Advika's pov:
"Do well."
That's all they said. Not we'll miss you or take care-just two simple words, laced with expectations heavier than my own existence.
The driver starts the car, and I lean against the window, watching the city blur past. Life has never been kind, nor do I expect it to be. What more could possibly go wrong? Oh well.
Oh hi, I'm Advika Sharma, and right now, I'm on my way to the airport to go to Velmont University in Delhi. The people who just sent me off with those hollow words? My parents. Our relationship is simple-transactional, even. I get good grades; they maintain their precious reputation. That's all. No warmth. No love. Just a suffocating cycle of expectations.
A tear slides down my cheek before I can stop it. I wipe it away hastily, scolding myself. They don't deserve my tears. But then why do they keep falling?
You might think moving away to university would mean freedom. A break from my parents, their cold stares, their never-ending demands. But no. Even in a different city, their shadow will loom over me. There is no escape from them-not in Delhi, not anywhere.
"Advi, get down, bacha."
The familiar voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I blink, realizing we've arrived. The car door is already open, and Driver Chachu stands there, waiting with a soft smile.
I step out, forcing a smile in return. He's the only person in that house who made me feel something close to happiness. Without him, I would have suffocated a long time ago.
"Stay safe, keep messaging me, and please... stay happy," he says gently.
I swallow the lump in my throat and nod. Stay happy? If only it were that simple.
"You too, Chachu," I whisper before walking away.
With every step towards the airport, a strange emptiness fills my chest.
..
Woah.
This place is huge. And honestly? It's freaking beautiful. I'm not even exaggerating-shit looks straight out of a movie.
A strange feeling settles in my chest. Ease. A little, at least.
I shake my head, snapping out of it. First things first-I need to find my dorm, dump my bags, change, and then explore.
Room 703. No clue which floor that is. I wander around for a solid thirty minutes, dragging my suitcase through endless hallways, before I finally find it.
I pause, staring at the door. So, this is it.
I know I'm sharing my room with a senior. My parents informed me like it was some highly classified information.
"You're going to share your room with a senior. She's living alone right now, so you were given that room."Like I care.
I ring the doorbell, shifting on my feet, and then-
The door swings open.
And my eyes widen.
What. The. Actual. Fuck.
Did I come to the wrong room? I glance at the number. 703. It's right. Then-
Why is there a guy standing in front of me, casually buttoning up his shirt?
Before I can process that, a sultry feminine voice calls out from inside,"Who is it, baby?"
Oh, God. I'm cringing.
My soul leaves my body for a second. I blink. Once. Twice.
The guy-tall, broad shoulders, messy dark hair, and green eyes that hold nothing but arrogance-stares straight into my damn soul.
He doesn't move.
So, I clear my throat, forcing words out.
"Um... will you move?"
His brows lift, like I just asked him to donate his kidney."Who the fuck are you?"he asks .
His voice. Deep. Rich. Smooth like whiskey.And what the hell am I thinking?!
Advika, get a grip. He's taken, you little piece of shit.
I mentally slap myself before replying."I'm a first-year. New here. And this is my room."
His gaze flickers with mild surprise before amusement takes over."So, you're gonna be sharing this room with that shortie, Sanya?"
My jaw clenches. Shortie?
Before I can murder him, a girl-Sanya, I'm assuming-finally appears beside him. She's gorgeous, tall, and oozes the type of confidence that borders on arrogance.
I grind my teeth but don't react. No fights. Not on the first damn day.
He finally moves, walking past me like I don't exist. Thank God.
I step inside, dropping my bags near the bed, and turn to Sanya."Hey, I'm Advika."
She gives me a nod. That's it.
The silence stretches, so I force a conversation."Sorry if I disturbed you."I say.
She shrugs, arms crossing."Nah, it's fine. No one likes it when we are together. This time, it's you."
Her tone drips with attitude. And just like that, I already don't like her.
I press my lips together, debating whether to ignore her or push a little."So, he's your boyfriend?"
Maybe we'll bond over this? Maybe she's not that bad?
She lets out a dry chuckle and says"Ex. That's Riday Oberoi. The most popular guy in Velmont. Every girl throws her ass at him, but he still only comes to me. He is the hottest and most wanted guy . Though we broke up I guess he is not over me .But every girl is jealous of me cause that guy likes me and fucks me only.Me ."She whispers the last part .
I blink.
Okay, why the fuck is she giving me his entire bio? Like-did I ask?
I nod, keeping my mouth shut. Not my problem.And honestly? I don't give a shit.
I change into something comfortable and step outside, inhaling the crisp air. Tomorrow, classes begin.
And something tells me, this place is about to throw me into chaos.
..
The campus is huge. Like, get-lost-and-never-be-found huge.
I wander aimlessly, my sneakers crunching against the pavement as I take everything in. The towering glass buildings shimmer under the afternoon sun, groups of students chatter like they've known each other forever, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee lingers in the air.
It's exactly what I imagined a university to be. Big. Loud. Alive.
And yet, standing here, in the middle of it all, I feel... small.
I shake my head, trying to push the feeling away. No overthinking. No overfeeling. Just focus on getting used to this place because this is home now.For a few years atleast .
I pass by the library, the student lounge, a bunch of bulletin boards filled with flyers about parties, clubs, and events I already know I won't be a part of. Not that I care. I'm here to study, not make memories.
At least, that's what I tell myself.
Just as I decide to head back, I turn a corner-
And slam into a wall.
A very hard, very human wall.
The force knocks me back a step, and my phone nearly flies out of my hand. A strong hand grips my forearm, steadying me before I can embarrass myself further.
"Seriously, can you watch where you're going?"
My head snaps up, and great. Just my fucking luck.
It's him.
The same guy from my dorm earlier. The one who had the nerve to look me dead in the eye and call me a shortie. The one who was busy buttoning his shirt while his ex-girlfriend gave me a whole-ass Wikipedia entry on him and herself . Ugh .
And of course, he looks even more insufferable under the daylight.
Tall, broad-shouldered, with sharp features that shouldn't belong to someone this annoying. A white shirt , sleeves pushed up just enough to show off his veins. Emerald eyes glinting with something between amusement and arrogance.
I wrench my arm out of his grip. "Watch where I'm going? Maybe if you weren't standing in the middle of the damn way-"
"But I was standing. You were the one walking," he interrupts smoothly, shoving his hands into his pockets. "And judging by the way you almost fell, I'd say you're the problem here, not me."
I grit my teeth. Oh, he's going to be a problem.
"Maybe if your ego wasn't bigger than your brain, you'd realize you're the one blocking the damn path."
His lips twitch. "Damn. Feisty."
My eyes narrow. Why is he smirking?
"Are you always this annoying, or do you just enjoy pissing off random people?" I snap.
"Depends," he says, tilting his head slightly. "Are you always this clumsy, or is today a special occasion?"
I exhale sharply. Asshole.
Not wanting to waste another second of my life on him, I step past him, brushing against his shoulder as I do. But before I can fully walk away, his voice stops me.
"You got a name, shortie?"
I pause, clenching my jaw. Not a chance.
I glance over my shoulder, my eyes meeting his. "Nope. But you can keep calling me shortie if it helps you sleep at night."
His smirk deepens. "It might."
I roll my eyes and walk off without another word, but I can feel his gaze lingering on me.
I walk further, taking in the vastness of the campus, the buzz of students around me making everything feel both exciting and overwhelming. In need of something comforting, I grab a cup of coffee and make my way to the university garden.
And oh. My. God.
The place is straight out of a dream-lush, vibrant, and filled with all sorts of flowers in full bloom. But my feet come to an abrupt stop when I spot them-light pink roses, delicate and elegant, standing gracefully among the rest. My absolute favorites.
I don't even realize I'm smiling until I step closer, my fingers itching to touch them. That's when my gaze lands on the little sign in front of them.
"Do not pluck the flowers."
I pout.
Looking around cautiously, making sure no one is watching, I quickly pluck one. Hehe. Rules? What are those? The moment I bring the rose close, the fragrance engulfs me, and I close my eyes, inhaling deeply. God, I love this scent.
It's silly, I know. But for some reason, this tiny stolen moment makes me feel lighter.
After lingering for a while, I finally make my way back to the dorm, twirling the rose between my fingers. As soon as I step inside, I see Sanya getting dressed-black midi dress, high-pointed heels, sleek hair. She looks stunning, but the sharp aura she carries makes her beauty seem almost intimidating.
She doesn't even spare me a glance before grabbing her purse and striding out, leaving the room silent once again.
I sigh, throwing myself onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. Another night, another reminder that I'm alone.
With a deep breath, I clutch the pink rose to my chest, letting my thoughts drift to all the possible chaos tomorrow might bring.
Riday's pov:
That fucking pout.
I watch from a distance as the shortie-yeah, that audacious little thing-stands in front of the roses, eyes wide with admiration. She looks so fucking adorable it almost pisses me off.
She saw the board. She knows she isn't supposed to pluck the damn flower. And yet, she does it anyway.
I smirk, shaking my head as she twirls the rose between her fingers and walks away. She has no clue what she's just signed up for.
A while later, I see Sanya making her way toward me, her usual sultry smirk in place. I bet she ran her mouth to the shortie about how I only go to her. Pathetic.
"Come on, Riday. We're late. Let's go," she says, looping her arm through mine.
I shrug her off. "Do you fucking think I'm your driver?" My voice is low, but she gets the message. "Sanya, don't pull your shit on me. This is the last time I'm taking you anywhere. We're done. You get it?"
She rolls her eyes but nods, knowing better than to push me further. I hate her-every fiber of my being fucking hates her.
We reach the club, music blasting, lights flickering, but I'm already bored. Everyone's drinking, playing a half-assed game of Truth or Dare. Dull. Until-
"Oh, wait, guys! I have some tea," Sanya's voice drips with faux excitement.
Everyone groans. No one really gives a shit about what she has to say, but she forces herself into every damn conversation.
"Some new girl. First year. And God, she is so boring," she sneers, flipping her hair like anyone cares.
Dhruv, the notorious flirt of our group, perks up. "Who is she? Is she hot?"
We all laugh.
I smirk, throwing the rest of my whiskey straight at his face. He yells a string of curses while I just lean back, amused.
Sanya huffs. "Ew, no. She looks terrible. Advika Sharma. And Dhruv, she is so not your type."
Advika Sharma.
I don't say a word. Just roll her name around in my head. Advika.
It's a nice name. Too nice for someone who messed with me.
By the end of the night, everyone's wasted. I end up dragging Dhruv and Sanya back to the dorms, because apparently, I'm the only one capable of functioning after drinking. The rest of the girls have their boyfriends to take care of them-all of them so in love. And Dhruv? The fool is out there searching for love too.
Love. My ass.
I throw Sanya onto her bed without a second glance. She mumbles something incoherent, but I don't care. My attention shifts.
Advika.
She's curled up in bed, lost in peaceful sleep, unaware of the storm she's walked into. I step closer, watching the way her chest rises and falls, the faint glow of moonlight catching the strands of her hair.
I lean down, my lips close to her ear.
"You shouldn't have argued with me, Rose." My voice is a whisper, dark and promising.
Not when you have no idea who I am.
With that, I straighten and walk out, the ghost of a smirk playing on my lips.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧