Satish sat in his chair, motionless.
He wasn't even breathing properly.
His brain was glitching.
Because what had just happened?
He had indirectly admitted to his jealousy-almost confessed, in a way-and Sharayu hadn't understood a single word of it.
Not. A. Single. Word.
"Are you talking about territorial dogs?"
He felt offended.
Not just because she misunderstood, but because-
Was he really that bad at expressing emotions?
His reputation was ruined.
And to make things worse-
Hriday.
The guy smirked at him like he knew everything.
"Better luck next time, Sir."
Satish clenched his fists.
Why did that sound like a warning?
Meanwhile, Outside the Cabin...
Sharayu and Hriday walked down the corridor.
Hriday had a knowing look on his face.
Sharayu raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Hriday shoved his hands into his pockets. "Nothing. Just enjoying life."
Sharayu frowned. "Why do you sound sarcastic?"
Hriday chuckled. "No reason. It's just that... I think our dear professor had a moment of realization today."
Sharayu tilted her head. "Realization?"
Hriday smirked. "Forget it. You wouldn't get it."
Sharayu poked his shoulder. "Hey! Now you HAVE to tell me."
Hriday sighed dramatically. "Fine. But promise you won't get mad."
Sharayu squinted. "That depends."
Hriday smirked again. "Okay, okay. Look-Satish Sir wasn't angry yesterday. He was just..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "...bothered."
Sharayu scoffed. "Bothered by what?"
Hriday gave her a pointed look.
Sharayu blinked.
Hriday raised his eyebrows suggestively.
Sharayu blinked again.
Hriday sighed. "YOU. He was bothered by YOU."
Sharayu froze mid-step. "Me?"
Hriday shrugged. "Yeah. You. And your very loud friendliness with me."
Sharayu narrowed her eyes. "What are you trying to say?"
Hriday grinned. "Oh, nothing. Just that someone might have been a little jealous."
Sharayu burst out laughing. "Sir? Jealous? Of YOU?"
Hriday placed a hand over his chest, acting hurt. "Wow. Thanks. I feel so appreciated."
Sharayu shook her head, still laughing.
"No, no. It's just-It's impossible."
Hriday smirked. "Is it?"
Sharayu opened her mouth to argue, but-
She stopped.
Because for a split second, she remembered something.
The way Satish had spoken to her in his cabin.
His hesitation. His vague words.
The way he looked at her.
Her heart did a weird flip.
No way.
Satish Sir was always strict.
He was always professional.
There was NO WAY he would feel that way about her.
Right?
Right?
...Then why was her heart racing?
***
Later That Night...
Satish lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
His mother peeked into his room.
"Why do you look like someone just robbed you?"
Satish didn't respond.
Because in a way, someone had.
Sharayu had robbed his peace of mind.
And worst of all-
He was starting to accept it.
Satish lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, looking like a man who had just witnessed his entire life crumble before his eyes.
His mother stood at the door, arms crossed, observing him like he was a patient in an ICU.
Finally, she spoke. "What happened? Why do you look like someone stole something from you?"
Satish exhaled dramatically. "Nothing."
His mother raised an eyebrow. "Satish."
He shut his eyes.
She only used his full name when she was serious.
He knew that ignoring her wouldn't work, so he tried deflecting.
"I'm just tired. Too many classes. The students are-"
His mother held up a hand. "Stop."
Satish froze.
She walked in, sat down on the chair next to his bed, and gave him a knowing look.
"This isn't about work. You've handled more difficult students without losing your mind. Something else is bothering you."
Satish felt exposed.
He sat up quickly. "No. I told you-"
His mother sighed. "Beta, I am your mother. I have seen you cry over math problems as a child, I have seen you sulk when I refused to let you play in the rain, and I have seen you stare at your phone like an idiot when you were waiting for an important result.
And now, I am seeing you behave like a confused teenager in love."
Satish choked on air.
"LOVE?!"
His mother nodded firmly. "Yes. Love."
Satish ran a hand down his face. "No. No, no, no. It's not that. It's just..."
He paused.
How was he even supposed to explain this?
That a student-a mere student-was driving him insane.
That her laughter echoed in his mind like a stuck song.
That her absence had annoyed him.
That her presence had wrecked him.
That the thought of her with someone else-especially that idiot Hriday-had made him jealous to a degree he didn't know was possible.
His mother was still watching him.
Satish sighed heavily. "It's just... there's this student."
His mother's eyes widened.
Satish immediately held up his hand. "Before you start assuming, NO. It's not what you're thinking."
She smirked. "Oh? And what am I thinking?"
Satish groaned. "You think I like her."
His mother raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Satish opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
Because what was he even supposed to say?
His mother sighed and leaned back. "Satish, you are not the first professor to fall for a student."
Satish whipped his head toward her. "MA!"
She shrugged. "What? It's true."
Satish shook his head. "I don't like her. She's just-" He waved his hands wildly. "-frustrating."
His mother rolled her eyes. "Yes, beta. That's how it starts."
Satish narrowed his eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?"
His mother smiled knowingly. "It means, first you call them annoying. Then, you start noticing their little habits. Then, before you know it, they become the first thought in the morning and the last thought at night."
Satish froze.
Because.
Because she was right.
Hadn't he been thinking about Sharayu nonstop?
Hadn't he been dreaming about her?
Hadn't he been losing his mind over her interactions with Hriday?
Satish blinked rapidly. "No. This is-This is different."
His mother sighed. "Satish. My son. My idiot son. Stop fighting your emotions."
Satish threw his hands in the air. "What emotions?!"
She gave him a look. "Beta. Accept it."
Satish crossed his arms. "No."
Satish grabbed his pillow and put it over his face. "I am NOT having this conversation."
She chuckled. "Fine, fine. Keep living in denial. But one day, you will realize that your mother was right."
Satish peeked out from under his pillow. "You enjoy this, don't you?"
She laughed. "A little bit."
Satish groaned dramatically. "I am moving out."
She patted his head. "Sure, beta. But take your feelings with you."
Satish let out an exaggerated sigh.
His mother, however, sat across from him with the most annoying smirk on her face.
She had just extracted a confession out of him, and she wasn't about to let it go that easily.
"So," she said, leaning forward with interest. "Who is she?"
Satish stiffened. "Who?"
His mother rolled her eyes. "Don't act dumb. I know you are not that stupid."
Satish looked away. "There's no one."
His mother gasped dramatically. "Aare wah! You were about to pull your hair out over this girl, and now suddenly 'there's no one'?"
Satish exhaled heavily.
His mother wasn't going to stop.
He should've just kept his mouth shut.
His mother tapped her chin. "Let me guess... she must be special."
Satish didn't respond.
His mother's smirk widened. "She must be beautiful."
Satish still didn't respond.
His mother gasped again. "Does she make you nervous?"
Satish whipped his head toward her. "No!"
She grinned knowingly. "That was fast."
Satish groaned, rubbing his temples. "Ma, please."
She laughed. "Okay, okay. But tell me one thing."
Satish sighed. "What?"
His mother's tone softened. "Does she make you happy?"
Satish froze.
His mother's teasing was gone.
Now, she was genuinely asking.
And that... that made Satish pause.
Did Sharayu make him happy?
When she smiled at him in class, did it make his day a little better?
When she challenged him with her witty comebacks, did it make things a little more interesting?
When she avoided him, did it make him restless?
Satish swallowed.
His mother was still watching him, waiting.
Finally, he muttered, "I don't know."
His mother tilted her head. "You don't know?"
Satish ran a hand through his hair. "I just... I don't know what this is. It's frustrating. She's frustrating."
His mother chuckled. "Beta, if she didn't mean anything, she wouldn't frustrate you this much."
Satish scowled. "Can you stop making sense?"
His mother laughed. "Never."
Satish sighed. "Can we drop this?"
His mother shrugged. "Sure, sure. But just know... the day I find out who she is, I will personally make sure she becomes my daughter-in-law."
Satish choked on air. "MA!"
His mother giggled like a child. "What? I need to start preparing! Should I buy sarees for her? Or maybe a gold necklace-"
Satish stood up immediately. "I'M GOING TO BED."
His mother called after him. "Beta, what kind of sweets does she like? Should I cook something for her?"
Satish slammed the door to his room.
His mother's laughter echoed in the house.
Satish fell onto his bed, covering his face with a pillow.
This woman was going to drive him insane.
***
Satish walked into college with a mission.
Operation Ignore Sharayu.
Last night's conversation with his mother had done something to him.
Something dangerous.
It had forced him to think. And thinking was bad.
Thinking led to realizations.
Realizations led to feelings.
And feelings?
They led to disaster.
So today, he had decided-he was going to ignore Sharayu.
Completely.
No looking at her.
No listening to her voice.
No getting distracted by her annoying yet strangely charming presence.
Just a normal day.
A professor.
A class.
A lecture.
Nothing more.
Satish entered the class, his face blank, as if he had not been teased by his mother for hours last night.
He placed his books on the desk and, without looking at anyone, said, "Take out your notes."
There was a shuffling of pages, and then-
Her voice.
"Sir, you hadn't mentioned what topics to revise, so-"
Satish flipped open his textbook aggressively.
Didn't hear that. Didn't hear that.
He didn't even acknowledge her voice.
He simply started writing on the board.
Sharayu, confused, glanced at her friends.
Rutuja and Arohi raised their eyebrows.
Hriday and Kunal looked at each other.
Gayatri and Vrushal tried not to laugh.
"Sir?" Sharayu tried again.
Satish turned around, finally speaking. But not to her.
"Kunal, read out the first paragraph."
Kunal, who was drinking water, choked.
"M-Me?"
Satish nodded. "Do you see another Kunal here?"
The class snickered.
Sharayu frowned.
Why had he ignored her?
She tried again. "Sir, I had a-"
Satish turned to Vrushal instead. "Vrushal, what do you understand from this point?"
Vrushal, who had not even opened his book yet, sat up straight. "Uhh...taxes are important?"
The class burst into laughter.
Satish sighed. "Read the text before answering."
Vrushal grinned. "I thought we were doing a guessing game."
Satish rubbed his temples. "Yes, Vrushal. Taxation is just a fun guessing game."
More laughter.
But through it all, Sharayu just stared at Satish.
He wasn't looking at her.
Not even once.
And that realization made something twist inside her.
Satish continued his lecture, his eyes scanning the class-skipping over Sharayu every time.
It was going well.
Ignoring her was working.
His heartbeat was normal.
His mind wasn't filled with memories of her in a red saree.
And then...
He made a mistake.
He asked a question.
And Sharayu, being the studious overachiever she was, answered immediately.
"Sir, it's because of the capital gains tax imposed on-"
He cut her off. "Hriday?"
Hriday, who had been doodling in his notebook, looked up, startled.
"Sir?"
"Do you know the answer?" Satish asked.
Hriday blinked. "Uhh..."
He looked at Sharayu, who was glaring at Satish.
He looked back at Satish, who was pointedly ignoring Sharayu.
He smirked. "No idea, sir."
Sharayu rolled her eyes.
Satish simply nodded and explained the answer himself.
Still not once looking at Sharayu.
As the bell rang, the students started packing up.
Sharayu, however, stayed seated.
Satish collected his books, still avoiding her gaze.
Her friends noticed.
Rutuja whispered, "This is so awkward."
Arohi nodded. "Did they fight?"
Hriday grinned. "Or is this...tension?"
Kunal smacked his head. "Stop being dramatic."
Sharayu finally stood up.
Satish, without waiting, walked out of the classroom.
Not a glance. Not a word.
Sharayu's stomach twisted.
What was happening?
Why was he ignoring her?
And why did it bother her so much?
Sharayu stood frozen for a few seconds, staring at the door Satish had just walked out of.
He ignored me.
Not just once. Not twice. But throughout the entire lecture.
Her friends gathered around her, already sensing something was off.
Rutuja nudged her. "Sharayu, what was that?"
Arohi crossed her arms. "Did you both fight or something?"
Kunal smirked. "Did you finally confess your love, and he panicked?"
Sharayu snapped out of her trance, shooting Kunal a glare. "Shut up."
Gayatri hummed, tapping her chin.
"Hmm. I don't think this is normal. He didn't even look at you."
Vrushal, ever the instigator, gasped dramatically. "Maybe you failed his subject in the last test, and now he's heartbroken that his favorite student disappointed him."
Sharayu rolled her eyes. "I didn't fail."
Sharayu covered her face. "You guys are the worst."
Kunal smirked. "We try."
Despite their teasing, she could feel the underlying concern in their words.
They knew something was wrong.
Rutuja placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Honestly, Saru, maybe it's just a misunderstanding. He could be in a bad mood today."
Gayatri nodded. "Yeah. He's human too. Maybe something happened at home."
Arohi leaned in. "Or maybe...he's just realizing something about you."
Sharayu frowned. "Realizing what?"
Hriday smirked. "That he can't ignore you even if he tries."
Sharayu scoffed, but her heart stung.
Because even though her friends were joking, Hriday's words lingered.
***
Satish slammed his books onto his desk in the staff room and ran a hand through his hair.
Ignoring Sharayu had been a mistake.
A huge mistake.
At first, he thought it would help him.
That avoiding her would clear his mind.
But instead?
It made everything worse.
Because even when he wasn't looking at her, he knew exactly where she was.
Even when he wasn't listening to her, he could hear her voice in his head.
And when she had smiled at him-innocently, unknowingly-
He felt like an idiot.
Nilesh's words echoed in his mind:
"Don't make Sharayu wait too long for your confession."
Satish groaned and leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
What the hell was he supposed to do now?
***
With final exams just a week away, the entire college atmosphere had transformed into a battlefield. Gone were the carefree conversations and playful teasing in the corridors. Now, the only sounds that echoed through the halls were discussions about syllabus completion, last-minute revisions, and panic-stricken whispers about the toughest subjects.
Professors, who once seemed lenient, had suddenly turned into unrelenting drill sergeants. They were making sure every student was fully prepared, throwing extra assignments, conducting doubt-solving sessions, and terrorizing them with mock tests.
And in the middle of all this?
Sharayu and Satish.
Sharayu sat in her usual spot, books spread out in front of her, pretending to concentrate. But her mind? It was completely occupied by the one person who had been avoiding her.
Satish Sir.
Since the last class, he had completely ignored her. No eye contact, no responses to her doubts, and absolutely no acknowledgement of her existence. It irritated her, confused her, and-though she refused to admit it-hurt her.
Rutuja, sitting beside her, nudged her with an elbow. "Saru, are you even listening?"
Sharayu snapped out of her thoughts. "Huh?"
Rutuja sighed. "I've been asking the same question for the past five minutes! Which chapter are you revising?"
Sharayu hesitated. "Uh...the one on OB...I think."
Hriday, sitting across from them, smirked. "Wow, Sharayu. Final exams are in a week, and you don't even know what subject you're reading? Someone is definitely lovesick."
Sharayu threw a pen at him. "Shut up, Hriday!"
Arohi chuckled. "Admit it, you're upset that Satish Sir is ignoring you."
Kunal added with a dramatic sigh. "Poor Sharayu. The universe gave her attention from the scariest professor ever, and now that he's ignoring her, she's heartbroken."
Vrushal joined in. "True love, indeed."
Sharayu glared at all of them. "You guys are impossible!"
Gayatri shrugged. "We're just saying. It's obvious that you're affected."
Sharayu sighed and buried her face in her book. "I don't care, okay? I have exams to focus on!"
Her friends exchanged amused glances. "Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that."
***
Satish was in the staff room, drowning in papers and regret.
He had done everything in his power to ignore Sharayu. But had it helped?
Not even close.
In fact, it had only made things worse.
Because now, even without interacting with her, his thoughts were consumed by her.
And the worst part?
He had noticed her reaction.
She was hurt.
She hadn't confronted him. She hadn't demanded an explanation. But he could see it. In the way her smile didn't reach her eyes anymore, in the way she hesitated before raising her hand in class, in the way she no longer tried to catch his attention.
And it bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
Nilesh's words played in his mind again.
"Don't make Sharayu wait too long."
Satish exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his hair.
He was a professor. He had no business feeling like this.
But at the same time...
Ignoring her wasn't working either.
And with the final exams approaching, he was running out of time.
***
The exam week had turned the entire college into a battlefield.
Students who once strolled lazily through the hallways now rushed from one classroom to another, their faces buried in notes, hurriedly flipping through textbooks as if the knowledge would magically absorb into their brains.
The once lively college corridors, filled with laughter and carefree chatter, were now overtaken by murmured prayers, stressed-out sighs, and the occasional panic attack.
For Sharayu, however, this was her territory.
She was born for this.
While others crammed the night before, Sharayu had already revised everything twice. Her confidence was unshakable, and as each exam paper was placed before her, she barely flinched.
Her friends, however, were a different story.
- Rutuja had been panicking for days, calling Sharayu at odd hours to ask last-minute doubts.
- Hriday had miraculously become religious, chanting prayers before every exam and touching the exam paper as if it were sacred.
- Kunal was convinced he had developed migraine issues due to exam stress and kept groaning dramatically before every paper.
- Arohi, Gayatri, and Vrushal had sworn an oath to get through this together, constantly revising in groups and dragging Sharayu along, even when she clearly didn't need it.
The biggest tension?
Taxation.
Even though everyone had prepared, the weight of the subject still loomed over them. Satish had drilled them with revision sessions, extra classes, and last-minute tips. But still, as they sat waiting for their final Taxation paper, the air was thick with tension.
Even Sharayu, felt a slight nervousness creep in.
Satish entered the exam hall, his sharp gaze scanning the room. His eyes briefly landed on Sharayu before moving away, pretending like she didn't exist.
Sharayu felt a strange sting in her chest.
But she quickly shook it off.
Focus, Sharayu. The exam is more important.
The moment the question paper was distributed, a wave of silence filled the room. The only sounds were the frantic scribbling of pens against paper and the occasional sighs of relief (or despair).
Sharayu's eyes scanned the questions.
And just like that-her confidence was back.
"Easy." She smirked to herself.
While others sweated over complex calculations, she breezed through the paper.
Hriday shot her a glare from across the room, silently mouthing 'HELP ME' while Kunal dramatically wiped his forehead.
She chuckled, but quickly focused back on her paper.
The last exam had been a success.
And now...
They were finally free.
The very moment the final exam ended, the group burst out of the exam hall cheering.
"BASSSS!! FINALLY OVER!" Hriday shouted, throwing his hands in the air.
Kunal pretended to collapse on the ground. "I survived. I actually survived. Somebody give me a medal."
Arohi rolled her eyes. "Kunal, you wrote half your answers wrong. You might need to survive the re-exam too."
Everyone laughed, while Kunal dramatically gasped.
Sharayu felt lighter than ever. The stress was gone. The burden of exams had lifted.
They decided to head to a café just outside the college, a place they often went to when they needed a break.
The café had an outdoor sitting area, with wooden benches and small fairy lights twinkling above. They settled down, laughing and chatting about their horrible, hilarious exam experiences.
"Guys, we need a break. Let's go somewhere!" Vrushal suggested.
"YES! A trip! Or at least a day out!" Rutuja agreed excitedly.
"Beach trip? Road trip? Or just a simple resort day?" Gayatri asked.
Sharayu, sipping her coffee, smiled. "Anything, as long as we all go together."
They were deep in discussion, arguing over locations, when-
A sudden silence fell over the group.
Because out of nowhere, a boy walked up to their table.
And without hesitation, he dropped to one knee.
"Sharayu,
I like you.
Will you be my girlfriend?"
Satish had just stepped out of the college gate when he noticed something unusual.
A group of students were gathered near the café, but his eyes immediately locked onto a familiar figure.
Sharayu.
And the boy kneeling in front of her.
Something inside him snapped.
Without thinking, without pausing, he walked straight towards them.
His steps were quick. Firm. Dangerous.
His heart was thundering in his chest, his hands clenched into tight fists.
The sight of that boy confessing to her sent a surge of irrational fury through him.
How dare he?
As he reached them, the group turned, startled by his sudden arrival.
But he didn't care.
His eyes were fixed on one person.
The boy.
Without a word, he grabbed him by the collar and shoved him back.
A collective gasp erupted from everyone.
Before the boy could even react, Satish's fist collided with his face.
Once. Twice.
The boy stumbled back, clutching his jaw.
"WHAT THE HELL, SIR?!" Hriday exclaimed, jumping up in shock.
Rutuja, Kunal, Arohi, and the others were too stunned to move.
But Sharayu-
She sprang into action.
Before Satish could strike again, she stepped in between them.
"STOP!"
Her voice rang through the air.
And in that moment, Satish froze.
His chest was rising and falling rapidly, his breathing heavy. His jaw was clenched, fists still ready to punch again.
But Sharayu's hand was now on his wrist.
And the anger inside him shattered.
Instead, guilt washed over him.
Because in her eyes, he didn't see gratitude.
She wasn't thanking him.
She wasn't relieved.
She was angry. Hurt. Confused.
And that?
That hurt him more than anything else.
The tension hung thick in the air.
Sharayu stood in front of Satish, her chest rising and falling in frustration.
Her hand was still gripping his wrist, as if she was afraid he'd throw another punch.
Satish, on the other hand, was silent.
His breathing was heavy, his knuckles still clenched. But the moment he saw the hurt in her eyes, something inside him twisted.
The boy he had just punched stumbled away, his friends dragging him out of the scene. But neither Satish nor Sharayu noticed.
Because now-it was just them.
Her eyes were piercing into his, demanding an answer.
The rest of the group was watching in stunned silence.
Hriday, Rutuja, Kunal, Arohi, Gayatri, and Vrushal-they all knew this was not the time to interfere.
But Kunal, being Kunal, whispered dramatically,
"I feel like I'm watching a movie."
Rutuja slapped his arm. "Shut up."
But Sharayu didn't care about them.
She took a deep breath, her fingers still clenched at her sides. And then-she spoke.
"What is wrong with you, sir?"
Her voice was firm, but there was a tremor in it-a mix of anger, hurt, and confusion.
Satish stiffened. He had expected her to be upset, but hearing her voice laced with pain made him feel...worse.
"Why do you care so much?" she demanded.
"Why are you interfering in my life like this?"
Satish's throat went dry.
He had no answer.
Because what could he say?
That he hated seeing another guy confess to her?
That he lost control because the thought of her being with someone else made his blood boil?
That he didn't even understand what he was feeling himself?
No.
He couldn't say any of that.
So, instead-he said nothing.
But Sharayu was not done.
"This is not the first time!" she continued. "You ignored me for days in class. You scolded me and my friends when we were just talking. And now you-" she gestured towards the spot where the boy had been, "-you PUNCHED someone for no reason!"
She took a step closer, her eyes burning into his.
"WHY?"
Satish opened his mouth, but no words came out.
His emotions were a mess. His mind was a battlefield.
He wanted to say something.
But what?
That he had been restless for days?
That every time he tried to ignore her, it only made things worse?
That her smile haunted him even when he closed his eyes?
That the mere thought of her belonging to someone else sent a storm inside him?
No.
He couldn't.
Because if he said those things, then they would become real.
And Satish wasn't ready for that.
So, instead, he did what he did best.
He masked his emotions behind a cold, blank expression.
"I was just..." he hesitated, "...doing what I thought was right."
Sharayu let out a sharp, bitter laugh.
"Oh, so you suddenly get to decide what's right for me?"
Satish flinched.
Her words hit him hard because... wasn't that exactly what he was doing?
"You know what, sir?" she shook her head, taking a step back. "You keep acting like this, pushing me away, pulling me closer, confusing me every time, and I..."-she took a shaky breath-"I don't even know what to think anymore."
Satish's heart clenched.
He wanted to tell her.
That it wasn't intentional.
That he was struggling with his own feelings.
That he didn't know how to deal with this...with HER.
But he stayed silent.
And that silence?
It hurt Sharayu the most.
She let out a soft, tired chuckle-one that didn't have any humor in it.
"You don't even have an answer, do you?"
Satish looked down, clenching his fists.
"Thought so," she whispered.
Then-she turned around.
Without another word, she walked away.
Her friends followed her, sparing one last glance at Satish before leaving.
And for the first time in a long time-
Satish felt completely, utterly lost.
Satish stood frozen, his heartbeat loud in his ears.
Sharayu's words echoed in his mind, each syllable stabbing him like a knife.
"You keep acting like this, pushing me away, pulling me closer, confusing me every time, and I..."
"I don't even know what to think anymore."
He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, inhaling sharply.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath.
He had messed up. Again.
But what else was he supposed to do? Confess?
That he couldn't stand seeing her with anyone else? That he didn't understand why she had become the only student in his life who made his chest tighten like this?
No way.
That would be disastrous.
So instead, he did what he did best.
He chose silence.
***
As Sharayu walked away, her friends exchanged glances, sensing the tension in the air.
Kunal, being Kunal, was the first to break the silence.
"Okay, so let's summarize what just happened."
Hriday, still a little dazed from the whole scene, nodded.
"Our dear Sharayu just got publicly scolded by Professor Satish for receiving a love confession."
Arohi smirked. "Publicly? More like aggressively. Did you see how fast he stormed in?"
Rutuja snorted. "Fast? If she hadn't stopped him, he would have probably thrown that boy out of the café window."
Vrushal, rubbing his chin dramatically, added, "So, what did we learn today?"
"That Satish Sir is acting very possessive," Gayatri answered immediately.
"That Satish Sir is acting very stupid," Hriday corrected.
Sharayu, who had been silent till now, finally sighed, shaking her head.
"He's impossible," she muttered.
"But you like that, don't you?" Arohi teased, wiggling her eyebrows.
Sharayu whipped her head around. "Excuse me??"
"Oh come on," Kunal threw an arm around her shoulders. "Why are you so bothered if you don't care about him?"
Sharayu pushed him away. "Because he's my professor, and he's acting like-" she paused, struggling to find the words.
"Like your jealous boyfriend?" Vrushal suggested casually.
She gasped in horror. "NO!"
"That was too fast of a response," Hriday pointed out.
Sharayu groaned, rubbing her temples.
"Listen, whatever is going on with Satish Sir, I don't want to overthink it. He won't even tell me why he's behaving like this, so why should I waste my time?"
Her friends exchanged knowing looks before nodding fake-seriously.
"Yes, yes, you're right," Rutuja said, suppressing a grin. "You should definitely stop overthinking it."
"You should definitely not let it bother you," Vrushal added.
"Exactly," Arohi agreed. "That's why we should all stop talking about it."
"Yes, we should all be normal and not assume that Satish Sir has feelings for you," Hriday said.
"Totally normal," Kunal agreed, barely holding back his laughter.
Sharayu huffed.
"You guys are the worst."
"And yet, you love us," Gayatri winked.
Sharayu rolled her eyes.
But despite her attempts to ignore the situation...
Her heart still felt heavy.
And she hated how much she cared.
***
Satish had just entered his house when his phone buzzed.
Nilesh.
"Come outside. We need to talk."
Satish groaned. "Not now, Nilesh."
"NOW."
He sighed, running a hand down his face before stepping outside.
When he reached the chai stall near his house, he found Nilesh already waiting, arms crossed.
"You look like a man who just realized he has feelings for someone and doesn't know what to do about it," Nilesh commented.
Satish glared at him.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure you don't," Nilesh smirked. "Now, tell me why you almost murdered a college boy today."
Satish gritted his teeth.
"That guy was annoying."
"Oh yes, very annoying. How dare he like Sharayu? How dare he confess to her in public? Doesn't he know she's reserved for-oh wait."
Satish narrowed his eyes.
"Finish that sentence and I'll kill you next."
Nilesh laughed.
"Dude, it's so obvious! You like her. Just admit it."
Satish clenched his fists.
"I don't-"
"LIE!" Nilesh pointed dramatically. "YOU ARE LYING TO YOURSELF, MY FRIEND."
Satish groaned, rubbing his temples.
"I don't like her. I just..." he struggled to find the words.
"You just what?"
"I just don't like seeing her with other guys," Satish muttered.
Nilesh stared at him.
"Bro. That's literally what jealousy is."
Satish froze.
Satish groaned, burying his face in his hands.
"What do I do now?"
Nilesh grinned.
"Simple. You either confess or suffer."
Satish glared.
"Why are those the only two options?"
"Because I know you," Nilesh smirked. "And you, my friend, are doomed."
Satish sighed.
He hated that Nilesh was right.
Satish sat across from Nilesh, still processing his newfound realization. His head felt heavy, like he had just solved a complex Taxation problem, only to find out it had another hidden clause that changed everything.
Nilesh, meanwhile, looked too amused for his liking.
"So, tell me, Mr. Professor," Nilesh leaned forward, sipping his chai. "What's the next step?"
Satish groaned. "I don't know, Nilesh. I don't even know if I...if I actually..."
"Like her?" Nilesh raised an eyebrow.
Satish looked away, jaw clenching.
"I mean...what even is this? It's not like I've never had female students before. So why the hell is Sharayu different?"
Nilesh chuckled. "Oh, my poor, clueless friend. The fact that you're asking this question means you're already in deep."
Satish shot him a glare.
"Okay, listen," Nilesh placed his cup down, suddenly turning serious. "Sharayu is young. Smart. Funny. Beautiful. She's the kind of girl who won't stay single for long. There are a dozen guys who probably like her but haven't gathered the guts to confess yet."
Satish stiffened at the thought.
"And if you keep running away from this instead of facing your feelings, someone else will come along. Someone who isn't scared to tell her how he feels. And when that happens, my dear Satish..." Nilesh leaned back with a knowing smirk, "you'll be left with nothing but regret."
Satish felt something twist inside him.
Regret.
He didn't want that.
"So," Nilesh continued, "before you start acting on these feelings, at least confirm them. Understand what you actually feel. Because if it's not real, it's better to step back now before things get messy. But if it is real..."
Satish swallowed.
"Then you better act fast before someone else does."
Silence.
Satish stared at his cup, feeling like he had just been hit by a truck of truth.
"Damn it, Nilesh," he muttered.
Nilesh grinned. "That's why I'm your best friend. Now, let's go. I need to buy Diwali gifts before my sister murders me."
***
Sharayu lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
The exams were finally over. She should be happy.
But instead, her mind was stuck on Satish Sir.
Why did he act like that that day?
Why does he keep sending mixed signals?
Why does it bother me so much?
"UGH!" she groaned, pulling a pillow over her face.
Just then, her phone buzzed.
Hriday: Café. 15 mins. Be there.
She frowned. Why was everyone suddenly calling urgent meetings in cafes?
Sighing, she got up, changed into a simple kurti and jeans, and headed out.
By the time she reached, her friends were already there, munching on cookies and coffee.
"Finally!" Arohi waved her over. "Come fast, we're planning something big."
Sharayu slid into the seat. "Planning what?"
"A Diwali outing!" Rutuja grinned. "One day. Just us. Full masti."
"We deserve it after those stressful exams," Kunal added, stuffing his mouth with cookie.
"And before college resumes, let's make some good memories," Vrushal nodded.
Sharayu hesitated. "I don't know... I don'twant to go anywhere."
"Oh, come on," Hriday rolled his eyes. " It's just a day trip!"
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"Lonavala!" Gayatri announced.
"Long drive, good food, scenic views, and full-on gossip session!" Arohi grinned.
"AND," Kunal pointed dramatically, "a chance for Sharayu to forget about a certain Taxation professor."
Sharayu froze mid-sip.
Everyone smirked.
"Why is he even in this conversation?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Oh, come on," Rutuja nudged her. "Your mood's been off since that day. And we all know why."
"Admit it," Hriday added. "His behavior bothers you."
"Of course, it does!" she threw her hands up. "One day he's scolding me, the next day he's ignoring me, then he's beating up random guys for confessing to me-what am I supposed to think?"
"That he likes you?" Vrushal suggested casually.
Sharayu choked on her coffee.
"STOP SAYING THAT!"
"It's true!" Arohi laughed.
"Or he's in denial," Gayatri corrected.
"Like an old Bollywood hero," Kunal added dramatically, pretending to wipe a tear.
Sharayu buried her face in her hands. "You all are impossible."
"And yet, you love us," Hriday smirked.
Sharayu sighed, then smiled slightly.
"Fine. Let's go on this trip."
The group cheered.
"Best decision ever!"
"Now let's plan our outfits!"
"And snacks! Snacks are important!"
Sharayu laughed, feeling a little lighter.
Maybe this trip was exactly what she needed.
Because no matter what was going on with Satish Sir...
She needed to clear her mind before she lost her sanity.
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