ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ [ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ]

• Chapter 8: The Bet! •

[The Library]

Nikita scouted through piles of books and notes as she proceeded to work on her assignment. She could hear couples giggling in the corner, and was trying her best to ignore it, but it was annoying her.
A library is for studying!

She was about to head off when suddenly she saw someone sit next to her. She turned and found Mayukh, making himself comfortable next to her.
"You?" She asked, now more nervous than ever.
"Yes. Me." He leaned his hand on the table.
She stayed quiet as she looked down and then tried to get back to her work.
"Are you coming on Saturday?" He asked.
"Where?" She said, not looking up.
"You don't know where?" He teased.
"No."
"Come on! You don't need to play this dumb!"
She turned to him, anger slowly rising on her nose, "I don't know."
"To Freshers."
"Oh. I... I don't think so."
He turned to her and moved her chair to face him. She gripped her chair tightly.
"Why not?" He asked in his deep voice.
"I... it's not my thing."
"What's not your thing?"
"Parties." She looked down.
"Hmm, what if I tell you that you will come?" He smirked.
"Then... I... you'd be wrong."
"Do you know me?" He asked and she nodded, "If you knew me, you'd know I'm never wrong."
When she didn't reply, he continued, "I'm gonna see you on Saturday."
"No."
"Wanna bet?"
Her eyes widened at his words. A bet, with him?!
I need to avoid him, not make bets with him.
"No."
"Be a sport Nikita."
She looked at him, "N...No."
"We're making this bet. If you win, I'll do whatever you say."
"And... if you win?" 
He smirked, "If I win, you do whatever I say."
She gulped. She was going to deny again when Mayukh took her hand in his and announced, "So it's done! See you Saturday!"
Saying so, he left.

What did I get myself into? She sat and thought.

~~~

[Tulip Towers, 9pm]

"So what are you planning to wear?" Aisha asked Krutika.
"I'm thinking a dress. Wanna look hot!"
"Ohhh! Same! I have a ballroom dress, but that might be too much. Maybe club vibes?"
"What about you Niki?" Krutika asked Nikita, who says silently in thought of a bet she got herself into. 
"Huh?" Nikita asked.
"Freshers? What are you planning to wear?"
"Oh. I... I'm not going."
"Why!!!" Krutika asked.
"It's not my thing. I get uncomfortable."
"Makes sense."
"I'll be helping you two get ready though!"
"Of course!"
"Let's go sleep now. We have 8am classes tomorrow!" Aisha groaned.
"I know!" Nikita agreed, "it's too early."

Soon, the girls were off to their rooms. Nikita stayed awake wondering how she can keep herself away from the party. She was scared to get involved in any way with the Roy men. Either of them. She had made a mental note to stay away from all of them because they have the power to break her if she gets on their bad side. She couldn't afford to lose this opportunity.

She decided to go for a walk to the grocery store on campus to buy groceries for tommorow to distract time.
10pm, it's not that late. She thought.

She put on a proper sweatshirt and changed her shirts into proper track pants and tied her hair in a clip and made her way outside. Walking towards the grocery store, she was amazed to see  how lively the campus was, even at 10pm. She quickly reached the supermarket but found it to be closed.
"Hey! It's always closed by 10pm?" She asked a security guard.
"No dear. Just today. The manager wasn't feeling great so he shut it early."
"Oh okay."
"You can come back tommorow."
"Okay."

She left and stood somewhere out of sight. She had to go today, she needed those groceries otherwise she might forget tommorow. Sighing, she decided to go outside the campus to get it from the nearby grocery store.

She was about to exit when a deep voice stopped her, "Where are you going?"
She turned to see Mayukh, in his football jersey.
"I... I need to get groceries."
"At 10:15pm?"
"Yes."
"Can't you get it from inside?"
"It's closed."
"Oh." He sighed and came closer and looked around, "Come." He gestured her to follow.
"What? Where?"
"I'll take you. I can't let you go this late."
"I'll be fine. I'm used to it."
"I know, but you're coming with me right now." He said and grabbed her hand as she helplessly followed him and he unlocked his car, gesturing her to sit inside.
"I... I don't think this is a good idea."
"You going alone in an unknown city is a good idea then?"
She stared at him, without an answer.
"Exactly!" He said with his victory smirk, "Now sit."
She did as she was told and settled herself in the front seat of his car, as he adjusted himself in his seat.

Nikita had never seen such a car before. She was amazed at its internal and external beauty. She was looking around cluelessly until her eyes fell on Mayukh, who was looking at her. "Ready?"
She nodded and he accelerated.

Within 3 minutes, they were in front of the only 24/7 grocery store nearby. She got down and walked inside while he followed. She quickly picked up the items she needed and paid for them and made her way outside. Mayukh was amazed at how fast she managed to finish everything.
"You're done?" He asked and she nodded, "So quickly?"
"I knew what I wanted."
"Let's go then."
She nodded and made her way to the car.

As she settled herself, she realised how different their world is. She does the grocery at her house every month, while he has no idea what coriander might look like. She used to work in University to get money to support her father. It was a silent drive to the University and once they reached, she got down and thanked him for the ride.
"Thanks."
"No problem. See you Saturday." He smirked.
She hesitated, "No."
"We'll see." He caressed her hand and left her at the gates of her building, utterly confused.

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