Chapter 3 – Mind Your Own Business

You Were Never My Business

The news spread across campus within an hour.

The Annual Creative Exhibition was only a month away, and this year the college had announced a collaboration between the Fine Arts and Fashion Design departments.

Each team would consist of one artist and one fashion designer.

The project would count for forty percent of their semester grade.

Everyone rushed to the notice board.

"So... who's your partner?"

"I hope I didn't get someone lazy."

"I swear, if I get Raj again—"

Dev quietly made his way through the crowd until he stood in front of the list.

His eyes scanned the names.

Dev Khan – Fashion Design

Partner: Arjun Sharma – Fine Arts

He read it again.

Then a third time.

"...You've got to be kidding."

A familiar voice spoke from behind him.

"Good morning, Partner."

Dev slowly turned around.

Arjun stood there with his usual bright smile, waving enthusiastically.

"Looks like fate is on my side."

"It's not fate."

"No?"

"It's punishment."

Arjun laughed.

"I'll take it."

---

Their first project meeting was scheduled after lunch in Studio 4.

Dev arrived ten minutes early.

He preferred planning before talking.

He had already listed fabrics, colour palettes, silhouettes, deadlines, and estimated costs in a neat notebook.

Exactly at two o'clock...

The classroom door burst open.

"Sorry! I brought snacks!"

Arjun walked in carrying two cold drinks, a packet of biscuits, and a bag of samosas.

Dev looked at the food.

Then at Arjun.

"This..."

"What?"

"...is a project meeting."

"I know."

"So why did you bring a picnic?"

"People think better when they're eating."

"I think better when people stop talking."

"Ouch."

Arjun placed everything on the table anyway.

"Have one."

"No."

"You skipped lunch."

Dev looked up sharply.

"...How do you know that?"

"I saw you leave the canteen."

"I wasn't hungry."

"Liar."

"I said I wasn't hungry."

"And I said you're lying."

Dev frowned.

"Senior..."

"Hm?"

"Mind your own business."

Arjun smiled.

"I would."

"Then do it."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because you somehow became my business."

Dev stared at him in disbelief.

"...You're impossible."

"I've heard that before."

---

Ignoring him, Dev opened his notebook.

"I've prepared the project schedule."

Arjun leaned closer.

Neat handwriting filled every page.

Research.

Sketches.

Material collection.

Prototype.

Final presentation.

Every task had a date.

A backup date.

And even emergency plans.

Arjun's jaw dropped.

"You made all this yesterday?"

"Last night."

"When did you sleep?"

"I finished around two."

"You stayed awake until two?"

"I had work."

Arjun gently closed the notebook.

"No."

"What?"

"No staying awake until two."

Dev blinked.

"Excuse me?"

"You'll get sick."

"My health isn't part of this project."

"It is now."

Dev sighed heavily.

"You really don't know when to stop."

"I don't."

"I noticed."

---

They finally began brainstorming.

"I'll handle the artwork," Arjun said.

"I'll design the outfit."

"Theme?"

Dev thought for a moment.

"'The Journey of Dreams.'"

Arjun's eyes brightened.

"I like that."

"The costume should represent growth."

"And the background painting can show different stages of life."

Dev nodded.

For the first time...

They agreed without arguing.

For nearly an hour, ideas flowed naturally.

Whenever Dev suggested something, Arjun expanded it.

Whenever Arjun imagined something impossible, Dev figured out how to make it realistic.

It felt...

Easy.

Until three loud voices interrupted them.

"Arjun!"

Three Fine Arts seniors walked into the studio.

"There you are!"

One of them looked at Dev.

"So this is the junior you've been following around?"

Another laughed.

"Poor guy."

"He probably can't escape."

Arjun chuckled awkwardly.

"Guys..."

The tallest senior grabbed Arjun's shoulder.

"Leave the junior alone for once."

"We're going for tea."

Arjun looked at Dev.

"I'll be back in ten minutes."

Dev nodded without looking up.

"It's your choice."

As they left, Dev continued sketching quietly.

One of the seniors looked back.

"You know, Arjun..."

"Yeah?"

"You always let people walk over you."

"It's fine."

"No, it isn't."

"They don't mean any harm."

"You never stand up for yourself."

Arjun simply smiled.

"I don't want anyone getting hurt."

The seniors sighed.

"One day that'll become a problem."

They walked away.

Dev had heard every word.

---

Half an hour later...

Arjun returned.

His smile looked forced.

"You waited?"

"We have work."

"Right."

They continued sketching.

After a few minutes, Dev noticed something.

Arjun had erased the same line nearly twenty times.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You've erased that tree twenty times."

"I have?"

"Twenty-three."

Arjun laughed weakly.

"You counted?"

"I observe."

Silence.

Dev placed his pencil down.

"...Did something happen?"

Arjun shook his head.

"It's nothing."

"They said you don't stand up for yourself."

Arjun froze.

"You heard?"

"The walls aren't soundproof."

Arjun looked out the window.

"If I argue..."

He spoke quietly.

"...someone gets hurt."

"And if you don't?"

"I get hurt."

"Doesn't that matter?"

Arjun smiled.

"I'm used to it."

Dev didn't know why...

But those words bothered him.

More than they should have.

He looked at Arjun for a long moment before speaking.

"You know..."

"Hm?"

"...Sometimes saying 'no' doesn't hurt people."

Arjun looked surprised.

"It teaches them where your limits are."

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then Arjun smiled.

This time...

It was real.

"Thanks."

Dev looked away.

"I wasn't comforting you."

"I know."

"I was stating a fact."

"I know."

"...Don't make a habit of depending on me."

Arjun laughed softly.

"Too late."

Dev rolled his eyes.

"You really don't listen."

"I listen."

"Then why don't you obey?"

"Because listening and obeying are different."

Dev couldn't stop the smile that escaped.

It lasted only a second.

But Arjun noticed.

"There it is again."

"What?"

"The smile."

"It wasn't a smile."

"It absolutely was."

"It was irritation."

"If irritation looks that cute, I should annoy you more."

Dev immediately stood up, packed his notebook and slung his bag over his shoulder.

"I'm leaving."

"So early?"

"It's five o'clock."

"Oh."

"You've been talking instead of checking the time."

Arjun scratched the back of his neck.

"...Will you come tomorrow?"

"We have a deadline."

"So... yes?"

Dev started walking towards the door.

Without turning around, he answered,

"Don't be late."

Arjun stood there for a moment before a grin spread across his face.

He quietly whispered to himself,

"He didn't tell me to mind my own business today."

Outside the classroom, Dev heard him.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"...Idiot."

But for the first time...

The word sounded strangely affectionate.

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