The classroom felt more tense than usual that day.
Aarav sat at his desk, pretending to read his notebook, but his mind was somewhere else.
He kept thinking about Rohan.
Who was he?
Why did Anaya look so nervous when she saw him?
Aarav glanced toward Anaya.
She was sitting quietly, staring at her notebook without writing anything. Her usual cheerful smile was gone.
Finally, Aarav leaned closer and whispered,
"Anaya… are you okay?"
She looked at him and forced a small smile.
"Yes, I'm fine."
But Aarav could tell she wasn't telling the truth.
After the class ended, students started leaving the room.
Aarav stood up.
"Anaya, can we talk for a minute?"
She nodded.
They walked toward the quiet corridor near the library.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Aarav finally asked the question that had been bothering him.
"Who is Rohan?"
Anaya looked down at the floor.
She stayed silent for a few seconds.
"Aarav… it's complicated."
Aarav felt a little frustrated.
"Complicated how?"
Before she could answer—
A voice interrupted them.
"I see you two are getting very close."
Both of them turned.
It was Rohan.
He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watching them.
Aarav frowned.
"What do you want?"
Rohan ignored him and looked at Anaya.
"Anaya, we need to talk. Alone."
Anaya shook her head.
"Not right now."
Rohan sighed.
"You're still avoiding me."
Aarav stepped forward slightly.
"She said not now."
Rohan looked at Aarav and smiled sarcastically.
"Relax, hero. This is between me and her."
Aarav's jaw tightened.
Anaya quickly stepped between them.
"Stop it, both of you."
She looked at Rohan.
"I'll talk to you later. Just… please leave right now."
Rohan studied her face for a moment.
Then he nodded slowly.
"Fine."
Before leaving, he looked at Aarav again.
"Take care of her… if you can."
Then he walked away.
The corridor became quiet again.
Aarav turned to Anaya.
"Anaya… what's going on?"
She took a deep breath.
Her eyes looked sad.
"Rohan… was someone important in my past."
Aarav felt a strange pain in his chest.
"What do you mean?"
She looked at him.
"He was… my boyfriend."
For a moment, Aarav felt like everything around him stopped.
He didn't expect that answer.
Anaya quickly continued.
"But that was a long time ago."
"Then why is he here now?" Aarav asked.
Anaya shook her head slowly.
"I don't know… but I have a feeling he didn't come here for a good reason."
Aarav looked in the direction where Rohan had gone.
Something about him felt dangerous.
Aarav then looked back at Anaya.
No matter what happened…
He knew one thing clearly.
He wasn't going to lose her so easily.