The clang of the final bell had long faded, but the college courtyard refused to quiet down. It buzzed softly — with lingering whispers, curious glances, and the subtle electricity of stories half-told. The air felt thicker somehow, as if every stare Shruti felt on her back carried weight, as if each step she took toward the parking lot left a trail of questions behind her.
Shruti kept her gaze forward, trying to drown out the noise in her head, but it wasn't easy.
"That's her, isn't it? The one from this morning?"
"Yeah, that's Arjun's maradalu. The bold one who called him like a dog and fixed his hair."
"Lucky girl. I can't believe how casually she did it."
Shruti's ears burned. She clenched her fingers around the edge of her dupatta, willing herself not to react, not to turn around, not to let their voices reach her heart.
Beside her, Pragathi cleared her throat softly. "Shruti…"
Shruti blinked, pulling herself back to the present. "Hmm?"
"Can I… can I come over today? Just for a little while?" Pragathi's tone was light, but there was something beneath it—something almost hesitant.
Shruti stopped walking for a beat, glancing at her friend. "Why are you asking like that? Of course you can."
Pragathi gave a small, sheepish smile. "I don't want to intrude. You two probably want your own space. And, you know, after today… all this drama…"
Shruti hesitated, her eyes flickering toward the parking lot.
Arjun was there — tall, steady, leaning casually against his bike as if he owned the sunlight that fell on him. He was adjusting his helmet strap, his profile sharp against the soft glow of the evening. But even from where she stood, Shruti noticed the slight tension in his jaw, the way his eyes flickered over the courtyard, hearing the whispers he pretended not to notice.
"She really calls him like that? In public?"
"I swear, if I tried that, I'd get ignored or roasted. But him? He came running."
Shruti's heart ached a little. She hated that he had to hear all this. That she couldn't shield him from it.
They reached him in a few more steps, his shadow stretching long on the pavement. Arjun straightened slightly, as if the sight of her eased something inside him.
"Hey," he said, voice low, but warm.
"Hey…" she replied, then gathered her courage. "Um… Pragathi wanted to come over for a bit. Is that okay?"
Arjun blinked, confusion crossing his face. "Why are you asking me that?"
Shruti faltered, startled by the question. "I—I just thought, maybe you'd want quiet… or you'd be tired… I didn't want to—"
"Shruti." His voice was gentle but certain, cutting through her rambling. He tilted his head, meeting her eyes with steady calm. "It's your house too. You don't have to ask me like you need permission. If you want to invite someone, invite them. Just tell me who's coming so I don't look like an idiot opening the door in my towel or something."
Despite herself, a small laugh escaped her lips. "Okay. Fair enough."
"I mean it," he added, softer now, his gaze never wavering. "You live there. It's ours. You don't have to tiptoe around me."
Her breath caught — because it wasn't just the words. It was how he said them, like he truly believed it. Like he meant for her to feel it.
She nodded, heart swelling with warmth, and turned eagerly to Pragathi. "He said yes. You're coming home."
Pragathi's face lit up like a festival. "Ahhh! I'm so excited!" Without thinking, she threw her arms around Shruti in a tight hug, bouncing slightly on her toes. "You're the best! I'm calling Dad now before you change your mind."
Shruti laughed as Pragathi stepped aside, already unlocking her phone with the speed of someone on a mission. "Appa! I'm going to Shruti's house… yes, Arjun anna's place… yeah, I'll be back before dinner—wait, what? No, I will not stay overnight! Appaaa!"
Shruti stole a glance at Arjun, who was quietly adjusting the strap of his helmet, his expression unreadable but his lips curved in a small, amused smile.
"She's really happy," Shruti said softly, watching her friend argue playfully on the phone.
Arjun exhaled a small chuckle. "She's… energetic."
Before Shruti could reply, Pragathi reappeared, eyes bright with victory, waving her phone like a flag. "Permission granted! Dad said as long as I'm home by dinner, I can stay."
Arjun nodded politely, still keeping his usual calm reserve. "Good. It's settled, then."
"Hi Anna!" Pragathi said suddenly, giving him a grin that could disarm anyone. "Finally, I get to visit your famous house. How's it going?"
Arjun gave her a small smile, polite but still with that cautious edge. "I'm okay. And you?"
"Fantastic! This is the most fun I've had in ages. First day of college and already I'm crashing my best friend's new home."
Arjun's lips twitched as if suppressing a bigger smile. "Just don't break anything."
Pragathi placed a hand over her heart. "Promise. I'm very well-behaved in other people's houses."
But then he hesitated, glancing at the two girls as they stood beside his bike. "But… triples? Are you both okay with that? If the cops stop us, we'll be paying fines and giving lectures on safety rules."
Pragathi opened her mouth to say something cheeky, but before she could, a voice drifted in, casual and perfectly timed.
"I can help with that," came Kiran's drawl as he approached, keys swinging from his finger, his grin wide enough to rival the sun. "If Pragathi's okay with it, I'll give her a ride. No triple seat drama. No police headaches."
Shruti barely held back a laugh as she glanced at Arjun. His expression had shifted — brow raised, eyes narrowed slightly, that quiet look of really, Kiran?
Kiran, of course, met that look with exaggerated innocence, holding his hands up as if to say What? I'm being helpful!
Pragathi, entirely oblivious or simply enjoying the attention, beamed. "Oh, perfect! Thanks, Kiran!"
Arjun kept his gaze on his friend, one brow lifting higher in that way that said he saw right through him. Kiran's grin faltered just a touch under the weight of that stare.
Finally, with the world's most sheepish shrug, Kiran mouthed what can I say? and Arjun sighed — not in annoyance, but with the resigned fondness of someone who knew this was inevitable.
Shruti, watching the whole exchange, bit her lip to keep her giggle in. The air between them all felt lighter somehow — like the end of a long, strange day was finally beginning to soften.
"Shall we?" Kiran asked, flashing a grin at Pragathi, his keys spinning between his fingers.
Pragathi smirked, crossing her arms for a second like she was pretending to consider. "Hmm… sure. That works. But no stunts, okay?"
Kiran placed a hand on his heart like she'd wounded him. "Me? Stunts? I'm a responsible citizen, I'll have you know."
Shruti giggled, already climbing onto Arjun's bike behind him. Her hands found the back of his shirt, instinctively this time, fingers curling lightly into the fabric.
Arjun glanced back briefly, just enough to check she was settled. His eyes met hers for half a second, and that was enough. No words. Just that unspoken you're safe.
To be continued...