Honestly, your brain only stops working because of food. The moment you don't get food, you end up like this."
I tried to open my mouth to argue, but I didn't say anything because, unfortunately, he wasn't exactly wrong.
So, instead of arguing with him, I simply turned my attention toward the road.
After a while…
"What happened? Why are you in such a bad mood?" Ayaan asked.
I sighed before answering.
"Dad increased my security."
"Ayaan—"
I suddenly screamed, making Ayaan stop the car.
"I don't like being treated like I'm some kind of prisoner! No, no, no—aghhhh!"
"He did it for your safety," Ayaan said. "Dad told you to let the guards go with you, but you didn't listen. That's why he put me on duty too. And that's also why Dad decided that he would personally drop you off sometimes."
I thought my brother would support me, but of course, he was taking Dad's side.
"Of course. He wants the property too, right? Everyone in this world is so greedy. Huhhh."
**************************
*At the college*
____________________
The moment I entered the classroom, everyone came running toward me and started hugging me.
"Hey, wait!"
"Ashvi, we missed you so muchhhh!" someone said.
Someone even started fake crying.
I couldn't help it. A smile automatically appeared on my face.
I wrapped my arms around them, feeling so loved. Honestly, leaving that house aside, this place felt like my second home. With these people, I felt a kind of comfort that I couldn't find anywhere else.
"Okay, okay, enough! Let me go now, otherwise you guys are going to kill me!"
Everyone finally let go of me.
"Ashvi, you know, because of you, I haven't been able to go eat at the canteen," Mansi said.
"Why?"
"What do you mean, why? Obviously, I'm not going to go alone."
"Mansi, I didn't know you loved me so much that you couldn't even eat without me."
She smiled.
"But you know, if I were in your place, I would've gone alone."
Her smile instantly disappeared.
"Because food is important, BROOO!"
She gasped.
"Of course, I know my rat very well."
"Now come on, go to your seat."
The moment I sat down at my seat, a paper ball hit me.
And honestly, I already knew who had thrown it. I didn't even need to look behind me, but somehow, I still turned around.
And yes.
Ruhaan was sitting in his seat with a lollipop in his mouth and that stupid smirk on his face, waving at me.
And I don't know why, but the moment I saw him, I started smiling.
His smirk grew even wider, almost turning into a smile.
I turned back around and faced the front again, but the smile still wouldn't leave my face.
"Are you blushing?"
Mansi suddenly entered the chat.
She was looking at me with a teasing expression.
"You are blushing!" she said, grabbing my cheeks.
"Whatever."
Before I could say anything else, the classroom door suddenly swung open.
Varun walked in.
But he looked really upset.
"What happened, Varun?" everyone started asking him.
But he quietly went to his seat and sat down without saying a word.
Just then, sir came in, and our lecture started. But throughout the entire lecture, my attention remained on Varun.
Another paper ball landed on me, and this time, there was something written on it.
"Don't overthink it so much."
I turned around.
Ruhaan smiled at me.
I looked back toward the front, but I knew one thing—until I talked to Varun, I wasn't going to have any peace of mind.
So I just waited for the lecture to end.
And as time passed, the lecture finally came to an end.
I immediately went over to Varun.
"Varun, what happened? Is everything okay? You look really upset."
The moment I asked, tears started falling from his eyes.
"Varun…"
I placed my hand on his shoulder.
And somehow, that only made him cry even harder.
