• Chapter 17: Class •

[The next day, University]

Mayukh headed to class. He was happy that he had just gotten an amazing grade in his assignment and was also excited to start planning the semester ball. He entered class and was greeted by a bunch of stares: admiring one's, lustful ones and some even irritated ones. He ignored them and sat in his seat, at the back.

Soon, class started but Mayukh's eyes were scouting for one person.

Had she reached already? Did she sit? Where?

He kept on pondering while trying to focus when suddenly, his eyes fell on the door as his professor stopped talking. Her.

She looked so nervous. She was clutching her handbag tightly as she entered and he could hear the conversation between her and the professor as he was on a microphone.

"Ah yes! Welcome!" He said to her and then turned to us, "She'll be joining us from today."

He then looked at her again, "I believe Mr Kumar had told Mayukh to take care of you." His senses got alert at his name and he watched her nod and professor continue,

"Excellent decision, okay so he's seated over there." Sir said pointing at him, "why don't you go sit with him? He'll help you catch on."

She looked at him and he saw her face tense and then she looked back and nodded.

Mayukh POV:

Slowly, she made her way near me. Her eyes glued on the floor. knew she was scared. This class is filled with high end people and half of them are simps of Riya, who must have poisoned their minds against her. I could see Riya glaring at us in a jealous and despiteful way, but I ignored it as Nikita came and stood next to me.

I watched her. She looked scared yet beautiful. Her skin tight plain white dress highlighting her curves, with full sleeves and a U-neck, ending just above her knees and shoes underneath. Her hair braided as usual and a few strands falling in front. She was beautiful and really hot.

I looked at her and then down and realized my bag had taken the seat, so I gently lifted it and kept it on the ground and gestured for her to sit. She slowly sat down, her eyes everywhere but at me.

Why doesn't she look at me?

"Good Morning." I whispered, coming close.

"Good Morning." She said, in the same volume.

"Did you check your assignment last night?"

"Y..Yes."

"Happy with it?"

She nodded, looking ahead.

"Good." I said, and continued looking ahead.

I like her, but I didn't want my attention to drop. I still needed to focus well in my classes. After almost an hour of class, we got a break. Everyone started heading out to take a walk or have a chat with friends. I looked at her. She stayed rooted in her place, reading the lecture slides with upmost detail. I chuckled, grabbing her attention.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing. I was wondering how you haven't even realized it's break."

"Oh." She looked around and realized, "Yeah."

I looked at her, grabbing her attention, "Is there something?"

"Yes." I said, coming close to her.

"What?" She asked.

But before I could continue, I got a call from Dad. I knew she's not safe in this class. Riya and all pounce on her instantly. I headed outside and caught Ved just outside the door, "Bro listen."

"Yes brother. Tell?"

"Nikita is alone in the class..."

"Awwww! You want to take care of her!" Ved teased.

"Shut up! Listen to me. Riya and all will pounce on her. Look at this class it's all filled with people who look down on Nikita. Riya already has anger towards her, can you go sit with her till I'm back? Take our brothers with you, but please go for a second."

"Right. Yes okay. I'll go. I'll check with Arup."

"Okay bro. Thank you!"

I hugged him and headed outside. At the same time, I was nervous for Nikita.

Nikita POV:

This class is scary. I shouldn't have taken this elective. There are so many other electives. I could have done Psychology, but no! I'm stuck here. I could see piercing gazes on me, full of hatred and annoyance.... not one with warmth.

What did I do wrong?

What am I doing wrong that people dislike me?

Mayukh had stepped out of the class to attend a call and now I'm sitting here alone. I could see Riya walking up to me and I just prayed that it wasn't me she was coming to. I held my bag tightly, hoping to leave. I didn't notice but I felt safe only when he was around, without him I feel lost and vulnerable.

"Well well well, if it isn't the new class topper!" Riya's irritated yet mocking voice echoed.

I looked and got up, I didn't know what to say.

"You are desperate. You followed Mayukh in this clsss as well?" Are you serious?! Do you have no shame at all?"

I could feel tears coming. I didn't do anything as such.

"Save this shit for those who care. Your crocodile tears don't have any value here." She said.

I wiped my tears and faced her, "What have I done to you?" I asked.

"Well, I don't think anyone would take it kindly that some village girl is constantly hitting on her boyfriend right?"

Boyfriend? But Mayukh yelled at her in front of me then how did she get him as a boyfriend? What's going on between them?

"I... I didn't know he's your boyfriend... I thought..." I left it, not wanting to bring up the past of him yelling at her.

She came closer, "You thought we broke up since he yelled at me that day." She smirked, "Babe that's common. He has a high temper. I know for him 3 years. He got mad and then came to my room after that... and let's just say, I don't need to go into details after that."

I gulped. I was feeling heartbroken even though he wasn't mine to get upset about. A part of me suggested Riya was lying but a huge part said to accept it as the truth and stay away from this entire group.

"I know what you want Nikita." She said and my eyes shot up.

Does she know about my scholarship?

"W..What?" I whispered.

She came closer and whispered, "I know you have a heavy scholarship and otherwise this University is out of your league. If you want to keep the scholarship then you have to give me what I want."

I felt tears coming again. Why God, why?

"What... can I give you?" I asked.

"See sweetie. I'm not a bad person." She said, waving her hair, "You give me what I want, I give you what you want."

I turned to her fully, giving my attention.

"You want the scholarship and your chances to study here and the most benefits from this University, correct?" She asked.

I nodded slowly, feeling as tho I've been caught.

"And I want Mayukh. I want you to stop getting in the way of both of us."

"I... I'm not. I stay away..."

"But he doesn't. Right?"

I nodded.

"Typical of him. Whenever he sees something new, he feels the need to explore that new thing and then come back to his constant." She then looked at me in the eye, "I am his constant."

I nodded slowly. "What can I do, then?"

"Make him hate you. Make him despise you that he finds nothing interesting in you. Be so repulsive that he wants to leave you."

I nodded, my heart breaking slightly.

"In return, I promise to nominate you for the upcoming MUN, and give you as many internal benefits for your grades as you'd like."

Before I could answer, a loud, husk voice echoed, "Riya? What are you doing?"

We turned and saw Ved Roy coming towards us with another Roy. I wasn't sure about his name.

They walked up to us and Ved Roy was standing in front of me, talking to Riya.

"I don't know what you're doing here, but please let's not create drama. Go to your seat." He said.

She looked at him glaring, then looked at me, "Consider what I said Nikita." She said and left.

I stood in shock. What do I do now?

"Hey." Ved turned and said. I looked at him. He was shorter than Mayukh but was still good looking. I guess good genes run in the family!

"Hi." I said, not maintaining eye contact.

"Don't listen to what she says, okay?"

I nodded, confused.

"Come. Sit." He said. I sat and he added, pointing at an empty seat near me, "Can I sit here?"

"Yeah." I said and removed my bag.

He made himself comfortable and continued, "So, how are you finding the class?"

"Good."

"Did you manage the assignment?"

I nodded. I didn't want to tell that Mayukh helped me, I don't know what he'd think, but to my surprise, he only spoke, "Did Mayukh help?"

"Huh." I was shocked. How did he know? "Yes."

"He mentioned it." Ved replied, almost reading my mind.

Mayukh POV:

After my call, I entered class and saw Nikita in conversation with Ved. Phew! At least not Riya! She was sitting and talking to Ved slowly.

Why doesn't she talk? Why's she so silent.

I walked up to them and sat next to Nikita, so that she was in the middle of Ved and I. She got alert, but stayed silent. I noticed her behaviour. Why was she like this?

"Okay class! Settle down! Enough break! Let's get back to class!" The professor spoke.

We got back to listening to him and focused on his class, with my mind drifting off to Nikita, who was sitting focused next to me.

Once class ended, I could see her gather her stuff very quickly and leave. I grabbed her hand and stopped her, "Where are you running?"

"I..." I saw her look around then look at me with anger in her eyes, "Leave me alone. For good." She pulled her hand away and left. I stood in shock as to what happened to her. This isn't her. She wouldn't just yell like that.

"Woah! What happened to her?" Ved asked.

"I don't know." My eyes still following her as she was walking away.

"Did you say anything?"

"I didn't. I just asked her where she's going."

"Why is she ignoring us?"

"I don't know. Did Riya talk to her?"

"She..... did." Ved said slowly, "Is that why she's being this way?"

"Obviously. We need to find out what she said."

"How? We can't directly ask, we can't use cameras."

"Let's try asking. If not us, maybe she'll tell someone."

"If not then?"

"I have my own ways to make her talk then." Mayukh said and smirked.

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