I thought love was black and white—old school, pure. But loving him was red.
8th August 2025.
Orientation day. New college. New beginnings.
I was with Simran, my friend from school, sitting in the computer lab during our first lecture for BSc in Artificial Intelligence. My phone buzzed.
Him. Mr.Jaiswal.
A long paragraph.
Apologies for not being able to take me to college today, promises about next week, a list of reasons—his dad wasn't around, the shop needed him, he'd barely slept two hours.
I knew he wasn't making excuses. People who explain this much aren't trying to get out of something; they're trying to be understood.
I replied: It's okay. We'll meet another day. Just take care of yourself.
He said:Sorry, madam. Tomorrow for sure. Your college is far, and leaving the shop is tough—but who said we can't meet?
By 12:30, my classes were done. I had to see off a friend leaving for another city in a few days—her house happened to be near Shresth's shop. And I… was eager. There was something I'd planned to tell him. Yesterday, I'd said I needed a private moment with him. He'd agreed, but he had no idea what I intended.
It began drizzling as I walked. By the time I reached, the rain poured hard. He was already on the bench outside, looking up as I approached.
"You're all wet," he scolded, brows furrowed. "Always careless with umbrellas. You should have waited. Now you'll get sick."
I sat beside him, shivering slightly. He touched the soaked fabric of my jeans. "All wet. Even your heels. And this—" his fingers brushed my sleeves—"completely drenched. Sit comfortably for a moment, Charu."
The power went out. The shop dimmed, lit only by the gray glow of the rainy sky. My hair clung damply to my face, makeup washed away, leaving only the rainwater glow on my cheeks… and that blush he always drew out of me.
I caught him looking at me between taps on his phone. That charm in his eyes—the kind you can't fake.
"Cold drink?" he asked suddenly.
"No. And you shouldn't either—it's bad for health. I'm on a diet." (Because yes, he'd told me I'd put on a bit. )
"Coffee then?"
"If you drink with me," I teased.
"Okay."
He told his staff to bring two cups from the nearby café—not black coffee, because he knew I hated it. (Though I'll never understand how he drinks so much of it.)
When it was just us, a small distance between our seats, he leaned closer. "So… what were you going to tell me?"
"I can't. Not now. I need privacy."
He smirked. "Then soon, you can."
And just like that, we were on our second coffee date.
---
As soon as I was about to take the first sip, his phone buzzed.
A message from Vidya: Dad just headed out. He'll be there in no time.
Shresth had already played safe by talking to his sister, but still—my poor coffee date was over before it began. I sighed, saying, "Next time, then."
I had to leave for my friend's anyway. She was moving away for college, and Prem, Anuska, and Raj were already waiting at her place.
When I arrived, the lights were out there too. The whole town seemed to have lost electricity in the rainstorm. We sat together in the dimness, reminiscing about old school memories.
It felt… a bit odd with Raj. He already knew about me and Shresth—at least, the parts I wanted him to know. Yet when I glanced at him, I sometimes felt a strange flicker of guilt.
Lunch was brought in by Priya, the friend we were sending off. We all sat cross-legged on the floor, eating together. At one point, some sauce clung to the corner of my lips. Prem teased, "Raj, remove it for her," and before I could react, Raj did.
I froze. He was sitting so close. My heart skipped in a way I couldn't quite name—and I didn't like it.
---
It was getting late. My house was far, and while the others wanted to stay back, I had to go. I texted Shresth: I'll leave early. Dad will scold me otherwise.
Magically—he appeared from behind me, and my face lit up without permission.
"Go forward," he said in that steady voice of his. "I'll be there."
And I knew… he meant it.
---
Even now, I remember the glaze in his eyes when our gazes locked… and the way I looked away, heat rushing to my cheeks.
What do you think we were, at this point?
Stay tuned—because what came next changed everything.
****NEW STORY ANNOUNCEMENT:
Hey everyone, as I shared earlier, my next novel is coming very soon! It's full of drama, romance, and an intense love-hate relationship I can't wait for you to read. Here's a little sneak peek to get you excited…
He ruined her family. She vowed to ruin him.
Laurel Sinclair had spent years building a life far away from the shadows of betrayal. But when her father's empire crumbled overnight, she discovered the name behind her ruin—Aaron Vance the ruthless CEO who stopped at nothing to get what he wanted.
She expected their paths to never cross again. She was wrong.
When fate forces them into a contract marriage, the lines between hate and desire blur dangerously. By day, their every interaction is a battlefield—sharp words, cold stares, and calculated moves. By night… the air is charged with an attraction neither of them dares to admit.
Aaron has his reasons for binding her to him—reasons steeped in secrets, revenge, and a past neither of them can escape. Laurel swears she'll never fall for the man who destroyed her, but every glance, every touch, threatens to burn away her resolve.
In a marriage built on lies, one truth remains—love and hate can both destroy, but only one will set them free.
Coming soon : Tied by Revenge- A contract marriage of hate and desire.
Get ready for a storm of passion, deception, and a game where only one heart can survive.
If you enjoy my writing, please add Tied by revenge. to your library when it launches next week! Your early support will help me reach the contract stage this time!