They were childhood best friends, inseparable until fate tore them apart.
Years later, Avneet returns-hoping, longing-for even a flicker of recognition in Siddharth's eyes.
But he looks at her like a stranger.
Every memory... gone.
Every promise...
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The professor pulled out a sheet of paper and began reading out the final group for the assignment. Only a few names were left.
“And the last team—Siddharth Nigam, Rohan Mehra, Avneet Kaur, and Ashi Singh.”
Siddharth immediately stood up, annoyance written all over his face. “Professor, but… why Miss Avneet Kaur?” he asked, his voice laced with arrogance and a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
The professor let out a tired sigh and adjusted his glasses. “If you have any objections, Mr. Nigam, you can take it up with the principal. The groupings were decided by him. Any further questions?”
Siddharth sat back down, clearly unhappy. “No,” he muttered.
Avneet sat quietly, but her chest ached. He really does hate me… not just dislike, but hate me. Passionately. The thought stung more than she expected.
---
Three hours later, it was finally lunchtime.
Avneet rushed to the cafeteria, stomach growling. She grabbed a burger and a cold coffee and took a quiet corner seat by the window.
Just as she took her first bite, a guy she didn’t recognize sat across from her.
“You’re Avneet Kaur, right?” he asked politely.
She set her burger down and gave him a curious look. “Yeah, that’s me. Do you have some business with me?”
The boy smiled. “No business, just introduction. I’m Rohan Mehra. We’re in the same assignment group, so… I figured we should get to know each other. Maybe even be friends?”
Avneet smiled for the first time that day. “Sure. Why not? I could use a friend. I don’t have many around here anyway.”
“Then it’s official,” Rohan grinned. “You’re not alone anymore.”
They clicked instantly, talking and laughing about college life, favorite music, movies, and their shared dislike for early morning lectures.
Meanwhile, Siddharth entered the cafeteria hand-in-hand with Ashi. But the moment his eyes found Avneet and Rohan laughing together, his steps faltered.
He kept staring.
Ashi noticed. “Sid? Are you okay?”
He blinked. “Yeah… yeah, totally.”
They sat down, and Siddharth scanned the menu distractedly. “I’ll have a salad and mango juice.”
Ashi nodded and walked away to place the order. But the moment she was gone, Siddharth’s eyes snapped back to Avneet and Rohan. His jaw clenched as he watched them. The way Avneet smiled at Rohan—it made his blood boil.
Ashi, getting bored while waiting, wandered back—only instead of returning to Siddharth, she walked straight to Avneet’s table.
“Well, looks like the weirdo got herself a new friend,” she said with a mocking smile.
Avneet looked up and smirked. “Yeah, I did. And seriously, what’s up with you and Siddharth sharing the same cocky tone? So annoying.”
“You—”
Ashi was about to retort when Siddharth suddenly appeared, cutting her off.
Grabbing her hand, he turned to Avneet and said coldly, “Stop wasting your precious time on this crazy woman, Ashi. And you, Crayy Woman”—his nickname for Avneet—“I honestly don’t want to waste my time talking to you, but I guess I have no choice because of the assignment. So let’s just finish it early and avoid seeing each other after that.”
Before Avneet could respond, Rohan leaned forward. “If you don’t want to tolerate Avneet, then let’s split the work. She and I can do one half, and you and Ashi can do the other.”
Siddharth’s eyes darkened. He glared at Rohan like he could kill him with just a stare.
“No,” he said firmly. “All four of us are going to do it together. That’s final. Get that through your head.”
Ashi frowned. “Why do you even care so much about working with her, Sid?”
Avneet leaned back in her chair and scoffed. “Ever heard of something called a name? People use it to address other people. Try it sometime. Otherwise, just f*ck off.”
The two girls were about to start round two of their usual catfight, but Siddharth had had enough.
“ENOUGH!” he suddenly shouted, loud enough for the entire cafeteria to fall silent.
His voice echoed.
“We’ll do the assignment together—even if we can’t stand each other. Got it?”
Everyone stared.
Then, awkwardly, they sat together and discussed the assignment, setting responsibilities and timelines.
---
The bell rang, signaling the end of the lecture schedule.
Avneet checked her timetable—she had no more classes. Grateful, she packed her things and decided to head home early.
But as she walked down the staircase, she slipped—someone had carelessly spilled water there.
Just as she braced for the fall, strong arms caught her midair.
Hazel brown eyes locked with hers, intense and familiar. Her breath caught. Her heart raced.
For a moment, time froze.
Then she heard a voice rushing toward her.
“Avneet! Are you okay?”
Rohan.
She quickly composed herself and stood upright. “Yeah… I’m fine.”
But when she turned to thank the one who caught her—Siddharth—he was already walking away. All she saw was his retreating back.
She stared at him, confused and a little shaken.
Rohan reached her side, concern still on his face. She smiled faintly, waved him off, and walked toward her chauffeur waiting outside.
With that, the day ended—though her thoughts were anything but calm.
˚˖𓍢🌷✧˚.🎀⋆
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