Chapter 4 – More Than Just a Project

You Were Never My Business

The next week passed faster than either of them expected.

Every afternoon after classes, Studio 4 became their workspace.

Sheets of fabric covered one table.

Paintbrushes and acrylic colours covered another.

The room was always messy.

Somehow, Dev knew exactly where everything was.

Arjun never did.

"Where are my brushes?" Arjun asked one afternoon, looking around the room in panic.

Dev didn't even look up from the sewing machine.

"Behind the mannequin."

Arjun checked.

"They're not here."

"Left side."

He looked again.

"...Oh."

Five minutes later—

"Dev, where's my pencil?"

"In your pocket."

Arjun reached into his pocket.

"...You're scary."

"I'm organized."

"You're magic."

"No."

"You definitely have superpowers."

Dev sighed.

"I have eyes."

---

Their project slowly began taking shape.

Dev designed a long ivory coat with hand-embroidered patterns that symbolized growth through struggle.

Arjun painted a giant canvas showing a tree growing from cracked earth into a sky full of colours.

When placed together, the costume and painting told one complete story.

Even their professors stopped to admire it.

"This partnership is working surprisingly well," one professor remarked.

Dev simply nodded.

Arjun smiled proudly.

"I told you we'd make a great team."

"I never agreed."

"You didn't disagree today."

"...That's different."

"It isn't."

---

One evening, after finishing class, the sky suddenly turned dark.

A loud clap of thunder echoed across the campus.

Within seconds...

Heavy rain poured down.

Students ran in every direction, laughing and shouting as they searched for shelter.

Dev stood near the entrance of the Fine Arts building, waiting for the rain to slow down.

He looked at the cloudy sky.

"I forgot my umbrella."

"So did I."

Arjun appeared beside him.

"...You're everywhere."

"I prefer 'always nearby.'"

Dev ignored him.

They stood in silence, watching the rain.

The campus looked beautiful.

Water flowed along the pathways while the old trees swayed gently in the wind.

After a few minutes, Arjun suddenly stepped into the rain.

"What are you doing?"

"Testing something."

He stretched out his arms.

"It's cold."

Dev stared.

"You went into the rain just to confirm it's wet?"

"I wanted scientific proof."

Dev let out a tired sigh.

"You're unbelievable."

Arjun grinned.

"Come on."

"No."

"Just for a minute."

"I'll get sick."

"I won't let you."

"That's not how rain works."

Arjun laughed loudly.

Students passing by couldn't help smiling at the strange conversation.

---

The rain showed no signs of stopping.

Finally, Arjun took off his jacket.

"Here."

Dev frowned.

"What?"

"Wear it."

"No."

"Why?"

"You'll get cold."

"I'm fine."

"You'll get sick."

"I recover quickly."

"I'm not taking it."

Without another word, Arjun gently placed the jacket over Dev's shoulders.

Before Dev could protest, Arjun had already stepped back into the rain.

"What are you doing now?"

"I'm walking home."

"In this rain?"

"My house is closer."

"And you?"

"You live in the hostel."

"Yes."

"You'll get drenched."

"I know."

Dev looked down at the warm jacket resting on his shoulders.

Then back at Arjun.

"...Take it back."

"No."

"It's yours."

"You need it more."

"You'll catch a fever."

Arjun smiled.

"I'd rather catch a fever than let you."

For a moment...

Dev didn't know what to say.

Nobody had ever cared about him so naturally.

Not because they wanted something.

Not because they expected anything in return.

Just... because they cared.

He quietly removed the jacket and walked toward Arjun.

Without saying a word, he opened it over both of them.

The jacket wasn't large enough.

Their shoulders touched.

Rain still reached them from the sides.

Arjun looked at him in surprise.

"...Sharing?"

"It's more practical."

Arjun smiled so brightly that Dev immediately regretted it.

"Don't smile like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you won."

"Maybe I did."

"You didn't."

"I kind of did."

Dev rolled his eyes.

"You talk too much."

"And yet..."

"What?"

"...You shared my jacket."

Dev looked away.

"It was raining."

"Right."

"Don't misunderstand."

"I won't."

"...Good."

"...Can I still be happy?"

Dev stayed silent.

Arjun took that silence as permission.

---

By the time they reached the hostel gate, the rain had become lighter.

Dev handed the jacket back.

"Thank you."

Arjun blinked.

"...Did you just thank me?"

"For the jacket."

"Say it again."

"I'm leaving."

"No, seriously."

"Goodbye."

"You only thanked me once in two weeks!"

Dev began walking toward the hostel entrance.

Without turning around, he raised one hand slightly.

"Good night, Senior."

Arjun stood frozen in the rain.

A huge smile slowly spread across his face.

He whispered to himself,

"...He said good night."

Behind the hostel gate, Dev couldn't help smiling too.

He quickly hid it before anyone noticed.

Maybe...

Just maybe...

That annoying senior wasn't as annoying anymore.

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