✨Yuvaan✨

After the girls disappeared from sight, I could feel Agastya’s disapproving gaze burning into my back. He didn’t even try to hide his annoyance, and I could almost hear the silent accusation in his mind—Yuvaan, you just ruined my fun.

Not that I cared. Agastya’s idea of fun was bullying freshmen, and that wasn’t something I was ever going to let slide, no matter how close we were. He could sulk all he wanted.

Without a word, I turned and walked away, heading back toward the notice area. Agastya could deal with his disappointment on his own. Right now, I had something else on my mind—something, or rather, someone who had consumed my thoughts since the moment I laid eyes on her.

Chavi.

I reached the notice board and scanned the class list for her name and it was in the list of Room 3A, BBA. Her name was at the top, exactly where I expected it to be. Chavi Bharadwaj. An unfamiliar smile tugged at my lips. Not only was she beautiful, but she was smart, too—scoring the highest marks in the entrance exam. Her friend, Janvi, was right behind her in second place. Impressive.

I glanced at my watch—a magnificently crafted platinum Rolex that cost more than most people’s yearly salaries. Fifteen minutes until their first lecture began. Fifteen minutes until I’d get to see her again.

The urge to move toward her class was overwhelming, an irrational pull that I couldn’t explain. I needed to see her. Just once more before the day really began.

I was about to head in the direction of Room 3A when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. Only one person had the audacity to touch me like that.

Agastya.

I sighed before turning to face him, his teasing smile already in place.

“Where are you going, man?” he asked, his voice light, but I could sense the curiosity beneath it. He knew me too well. “What could possibly be so interesting on the notice board? Last time I checked, there’s nothing there that should concern us.”

I rolled my eyes. “It does have something that concerns me,” I muttered, brushing past him and continuing on my way. There was no point in explaining. Agastya wouldn’t understand. He didn’t need to.

Of course, he wasn’t going to let it go. He fell into step beside me, his smirk growing with each step. I didn’t have to look at him to know he was enjoying this far more than he should.

“Oh, this is interesting,” Agastya drawled, his tone dripping with amusement. “Why, exactly, is my dear friend wandering over to the junior classes? Could it be… a certain fresher that’s caught your eye?”

I shot him a deadly glare, but it only made him laugh.

“Relax, man,” he said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m just curious. You’ve never cared about this kind of stuff before.”

I ignored him, my focus solely on the classroom up ahead—Room 3A. The closer I got, the more my heartbeat quickened, anticipation rising in my chest. This was ridiculous. She was just a girl. A beautiful, intriguing girl, but still… just a girl. I shouldn’t be reacting like this. I shouldn’t be thinking about her at all. And yet, here I was.

We stopped outside the classroom, and I stood at the doorway, scanning the room. The lecture hadn’t started yet, but most of the students were already seated, chatting and settling in for their first day. It didn’t take long for my eyes to find her.

There she was. My angel.

Sitting in the front row with her friend, she looked as breathtaking as ever. Her soft black-brown hair framed her face perfectly, and she wore a simple blue kurti with a matching dupatta that highlighted the delicate lines of her collarbone. Her face, calm and composed, radiated a natural beauty that outshone anything I had seen in a long time.

She didn’t need flashy clothes or heavy makeup. She was pure, untouched by the arrogance and superficiality that surrounded most people in this college. There was an innocence about her, a quiet strength that drew me in like a magnet.

My heart skipped a few beats as I watched her, my mind buzzing with unspoken thoughts. She looked so focused, so completely unaware of the attention she was getting. But I noticed it. The way some of the boys in the class were staring at her—how their eyes followed her every movement. The thought of them looking at her like that sent a wave of anger coursing through me.

They don’t deserve to even look at her, my fists clenching at my sides. If it were up to me, I would have torn their eyes away, made it clear that she was not someone they could ever approach.

“Uh-oh,” Agastya chuckled beside me, breaking into my thoughts. “I know that look. You’re already diagnosing yourself with Loveria, huh?”

I glared at him, but he just laughed harder, doubling over slightly. I didn’t have time for his nonsense. Without warning, I swung my fist into his stomach, not hard enough to do real damage, but enough to shut him up for a while.

“Shut up, Agastya,” I growled.

He winced but still had that stupid grin on his face. “Alright, alright, no need to get violent,” he said, rubbing his stomach. “But I’m just saying, Yuvaan, you’re acting strange. And I think I know why.”

I didn’t dignify that with a response. Instead, I turned my attention back to Chavi, trying to block out everything else. She hadn’t noticed me standing there, but it was better that way. I didn’t want to make things awkward for her. I just needed this moment, this quiet, stolen moment to see her, to make sure she was okay. Why? I don't give a fuck about this why.

Just then, the professor walked in, and Agastya and I stepped aside to let him pass. Agastya greeted him politely, but I barely registered the exchange. My focus was entirely on Chavi, and the realization hit me like a ton of bricks—I didn’t want to leave. Not yet.

But I had to.

With a final glance, I allowed myself one last look at her, a small, involuntary smile creeping onto my lips. She didn’t see it, but it didn’t matter. This was for me, not for her.

As I turned to walk away, Agastya fell into step beside me again, still grinning like an idiot. He nudged me with his elbow, a knowing look in his eyes.

“You’re in deep shit, my friend,” he teased. “I’ve never seen you look at anyone like that.”

I didn’t respond. There was no point. Agastya would never understand, not really. He’d never had anyone or anything capture his attention the way Chavi had captured mine. And the truth was, I didn’t fully understand it either. All I knew was that something about her had changed everything.

As we walked away from the classroom, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d ever see her again, up close. And if I did… how would she react? Would she notice me the way I noticed her?

I glanced at my watch again, but time didn’t matter anymore. Not when the only thing I could think about was Chavi Bharadwaj.

And as much as I tried to push it aside, one thing was clear.

I wasn’t going to be able to stay away from her. My angel.