The second-year classes had settled into a familiar routine, but the tension between Rishi and the junior girl still simmered beneath the surface. Everyone around could sense it—that crackling energy, like thunderclouds waiting to burst. Raj and Rajiv, however, were unusually calm. Because they knew something Rishi didn't.
It was during a lunch break that the idea struck Raj. "We need to get them to spend time together," he whispered to Rajiv, eyeing the two from across the courtyard. Rishi sat on the bench, staring into space. The girl walked past him without even a glance.
Rajiv frowned. "You really think that's a good idea? He still thinks she insulted him."
Raj nodded. "Exactly why we need them to talk. We won't tell Rishi she's the one who saved him. Let him feel it. Let her see him beyond the anger."
Rajiv thought for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Alright. But no forcing. This bond can't be built on pressure."
Their chance came quicker than expected. The department announced an inter-year project to improve interaction between seniors and juniors. Students would be randomly paired for a presentation.
Raj's grin widened when the names appeared on the notice board: Rishi Dev Choudhary & Niharika Tiwari.
Rishi stared at the list, his jaw tightening. "No. Way."
"Fate works in strange ways," Raj said cheerfully, pretending innocence.
Rajiv added, "Just get through it. One week. One presentation."
Rishi didn't reply. His silence said enough.
---
Day One of the Project
The room was quiet, just the ticking of the wall clock and pages turning. Anaya sat opposite Rishi, notebook open, pen tapping impatiently.
"So," she said finally, "I suggest we divide it equally. You handle the slides. I'll handle the research."
"Whatever," Rishi replied, not looking up.
She exhaled sharply. "You know, it wouldn't kill you to be civil."
He met her eyes, calm but icy. "It wouldn't kill you to get your facts right before accusing someone."
Her grip tightened on the pen. But instead of lashing back, she turned away. "Let's just finish this."
The next few sessions were a cold war. They spoke only when needed. Every sentence was clinical, clipped, and cautious. Yet something unspoken started to form—a reluctant rhythm. They disagreed less. The silences grew shorter.
One afternoon, as they sat in the library finalizing their notes, Anaya looked up.
"You write well," she said softly.
Rishi blinked. "What?"
She shrugged. "I mean, you have a way with words. It surprised me."
He didn't know what to say to that.
---
Meanwhile, Raj and Rajiv watched the slow progress.
"They're not killing each other," Raj observed. "That's something."
Rajiv gave a half-smile. "I think she sees he's not what she thought. But Rishi... he's still guarding himself."
Raj looked thoughtful. "Maybe it's time for a small push."
---
Two Days Before the Presentation
The group was gathered near the college auditorium for practice. Raj was goofing off nearby when Rishi stepped away to take a call.
That's when it happened.
A scooter drove past the gate, the wind lifting a soft scarf from someone walking by. The flutter of pale pink fabric caught Rishi's eyes.
His chest tightened.
That color. That way it swirled.
He turned quickly—but it wasn't her. Just another student.
Still, his mind flashed back to the day he was saved. The warmth of those eyes. The softness in the grip.
Anaya's voice broke through his thoughts. "We should start the rehearsal."
He turned to face her. For a second, he stared longer than usual. Her voice… it felt...
Familiar.
But he shook it off.
---
Final Scene of the Chapter
That night, Raj was talking to one of Anaya's close friends at the college cafe—a cheerful girl who'd been with her since school.
Raj casually brought up Rishi. "Crazy how she and Rishi got paired, right?"
The friend nodded. "Yeah... and she was the one who found him bleeding near the campus that night. She didn't tell anyone, not even Anaya. I overheard her begging the nurse to hurry."
Raj's smile froze.
"Wait. What?"
The girl blinked. "Yeah. Why?"
Raj didn't answer. He walked out quickly, pulling out his phone.
"Rajiv. We were right. It's her. She's the one who saved Rishi."
On the other end, Rajiv was silent.
"What do we do now?" Raj whispered.
Rajiv took a deep breath. "Nothing. Not yet. Let them feel it first."
To be continued...
This chapter dives into the delicate turning point between misunderstanding and hidden truth. As Rishi battles his inner turbulence and misdirected anger, the girl who once saved him now stands unknowingly opposite him-viewed as an enemy rather than a quiet savior. The irony is bittersweet: the one who brought light into Rishi's darkness now becomes a shadow he wants to escape.
But beneath the sharp edges of ego and pride lies a story of unspoken bonds. This chapter isn't just about conflict-it's about how fate quietly weaves people together, even when their hearts push them apart. As Raj and Rajiv begin to realize a deeper connection between these two, the stage is set for a journey that might heal them-or break them further.
Sometimes, hate is born not from anger-but from the pain of not knowing the full story. And that's where this story is headed next.