𝐔𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 'Professor Student Romance' (BOOK 1)

|29|•ᴀ ᴍᴏɴᴛʜ ᴀᴘᴀʀᴛ•

BONDITA

O

ne month had passed since Ani and I broke up. No matter how hard I tried to forget him and push his thoughts away, I couldn’t. I buried myself in my studies, hoping the rigors of academic life would provide a distraction, but nothing worked. Each passing day felt like a slow descent into hopelessness. I wanted to run to him and confess that I still loved him. Yet, a part of me held back, convinced that loving him meant letting him go.

Days melded into weeks, and with each one, I felt him slipping further away. The thought of him forgetting me and our love was a knife to my heart. But, paradoxically, it also brought a strange solace. If he was moving on, maybe he could find happiness in the future. The idea hurt deeply, a pain I couldn’t articulate, but I clung to the belief that it was for the best.

In this month, we hadn’t exchanged a single word. We only saw each other in class, but there were no stolen glances, no whispered questions. It seemed like he was as broken as I was. Binoy uncle had mentioned that Ani would only be teaching for a month, and with just two days left, the reality of never seeing him again hit hard. My heart shattered at the thought. Why would Kanha Ji bring us together if we were never meant to be?

A sudden jolt snapped me out of my thoughts. Ani’s voice cut through the classroom, commanding, “Bondita, to my cabin, now!” And with that, he left.

I stood up, realizing class had ended while I was lost in my mind. Why was Ani calling me to his cabin after a month of silence? What was he up to? I needed to find out.

Ignoring Mini’s concerned glance, I made my way to his cabin. My footsteps echoed in the empty hallway, each step a reminder of the distance that had grown between us. Taking a deep breath, I forced a smile, not wanting him to see how broken I truly was. He knew I had just used him, or at least that’s what I wanted him to believe.

Before I could knock, the door swung open. Ani stood there, smiling, but it wasn’t his usual smile. It felt forced, strained, a mirror to my own attempts at pretense. Ignoring the pang in my chest, I asked, “What...what do you want?”

He studied me for a moment, his eyes softening. I looked away, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze. He sighed, stepping aside. “What do I want, huh? Good question... Why don’t you come in first?”

His words weren’t a request. They were an order. My heart pounded as I hesitated at the threshold.

One...
two...
thre—

“I didn’t request you. I ordered you to come in!” His voice was sharp, his posture rigid with arms crossed over his chest.

I stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind me. Facing him after a month felt surreal. My nerves were raw, just like the first time I wanted to confess my love to him. I had no idea what awaited me in his cabin, but I couldn’t back down now.

As I moved towards him, just five steps away, the silence was palpable. Not a single word was exchanged. Ani walked closer to me, retrieving something from the desk. He stopped just a step away and handed me an envelope—a fancy red, old-fashioned envelope. I looked at him, confused, and he simply said, "Open."

Slowly, I took the envelope and began to open it. My eyes narrowed as I took in its contents. It was Tulika and Ani’s wedding card. I looked at Ani, my face betraying no emotion, as he said, "Bondita Das! This is a special invitation from the groom himself!"

I handed him the envelope again, saying firmly, "I'm not coming." I turned to leave, but he grabbed my hand tightly and pulled me back, shocking me.

I struggled to free myself, but he didn’t let go. “The question is why can't you come, huh?” He paused, waiting for an answer. When I didn’t respond, he continued, “Ohho... I got it. You don't have money to buy that good lehenga and all the jewelry. Don't worry, Bondita, that's not a big deal. I've already bought you everything. Each and every dress for every function, and also real jewelry too!”