Chapter 6

Ayaan sat in the canteen, a cup of coffee in his hand, his eyes absentmindedly scanning the room. The university buzzed with the usual chaos of students—groups of friends chatting, some cramming for exams, others simply enjoying the brief break between classes. He was used to the noise, the energy, but today, his thoughts were elsewhere.

It was the day he had announced the annual university party, and while the majority of the room had erupted into applause and excitement, Ayaan's attention had been completely diverted by a pair of light brown eyes locked onto his from across the canteen.

It wasn't the first time he'd seen her. Naina. She wasn't a stranger, but it was the first time he'd really noticed her. She had caramel highlights in her long black hair that fell just below her chest, and there was something so captivating about her—the way she blended in with the crowd yet somehow seemed like she was the only one there. She wasn't the loud, attention-seeking type. No, she was quieter, more reserved. And that intrigued him more than he'd expected.

When he finished announcing the party, he had thought about walking over, but something held him back. He wasn't used to being shy or unsure around girls, but with Naina... it felt different. He had to admit, there was something about her, a mystery he couldn't unravel easily.

---

Later that afternoon, Ayaan found himself surrounded by his friends Rohan, Arjun, and a few other guys from the football and cricket teams. They were in the middle of discussing plans for the party—who would be doing what, which music to play, and who was bringing what.

But as the conversation went on, his mind kept drifting back to Naina. He hadn't even realized how much his thoughts had wandered until Rohan nudged him in the ribs.

"Earth to Ayaan," Rohan said, smirking. "You seem distracted. Don't tell me it's that girl we saw you looking at earlier."

Ayaan scowled, trying to play it cool. "What girl?"

"Naina, the one from the canteen" Rohan continued, a teasing glint in his eyes. "You know, the one who you made us get the name off.

Ayaan gritted his teeth but kept his expression neutral. "I know."

"Uh-huh," Arjun said, raising an eyebrow. "What's the deal? She's not your usual type."

Ayaan didn't respond immediately. It was true—Naina wasn't like the girls who usually caught his attention. He was used to the bold, confident types, the ones who flirted and made their interest known. Naina, on the other hand, was quiet, introverted, and kept to herself. But there was something about that. Something that made him want to figure her out.

Before he could say anything, one of the girls from his football team, Tanya, leaned in from the side and wrapped her arm around Ayaan's shoulder. "Hey, you're coming to the party, right? You better not ditch us again this year."

She leaned a little too close, her perfume heavy in the air.

Ayaan, though usually unfazed by attention, felt a sudden distaste at her proximity. There was a shift, something different in the way he felt today, and it had nothing to do with Tanya's flirtations. He found himself getting repelled by it, the constant flirting, the attention, all of it. His mind kept drifting back to the girl in the canteen, to Naina and those eyes.

"Yeah, I'm coming," he said, shaking off Tanya's arm. "But I've got things to focus on right now."

Rohan, ever the tease, raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, we get it, Ayaan. No need to act all brooding. Just make sure you're at the party. Everyone's expecting you to bring your A-game."

---

The evening passed, and Ayaan managed to slightly shake the thoughts of Naina. The gym had been a welcome distraction, as the endorphins from his workout made him feel a little more grounded. As he walked back to the hostel, the clock was ticking closer to 9:00 PM.

Ayaan made his way down the familiar paths leading to his building, his body still warm from the intense workout. But something caught his attention.

He saw her again.

Naina. She was walking alone down the campus path, her head slightly bowed, as if deep in thought, her caramel-highlighted hair swaying gently in the breeze. For a moment, Ayaan froze. He hadn't expected to see her out here this late, and the sight of her walking alone at night made something stir inside him.

She wasn't dressed up; instead, she wore a cozy sweatshirt and cargos, her casual look only making her more endearing. Her hair was braided neatly, and Ayaan found himself admiring the way it framed her face.

But it wasn't just her appearance that had caught his attention. No, it was the soft sound of her humming a familiar tune, an SRK love song—a melody that resonated in his chest like an echo of something deeper. The sound was almost hypnotic, and as Ayaan walked closer, he couldn't help but listen, mesmerized by the way her lips moved, her voice soft and sweet.

She hadn't noticed him yet, so he took a few more steps, his curiosity growing.

But just as he was about to get closer, she turned her head, her dark eyes widening as she saw him.

Their eyes met.

Ayaan felt a jolt in his chest. Something he couldn't explain. He stopped in his tracks for a brief second, surprised by the intensity of the moment. Naina's eyes flickered in recognition, and the slightest blush appeared on her cheeks.

She was just as surprised to see him standing there.

Her gaze darted away quickly, as if she wasn't quite sure how to react. Ayaan's heart skipped a beat. For a moment, it felt like the world had paused around them. He could see the slight nervousness in her posture and the way she held herself, but it only made him want to understand her more.

With a half-smile, he took a step forward, his voice soft, but deliberate.

"That was you singing?," he asked.

Naina's eyes widened in surprise. "Y...Yeah." she said, looking down. She didn't want others to know about her singing.

Ayaan grinned, a mischievous spark in his eyes. "I didn't know you sing so well."

She blinked, still trying to process his words. He could see the shy smile tugging at the corners of his lips, and it made something tighten in her chest.

"I...I don't sing that much." she said, a hesitant glint in her eyes.

Ayaan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Maybe you should."

For a brief moment, they stood there, the air around them crackling with an unspoken connection. Naina shifted her weight from one foot to the other, looking everywhere but directly at him, clearly a little embarrassed.

Ayaan took a small step closer, his voice lowering slightly. "You know, I don't think I've ever been this curious about anyone."

Naina's eyes flickered up to his again, her cheeks flushing at the implication in his words. But before either of them could say anything else, she quickly glanced away and mumbled, "Well, I should probably... go now."

Ayaan didn't let her walk away just yet. There was something magnetic about her, something he couldn't shake. As she started to turn, he reached out gently, his fingers brushing against her arm.

"Don't run off so soon," he said softly. "I'm not done with you yet."

Naina paused, her breath hitching slightly, but she didn't turn back to face him. She just kept walking, and Ayaan stood there, watching her disappear into the night.

Ayaan chuckled at her timid nature, and ran his hand through his hair.

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