Author pov,

The Sharma house smelled of parathas and chai that morning. Ananya tied her braid quickly, rushing out of her room with her bag bouncing against her shoulder.

“Arre, dheere dheere, meri bacchi ,” Papa called, holding out a tiffin. “Bas ka time ho gaya kya?”

(𝘏𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳, "𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘴?)

“Yes, Papa!” she huffed, snatching the box and kissing his cheek. “Aur agar late ho gayi toh blame aap pe jayega.”

(𝘐𝘧 𝘪 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶)

Her mother rolled her eyes from the kitchen door. “Blame? Tum dono ko sirf masti sujh rahi hai. College ka pehla saal hai, anu, concentrate on studies.”

(𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘶𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘶)

“𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘢 𝘬𝘪 𝘫𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯,” Ananya said dutifully, though her stomach tightened at the thought of him. What if she saw Aarav again? What if he smirked at her in front of everyone?

No. She shook the thought away. She wasn’t going to let an arrogant senior ruin her day.

--

Ananya wearing  white kurta and blue jeans, her hair open and sweet smile on her face can melt anyone.

---

meera nair ananya's bestfriend,

She wearing jeans and white one shoulder top and mischievous smile on her face.

At Campus

“Anuuuu!” A high-pitched voice called the moment she stepped through the gates.

Meera waved, bouncing toward her. Her curls bounced as much as her energy. “Girl, you’re glowing. Did you dream about him?”

Ananya groaned. “Don’t start.”

Meera smirked. “So you did dream.”

“Meeraaa,” she warned.

“Fine, fine,” Meera laughed, linking arms with her. “But I’m telling you, this Aarav–Ananya war is going to be legendary.”

Ananya scowled, but the chatter of students distracted her. Groups of girls were whispering, some fixing their hair, others adjusting lip gloss. Boys stood straighter, glancing toward the parking lot.

“What’s happening?” Ananya whispered.

Meera grinned. “Campus royalty is here.”

A sleek black car pulled up. Then a roar of a bike. Aarav Malhotra, in a black T-shirt and grey jeans ans leather black jacket, walked in like he owned the ground under his shoes. Grey eyes scanning lazily, jaw set, his presence alone made half the crowd stare.

  And beside him kabir kapoor wearing a crip beige pant, white T-shirt and baby blue color jacket and silver chain in his neck, flirty smile on his face

He was late. He didn’t care. Professors tolerated him, students worshipped him, and Ananya… Ananya wanted to disappear.

She ducked her head and muttered, “Oversized khadoos.”

Unfortunately, Meera heard and giggled. “You’re brave. I like it.”

---

Inside the Lecture Hall

The orientation lecture was buzzing with chatter. The professor, a tired-looking man in spectacles, clapped his hands. “Quiet, please. Freshmen, let’s do introductions. Name, course, hometown.”

One by one, students stood and spoke. When Ananya’s turn came, her palms went sweaty, but she stood tall.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Ananya Sharma. Literature major. From Delhi. Um… I love reading, and—”

A lazy voice cut in. “And spilling coffee.”

The room erupted into laughter. Heads turned. Aarav Malhotra who was standing outside of class and looking inside by window  and beside him kabir

Ananya froze. Her face heated, but then something inside her snapped.

She tilted her head sweetly. “Yes. And I’m planning to spill some on arrogant seniors too, if they don’t learn to mind their business.”

Gasps. A few stifled giggles. Even the professor blinked.

Aarav raised a brow, clearly amused. “Feisty, aren’t you, chhoti si cheez?”

Ananya smiled with fake sweetness. “Better feisty than boring, Mr. Oversized.”

The class went silent. Then erupted into muffled laughter again.

The professor cleared his throat, glaring. “Enough. Now ananya sit down and aarav and kabir go to your. We’re not here for drama.”

Ananya sat, pulse racing, heart hammering. She’d just roasted the campus king. She was dead.

Beside Aarav, Kabir leaned over, whispering with a grin. “You’re obsessed, bro.”

“Shut up,” Aarav muttered, though his smirk hadn’t faded.

Boys walk away meanwhile inside class

Meera say he is obesssed with you anu, ananya say shup and you are one who staring at kabir,

Meera say kuch bhi mat bol and i was not staring at kabir okay he is annoying

Ananya laugh say accha ji huh meera lagta hai tujhe us mere mr khadoos ke dost be crush aagaya hai

Meera face turn red say bas bas esa kuch nahi hai okay

Ananya roll her eyes say  sure sure tell yourself meera.

----

After Class – Hallway Encounter

Ananya clutched her notebook, determined to avoid him. She marched toward the exit, braid swishing like a banner of victory. She’d stood up to him. She should feel proud.

Until she walked straight into a wall.

Except it wasn’t a wall.

It was him.

She bounced back, glaring up at six feet two inches of trouble. Aarav stood there, hands in pockets, blocking her way like he had all the time in the world.

“Move,” she snapped.

He leaned down slightly, his shadow covering her. “Careful, sweetheart. You’ll spill something again.”

Her jaw tightened. “Don’t call me that.”

“What? Sweetheart?” His lips curved lazily. “Or chhoti si cheez? Personally, I think both suit you.”

She huffed. “I told you. I’m not little. You’re just unnaturally oversized.”

Aarav chuckled low, eyes gleaming. “Oversized khadoos, right?”

Her eyes widened. “You heard that?!”

“Of course.” He leaned even closer, his breath brushing her ear. “And I think I like it. Only you could dare call me that.”

Her cheeks burned. She shoved past him. “Don’t get used to it.”

He let her go, smirk tugging at his lips as he watched her storm away.

Kabir appeared a moment later, grinning. “Bro, she’s got you wrapped already.”

Aarav’s smirk deepened. “Not yet. But she will.”

Kabir smile wider say "lagta hai meri bhi gaddi chal padi tere sath", he look at meera laughing with ananya

Aarav's eyes narrowed say matlab,. His gaze follow kabir's and he see meera and ananya. And aarav smirk.

Kabir dreamy expersion say teri choti se cheez ki dost pe dil aagya yaar. He eyes on meera who was walking with ananya now

Aarav smirk say bat to sahi hai bhai.

Both laugh

---

Later – With Meera

Ananya collapsed on a bench outside, fuming. “He’s impossible!”

Meera sat beside her, munching on chips. “But admit it, he’s hot.”

Ananya glared. “He’s arrogant. Smug. Infuriating.”

Meera giggled. “And you can’t stop talking about him.”

Ananya groaned, covering her face. “God, kill me now, and tu konsi devi hai huh jab dekho tab kabir to taddti reh it hai.

Meera say topic change mat kar anu and kuch bhi bakwas karti reh ti hai

Ananya smirk say bakwas to shuru hui hai aur vo dono pagal chamgaadad ham se chipak te reh te hai.

Meera sign say bas bas aur chal  canteen bhok lagi hai.

Ananya say bhokad kahi ki.

Meera say i don't compromises with my food.

Both girls laughing and walk to canteen

--

Across campus, Aarav lounged against his bike, Kabir beside him.

“You’re smiling, bro,” Kabir teased.

“Am I?” Aarav asked, eyes flickering toward the building where Ananya had disappeared.

“Yeah,” Kabir smirked. “Freshman’s in your head.”

Aarav smirked back, starting his bike. “She’s entertaining. That’s all.”

But as he revved the engine, even he knew he was lying.

*****************************************************