Riya Mathur had a habit of picking up details-tiny, seemingly insignificant things most people overlooked. It wasn't a conscious effort. Her brain just... registered them.
And unfortunately, that included Vivian Oberoi.
Not that she wanted to. Of course not.
But tell that to her brain, which somehow kept track of the way he straightened his sleeves before picking up a marker. The way he ran a hand through his hair only when a student gave a completely off-track answer. Or how his tone dipped a fraction when he was actually interested in a discussion, despite his face remaining as unreadable as a locked safe.
Not that she was paying special attention. Nope.
It was just... an unfortunate side effect of sharing a classroom with him.
Or so she told herself.
---
Chemistry Lab - Where Chaos Begins
"Guys, guys-watch this!"
Riya leaned against the lab bench, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she grabbed a marker.
Her audience-her classmates-immediately turned to her, sensing trouble.
"What now, Riya?" Ayesha whispered, barely holding back a grin.
"Shh, just observe. I've cracked the code to Vivan Oberoi."
The entire table leaned in.
With perfect seriousness, Riya flicked her sleeves back, picked up the marker with the same calculated precision as their visiting professor, and turned to the class with an eerily accurate deadpan expression.
"Explain this." she said, mimicking his clipped, no-nonsense tone.
The effect was instantaneous.
Laughter erupted from her group, spreading like wildfire across the lab. A few students from other benches turned to see what was happening.
"Wait, wait, and then he does this-" Riya continued, adjusting her stance, shifting her weight slightly to one side-the way he did when waiting for an answer. "I expect at least one intelligent response today."
The roar of laughter that followed made even the lab assistants glance over.
Encouraged, she grabbed a beaker, swirled the liquid inside as if she were analyzing its composition, and click- mimicked the signature sound of Vivian clicking his pen once-once!-whenever mildly annoyed.
The class was losing it.
Ayesha clutched her stomach. "Oh my god, stop-he actually does that!"
"Wait, wait, one last thing-" Riya cleared her throat dramatically. "If you all paid more attention to the board instead of talking, you wouldn't have to ask such questions."
More laughter.
"Riya, you are so dead if he hears you!" someone whispered between giggles.
"As if he's gonna randomly show up in the middle of-"
A soft thud behind her.
Silence.
A slow, dreadful realization crept up her spine.
Oh no.
She turned very slowly.
There.
Vivan Oberoi stood at the entrance of the lab, arms crossed, head tilted slightly-exactly as she had just mimicked.
Expression? Deadpan.
Eyes? Unimpressed.
Riya gulped.
---
The air was so thick with tension that even the oxygen molecules seemed afraid to move.
For a long, excruciating moment, Viván said nothing.
Then, casually—far too casually—he stepped forward, his gaze locked onto hers.
"Oh, please-" he said smoothly. "Do continue. I'm learning so much about myself."
Riya's soul left her body.
She had no comeback.
For the first time ever, Riya was speechless.
Her classmates? Dying. They were watching this unfold like it was the season finale of their favorite show.
Vivan took another step forward, adjusting the cuffs of his sleeves. Deliberately.
"No, no-really." He gestured toward the marker in her hand. "Go on. What else do I do?"
Riya blinked rapidly. Think. Think. THINK.
"Uh-"
"Lost your confidence already?" His brow lifted just a fraction.
She hated that it made him look even more intimidating.
"Of course not!" she blurted.
Vivan hummed, unimpressed. Then, in perfect imitation of her excited voice, he picked up a marker, flicked his sleeves back, and turned to the class.
"Guys, guys-watch this!"
The betrayal from the class was immediate.
Laughter exploded.
"Oh my god-" Ayesha wheezed. "HE DID IT BETTER!"
Riya gasped in outrage.
"Excuse me?! That is NOT-"
"Oh no, please." He leaned against the desk, his voice laced with amusement. "I need to know more. What else do I do? Go on."
Her eyes narrowed.
Oh, it was on.
The rest of the lab was too busy watching, whispering, and thoroughly enjoying the best chemistry class of their lives.
---
Riya made it through the rest of the lab period with her dignity mostly intact.
Mostly.
She still got glares from Vivan, and her classmates would not let her forget it.
But that night, as she sat in her room, brushing her hair, a single thought refused to leave her alone.
She had way too many details about him memorized.
And what was worse?
He had noticed her noticing.
And judging by the look in his eyes before he left class today...
He wasn't about to let her forget it.
---
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