Khushi stepped through her front door, her heart heavy and her mind racing. The echo of Arnav's harsh words still lingered in her ears, the way he had yelled at her yesterday slicing through her like a knife.
She had always admired him, respected him as a teacher. But now, in the silence of her room, she realized that her feelings had grown deeper. No longer was he just Mr. Raizada, the strict teacher; he had become someone who made her heart race and her dreams flutter.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she recalled the biting words he had flung at her in anger. "Love? Love is a waste of time! It's just a betrayal!" His eyes had blazed with pain, and she couldn't shake off the underlying sorrow that accompanied his outburst.
Khushi wiped away the tears that had escaped her eyes. Each tear was for the love she couldn't have, the closeness she craved but could no longer pursue. She thought of the moments they had shared—the casual talks after class, the way he would help her with her projects, those stolen glances that left her breathless. But every time she pondered on that connection, it was overshadowed by the reality of his disdain for love. For him, she was just a student, and their bond was purely professional. She had to respect that, even if it shattered her heart a little more each day.
"I need to keep my distance," she whispered to herself, trying to solidify her resolve. The less she saw him, the less she would think about him, and perhaps in time, she would heal.
Arnav sir stood at the front of his classroom, notebooks and lesson plans sprawled across the desk, but his attention was elsewhere. Today, there was an aching gap—Khushi was absent. The classroom buzzed with a blend of chatter and laughter, but Arnav's mind replayed previous day had not gone . He remembered the tense moment when he had chastised Khushi . he couldn't shake the feeling that he had gone too far. Now, a deepening regret clawed at his chest. The fact that she hadn't come today only intensified that feeling.
The next day, as Arnav glanced around the room, his heart sank again. Khushi was absent once more. A wave of disappointment washed over him, and he felt a pang of regret. Just as he began to lose himself in thought, the familiar sound of the classroom door creaking open jolted him back to attention.
"Sir, may I come in?"khushi
Arnav looked up, and for the first time, a genuine smile graced his face. "Yes, come in," he replied, his heart lighter at the sight of Khushi standing at the door.
She entered, her gaze shifting shyly away from his. The class held its collective breath, but before she could reach her desk, disaster struck—Khushi tripped. Arnav instinctively reached out, grasping her hand just in time to pull her back from a potential fall. Gasps erupted, and a surge of awkward tension rippled through the room.
"Are you okay?" he asked, worry etched across his features.
"I, uh, yeah, thanks," she stammered, her cheeks flushed. She took her seat beside Maddy, acutely aware of dozens of eyes on her.
"ye kya chal raha hai tum dono k beech?" Maddy leaned in close, an impish grin spreading across her face.
"Khushi, kya matlab?"
matlab ye ki tera or sir ka kuch toh scene on hai . hai na? Maddy teasingly ask.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Are you crazy?" agrily Khushi.
"What I mean is..." Maddy lowered her voice conspiratorially, "class is buzzing with the rumor that you two came back together from that competition that day. How exciting is that?"
Rolling her eyes, Khushi . "Listen, I got locked in a restaurant by mistake, and by the time I got out, the bus had left. Arnav sir was there, and he just offered me a ride. Nothing more." She feigned annoyance, but her heart fluttered at the idea.
"Sure, but I feel there's something more there, Khushi. Just admit it," Maddy replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Don't be so stupid!" Khushi retorted playfully, though the notion sent a thrill through her. "He's our professor. It's not right to talk about him like that."
As the class carried on, Arnav couldn't help but notice Khushi sneaking glances at him. The atmosphere had shifted; it was more animated now, charged with an invisible tension that only intensified the further along they moved.
Days flowed into each other, and the moments they shared grew quieter yet heavier with meaning. A distance began khushi avoid any interaction outside of academic duties.
Arnav, on the other hand, found himself captivated by her laughter during debates and her fierce passion during group discussions. When she argued with Maddy, his heart swelled, and he'd catch himself smiling unknowingly as he studied her intently. When she would present, his breath almost hitched when she glanced at him, and he instinctively looked away, as if he had been caught in the act of admiring a masterpiece.
Days turned into weeks, and the curious tension lingered in the air. Despite their attempts to keep things surface-level, there was an unspoken understanding that wove silently between them.