Bhairava and Mano returned to their desks. Bhairava, already ahead of most, had completed his thesis and even submitted his article to 'The Daily News'. The recognition of being shortlisted for the next round of interviews weighed on him—it was both a source of pride and pressure. With the prelims scheduled for the coming weekend, he gathered the necessary books and immersed himself in preparation.
The classroom was quiet, filled with the soft hum of pages turning and pens scratching. Then suddenly thud! A sharp sound echoed, like a fist striking a desk.
Bhairava's head lifted instantly. His eyes caught Devi, standing abruptly, her face tense. Without a word, she strode quickly out of the classroom.
The suddenness of her exit drew everyone's attention. Everyone's eyes followed Devi as she walked quickly out of the classroom without asking permission. Students turned, whispering, their curiosity piqued.
Bhairava's gaze lingered on the door. He could sense something was wrong with Devi - her hurried steps, her tense expression then he looked on Kiran, who sat tense, his worried gaze fixed on the doorway where Devi had just left.
Then Kiran shifted his gaze toward Professor Viraj. The professor had briefly looked up, noticed Devi walking out, but showed no concern. His gaze swept over the other students and then his attention quickly returned to the glow of his phone.
After a moment, the class returned to its rhythm, the noise fading back into silence.
A moment later, Kiran lowered his head and began typing something hurriedly on his mobile, his fingers restless. Watching him, Bhairava thought quietly to himself—maybe there's some problem between them.
He let the thought drift away and leaned back, deciding to relax. His eyes wandered across the classroom, observing the small worlds each student.
In the front row, Divin bent over the book which he had taken from the library, scribbling notes with sharp focus. Beside him, Dev worked steadily on his thesis paper, his pen moving with quiet determination.
Across the room, Raki sat close to Shreya, guiding her through her thesis with his usual charm. Their voices were low but filled with warmth, a contrast to the silence around them. At the back, Aarav was sprawled across his desk, fast asleep, while Vihan and Sam entertained themselves with a pen fight, their laughter muffled but persistent.
Next to Bhairava, Mano had drifted into sleep too, his face peaceful, free of worry.
Bhairava rested his cheek against his hand, his gaze turning toward the window. Outside, the clouds drifted lazily across the sky, their slow movement calming him. For a moment, the noise of the classroom faded, replaced by the quiet rhythm of his own thoughts.
Time slipped by unnoticed until the sharp clang of the afternoon lunch bell rang through the corridors. The spell of silence broke, and the classroom stirred back to life.
The bell rang, Professor Viraj rose from his chair. His voice carried across the room with calm authority. "After lunch, everyone should return to class and work silently on your thesis."
As he stepped outside, another professor was waiting near the doorway. Their eyes fell on Viraj's hand, where a sleek new mobile gleamed.
"Viraj, is that a new mobile?" the professor asked curiously.
Viraj lifted it slightly, showing it off with a faint smile. "Yeah."
The professor's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait… is that an iPhone? When did you buy it? I heard it doesn't even have a keypad."
Viraj chuckled softly, the two professors walking away together, their voices fading down the corridor as they left for lunch.
Inside the classroom, the students began to stir, preparing to leave. But before anyone else could move, Kiran shot up from his seat. His face was tense, his movements hurried. Without a word, he rushed out of the room, his eyes scanning the hallway, searching desperately for Devi.
Meanwhile, Aarav strolled over to Dev's desk, his usual mischievous grin in place. "Lunch?" he asked casually, before leaning closer. "And also… finish my thesis for me."
Dev frowned, shaking his head firmly. "No."
Aarav's smile twisted into a threat. "If you don't help me, I'll take yours and submit it in my name."
Before Dev could respond, a hand landed on Aarav's shoulder in a friendly but firm manner. Aarav turned, surprised, to see Raki standing there.
Raki's tone was light but edged with seriousness. "What's happening here? You still haven't stopped your childish games with him, huh?"
Aarav narrowed his eyes. "What do you want? We're just talking."
Raki shifted his gaze to Dev. "Is that so? Because it doesn't look like just talking to me."
Dev hesitated, glancing between the two, then muttered softly, "We were just talking."
Aarav quickly brushed Raki's hand off his shoulder. "You heard him, right?"
Raki's smile was calm, his voice steady. "Loud and clear."
With that, Aarav and his gang left the desk, their laughter fading as they walked away. Dev exhaled quietly, relief washing over him.
A moment later, Shreya appeared at the doorway, her voice soft but certain. "Raki, come… we'll go for lunch."
Raki turned toward her, his smile widening. "Yeah, coming, sweet."
He walked over, and Shreya frowned slightly, whispering, "What were you doing there? Don't make trouble with him. Aarav has friends in other departments and even seniors in higher studies."
From their desks, Mano and Bhairava watched the exchange. Mano leaned closer, his grin mischievous. "Sweet…?"
Bhairava's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. "Shut up."
The two of them left the classroom together, heading up to the rooftop. Their usual spot was already occupied by Aarya, who sat waiting with her lunch. Bhairava and Mano joined her, the three of them settling into the familiar rhythm of eating together.
As they ate, Aarya's eyes drifted across the rooftop, catching sight of Shreya sitting with Raki, the two of them sharing lunch side by side. Aarya's brows furrowed slightly, curiosity sparking. "When did he come back?"
Mano, chewing casually, replied, "Who? Raki? He just came back today."
Aarya turned her gaze toward Bhairava, but he ignored the conversation, quietly continuing with his lunch. Mano, never one to let silence linger, leaned forward mischievously. "Aarya, do you want sweet?"
Aarya blinked in surprise. "You brought sweet?"
Mano smirked, his eyes flicking toward Bhairava. "No, I didn't bring anything. We already have a big sweet in our college."
Aarya tilted her head, confused. "Big sweet in college?"
Bhairava shot Mano a sharp look. "Close your mouth and eat."
Mano chuckled, quick to counter. "How will I eat with my mouth closed? Can you eat like that?"
The teasing continued, Mano throwing playful jabs while Bhairava responded with curt retorts. Aarya watched the back‑and‑forth with quiet amusement, her smile betraying her enjoyment of their banter.
Eventually, the three of them finished their lunch, the rooftop filled with laughter and lighthearted tension. Mano stood, brushing off his hands. "I've got something to do now. I'll join you later, guys."
He walked off with his usual carefree stride, leaving Bhairava and Aarya alone in the rooftop's calm atmosphere.
Aarya turned to Bhairava, her eyes soft but probing. "Why are you sad today? Is it because of him?"
Bhairava frowned, his voice steady but defensive. "What are you talking about? I'm not sad today. I think you're imagining things."
Aarya's smile was gentle, knowing. "Bhairava, you can't lie to me. Even if you try, I'll find it out. Don't forget—I'm studying psychology."
Her words lingered, and Bhairava fell silent. Aarya leaned closer, her tone quiet but certain. "It's because of him, isn't it? You don't like him at all."
Bhairava exhaled, his gaze drifting toward the clouds above. "It's not that I hate him. It's just… I can't take him."
Aarya's eyes stayed on him, listening intently as his voice grew heavier.
"He's terrible at studies, yet he went abroad for an internship just because of his rich background. He looks attractive, he speaks well, and everyone likes him. Without much effort, he's getting everything."
Aarya studied him carefully, her expression calm but unwavering. "If you truly love her, just confess your feelings. She will accept you."
Bhairava let out a short, bitter laugh. "Accept me? I'm just a failure. Unlike him, I don't know how to talk to people. I'm not handsome. I can't even tell a joke to make her laugh."
Aarya's reply came instantly, her tone firm. "You are a good person."
Bhairava sighed and lay down on the rooftop floor beside her, his eyes fixed on the sky. The clouds drifted slowly, their shapes dissolving into one another. "A good person? Nothing comes from being good." His voice was quiet, almost resigned.
Aarya turned her head toward him, her gaze steady. "I'm telling you—just confess to her."
Bhairava smiled faintly, his eyes still on the sky. "Saying things is easy, but doing them is difficult. You'll never understand my feelings until you're in my situation, Aarya."
The sentence struck Aarya deeply. She fell quiet, her thoughts circling. She could understand him more than anyone, because she too carried the same fear, the same hesitation. She loves Bhairava, yet she couldn't bring herself to confess. She had been giving Bhairava advice, urging him toward Shreya just because she didn't want to see him sad. But in truth, she was the one hiding her own feelings.
Breaking the silence, Bhairava spoke again, his tone carrying a fragile hope. "Don't worry. I'm waiting for the interview with 'The Daily News'. I'll surely get that job, and then I'll propose to her. That time she will definitely accept my love."
The words pierced Aarya's heart. Sadness washed over her, but suddenly a thought rose in her mind. She turned to him, her tone hesitant yet serious. "Bhairava… I want to ask you something."
He looked at her curiously. "What is it?"
Aarya's eyes held his. "If Shreya accepts you and asks you to leave our friendship behind… what will you do?"
The question froze him. It triggered a memory—his dream from the previous night. The white raven's voice echoed in his mind: "Imagine this: Shreya tells you she will only love you if you leave Aarya behind. Which one will you choose, Bhairava? The person you love… or the person you care for? Love… or friend?"
Bhairava's gaze sharpened, unsettled. "Where is this coming from?"
Aarya forced a small smile. "It just came to my mind. Never mind."
The bell rang, breaking the tension. Lunch was over. Aarya stood, brushing off her skirt. "Okay, let's go."