“So class, we shall stop here for today. Tomorrow, make sure you read the next topic and come, which is simple theory and revise what is taught today; so that we can start with the next chapter tomorrow.”

Ms. Naina Sharma, our physics teacher, finally ended with the two hour long lecture.

I glanced just slightly towards Lavanya. And she smirked enough for me to understand.

It was the sign to run towards the washroom. Physics is something really tiring. More than maths. More than chemistry. So a two minute washroom visit is a must.

As soon as Ms. Sharma walked out of the class, Lavanya and I sprinted on the corridor. Along with us, a few more of our classmates walked through the corridors to refresh themselves.

“Hey, you’re sure you were okay back there?”

Lavanya asked with a hint of concern in her voice.

I can’t let her know that I already have a teeny tiny crush on him.

Hridayansh.

Yes, just a teeny tiny crush. Not even a proper one. And I’m damn sure this teeny tiny crush will soon fade away with time.

“Yeah, yeah. I remembered something else in that moment,” I replied, nervously, but trying not to sound nervous.

“Okay,” she muttered, washing her hands in the wash basin.

“But I’ve done the assignment.”

All of them looked at me in horror; as if they had just seen some ghost enter into earth.

“Brother, we join our hands and beg on our knees, please don’t remind him about the assignment. Please,” Krishna, the boy who sat just behind me, pleaded.

“Yes, Hridayansh, please. Majority of the people have not done that. Please don’t open your mouth about it,” someone said from my left.

“Okay, okay. I won’t remind the professor from my side. But if he asks by himself then I’ll submit mine. No matter what,” I declared, fairly.

All six people, who were sitting surrounding me in a circle, looked at each other.

“Yeah, that works,” Anant, one of them, said. “But remember, do not remind him from your side.”
I slightly nodded my head in yes and reassured them.

Just then, Prof. Shah entered our class.

“Good morning, students.”

“Good morning, sir.”

“Take out your notebooks. We shall start with one of the most important topics from this chapter, which is surely going to come in your unit test for 5 marks,” the professor already started to write on the board.

“Bach gaye aaj toh,” Anant muttered slowly.

(“We are safe for today.”)

“Sir... Assign—” I started slowly. Obviously for fun. Just to tease them all.

“Bas, issi ke haathon ek dinn sab ki lagegi,” Niya, who was sitting across Krishna, said.

I chuckled lightly, letting it slide. Anyway we’ll have to upload our assignments on Google Classroom before Monday.

The lecture went on with just that one topic. It was easy but really lengthy. Especially if you forget the very first step, and a few differentiations and integrations in between, congratulations, you lose your 5 marks in the units.

Soon after the lecture, I straightened my spine by getting up from my seat. I thought to stroll around the class, but till I get up from my bench, another teacher will enter the class.

I sat down again and stretched myself again, turning towards my right and left. My friends smiled at me, gesturing the same exhaustion from their sides too. I tried not to look at the other classmates, but my curious self couldn’t keep it.

My eyes wandered everywhere, unknowingly. New people, new faces, new names. I was simply and randomly looking around.

Near the last benches, where the sunlight spread it’s light yellowish golden cast, my eyes stopped for a while. Maybe admiring the magical color. I wanted to take off my eyes, but something made them stay... at that very place.

I noticed a girl sitting on one of those benches. She tilted her head slightly, fingers slipping into her hair, undoing the loose knot she’d tied.

Slowly — deliberately — she began untangling it. Sunlight caught on every strand, turning it into something almost unfairly golden. She didn’t rush.

She combed through it with her fingers first, separating the strands like she was sorting thoughts she didn’t want anyone else to read. Then she twisted a few sections back, clipped them up carelessly — but the kind of careless that takes skill.

Her friends hovered around her like satellites, laughing too loudly at something she whispered. And then came the phone. Of course.

She leaned back slightly against the desk, chin angled, eyes half-lidded — not smiling fully, just enough to make it look effortless. One of her friends leaned in, another adjusted the frame.

Click.

Another pose.

This time she tossed her hair lightly over one shoulder, sunlight tracing the outline of her jaw.

She didn’t try to look pretty.

She just was.

“Hridayansh,” Pratik, my benchmate, nudged my arm hardly.

I came back to my senses and looked in front of me. Our chemistry ma’am had already arrived.

I stood up quickly and greeted a ‘good afternoon’ to her with the class.

What was up with me?

Why did I look at that girl with that much of attention?

Not that I’m interested in love at first sight or so-called relationships. In fact, they are not made for me.

Never mind. Just a slip of attention.

Focus on studies, Hridayansh. You would definitely not want an academic downfall right after your 10th.

“This break was so needed!” Lavanya practically cried out.

I smiled at her. She’s more than perfect for me. The perfect contrast to my personality.

We ate together, as always, in the class, because college canteen shall be the last place I would opt to eat. Over-priced food items, pale taste and too much crowd are more than enough reasons for my statement.

Now we had our first ever English lecture. Now this is something we are truly excited for, at least me and Lavanya.

English has always been a fun lecture since 1st grade. I always call it an ‘academic version of bedtime storytelling’. This is the only period where we could actually sit free with no stress.

And now we are just hoping our English teacher to be all vibrant and fun to learnt with.

“Hey, Ipsita!”

I heard a soft familiar voice behind me.

“Hey, you are the same girl,” I tried to recall. “That day uhh...”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m Taarini,” she said with a smile.

“Taarini. Yes! How come you’re in our class?”

She looked around and made an ‘oh’ face. “I have a few friends here from my school.”

“Sounds great! You must have had no awkward ‘make new friends’ moments,” I whined playfully.

“I know right,” she laughed out loud, playfully dismissing me by her hand. “But I’m all alone in my class.”

I smiled a little. Because we are all in the same boat, except Lavanya. She’s the social butterfly of our class, where does everyone stay, which school they’ve completed their 10th from, who are their siblings, etc.

“You can join us in the lunch break, if you wish to,” I offered to Taarini.

“Oh dear, thank you so much for this. I’ll surely join you guys from tomorrow.”

“A whole conversation ended without me, huh?” Lavanya smacked my head lightly.

I fake hissed in pain. But Lavanya really hits hard. Plus, she is skinny. And we all know how badly it hurts when someone skinny hits you, be it even playfully.

“You’re Lavanya, right?” Taarini was facing her.

“Ah, yes. And you’re... Taara?”

“Taarini,” she laughed it off.

“Yeah, same to same. I’m not very good in remembering names, sorry,” Lavanya said, smiling sweetly so that Taarini doesn’t think bad about her.

“No worries, we’ll get together often.”

We had a few more talks walking throughout the corridor. About classmates, parents, societies, friends, makeup, skincare, hair growth tips, jewellery, stores selling girly clothes in discounts. It was one of the best quality times I’d spent here in the college.

I just came to know, all of us are single. Lavanya had an ex-boyfriend. It was the guy’s mum who put fake allegations on her character and brainwashed her son too, to do so. And as every other girl who values her self-respect, Lavanya broke up with him.

Taarini and I’ve never been into relationships. Just a few school crushes. That too we are ashamed of ourselves for our choices in those days.

“Alright then, let’s meet at 5:30,” Taarini said, softly mini-twirling and clapping her hands for once.

Yes, we just discovered that we live almost in the same area. Taarini lives a few more minutes away, but we’ve found a new route for her through which we three can walk together till the maximum distance.

“Give us a call when your lecture ends,” I said.

Giving one last smile and waving each other off, we went to our classrooms.

“Baby girl, you know what? We’re doomed,” Lavanya muttered, like a philosopher.

“Kis dukh mein?” I eyed her suspiciously.

“Ebe kahara lecture achhi?” she asked.

(“Who’s lecture is it now?”)

“English, na?”

(“English, right?”)

“And I assume you might not know she’ll make groups of two students each for orals, viva and presentation.”

It felt like a bomb dropping right above my head. I’m still in vacation mode, and the girl in front of me is already talking about orals and viva and presentation?

“Are you sure? I mean who told you this? And why would ma’am give this trauma in her very first class?” I whined.

“Have I told you about a friend, who passed 12th this year?”

I nodded my head in no.

“She was in this college. We used to chat whole day in vacations. She was also from Science section.”

I made an ‘oh’ face and nodded my head in understanding. Connecting with seniors before college starts is so important.

“So she would obviously make groups roll number wise?” I asked.

“Depends,” Lavanya sighed. “Last year it was random.”

I facepalmed myself mentally.

“Let’s hope we stay together.”

We hugged each other and smiled with hope. Though this group formation would not be a big deal, we just want to stay together (or better say, want to get more time for gossiping).

In the next few minutes, our English professor entered the class. She was kind and sweet as a person. We had introduction session, once again and cracked few jokes with our professor.

She didn’t make us feel that we are her students or she is elder than us. It was more of long lost best friends met after decades.

I tried my best not to look at Hridayansh. At this point of time, I’m convinced that he knows I’ve been noticing him a little too much. Because I’m glancing at him every now and then for absolute no reason.

But if he didn’t notice yet, that’s good for me.

And as expected, our professor made groups absolute randomly. I was at least expecting roll numbers wise.

And guess what. Lavanya and a guy named Karthik are grouped. But guess what again.

Me and Hridayansh are in one group.

Me and Hridayansh.

Hridayansh.

HRIDAYANSH!

I’ve lost faith on everyone. I don’t believe anyone. I still cannot.

They said I’m paired up with Hridayansh, but I don’t believe this. I mean he’s so out of my league. Why would he even look at me? I

But if this is true... What am I supposed to do when he’ll be around me? That too in close proximity.

I glanced secretly at him to see his reaction when the professor announced my name with him.

Wait.

My name with him?

Delusional Ips, again.

But I'm so jealous of him. He was completely neutral. As if it really didn't affect him. In any way.

I don't know if I should be super happy or super nervous about this.

For now, I would just wish I don't freak out like a K-pop fan girl who would get excited just by hearing the name of her idol.

Because I just know for a reason, I cannot stay or act normal in front of him.

It’s been six minutes.
Six minutes already gone from lunchtime.

My mind is still and blank. The letter in my hand felt like a life-changing point.

“...Rubina.”

The sunlight girl.

How did she know my name?

Why did she write me this letter?

“4th floor. 2nd room... Sharp 2:30.”

The letter read.

Did she catch me staring at her earlier today?

If she did, God forbid she’ll definitely file a harassment case on me.

That wasn’t my intention at all.

I just found her... attractive that day. And myself... lost.

In her.

No, no, no.

I mean I was admiring beauty.

But, am I falling for her?

She’s beautiful.

But love?

Never my thing.

She might already be having a boyfriend.

And no other girl could have catch my attention for a fleeting second like that.

I’m sure she could be having doubts on me and maybe that’s the reason she wants to me in person.

After a few more minutes of making up my mind to go, I stood up from my seat and made my way through the corridors.

My friends were just there, talking casually, leaning onto the railing.

I gestured them with a five fingers up from my right hand. And my left hand secured the small paper that Rubina had left on my desk.

I didn’t know what to feel.

Should I be worried? Or just stay calm?

Because she didn’t say anything else.

Just time, venue and her name.

No signs of warning or hatred towards me.

I didn’t realize I was already on the fourth floor.

The very first room I saw was the medical room.

Typical. Emergency service always on the highest floor.

I rolled my eyes and walked ahead.

“4th floor. 2nd room.”

I stopped immediately.

Trying to suppress my ongoing thoughts, I walked a few steps back.

“402”

The golden metal label read.

I peeped inside the room.

All empty. Except a few benches in the front, with an empty table in the centre.

Maybe she has not come, yet.

There were no lights or fans on. Just a small window opened in the right most corner of the room, slightly illuminating the room with few rays of sunlight.

I glanced around out of the room.

The whole floor was empty.

Because students and staff are usually on the first and second floor. The third floor consists of our labs. And hence, fourth and fifth (and maybe there’s a sixth floor too) are always empty.

I looked at my wrist watch.

2:39 PM.

Three more minutes up.

Not gonna lie, I’m starving heavily. I barely had four bites of rice in breakfast at home.

I walked out of the class hoping to find her at least coming towards this classroom.

“You’re Hridayansh, right?”

I turned back instantly.

The sunlight girl.

Standing right in front of me with her hands folded.

She looked right into my eyes without any hesitation, but only searching for answers into mine.

“And I suppose you’re the one who...” I pointed towards the half scrumbled piece of paper in my hand.

“Rubina,” she said and held forward her hand. Maybe for a handshake.

I took a second. She doesn’t seem harmless, yet. This is something I would call ‘socializing’.

“Hridayansh, as you knew,” I responded, with a light handshake.

She hummed as for me to hear.

I was about to carry forward the conversation asking more about herself, but she started walking towards the railing.

I followed her, trying not to look like a creep and maintain respectful distance.

“So—” she started, letting her hands relax on the railing and looking at me.
“Are you single?”

I visibly gulped down the breath I was holding since I walked out of our classroom down there.

Maybe my overthinking mind was right.

But I simply can’t walk off now. The only thing I can do is to politely say no and hope it’ll be enough to sort this out.

“I am. But I’m currently not interested in getting—”

“Be my boyfriend.”

Cutting me in between. Straightforward.

“Excuse me,” I interrupted, my voice went a little higher than I wanted it to be.

“You’ve heard it right,” she stated, rolling her eyes non-chalantly.

Somewhere, I knew this is going to happen.

“Look, I’m not the kind of guy you are searching for,” I said, calmly.

“I know it well. But I really like you,” she said with the same witch tone of hers.
“So you have to be my boyfriend for at least three weeks.”

My eyebrows furrowed at “you have to”, but instantly shot up at “for three weeks”.

Is this some sort of contract that I’ve ended myself into?

Heard of contract marriage. But contract relationship?

Is it already in the market? And normalized?

“Say yes. Because you have no choice. I’d noticed you earlier today staring at me like that and... my phone too.”

She said and showed me her phone, playing a legitimate video of mine, looking at her.

“What the hell is this?” I raised my voice uncontrollably higher, again. Well, I don’t regret it now. “And mind you, I wasn’t even staring. I was simply lost and looking blankly. It would have been a different case if you felt uncomfortable at that moment.”

“If that’s the case,” she looked into my eyes and took a step forward.
“I did feel uncomfortable.”

I scoffed hardly. This cannot happen. I surely am daydreaming.

“Why are you doing this?”

“That’s how I am,” she practically shouted.

I couldn’t take this any more. I despise women who put fake allegations on men just for the sake of attention or god knows what.

This matter won’t slip away on it’s own. Neither I want to face or argue with her.

I hissed out a disgusting breath and walked away.

Not to our classroom.

But somewhere away from her.

I really didn’t expect her to turn out like this. If I knew even a bit of this would happen, I’d never even known about her existence.

Next Day

“I finished my bottle again.”

She looked at me with a ‘not again’ face.

I really don’t know what thirsty soul in me shows up when I’m out of my home. And at home, it’ll be a miracle if I drink quarter of my bottle.

“Let’s go back then,” Lavanya held my hand and we walked towards the water cooler.

I love her the most. She’s already dealing with my tantrums and handling them so well. Though I get occasional reality checks from her, it’s worth her patience with me.

I filled my water bottle till the cap, meanwhile Lavanya scrolled through her social media standing beside me.

“Ips,” she called, eyes glued to her phone screen.
“This lehenga looks pretty, yeah?”

I peeked my eyes into her phone at one Instagram reel while handing my water bottle cap to her.

“Yes, and it’ll look good on you. Are you buying this?”

“For my cousin sister’s wedding, next month.”

“Interesting. So you’ll be leaving me alone in this huge college?” I asked playfully with puppy doe eyes.

“As if I’m leaving you forever,” she smacked me lightly on my head.
“Her marriage is on the weekend. But if needed I’ll not be coming on Friday.”

“Open your calendar and show me the dates,” I insisted.

We were heading towards our classroom. My water bottle cap was still in her hands. I would give my bottle to her after she shows me the dates in her calendar.

“This... over here. See, her marriage is on 7th, which is Sunday. And on 5th, which is Friday, we have haldi and mehendi functions.”

I took her phone in my hand to have a look properly.

“If maa insists, we’ll have to leave on Friday, early in the—”

Splash.

“Ipsita!”

Before I could register what just happened, Lavanya tried to wipe out the water that spilled all over my shirt.

I just collided with someone. My water bottle jerked and half of it’s water was spilled on me and the floor.

“I’m... I’m really sorry for the accident!”

I heard a deep manly voice, terrified and familiar.

I looked up instantly.

It was him.

My heart started beating faster. All of a sudden. My throat felt drier and no voice tried to come out of it to respond to him.

“You boys argh! Can’t you ever open our eyes and walk?” Lavanya shouted at him.

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t pay attention or saw her—” he said worriedly.

“Where’s my handkerchief?” Lavanya checked her pockets.

“Here. You can use mine, it’s unused,” Hridayansh, keeping his gaze low, handed over a pastel blue colored cotton handkerchief towards Lavanya and me, which really seemed new and unused.

Lavanya and I looked at each other. It was really a compromising state for all three of us.

Hridayansh, because of him whom this accident was partially caused, trying to help us. Lavanya, who forgot her handkerchief in the classroom. And me, half soaked with the water trying to hide myself from Hridayansh (because I very well know what’s showing through my white top).

Lavanya was still staring weirdly at the handkerchief. I looked between her and Hridayansh.

Before it gets more awkward, I pinched onto Lavanya’s arm, signalling her to take the handkerchief from him. Anyway, Lavanya can’t leave me here in front of him and go to the classroom to grab hers.

She coughed right after I pinched her.

“Thanks,” she muttered.

“Please let me know if you’d need any help. And I’m sorry once again,” he said slowly and softly.

“I’m fine and it’s okay. Please don’t worry,” I offered.

He smiled a bit and muttered a sorry again before leaving. Lavanya quickly took me to the washroom and wiped off the excess water over my shirt.

“How did you not pay attention while walking, Ips?” she scolded me lightly.

“I was paying attention to what you were saying,” I defended myself with a little voice.

She was still trying to dry up my shirt by blowing air from her mouth, waving her hands above my shirt and whatever she could do at that moment.

“Wait,” she stopped.
“Can we call Taarini for help?”

“Ask her if she’s on the floor,” I insisted.

My shirt has really soaked all the water and is complete see-through now. I have a scarf inside my bag. I just want any of the two girls to get it for me.

Lavanya called Taarini on the phone. Thankfully, Taarini was in her class. I asked her to get my scarf from my bag and come to the washroom.

“Are you okay, Ipsita? I have a dupatta in case if you need it,” Taarini entered the washroom, giving me my scarf and her dupatta.

“Ips, we can do one thing,” Lavanya said slowly.
“Your shirt is not pure cotton so it would take only a few minutes to dry enough.”

“What do you mean by that?” Taarini questioned.

“Ips can take her shirt off and hang it on the hanger inside and wrap your dupatta meanwhile.”

I coughed hard.
“Are you in your senses, Lavanya?”

“Seems practical, though,” Taarini muttered.
“You wouldn’t want to sit like that till you reach home,” she said, pointing towards my chest.

That’s true anyway.

“And what would I do meanwhile?” I asked Lavanya.

“Stay inside the washroom,” she answered.

“You’re really crazy,” I responded quickly.

“What other option do we have? Tell me,” she asked, folding her hands.

I looked at Taarini and she looked back at me helplessly. We knew no other way could save me from the embarrassment I would be facing if I go to the class like this.

“Come on, help me,” I said, giving up.

I went inside the washroom, took off my shirt and wrapped the dupatta. Luckily, the dupatta had distracting patterns and was quite thick and long.

Lavanya and Taarini helped me secure the dupatta and keep it in place tightly.

Since they had their lunch and we had fifteen more minutes for the lunchbreak, they took my shirt to the classroom to put it under the fans.

I locked myself inside the washroom. It was definitely embarrassing, but I could adjust for a few minutes and moreover both of them took the effort of drying my shirt up in the classroom.

I clutched the end of the dupatta along with the partially wet handkerchief in my hand.

Handkerchief...

Hridayansh’s handkerchief.

“How do I return it to him?”

I thought to myself.

Returning it to him means meeting him in person and maybe... alone.

Because I don’t want any unnecessary attention from our classmates. And I think the same goes with him too.

What he must have been thinking about me, today?

“Such a clumsy girl. Can’t even walk straight.”

Jagannatha Mahaprabhu, I literally can’t face him after what happened today. He’d be judging me so hard. And... and he’s my partner in English.

Can the ground beneath me please open up and swallow me?

I kept thinking long about him in the washroom. (Sounds very wrong in the other way, but can’t help it). In a few minutes, Lavanya entered the washroom and called my name out.

Roopam ma’am’s lecture had already started. Lavanya told her my situation and requested her permission for both of us to come five minutes late to the lecture.

I unlocked the door and came out slowly. Meanwhile, she locked the main door of the washroom so that I can change into my shirt properly and Lavanya can fold the dupatta.

My shirt had dried up real quick. But it was left with hard patches of dryness due to the water. Never mind, I’ll wash it thoroughly with detergent at home.

Finishing our washroom business as soon as possible, Lavanya and I rushed towards our classroom.

Though we entered hurriedly and took our seats as if nothing happened, I could feel Hridayansh’s gaze on me. I noticed him through my peripheral vision.

His head was turned towards our direction. Probably to see my condition.

I became extra conscious about what I looked like right now.

Is my shirt still see-through?

Is it looking inappropriate?

Am I looking... presentable?

I’d never thought about these questions in front of anyone. But Hridayansh’s presence is too intimidating. And I couldn’t care less to pay attention to him.

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