The next few days passed slowly, but each day brought something new for Aanya.
Nisha had now become her good friend. They attended classes together, went to the canteen, and explored the college. Aanya no longer felt like a complete stranger.
But one thing was still the same—Aryan.
He was always with his group. Wherever he went, people noticed him. Some liked him, while others were a little afraid of him. Aanya still didn't like his attitude at all.
One day, the professor made an announcement in class.
"From next week, we will start a project. You all will have to work in pairs."
The classroom became noisy. Everyone started forming pairs with their friends.
Nisha quickly said, "We'll do it together, okay?"
Aanya smiled, "Yes, of course."
But then the professor said, "Wait… this time I will make the pairs."
The whole class became quiet.
Names started being called one by one. Aanya felt a little nervous, hoping she wouldn't be paired with someone strange.
Then suddenly—
"Aanya and Aryan, you both will be in one team."
The classroom went silent for a few seconds, and then soft whispers and laughter began.
Aanya felt shocked.
"What? With him?" she thought.
On the other hand, Aryan just gave a slight smile, as if it didn't matter to him at all.
As soon as the class ended, Aanya walked out quickly. She didn't know what to do.
After a while, someone called from behind.
"Hey, partner."
Aanya turned around—it was Aryan.
"Look, I don't like all this drama," Aryan said directly. "We'll just do the project and finish it. Okay?"
Aanya didn't like his tone at all.
"I don't want to be friends with you either," she replied. "Just do your work properly."
Aryan gave a small laugh. "Interesting…"
From the next day, they started working on the project. In the beginning, it felt very awkward. They didn't talk much—only about work.
But slowly, things started changing.
One day, while working in the library, Aanya got stuck on a topic.
"I don't understand this…" she said softly.
Aryan looked at her notebook and said, "You're thinking in the wrong direction."
Then he explained it in a very simple way.
Aanya was a little surprised. "You explain really well…?"
Aryan shrugged, "I just know it."
For the first time, Aanya saw him differently.
A few days later, the rainy season began. One evening, both of them were working late in the library.
When they came out, it was raining heavily.
"Now what?" Aanya said worriedly.
Aryan took off his jacket and placed it over her head.
"Come on, I'll drop you."
Aanya was surprised. "No, I'll manage."
"Don't be stubborn," he said in a calm but firm voice.
This time, his tone wasn't rude… it was a little caring.
Aanya didn't argue further.
As they sat in the car, there was a strange silence between them.
"Are you always this rude?" Aanya suddenly asked.
Aryan stayed silent for a few seconds.
"Everyone has their own reasons," he said softly.
For the first time, Aanya looked into his eyes… and saw something different—like hidden pain.
After that day, their relationship slowly started changing.
Now they weren't just project partners. Sometimes they laughed, sometimes they talked.
One day, Nisha joked, "Something is going on between you two."
Aanya immediately denied it, but deep inside, even she was confused.
Was she starting to like Aryan?
Aryan, too, was changing. He wasn't as arrogant as before—at least not in front of Aanya.
One day, it was their project presentation.
They had worked very hard together. When their turn came, they presented it really well.
The whole class clapped.
Even the professor praised them, "Very good work."
After the presentation, Aanya was very happy.
"We did it!" she said with a smile.
Aryan smiled openly for the first time, "Yeah, partner… not bad."
But that same evening, everything changed.
By mistake, Aanya overheard Aryan talking on the phone behind the campus.
"Yeah, I'm here only for some time… then I have to go back," he said.
Aanya's heart sank.
"Does that mean… he will leave?" she thought.
Suddenly, she didn't understand why it hurt so much.
Maybe because now she didn't see Aryan as just an arrogant boy anymore.
He had become something more to her.
But did Aryan feel the same?
Or would this story end here…?
Aanya was now afraid of one thing—
what if this beginning… turns into an ending?