Episode2

One year ago.

The first day of college.

The classroom buzzed with the restless chatter of new beginnings—fresh notebooks, unfamiliar faces, and the nervous anticipation that came with stepping into a place that would shape the next few years of their lives.

For Aarohi, it was overwhelming.

She clutched her bag tightly, her fingers twisting around the strap, and sank into a seat near the corner by the window. Corners felt safe. Corners meant fewer eyes on her, fewer chances of being forced into conversations that left her tongue tied and her thoughts scattered.

Her friends—Anika, Pooja, and Ritika—slid into the seats around her, offering the kind of comfort only familiarity could bring. They had all known each other from high school, and though they were different in personality, they never made Aarohi feel left behind.

“Can you believe we’re actually in college now?” Anika whispered excitedly, her eyes scanning the room as if she were cataloging every new person.

Pooja grinned. “I just hope the professors aren’t scary. I heard they make you do surprise presentations.”

At that, Aarohi’s stomach twisted. She hated standing in front of people, hated the way her voice always shook and her palms grew damp. She wished, more than anything, that she could just blend into the background and be invisible.

Ritika nudged her arm gently. “Relax. It’ll be fine. We’ll be here together.”

Aarohi forced a small smile. “Yeah.”

The professor walked in then, commanding silence with nothing more than his presence. He introduced himself and then, with a tired smile, announced, “We’ll begin with self-introductions. Each of you will stand, say your name, where you’re from, and something about yourself.”

A wave of groans spread across the room. Aarohi’s heart immediately began to race.

Not this. Anything but this.

She sank lower in her chair, silently begging the professor to skip her. But she knew he wouldn’t.

One by one, students stood and introduced themselves. Some were confident, flashing easy smiles and cracking jokes. Others were nervous but managed to get through it without stumbling too much.

Aarohi’s hands twisted in her lap, her nails digging into her palms. She tried to focus on her breathing, but her mind kept running ahead, already imagining how she would embarrass herself.

And then—

He stood up.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Vivaan Malhotra,” he said, his voice warm, confident, like it belonged in the room. “I’m from Delhi. I love playing basketball and meeting new people. I hope we all have a great time together in these years.”

It was simple. Casual. But the way he said it—the ease in his smile, the way his eyes seemed to brighten the room—it made heads turn. A few students laughed when he added a playful, “And if anyone wants to copy notes later, I’ll happily volunteer mine—on one condition, that you cheer for our basketball team during matches.”

The class chuckled. Even the professor cracked a smile.

Aarohi didn’t. She couldn’t. She was too busy staring.

Her heart skipped, tripped, and then slammed against her ribs with painful force.

There was nothing extraordinary about his words. But somehow, in that moment, Vivaan didn’t feel like just another student. To her, he seemed larger than life—like someone who carried his own light and wasn’t afraid to shine.

And she—sitting small and quiet in the corner—couldn’t look away.

“Aarohi,” Ritika whispered beside her, tugging her sleeve. “Breathe. You look like you saw a ghost.”

Aarohi blinked rapidly, snapping out of her daze. Her cheeks burned, and she quickly dropped her gaze to her notebook. She doodled meaningless swirls in the corner of the page, pretending not to care, pretending not to notice how her pulse still hadn’t calmed.

No. She scolded herself silently. Don’t even think about it. He’s… he’s not someone like you. He’s the kind of person who can talk to anyone, who makes friends easily. And you…

She swallowed hard. You don’t belong in his world.

Her turn came soon after.

Her legs felt like lead as she stood. Her voice was small, trembling, but she managed, “I’m Aarohi Sharma… from here in Mumbai. I… I like reading books and sketching.”

Her classmates barely reacted. A few nods, a distracted shuffle of papers. Nothing like the attention Vivaan had drawn. Relief washed over her as she sat down quickly, eager to vanish again.

But a part of her, deep and hidden, wished she could have spoken with the same ease. Wished she could be someone people noticed. Someone he might notice.

As the day wore on, introductions turned into light conversations, laughter bouncing across the classroom. Aarohi stuck close to her friends, offering small smiles and speaking only when spoken to. She didn’t want to stand out. She didn’t want to risk fumbling.

And yet, despite her efforts, her eyes betrayed her.

They kept finding him.

The way he leaned easily against a desk, chatting with a group of boys he had just met. The way his laughter carried, unrestrained and genuine. The way he greeted even strangers like they were already friends.

She told herself it was harmless. Just a passing thought. Just admiration for someone so different from her.

But admiration has a way of settling deep, of turning into something more when you least expect it.

That evening, as she walked home with her friends, she replayed his voice in her head. His introduction. His smile. His confidence.

And though she never said it aloud, a quiet thought bloomed in her chest.

I think… I might like him.

She didn’t know then how much those words would cost her.

---

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***