Tangled with Fate | #1st Tangled Hearts Series

1. First Day at Crescendo Heights University

 " You came into my and your mother's life like a light, so remember to be your own light in your darkness. Never let anyone dim your light. You have a fire within you, a spark that can light up even the darkest times. Follow your dreams, be brave, and always stay true to yourself. Remember, I will always be proud of you."

Those were the last words of my papa before he passed away. I could still feel the ache in my heart, a wound that never quite healed.

In the days that followed his death, our home was filled with chaos and grief. Relatives swarmed in, offering condolences and unwelcome advice.

"Annika, you need to take care of your brother and mother now," they said, as if I wasn't already doing everything I could.

"She should get married soon, who will take care of her now?" others whispered, as if my dreams and ambitions were secondary to finding a husband.

"America is not a place for a girl like her. She'll be spoiled," one of them declared with a dismissive wave, as if my aspirations meant nothing.

"Who is going to pay all the money for her education? It's impractical," they argued, as if my future wasn't worth investing in.

Every word felt like a slap, but through it all, there were two constants in my life: my mother and my younger brother, Advik. They stood by me, their support unwavering.

Today is my first day at Crescendo Heights University, and my nerves are in overdrive. New country, new people, new atmosphere—it's a lot to take in. But I can handle it. I've had many foreign friends and clients, and I've always been captivated and inspired to come here. My dream is finally coming true. Since childhood, I've wanted to study in the USA from TV shows, and after all the hard work I put in, I'm finally here. As I walk into the grand hall, I see groups of students chattering and laughing. What impression will I make on them? Oh god, Annika, why are you stressing yourself out? I mumble to myself. Maybe I should try to be a quiet girl and distance myself from social gatherings. "That's not who you are, Annika," my inner self scolds. but i will try.

I close my eyes and pray, "God, just don't make my day hard."I remind myself that I'm here not just for education but for a chance to change my situation so I can provide my brother and mother with the best life. I've been told my class is on the third floor in room 345D. As I search for the room, I nearly collide with a girl rushing in the opposite direction."Whoa, sorry," I exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise. This girl is tall, with striking cat features and a confident demeanor. Well, Annika, every other person is taller than you.

The girl smiles apologetically, "No worries, I should have been watching where I was going."

"I'm Cathrine," she introduces herself. "... wait, I haven't seen you here before. Are you new?"

I return her smile . "I'm Annika Bhatt, from India." 

by adding a nod , i feel relieved to have finally found someone to talk to. " just starting today."

Cathrine's eyes light up with excitement. "Welcome to Crescendo Heights! It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but trust me, you'll love it here. Let me guess, you're here for Professor Josh's class, right?"

My eyes widen in surprise. "How did you know?"

Cathrine chuckles. "Lucky guess. I'm also studying business. But the class isn't happening as it's been rescheduled."......

Cathrine then introduces me to her best friends: Natalia and Elenor. Natalia is  from Bulgaria studying environmental science, while Elenor the princess of Regaloria (which i just can't believe i'm talking to) , who I find the most intriguing, has an air of elegance about her. Despite just meeting them, we hit it off instantly. It's like we've known each other for ages, and before I know it, I'm already feeling at home with these girls. We spent time talking and sharing and now ...

We  were chatting outside the lecture hall for marketing. Natalia turns to me with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Annika, are you single?" she asks.

"Yes, I am," I answer, curious about where this is going.

"Oh, then it seems no guy may stand a chance," Cathrine says with an amused smile. Elenor chimes in, "Anni, have you ever been in a relationship?"

"Yes, I've been in one," I admit, which wrecked me .

Before I can ask more, Natalia suddenly says, "Seems you need some fun, Anni." 

Before I understand what she means, she gives me a playful shove. I stumble  forward , crashing into someone's  hard chest. I look up, almost breaking my neck in the process,  and  find myself gazing into the face of a breathtakingly handsome man.

 His features are so sharp they could sculpt dreams, and his eyes, oh, his ocean eyes are like two pools of liquid sapphire, sparkling with a hint of mischief that sends a shiver down my spine. They're as blue as the sky on a cloudless day, drawing me in like a sailor to a lighthouse in a storm. He looks like he just stepped out of a romantic novel, all chiseled jawline and tousled hair, and in that fleeting moment, I can't help but feel like I've stumbled into a forbidden fantasy.

His deep voice sends shivers down my spine as he says, "Be careful, miss." And just like that, he's gone.

I turn back to the girls, flustered and confused. "What was that, Natalia?"

Elenor laughs. "That was my cousin, Alexander." no way  Annika .

"What? That giant? So he is..." I trail off, realizing the gravity of the situation. He was very tall .He had a good 1 foot over me .

"Yep, that's him," Natalia says with a wink. "Welcome to Crescendo Heights, Annika."

I shake my head, still processing what had happened. "Well, that was an interesting start to the day."

The girls laugh, and I can't help but join in, feeling a strange mixture of excitement and curiosity about what is to come.

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