Chapter 12: CHAPTER 10

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Ab in 2 hourse I'll be living for somewhere in meri pyari Delhi.

Now please don't except next chapter for 2-3 days coz it's my brother's Roka ceremony nd I have to enjoy.

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Reyansh's POV

The restaurant buzzed with laughter and the clinking of glasses, a cacophony of joy wrapping around me like a familiar blanket.

I stood near the bar, cradling a mocktail as the vibrant colors of the drinks swirled around me.

The lavish restaurant, usually a place of comfort and indulgence, felt like a gilded cage tonight.

My gaze kept snagging on Noor across the room, her laughter ringing like a melody I was no longer privy to. She was radiant, her eyes sparkling as she talked animatedly with Rohan.

They were deep in conversation, their laughter ringing out like music, and I felt like a ghost haunting my own life. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy as I watched Noor throw her head back, laughter spilling from her lips, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

It stung more than I expected, an unexpected twist to this family dinner.

My knuckles turned white as I gripped the stem of my mocktail. Yes, a mocktail. I hadn't even bothered with a proper drink. My usual whiskey seemed inadequate to dull the sharp pang of… was it jealousy? I hated that word, jealousy.

It felt petty and childish, like something Rohan would feel. But the way Noor’s eyes lit up for him, the way she leaned in, her hand occasionally brushing his arm, it was like a constant, slow burn within my chest.

It was even more infuriating because just last week, she wouldn't even look at me. My fault, of course. I had suspended her on a flimsy pretext, misunderstanding a situation completely, and now I was paying the price.

Her cold shoulder was a punishment I deserved, but somehow, seeing her so happy with someone else, especially my brother, felt like a different kind of torture.

Rohan, ever the social butterfly, was oblivious to the barely contained storm brewing inside me.

“Bhai, you’re being such a bore,” he said, his grin wide. “Let’s dance. Come on, all three of us!”

“No, thanks. I’m good here,” I replied, taking a long sip of my drink, hoping it would wash away the knot forming in my chest.

The phone in my pocket buzzed insistently, providing a welcome distraction. “Excuse me,” I said, excusing myself from the conversation.

I stepped away from the bar, trying to focus on the call. It was just work, or at least, it should have been. Five minutes later, I hung up, my mind still preoccupied with the scene unfolding a few feet away.

I glanced back to find Rohan and Noor dancing, their bodies swaying to the soft music, her laughter ringing out again. Rohan leaned in, whispering something, and she giggled, her cheeks flushing.

That was it. I felt a surge of irritation. Maybe it was jealousy; maybe it was something deeper. Whatever it was, it was enough to push me into action. It was a sight that clenched my jaw so tightly that I thought my teeth might break.

A wave of something possessive, something primal, washed over me.

I needed her attention. I needed her to look at me, even if it was with disdain.

I moved towards them, a plan forming in my mind. I tapped Rohan’s shoulder, my touch more forceful than necessary.

He turned, his smile faltering slightly. “What’s up, bro?”

“Mom’s calling you,” I fabricated, my voice low and even.

“Seriously?” Rohan raised an eyebrow, but I could see the amusement flicker in his eyes. “Alright, I’ll be right back.”

She was already turning away, probably to go back to her family, when I caught her wrist. Her skin was smooth and warm beneath my fingers.

I didn't give her a chance to protest, pulling her toward me, her hand landing on my chest.

For a moment, she stood stiff, her gaze fixed somewhere over my shoulder.

“Noor,” I murmured, my thumb caressing her knuckles.

I never called by her name. But today it was something that forced my heart to call her Noor.

Such a beautiful name just like her.

I could feel the tension between us, thick and unyielding.

“Just…” I murmured, my voice barely a whisper. I took her right hand with my left, placing her left hand on my shoulder. “Just look at me.”

For a moment, she hesitated, her expression unreadable. But then she seemed to relent, her gaze softening just a fraction.

I pulled her closer, trying to convey everything I felt in that moment—my regret, my frustration, my longing. The music had slowed, a soft, sensual melody, and I pulled her closer.

“Please just look at me.” I stepped closer grabbing her waist, my voice dropping to a whisper, desperation threading through it. “I didn't mean to doubt you. I'm sorry. I was wrong.”

“Please,” I whispered, my voice rough. I had to make her understand. I tightened my arm around her waist and held her tight.

I had to make her see, hear, the genuine regret I felt. I moved to the rhythm of the music, and even she began to sway slightly.

“I’m sorry, Noor,” I said, my voice low and husky, barely audible above the music.

“I was wrong. I messed up. I shouldn’t have suspended you.” I should have trusted her. I should have talked to her. I shouldn’t have let my frustration and… feelings for her… cloud my judgement.

Silence was her only answer. She just stared into my eyes, her expression unreadable. I was drowning in that silence, in the way she refused to acknowledge my apology. It was torture, exquisite and terrible at the same time.

Unable to bear it any longer, I leaned in, pressing a tender kiss on her shoulder, hoping to bridge the distance that had grown between us.

But instead of the warmth I expected, her silence felt like a wall, cold and impenetrable.

Just as I was about to speak again, the music abruptly stopped. She pulled away from my touch so fast that it made my head spin.

Without a word, without another look, she turned and walked towards her parents. I watched her go, my heart sinking with each step.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, following her.

The sight of our parents together, laughing as if the world didn’t contain any problems, made my heart sink further.

Rohan and Noor were once again engrossed in conversation, their heads tilted together, sharing secrets. Jealousy bubbled up inside me, hot and uncomfortable.

The easy camaraderie between them was like a knife twisted in my gut.

Then I heard it. “Hot lag rahi ho kaafi ,” Rohan was saying, his voice low and teasing, and Noor laughed, her cheeks coloring a pretty pink.

(You are looking so hot.)

I couldn't take it anymore. When she moved towards her mother, my hand shot out, smacking Rohan lightly on the back of his head.

“Tameez se, student hai meri.” I said, my voice tight, my possessiveness a sharp, ugly thing.

(Respect her, she's my student.)

Rohan giggled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Aukat mein, bhaiya. She’s my friend.”

(Be in limit bro, she's my friend.)

My eyes widened. Friend? He was testing my patience. I smacked him again, harder this time. “What do you mean by friend?”

“Relax, bhai,” he giggled, "I was just kidding."

“Yeah, right,” I muttered, shaking my head. “You’re incorrigible.”

With that, we both turned to our parents, who were already saying their goodbyes to the Sharma's.

I felt a pang of disappointment wash over me as I realized the evening was drawing to a close. Noor had barely spoken to me, and every moment felt like it was slipping through my fingers.

As we all exchanged pleasantries, I caught Noor’s eye again. She looked away quickly, her cheeks tinged with color.

I hated that I could still feel the warmth of her presence, the way her laughter echoed in my mind, the way her silence felt like a storm.

Back at home, I was restless, the image of Noor and Rohan together burned into my mind.

I should have been grading papers, preparing for my lecture tomorrow. But all I could think about was her silence, the way she didn't reciprocate... or even acknowledge, my apology. My mind was a storm.

I had a whole lot of explaining – and apologising – to do. And I had no idea how to start.

Noor's POV

The soft hum of my ceiling fan droned on as I flopped back onto my bed, the faint scent of jasmine from my nightgown mingling.

I rolled over, staring at the ceiling, trying to shake off the thoughts of Crocodile.

Why was he trying so hard to apologize? And then I remembered—the bombshell I’d uncovered today. Crocodile was Rohan’s elder brother.

Ugh, the universe had a twisted sense of humor.

I reached for my phone, my heart skipping slightly as I saw the little red notification bubble. I opened WhatsApp.

There it was—his message. “You looked pretty tonight.”

I couldn’t help but smirk. “Is this a new way of apologizing?” I typed, fingers flying over the screen.

His reply came almost immediately. “No, just a compliment.”

I tilted my head, a grin spreading across my face. “So you’re not trying to apologize anymore?”

“I’m not trying to apologize for complimenting you,” he shot back, a hint of exasperation in his text.

I chuckled softly to myself. “Sounds like you’re digging your own grave, Sir.”

“Don’t twist my words. You’re taking me wrong.”

“Bye, Sir. I don’t want to talk to you,” I typed, trying to keep my tone light, despite the flutter in my stomach.

“Sorry,” he replied, and I couldn’t help but giggle. It was too much fun torturing him a little.

Just then, my phone pinged again. I glanced down and my heart raced.

“Reyansh Malhotra started following you.”

Oh. My. God. I quickly opened his profile, and there it was—his latest post. He looked downright intimidating, with that smirk and those piercing eyes.

How was I supposed to be mad at him when he looked like that?

“No,” I muttered, shaking my head at my own thoughts. I swiftly followed him back and tossed my phone aside, trying to shake off the warmth creeping into my cheeks.

The next day, the campus buzzed with excitement as students shuffled to their respective classes.

I tried my best to act like he didn’t exist as we settled into our seats for his mathematics lecture.

The moment he walked in, I felt my heart lurch. He was wearing that black shirt again, and the way he ran a hand through his hair made me forget how to breathe.

Ignoring him proved to be a challenge. He glanced my way, and I forced my gaze onto my notebook, doodling random shapes instead of focusing on the equations he was scribbling on the board.

Just then he asked students to submit their assignments. I moved towards him and placed my assignment on his table.

“Why are you avoiding me?” he asked, his voice smooth like melted chocolate.

I didn’t respond.

“Seriously, Noor?” he pressed, leaning slightly closer, his breath almost brushing against my ear. “You’re making it hard to teach.”

I shot him a glare and came back to my seat but didn’t say a word.

The lecture wrapped up, and just as I was about to make my escape, a female teacher entered the room.

“Attention, students! We have a fresher’s party coming up next week. You’ll need to prepare accordingly!”

I exchanged glances with Arushi and Aarav, who sat across the aisle, their eyes wide with excitement. “Fresher's? Oh, we have to plan something!” Arushi squealed, her voice ringing with enthusiasm.

“Count me out,” I muttered, but I couldn’t help the smile creeping onto my face. Parties meant fun, laughter, and maybe a chance to let loose a little.

“Don’t be a buzzkill, Noor,” Aarav chimed in, nudging me with his elbow. “It’ll be a blast.”

“Yeah, come on! We can figure out outfits, themes, everything!” Arushi added, bouncing in her seat.

“Fine! But I’m not wearing anything ridiculous,” I conceded, rolling my eyes.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I gathered my things, trying to ignore the way Crocodile’s gaze lingered on me. He stood at the front, arms crossed, looking like a brooding hero in a romance novel.

“Seriously, Noor,” he called out, stepping closer. “Can we please talk?”

“About what?” I replied, feigning indifference.

“About how you’re making this way harder than it needs to be,” he said, his voice low, almost pleading.

“Maybe I enjoy making things hard for you,” I shot back, walking past him with a smirk.

“You think that’s funny?” he asked, clearly frustrated.

“Maybe,” I said, glancing back at him over my shoulder. “But you’ll have to catch me first.”

I dashed out of the classroom, laughter bubbling in my throat. Arushi and Aarav were already waiting by the entrance, their faces alight with excitement.

“Did you see Crocodile’s face?” Arushi giggled. “He looked like he was about to explode!”

“Oh, I know. He needs to learn that I’m not going to make this easy for him,” I replied, feeling a rush of satisfaction.

As we walked through the bustling campus, the chatter of students filled the air. The prospect of the fresher’s party hung over us, like a sweet promise.

As we strolled toward the cafeteria, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Crocodile’s eyes were still on me, even as I focused on the conversation with my friends.

I glanced back to see him standing at the entrance of the building, arms crossed, a scowl on his face.

“Why does he have to look so hot when he’s angry?” I muttered under my breath, earning a curious look from Arushi.

“Who? Crocodile?” she asked, her voice teasing.

“Shut up! I’m not even thinking about him,” I protested, but my cheeks betrayed me, warming under their scrutiny.

“Right,” Aarav smirked. “You just happen to be drawing doodles of him in your notebook.”

“Those are not doodles!” I shot back, trying to sound indignant. “They’re… abstract representations of… frustration!”

They both burst into laughter, and I felt my resolve crumbling.

As we grabbed lunch, the cafeteria buzzed with chatter about the upcoming party.

“Did you hear about the couple’s dance? Apparently, it’s going to be a big part of the night!” Arushi exclaimed, her eyes wide.

“Couple’s dance? Great, just what I need,” I groaned, rolling my eyes. “As if I’ll find someone to dance with.”

“You can always ask me,” Aarav suggested, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“No way! That’s the last thing I’d do,” I replied, my heart racing at the thought. “I’d rather dance with a wall.”

“Come on, it could be fun!” Arushi encouraged.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

After lunch, we headed to the library to brainstorm more ideas for the party. I settled into a cozy corner, flipping through magazines for inspiration.

As I flipped a page, I caught sight of Crocodile walking past the shelves, his expression deep in thought.

“Hey, Noor!” Arushi called from across the table. “What do you think about this dress?”

I turned to see her holding up a flashy red cocktail dress, the fabric shimmering under the library lights.

“Definitely not my style,” I said, shaking my head. “But if you want to turn heads, go for it!”

“What about you?” she asked, her voice curious. “What’s your style?”

“I don’t know. Something simple but elegant,” I mused, biting my lip. “I want to feel comfortable but still look good.”

“Like a classic little black dress?” Aarav suggested, leaning back in his chair. “You can never go wrong with that.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” I admitted, already picturing it in my head. “But I want to add a twist to it.”

We brainstormed for a while, the ideas flowing freely, laughter punctuating our discussions. Just as we were wrapping up, I felt a presence beside me.

I looked up and found Crocodile standing there, a hesitant expression on his face.

“Can we talk now?” he asked, his tone softer than before.

“I’m busy,” I replied, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach.

“Busy with what? Planning how to ignore me?” he shot back, crossing his arms.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not ignoring you. I just don’t want to discuss whatever it is you want to discuss.”

“Maybe I just want to apologize properly,” he said, the edge in his voice gone.

I sighed, unable to resist the pull of his sincerity. “Fine. What do you want to say?”

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if afraid someone might overhear.

“I messed up, Noor. I shouldn’t have suspended you. I thought I was protecting the integrity of the college, but I ended up hurting you instead.”

I could see the regret in his eyes, but it didn’t ease the frustration bubbling inside me. “It’s not just about that, sir. You can’t just throw around your authority without considering the consequences.”

“I know, and I’m sorry,” he said, his voice earnest. “I really am. I didn’t realize how much it would affect you.”

“Yeah, well, it did,” I said, my heart softening despite myself. “But I’m not ready to just forgive and forget.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” he replied, a hint of a smile breaking through his serious demeanor. “But I’d like a chance to make it up to you.”

“What do you have in mind?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“How about a lunch together?” he suggested, his confidence returning.

“Fine,” I said, unable to suppress a smile. “But no more suspensions or misunderstandings, okay?”

“Deal,” he said, extending his hand for a shake.

I took it, feeling the warmth of his grip.

As we left the library, I couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, things were starting to shift between us. I couldn’t wait for the chaos this dinner would bring.

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3029 words.

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