Love Struck At The Wedding

14. AVNI

The sports day finally came to an end around five in the evening. Despite the busy schedule, my mind kept drifting back to last night—the way his lips felt on mine, his touch searing into my skin, and the kiss in the corridors. It was overwhelming.

Even today, I felt his eyes on me constantly. Whenever I glanced his way, Shaurya's expression was unreadable—serious, composed—but I knew better. There was something between us now that we couldn't ignore, and the thought made me chuckle nervously more than once.

After changing out of my work clothes, I headed to the department room where I told Deepti and Sumit to wait for me. But the moment I walked in, I stopped in my tracks.

Shaurya was there, leaning casually against a desk. Our eyes locked, and my mind flashed back to the kiss. My cheeks flushed, and I knew he noticed because that familiar smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

I quickly packed my things, avoiding his gaze, and said to Deepti, "Let's go. We're getting late." I could feel Shaurya's eyes on me the whole time, but I pretended not to notice.

“Yes, let’s go,” Deepti replied, just as Shaurya's voice cut through the air.

“Wait.” His tone was commanding, and it was clear he wasn’t asking. Both Deepti and Sumit paused as Shaurya approached us. I froze when I felt him standing close behind me—too close.

“Deepti, Sumit, you guys can go. Avni and I have something to take care of,” he said casually, but his voice held authority. My heart raced as I turned around, too quickly, and bumped into him.

His hand instinctively wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. My breath hitched at the sudden proximity, his warmth enveloping me.

Deepti mumbled, “Okay…” and they left, leaving me alone with Shaurya in the empty department room. His eyes held mine, his thumb gently brushing my cheek. “Shall we leave?” he asked, voice soft but firm.

I quickly backed away, embarrassed, realizing we were still in a public space. “Where are we going?” I asked, trying to compose myself.

He raised an eyebrow, amused. “Would you like to have tea with me?” His question caught me off guard.

“What? Why so suddenly?” I stammered.

“There are things we need to discuss,” he said, his tone is serious now. “About last night.”

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words. “Yes, we should talk. There’s something I need to tell you too.”

The ride to the tea stall was quiet. I couldn’t stop fidgeting in the passenger seat, aware of his every movement beside me. We drove farther away from the college, and I was glad—less chance of anyone recognizing us and making assumptions.

Once we arrived, Shaurya went to get tea while I sat down, trying to calm my racing heart. A few minutes later, he returned with two cups and some snacks, setting them down on the small table.

“I want to tell you something,” we both said at the same time, and we laughed. I gestured for him to go first.

He took a deep breath, his eyes serious but vulnerable. “Look, Avni, I don’t know when these feelings started. But they did. When we first met, I didn’t even know who you were. You looked so… breathtaking. I just wanted a reason to talk to you.”

He paused, looking down briefly before continuing. “We met at a family function, and besides your name, I knew nothing about you. Asking about you didn’t feel right. I even asked Nakul once if you were dating someone—sorry about that.”

I smiled slightly, surprised by his honesty.

“The more we met, the more I realized… I like you, Avni. I really like you. And I just want to know if you feel the same. Can we give this a chance?”

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, feeling the weight of his confession. Shaurya had been nothing but honest, and here I was, unsure. Did I like him? Was this just an attraction or something more? The way he’d increased my workload earlier—it wasn’t fair. But maybe he’d done it to get closer, not realizing how it affected me.

Should I tease him a little? “Shaurya,” I said softly, “I… like someone else.”

His expression changed instantly, his face tightening in confusion. “What? What are you saying?”

I looked down, my heart pounding. “There’s someone else I’m interested in.”

“And you expect me to believe that?” he asked, his voice low.

“I’ve never lied to you, Shaurya.”

His eyes bore into mine. “You are now. You think I don’t see it? You’re lying, Avni.” His voice was strained, his frustration evident.

I bit my lip, unable to hold his gaze. He was right. I was lying. But admitting the truth felt too risky, too soon. “I… don’t think we should be together.”

Shaurya stood abruptly, his eyes dark with emotion. “Is this about last night? The kiss?” His question hit me like a punch.

“I don’t regret it,” I whispered. “But I don’t think we can move forward. It’s… complicated.”

He stared at me for a long moment, his jaw clenched. “I see.”

We left the tea stall in silence, the tension thick between us. He drove me home without another word. When I got out of the car, I felt a pang of guilt watching him drive away.

Later that night, as I was getting ready for bed, my phone buzzed. It was Kaashi. I hesitated before picking up.

“Did something happen between you and Shaurya?” she asked, her tone light but knowing.

“What makes you think that?” I tried to sound casual.

“He’s here, Avni. He asked about you, and he seemed… off. You should probably tell me what’s going on.”

I sighed and told her everything. Kaashi listened patiently, and then laughed. “You’re teasing him, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” I admitted. “He likes me, but I’m not sure how I feel.”

“Avni, don’t rush it. If you like him, don’t fight it. But if you’re uncertain, take your time. No pressure.”

I smiled. “You’re right. But the kiss… in the middle of the street… we’re kind of daring, aren’t we?”

Kaashi laughed. “Oh, definitely. Now go to sleep, and let me handle teasing Shaurya tonight.”

I chuckled and hung up, feeling slightly better but still unsure. My heart was at war with itself, and I didn’t know what to do next.

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