𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐮𝐦𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐲𝐚𝐚𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐚 | 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬 |

✷ 7 ✷

Nisha stood at the college gate, tapping her foot impatiently as she waited.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows on the ground, and the chatter of students filled the air. Suddenly, she noticed Vishal passing by. He caught sight of her and waved enthusiastically.

"Hey, Nisha! What are you doing here all alone?" Vishal called out as he approached her.

Nisha glanced at him and gave a small, polite smile. "Yeah, my class just got over, so-"

Vishal interrupted her with a grin. "Oh, then you're leaving, right?"

She nodded. "Yes, I'm just waiting for-""Come on, then. I'll drop you home," Vishal offered, gesturing towards his bike parked nearby.

Nisha shook her head firmly. "It's not needed, Vishal. Krish will accompany me. He has some work in the staff room, so I'm waiting for him."

Vishal raised an eyebrow and glanced towards the college building. "Oh, but you don't know how long he'll be. If you want, I can drop you off on my bike."

Nisha shook her head again, her eyes scanning the entrance for any sign of Krish.

Vishal smirked and adopted a sad look. "Oh, I get it. You don't trust me. But Nisha, I'm not a bad guy. I can assure you that."

Nisha felt a twinge of guilt at his words. "No, no, it's not like that, Vishal. I trust you. You're my friend."

Vishal leaned closer, his voice soft and persuasive.

"Then why are you denying my help? I'll drop you off safely, I promise."

Nisha hesitated, feeling trapped by his words. She didn't want to offend him, yet she was uncomfortable with the idea of going with someone other than Krish. Finally, she sighed and nodded, hoping Krish would understand.

"Alright, Vishal. Thank you."She climbed onto Vishal's bike, still looking back at the college gate, hoping Krish would appear any moment. It was the first time she was riding with someone else, and an uneasy feeling settled in her stomach as Vishal started the engine and they rode away.

As Nisha reluctantly agreed and climbed onto Vishal's bike, a satisfied grin spread across Vishal's face. His eyes sparkled with a hint of triumph, and the corners of his lips curled upward in a smirk. He glanced back at Nisha, his expression softening slightly to mask his initial smugness, aiming to appear trustworthy and reassuring.

The confident glint in his eyes, however, revealed a deeper sense of satisfaction as he revved the engine and they sped away from the college gate.

As Nisha settled onto the back of Vishal's bike, a wave of unease washed over her. Even though she and Krish had their fair share of fights and arguments, she had never ridden with anyone other than him. Krish had always been her unwavering companion, the one she trusted implicitly. The memory of their bickering and reconciliations brought a pang of nostalgia, contrasting sharply with her current situation.

Vishal's bike roared to life, and Nisha's grip tightened on the seat. She cast one last glance at the college gate, her heart sinking as she realized Krish still hadn't appeared. The familiar rhythm of their friendship felt disrupted, and the sense of security she usually felt with Krish was conspicuously absent.

Nisha couldn't shake the guilt gnawing at her. She mentally replayed their recent arguments, realizing she might have said too much, pushed too hard. The thought of Krish finding out she left with Vishal added another layer of remorse. She mentally promised herself that once she reached home, she would call Krish and apologize. She owed him that much.

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