✨Yuvaan✨

I was restless. The entire morning had been a blur of anticipation and frustration. All I wanted was to see her, but she was trapped in her class, and I was stuck attending a meeting with the basketball coach. The upcoming state-level match was looming, and as the captain—the best player in the entire college—it was my responsibility to keep the team focused and ready. But my mind was elsewhere.

“Yuvaan, are you even listening?” the coach snapped, jolting me back to the present.

“Yeah. Just… thinking about the game,” I lied.

“Make sure you focus. We need to win this,” he said, his voice steady, but I could sense the pressure mounting.

After the meeting, I headed back toward her classroom, but the door was closed. I sighed, not wanting to attract any attention or cause a scene, so I decided to wait for her lecture to end instead.

Time dragged on like molasses, each passing second a reminder of how much I wanted to see her. Finally, when her last lecture concluded, I slipped into the corridor, my heart racing. I waited, trying to appear nonchalant as students began pouring out of the classrooms. But where was she?

When she didn’t emerge, I felt a twinge of panic. I decided to check, but just as I approached the door, I spotted her. She was talking to a boy, smiling at something he said, and I felt a surge of protectiveness wash over me. The boy had a friendly smile, but something about it ignited a flame of anger within me. But he seemed more interested in her friend.

I shifted aside, letting them continue their conversation. I noticed how she smiled at him, her laughter lighting up her face. My fists clenched involuntarily. She looked so radiant, and it made me furious to think someone else might be trying to take her attention.

Eventually, they all stepped out together, but they didn’t see me as I shifted a little away. I followed them at a distance, my heart pounding. The boy them bye and went away. They made their way toward the canteen, and I hung back, careful not to intrude.

Once inside, I kept my gaze locked on her as she browsed the menu. Chavi picked a sandwich and coffee, and I mentally noted it down, wanting to remember every detail about her. She seemed to be glancing around, and I half-wondered if she sensed my presence, but I refused to look away. I ducked behind a pillar, my heart racing as I watched her.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally sat down, and I could breathe again, albeit still fixated on her. It was stupid, really, but I couldn’t help myself. She was perfect. My gaze followed her until she climbed into her car, and I lingered for a moment, wishing I could just walk over and talk to her.

Once she was gone, a deep restlessness settled in my chest. I knew I should return to class, but how could I focus when all I could think about was her? It was useless. I needed to be home, where I could think about her without any disturbance.

Even at home, my mind remained occupied with thoughts of her. I felt like I was on the brink of insanity, unable to eat or sleep. Her image filled my mind, a haunting presence that refused to fade. I needed to know more about her, so I grabbed my laptop and logged into the college's information system. (Perks of owning a university.)

When I found her profile, I couldn’t help but smile. Her picture was captivating, her eyes bright with potential. I scanned through the information: she was four years younger than me, an age difference that felt insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

Business, music, and dancing were her interests. A grin spread across my face as I imagined her twirling gracefully in a dance class or passionately discussing business strategies. Look, she made me smile without even being here. God I am going mad.

Then I came across the most heartbreaking detail—her mother was no longer alive. My heart sank. I felt a wave of empathy wash over me. How could someone survive without a mother? The thought of her pain struck me deeper than I expected, pulling at something inside me that I didn’t quite understand. I wished I could ease her burden, to somehow take away the hurt that lingered in her heart.

As I continued reading, my admiration for her grew. She was everything I can ever ask for—brilliant, beautiful, and talented. I closed my laptop, exhaustion settling in. I fell asleep thinking about her, hoping the next day would bring new chances to see her again.

The next morning, I woke up late. Panic surged through me. I quickly jumped out of bed, realizing I might miss her. I threw on some clothes, skipped breakfast, and sped out the door, determined to reach the college on time. It felt like an achievement just to arrive without any delays.

Once I was on campus, I took a seat on a staircase, my heart racing as I waited for her to arrive. But before I could spot her, Agastya sauntered up, looking surprised.

“Well, well, well! Yuvaan, here on time? Are you waiting for someone special?” he teased, his smirk growing wider.

I shot him a glare, about to retort, when something caught my eye—a car pulling into the parking lot. My breath caught in my throat as I saw her get out. Dressed in a blue skirt and a white top, she looked like an angel, and I could feel my heart thudding against my ribs.

I turned to Agastya, not taking my eyes off her. “Go ask her if she has any problems, or if anyone is bothering her,” I instructed, trying to keep my tone casual.

Agastya’s eyes widened in surprise. “You serious?”

“Do it,” I growled, my patience wearing thin.

His expression shifted from shock to compliance, and he walked toward her. I watched as he approached her and Janvi, and just then, she looked up. Our eyes met, and in that split second, the world around us faded. All I could see was her.

Her gaze quickly flicked away, and she grabbed Janvi’s hand, moving away. I kept looking at her retreating figure but then she carefully and slowly turned and looked at me. The eye contact was intense and her face had turned a light shade of red and she quickly looked ahead and walked away.

I felt a rush of heat flood my face, and I was suddenly aware of how badly I wanted to close that distance between us.

“Looks like someone’s blushing,” Agastya teased, elbowing me. “You’re turning into a lovesick fool.”

“Shut up,” I muttered, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of elation mixed with nervousness that her gaze had left me with.

Watching her walk away, my heart raced. I was falling for her, and I wasn’t sure what that meant for me. But I knew one thing for sure—I would do everything in my power to protect her and be there for her. She was my angel, and I was determined to find a way to make her mine.