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Veda’s pov!

I hated college life.

It had been just a week and a half since my classes began, but it felt like I had been stuck in a never-ending nightmare. No matter where I went, there was always someone—sometimes a group—glancing my way, whispering behind their hands. It was impossible to miss the speculative looks or the occasional not-so-quiet giggle.

And I hated that kind of attention.

I wasn’t one to enjoy the spotlight, and being the subject of gossip was my personal version of hell. It wasn’t my fault that the senior girl had caused a scene in the corridor the other day. But of course, no one cared about that. They only cared about how weird I was or how I had misled Atharv Acharya—though I had done neither!

I sighed and hugged my notebook closer to my chest as I walked down the busy college corridor. My face burned at the memory of everything that had happened. If I could just turn back time and undo that moment, I would.

My only solace in this otherwise despicable existence was Bhavya. I wasn’t sure why Bhavya had chosen to befriend me, but I was grateful. Bhavya’s easy smile and teasing remarks made the unbearable a little more tolerable. Without her, I would have likely spent every break holed up in some empty corner of the campus.

And then there was Atharv Acharya.

My grip on my notebook tightened at the mere thought of him. Why was I seeing him everywhere? In the library, in the cafeteria, outside my class, even in the courtyard where I sat to eat my lunch—he seemed to be everywhere. It was like the universe had decided to play some cruel joke on me.

I avoided him like the plague.

If I even caught a glimpse of his shadow, I would turn on my heel and bolt in the opposite direction. It was almost instinctive now. The moment I sensed his presence, my heart would start racing—not in the romantic, butterflies-in-the-stomach way—but in the run-for-your-life kind of way.

But no matter where I ran, I would somehow end up crossing paths with him again.

Like now.

As I turned the corner to head towards my class, my heart sank. There he was, standing near my classroom door, talking to someone with that casual confidence he seemed to carry everywhere. He was wearing a dark blue shirt today, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and he looked every bit as composed as ever.

Why does he always have to be around?

Without thinking twice, I turned and darted back down the hallway. I didn’t care if I’d end up late to class. I just needed to get away.

But fate had other plans.

I ran smack into Bhavya, who was holding a sandwich and munching on it as she walked.

"Whoa, slow down!" Bhavya exclaimed, somehow managing to keep her sandwich from falling. "Where’s the fire?"

I winced. "Sorry," I mumbled, stepping back to give her space.

Bhavya raised an eyebrow, following my nervous glance over her shoulder. She didn’t need to ask—she already knew.

"You are avoiding him again, aren’t you?" Bhavya asked with a knowing smirk.

My cheeks flushed. "No," I said quickly.

Bhavya gave me a pointed look.

"Okay, fine. Yes," I admitted, glancing down at my shoes. "I just... I don’t want to see him."

"And why is that?" Bhavya asked, her voice dripping with curiosity.

"I don’t know," I groaned, exasperated. "He is just... there. All the time. And it’s so annoying!"

"You know, most girls would kill to have Atharv Acharya show up everywhere. But you? You run for the hills." Bhavya chuckled. 

”I just want him to stay away. Far, far away." I said, throwing my hands up.

"You are something else, Veda. But if you keep running, you will never stop bumping into him. Maybe you should just face him once and for all." Bhavya shook her head, still amused.

"Are you insane? That’s the worst idea I have ever heard." I stared at her friend like she had suggested skydiving without a parachute.

"Suit yourself," Bhavya said with a shrug. "But you can’t avoid him forever."

As Bhavya walked off, leaving me to stew in my thoughts, I sighed.

She is wrong, I told myself firmly. I absolutely can avoid him forever.

Even if it meant taking every detour, skipping breaks, or hiding in the library for the rest of my college life. I would do whatever it took to steer clear of Atharv Acharya.

But deep down, a small, annoying voice whispered: How long do you think you can keep this up?

Atharv’s pov!

I was a mess. I didn't understand myself anymore. Every morning, without fail, I found myself wandering the corridors of the first-year classrooms. I told myself it was just a coincidence, that I had legitimate reasons to be there, but deep down, I knew the truth. I wasn't there for any real purpose. I was there for her.

And it was pathetic.

During breaks, I lingered near the library. At lunch, I somehow ended up in the courtyard outside the first year block. It didn't matter where I went—my eyes were always searching for someone.

Veda.

The same girl who ran like her life depended on it the second she spotted me.

Even now, as I stood outside her classroom, talking to a first-year student about the football team's selection match, I knew exactly what I was doing. I had never gone out of my way to recruit players before; they always came to me. But today, I had used it as an excuse to linger here.

I glanced casually down the corridor and spotted her almost immediately. Veda. She was hugging her notebook to her chest, her expression wary and alert as she walked toward her classroom.

I knew the precise moment she saw me. Her steps faltered, her eyes widened, and then—just as I expected—she spun around and bolted in the opposite direction.

A smile threatened to break free.

"Okay, let's go," Kabir said beside me, his tone laced with exasperation.

"What?" I turned to him, momentarily thrown off.

"What are we doing here anymore? She bolted, man. Let's go find her in another spot now," Kabir said, rolling his eyes.

"I am not here to see her." I scowled.

"Are you f*cking serious right now? You have been literally stalking the poor girl for days, and now you are telling us you are not here to see her?" Kabir let out an exaggerated snort. 

"I am not stalking anybody." I bristled. 

"Yeah, sure. Because the great Atharv Acharya just happens to show up outside first-year classrooms every morning. Totally believable." Kabir crossed his arms, his expression unimpressed. 

"You could have fooled us," Ashwin chimed in, leaning lazily against the wall with a smirk.

"I told you, I am here for football. That's it." I shot them both a withering glare.

"Football? You? The guy who never bothered recruiting anyone in three years is now suddenly passionate about scouting talent? Give me a break." Ashwin let out a bark of laughter. 

"Dude, just admit it. You have got it bad for her. And honestly, watching you flounder like this is the highlight of my week." Kabir shook his head, his voice tinged with mock pity.

I clenched my jaw, heat creeping up the back of my neck. 

"I am not floundering," I bit out, my voice sharp. "And I don't have it bad for anyone."

"Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night," Kabir said with a shrug, his tone deliberately casual.

"I am leaving," I snapped, not waiting for their responses.

I turned on my heel and marched down the corridor, ignoring the amused snickers of my so-called best friends behind me.

But as much as I hated to admit it, Kabir and Ashwin weren't entirely wrong.

I wasn't floundering, and I definitely wasn't stalking her, but... there was something about Veda that I couldn't shake. Something that pulled me toward her, even when I tried to resist.

And the way she ran from me every time? It should have annoyed me. It should have made me stop. But instead, it only made me want to see her more.

It was infuriating.

And I hated that I couldn't stop myself.

A/N

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