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Veda Datt’s pov!

The late monsoon drizzle made the college campus look even more vibrant. I tugged my dupatta closer around me, trying to shield myself from both the rain and the curious stares of my new classmates. As I made my way through the courtyard, I couldn’t help but feel like a misfit in the hustle and bustle of my new college. The imposing Gothic architecture and sprawling green grounds were nothing like the modest life I’d left behind in my small neighborhood.

It had been just a week since I started my first year of B.A Literature course, and already, I was regretting my decision. 

Not that I didn’t want to study; I loved learning. It was the unfamiliar environment, the noise, the confident laughter of the other students that made me feel like I didn’t belong. 

I was used to solitude. I had spent countless hours with my books, losing myself in the pages of romance novels where heroines found love against all odds. Real life, however, seemed far less romantic.

I didn’t have any friends in college. My best friend, who had been with me since kindergarten, had chosen the medical field, leaving me to navigate this new chapter of my life alone. 

As someone who was extremely introverted, making new friends felt like an impossible task. I preferred the company of my books to the loud chatter of my peers, finding solace in the fictional worlds that felt far more welcoming than reality.

“Hey, first year! Stop right there!” A sharp voice pierced through my thoughts, making me freeze in my tracks. I turned around slowly to find three seniors smirking at me, their confidence unmistakable.

“You are new here, right?” One of them, a girl with heavily kohled eyes, asked. Her tone was teasing, but not unkind.

I nodded, clutching the strap of my bag tightly.

“Great. We have got a tradition here,” another senior, a tall boy with spiky hair, chimed in. “Every fresher has to do a little introduction. Nothing too hard. Just tell us your name, where you are from, and…” he exchanged a mischievous glance with the others, “sing your favorite song or maybe dance. Whatever you prefer..”

My heart sank. I hated being the center of attention, and the idea of singing in front of strangers made me want to disappear. But the seniors didn’t seem like they were going to let me off easily.

“M-my name is Veda,” I stammered, my voice barely audible over the rain. “I am from Mysore.”

“And the song?” The kohled-eyed girl pressed, leaning in with a smirk.

Before I could gather the courage to respond, a distant shout disrupted the moment.

“Atharv bhai has gotten into a fight!” A boy sprinted past them, yelling at the top of his lungs.

The seniors immediately straightened, their playful demeanor replaced by a mix of curiosity and urgency.

“What? Again?” Spiky Hair groaned. “Let’s go. This should be fun.”

Without another word, the trio abandoned their ragging session and hurried toward the football ground, leaving me standing alone, confused and slightly relieved.

Atharv Acharya. I had heard his name whispered in awe and excitement ever since my first day on campus. The son of one of South India’s richest families, he was a living legend at the college.

College union chairman, captain of the football team, top of his MBA class, and devastatingly good-looking, Atharv was the kind of person people either idolized or feared. 

Girls swooned over his smoldering gaze and confident swagger, but his reputation as a bad boy kept most of them at a respectful distance.

Not that it mattered to me. I had no interest in the glamorous lives of people like Atharv Acharya. My world was one of quiet corners, well-worn books, and the vivid stories they contained. Still, I couldn’t deny a flicker of curiosity as I heard the commotion growing louder near the football ground.

The football ground was packed with students by the time I cautiously approached, my curiosity getting the better of me. I stayed on the fringes of the crowd, craning my neck to see what was happening. 

At the center of it all was Atharv Acharya himself.

He stood tall and imposing, his broad shoulders and athletic build making him look like he belonged on a magazine cover rather than in a college brawl. His dark hair was damp from the drizzle, and his sharp jawline was set in a defiant scowl. Opposite him was a group of three boys, clearly no match for Atharv, who seemed to radiate an aura of unshakable confidence.

“You think you can mess with my team and get away with it?” Atharv’s voice was calm but carried a dangerous edge that sent shivers down my spine.

"It… it was just a prank, bhai,” one of the boys stammered, visibly trembling under Atharv’s intense gaze.

“A prank that injured one of my boys? You call that funny?” Atharv took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

The boy’s protests died in his throat as Atharv’s glare bore into him. The tension was palpable, and the crowd watched in hushed anticipation.

“Let it go, Atharv. They are not worth it.” Just as it seemed like the confrontation might escalate further, one of Atharv’s friends intervened, placing a hand on his shoulder.

For a moment, Atharv didn’t move. Then, with a frustrated sigh, he stepped back.

“Get out of my sight,” he growled. The boys didn’t need to be told twice. They bolted, leaving Atharv standing in the rain, his expression unreadable.

The crowd began to disperse, the excitement over, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him. There was something about the way he carried himself—an effortless charisma that made him impossible to ignore. I realized I was staring and quickly looked away, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

But it was too late. Atharv’s sharp eyes caught mine from across the distance. For a brief moment, our gazes locked. I felt my heart skip a beat as his intense brown eyes seemed to pierce right through me.

Then, just as quickly, he looked away, turning to leave with his friends.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, my mind racing. I shook my head, berating myself for getting caught up in the drama.

Atharv Acharya was something I’d never want in my life—arrogant, dangerous, and completely out of reach.

A/N

Hey guys! I am back with the new book..

This is the first book of L&M series that have a college romance theme. Please leave feedbacks..

Love,

SF❤️