7 | Welcome Back!

After that Taxation lecture, something had definitely shifted in the air. College life wasn't just the regular grind anymore; it was a game-a silent duel between Sharayu and Satish, crackling with sharp comebacks, lingering glances, and the delicious, unspoken thrill of being challenged.

Professor Abhinav, in contrast, was the textbook definition of monotony. Satish's intensity was nowhere to be found in Abhinav; every word he uttered dripped with a slow, dreary exhaustion. Today, he seemed determined to set new records for boredom.

Sharayu slumped in the front row beside her friends, eyelids drooping as Abhinav rambled on about budget variance analysis. Hriday nudged her, voice barely above a whisper: "Bro, I swear I just saw my soul leave my body."

Rutuja barely managed to stifle a yawn. "I think I aged five years in the last ten minutes."

Kunal scribbled something frantically, passing a crumpled slip to Sharayu. She unfolded it.

"Abhinav Sir has two emotions: 'Reading from the textbook' and 'Reading from the slides.'"

She snorted, biting her lip to keep the laughter inside-but Abhinav didn't miss it. He paused mid-sentence, fixing the group with a silent stare. The entire class fell silent, heads turning toward Sharayu with a collective 'uh oh.'

Arohi wasted no time, feigning innocence: "Sir, Sharayu was just appreciating your teaching style."

Vrushal chimed in, voice full of dramatic sincerity: "Yeah, she was so moved she almost cried."

Abhinav narrowed his eyes, tone flat. "Sharayu, explain what I just taught."

Caught off guard, Sharayu blinked hard. "Uh... budget variance... means... there's a variance... in the budget?"

A hush fell across the room. Gayatri muttered, "We're dead."

Abhinav closed his eyes in exasperation. "Stay back after class."

Sharayu slouched lower as her friends battled to hold back laughter, their faces contorted with barely contained amusement.

The next period brought Financial Accounting with Professor Vikram-who was anything but boring. His only flaw? He loved tossing random questions at unsuspecting students.

Today, he was in full form.

"Kunal! Define capital structure," he barked.

Kunal's face went blank. "Uh... money?"

"Wrong. Hriday, help him," Vikram prompted.

Hriday floundered. "Sir, capital structure is the... uh... the structure... of capital?"

Vikram's frustration was palpable. "Are you guys serious?"

Sharayu glanced at Arohi, half-whispering: "Bro, we're watching two people die in real time."

Vikram spun on her. "Sharayu! Since you're talking, you answer. What factors affect capital structure?"

She hesitated-then recovered with a confident smirk. "Sir, the factors are profitability, cost of capital, operational risk, business size, and financial flexibility."

Vikram nodded approvingly. "Correct."

The class erupted in murmurs. Hriday leaned over, voice laced with awe: "Damn, she really did her homework."

With a playful toss of her hair, Sharayu retorted, "Unlike you peasants, I actually study."

Kunal gasped dramatically. "Betrayal. She used to be one of us."

After a long day, the exhausted group flopped in the college canteen. Sharayu exhaled heavily. "Why do we even attend all these lectures? We could just survive on notes."

Arohi nodded, grinning. "True. But then we'd miss out on the drama."

Rutuja smirked. "And your daily staring contest with Satish Sir."

Sharayu shot her a lethal glare. "I DO NOT STARE AT HIM."

Vrushal grinned wickedly. "Oh? Then tell me why you suddenly sit in the front row of his lectures?"

Just as Sharayu prepared to launch into her defense, a familiar voice cut through the chatter.

"Interesting conversation."

The group froze. Turning slowly, they found Satish standing right behind them, arms folded, that signature smirk playing on his lips. Sharayu's stomach flipped-her internal scream nearly drowned out the world.

Arohi scrambled for a semblance of professionalism. "Sir! We were just, um, discussing taxation!"

Satish raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Because I distinctly heard my name in that discussion."

Rutuja coughed nervously. "Sir, you must have misheard."

Kunal, desperate, blurted, "Yeah, sir. We were saying 'Taxation.' Not 'Satish Sir.'"

Satish chuckled, his gaze locking with Sharayu's for one slow, charged moment. Then he turned and walked away, leaving the table in stunned silence.

The second he was gone, chaos erupted.

Gayatri squealed. "BRO, WHAT WAS THAT?!"

Vrushal crowed. "Sharayu, HE LOOKED AT YOU THE WHOLE TIME."

Sharayu buried her face in her arms. "I HATE ALL OF YOU."

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Then came the dreaded moment: Paper distribution.

Professors entered the room, carrying stacks of answer sheets. The classroom atmosphere was thick with anxiety and anticipation.

Hriday muttered, "Bro, if I fail, just know I loved you all."

Kunal nodded sagely. "Same. Also, if I disappear after today, assume my parents buried me alive."

Sharayu rolled her eyes. "You guys are so dramatic. It's just internals."

Arohi snickered. "Oh, says the one who was solving past year papers at 2 AM like her life depended on it."

Before Sharayu could reply, Satish walked in. Instantly, the air in the room shifted, everyone sitting up straighter.

He placed the papers on the desk, arms folded, scanning the room with cool indifference.

"So... how do you all think you did?" he asked.

A collective groan rippled through the class.

Kunal muttered, "Bro, just give us the damn papers, we are dying here."

Satish smirked. "Some of you did well. Some of you... should consider a backup plan."

Hriday stared at his desk. "That's me. He's talking about me."

Finally, after what felt like hours, Satish began calling out names. One by one, students shuffled forward for the academic verdict.

"Sharayu Ketkar," he called.

She walked up, doing her best to look unbothered. As he handed her the paper, he paused, eyebrow arched.

"Second rank."

The class erupted.

Rutuja hissed, "BROOOO! SECOND RANK??"

Kunal melodramatically grasped his chest. "My own friend has betrayed me by becoming a scholar."

Satish let a faint smirk curl his lips. "Not bad. But you could be first."

Sharayu blinked, trying to process it. "Sir, second is still good."

Satish tilted his head slightly. "It is. But you're capable of more."

He called the next name, leaving Sharayu standing there, stunned, paper still clutched in her hand. Her friends lost their minds.

Vrushal: "HE WANTS YOU TO BE FIRST? HELLO???"

Gayatri: "This man has HIGH expectations from you."

Hriday: "Bro, this isn't even academic pressure. This is personal pressure now."

Sharayu returned to her seat, trying to act normal. But those words kept echoing.

"You're capable of more."

The other professors trickled in, distributing their own results.

Professor Abhinav smiled, almost warmly. "Some of you have really improved. I'm impressed."

Professor Vikram gave his trademark nod. "Not bad. But some of you still need to work harder. Sharayu, well done on second rank."

Even Professor Radha, who rarely acknowledged individuals, stopped to say, "Good job, Sharayu."

By the end, Sharayu felt like she was under a spotlight-and the extra attention was a mix of pride and pressure.

Her friends? No help at all.

Arohi: "Sharayu, you've become the teachers' pet."

Kunal: "When are you taking private tuitions with Satish Sir?"

Rutuja: "When you become first rank, don't forget us, commoners."

Sharayu facepalmed. "I hate all of you."

But a tiny flame of satisfaction glowed beneath the teasing.

For the first time, she was standing out.

As soon as the bell rang, her so-called peaceful existence vanished. The second they stepped into the corridor, her friends pounced like she'd scored a national trophy.

"SECOND RANK, SHARAYU?!" Rutuja hollered, dramatically grabbing her shoulders.

"Since when did you become a secret scholar? And why did you hide it from us?" she teased.

Hriday smirked. "What's next? Topping the university? Giving guest lectures?"

Arohi crossed her arms, feigning suspicion. "Or maybe a full-time position as Satish Sir's personal assistant?"

Kunal, never missing a beat, rubbed his chin. "Hmm... Sharayu Rajvanshi has a nice ring to it."

Sharayu nearly choked. "EXCUSE ME?!"

Vrushal chuckled. "You have to admit... the way he looked at you when he handed the paper-"

Gayatri gasped, eyes wide. "HE DID LOOK AT HER DIFFERENTLY!"

Sharayu groaned, cheeks flaming. "Oh my god, will you all shut up?!"

But her red face gave her away.

As they made their way to the canteen, relentless teasing continued-until a familiar voice cut through.

"What's so interesting that I can hear you from across the corridor?"

Time seemed to slow.

They turned.

Satish Sir. Standing.

Arms crossed. Eyebrow raised, just a touch.

Kunal whispered, "Bro, does he have a tracking device on us?"

Hriday gulped. "We are so dead."

Rutuja, desperate to save face, laughed nervously. "Nothing, Sir! Just... um... celebrating Sharayu's second rank!"

Satish's gaze locked on Sharayu. For a split second, all thoughts dissolved into static.

Somehow, Sharayu managed, "Thank you, sir."

Satish smirked-just a glimmer. "Good. But next time, I expect first."

Kunal stifled a laugh. "Damn."

Sharayu tried to defend: "Sir, second is still good."

Satish tilted his head. "It is. But you can do better."

With that, he walked away, leaving chaos swirling behind.

Gayatri exploded: "WHAT DOES HE MEAN 'YOU CAN DO BETTER'-"

Arohi's jaw dropped. "DID HE JUST CHALLENGE YOU TO GET FIRST?!"

Kunal pressed his palms together. "Sharayu, just say the word, and I'll start wedding preparations."

At her breaking point, Sharayu hurled her notebook at them. "I WILL MURDER ALL OF YOU."

But deep down?

That single phrase replayed in her mind-"You can do better."

Maybe she would.

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Three days passed.

Three entire days since Sharayu darkened the college doorstep-and everyone noticed.

During Cost Accounting, Hrishikesh scanned the rows, puzzled. "Where is Sharayu? She never misses lectures."

Rutuja, coolly: "Oh, she went to her native place for a wedding, Ma'am."

Hrishikesh nodded, but the mischievous glimmer in his eye gave away more. "A wedding is fine, but I hope she remembers she still has an education waiting for her when she returns."

Hriday leaned towards Kunal, whispering, "Bro, why does that sound like a threat?"

Kunal replied, "Because it is a threat."

In Radha Ma'am's class, her gaze lingered on Sharayu's empty seat.

"Sharayu bunking lectures? This is rare. I hope she's okay," she said, concern slipping out.

Arohi sighed, all drama. "She's enjoying free food and wedding outfits, Ma'am."

Radha Ma'am merely chuckled, the class following suit.

Taxation time.

The minute Satish Sir entered, everyone tensed-sure he'd mention Sharayu.

But he didn't.

He only glanced at her empty spot and started the lecture. Rutuja eyed him. "Did he just... not say anything?"

Kunal, stage whisper: "Bro, is this his way of acting unbothered when he's actually bothered?"

Hriday: "He's literally avoiding that side of the classroom. It's so obvious."

Gayatri, grinning: "Oooooh. He noticed."

Satish kept teaching, acting normal-but the group knew his habits. The subtle pause, the flick of his eyes searching for Sharayu, then moving on to someone else.

He was aware. He just wouldn't acknowledge it.

That evening, Sharayu's phone lit up with notifications.

Rutuja: BRO, EVEN SATISH SIR NOTICED YOU WERE MISSING BUT DIDN'T SAY A WORD.

Kunal: He's trying to act unbothered but failing miserably.

Hriday: His eyes literally searched for you during the lecture. We are WITNESSES.

Gayatri: GIRL, WHY ARE YOU MISSING ALL THIS DRAMA?

Arohi: Come back soon, or we'll start spreading rumors that you ran away from your studies.

Finally, Sharayu texted back:

You all need serious help.

But lying in bed that night, the thought lingered.

He noticed.

After what felt like a lifetime, Sharayu was back.

In her usual casuals, bag slung carelessly, she wove through the hallways, bracing for the inevitable storm.

Stepping into the classroom, she was greeted with pure chaos-her friends wasted no time.

Rutuja bolted over, voice ringing: "LOOK WHO'S BACK FROM HER DESTINATION WEDDING!"

Sharayu recoiled, scandalized. "IT WAS NOT MY WEDDING."

Kunal gasped theatrically. "SHE'S IN DENIAL."

Before she could gather herself, Hriday, Arohi, Vrushal, and Gayatri rushed in as if she'd survived a war zone.

Gayatri clutched her chest. "It was so hard without you."

Hriday fake sobbed. "The seat beside me felt so empty, bro."

Vrushal whispered gravely. "We suffered."

Arohi nodded. "You missed so much tea."

Sharayu exhaled. "You all are so dramatic. It was just a few days-"

Kunal interrupted: "JUST A FEW DAYS?! MA'AM, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT HAPPENED IN YOUR ABSENCE?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Let me guess. You all slacked off?"

Rutuja shook her head. "NO. SATISH SIR NOTICED YOUR ABSENCE."

Sharayu froze.

Hriday smirked. "Oh, he noticed, alright. But guess what?"

Arohi grinned. "He didn't say a word about it."

Sharayu blinked away the surprise. "That's... not surprising?"

Kunal, eyebrows waggling: "But the way he ignored your empty seat? That was sus."

Gayatri bobbed her head. "His usual 'who's gonna answer this' eye contact search? It stopped right where you used to sit."

Sharayu rolled her eyes. "You guys are imagining things."

Vrushal looked solemn. "Are we?"

Before she could protest, the bell rang-Taxation lecture.

Sounds of heavy footsteps in the hallway sent everyone scurrying to their seats, feigning innocence.

Satish entered, as composed as ever. As he walked to the board and picked up the marker, it all seemed routine-until, without turning, he said quietly:

"Welcome back, Miss Sharayu."

Pin-drop silence.

Sharayu felt her soul drift away.

The group nearly combusted.

Kunal whispered: "He DID NOT just single you out."

Hriday blinked incredulously: "He NEVER acknowledges when someone returns from a break."

Arohi, struggling to stay calm, hissed: "GIRL, SAY SOMETHING."

Trying hard to sound normal, Sharayu replied: "...Thank you, Sir."

Satish just nodded. "Good. Now, moving on."

He dove back into teaching as if nothing extraordinary had happened, but every time Sharayu turned, her friends exchanged gleeful smirks.

They would never let her forget this.

When Satish left, the group struck with full force.

Gayatri fanned herself, voice dripping with drama: "Oof, that was intense."

Hriday shook his head, marveling: "That was not a normal 'welcome back,' bro."

Kunal grinned wide. "It was a 'I-noticed-you-were-gone-and-I-won't-admit-it' welcome back."

Arohi laughed. "Sharayu, he NEVER does that. You're special."

Sharayu groaned. "I AM NOT."

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Excitement erupted when the college announced a trip to Masoorie. The entire campus buzzed, students racing to sign up groups and plot adventures-suddenly, academics took a back seat to travel plans.

Naturally, Sharayu's group was first in line at the registration counter.

Rutuja scowled at the long queue. "I swear if I die waiting here, tell my parents I went doing what I love-wasting time for a vacation."

Hriday scanned the impatient crowd, grumbling. "We should've come early, man."

Kunal shot back, grinning. "You? Early? Bro, even the sun wouldn't rise before you."

Gayatri rolled her eyes. "Why are you all even complaining? The trip is still a week away, and you're acting like you're already exhausted."

Meanwhile, Sharayu quietly grinned, basking in the anticipation.

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out, slicing through the crowd:

"Make sure you all fill out the form correctly. There will be no refunds."

Every head snapped toward the speaker.

Standing outside the admin office, hands tucked casually in his pockets, Professor Satish Singh Rajvanshi surveyed the scene with trademark composure.

The group?

Frozen.

Hriday whispered, stunned: "Wait... why is he here?"

Arohi, eyes wide: "He doesn't look like the 'college trip' type."

Kunal, ever dramatic: "Plot twist-he's coming with us."

Before anyone could process this, a faculty member confirmed the wildest possibility:

"Satish Sir and Hrishikesh Sir and Sayali Ma'am will be accompanying the students on the trip."

For a heartbeat, there was only silence.

And then-the chaos began.