ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ [ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ]

• Chapter 18: Her distance, his approach •

[University, 5pm]

Nikita POV:

I should just take her offer. I have no reason not to. She'll give me what I want and I'll give her what she wants. She wants me to stay away and I can do that, it's not me who goes all the time. Plus, nothing is more important than my career and my scholarship.

I sighed and finally left the library, where I had hidden myself since class ended. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I didn't want to get involved with anyone. I picked up my phone to see Aisha calling.

"Where are you?!" Her voice echoed.
"Library." I said, softly.
"Why?"
I didn't reply. How do I tell her I want to avoid the Roy's and Riya?
"Nikita?"
"Y...yeah..." I said, "I'm fine. I was studying."
"Okay. Come home now. We need to talk."
"Okay."

~~~

[Tulip Towers, 6pm]

"Okay so? Tell me what's bothering you?" Aisha asked.
The two girls were sitting in the balcony of Aisha's room. Krutika had gone to a party with her friends and so, Aisha and Nikita had taken their dinner in the balcony as they sat and spoke.
"Okay. I'll tell you everything." Nikita said, fixing her hair in a bun while adjusting her shorts and sweater,
"Yes." Aisha said, grabbing her cup of coffee.
"It began on the day we arrived. I had bumped into Mayukh, Mayukh Roy, and I had ignored it. Later on, I see him with you guys and whenever I see him, I'd feel weird. It would feel safe yet intimidating and I don't know how to explain it."
"Ooooo!" Aisha teased.
"Aisha!" Nikita hit her hand lightly, "Listen!"
"Okay sorry! Continue!"
"So, when you all became friends, I stayed away. Then, he used to keep coming towards me. When he invited everyone for freshers, I met him that day coincidentally and he asked if I was coming to freshers and I said no, he then made a bet with me that I'd come. I ended up coming because Krutika was drunk, I was going to pick her up and leave but he saw me."
"Oh. Then?"
"Then.... I had to follow the bet and... he wanted to dance."
"Omg!!! You danced with Mayukh!!!" Aisha said.
"Not willingly. I could feel the stares and glares and luckily not everyone could see us because of the darkness but..."
"But?"
"Riya saw us. She came to me the next day when I was getting food and said that I..."
"You what?" Aisha sensed her friend becoming upset, "Tell me." She held Nikita's hand.
"She said I spread my legs for Mayukh, and that I... I was a slut." Nikita said, tearing up.
"What the heck?!" Aisha screamed.
"I... I didn't reply because I have a lot at stake here. The next day, when we were going out to see Mumbai and you went ahead to book a cab, Kru went to the washroom and I was coming to you but Riya and her friends saw me and said that I was getting better and learning and warned me to stay away because Mayukh wouldn't fall for a village girl."
Aisha was getting angrier within every second.
"I was gonna ignore and walk away, but she said I went to dance with him whereas it was him who came to me... I tried to correct her but she got angry and was going to yell at me but he came in between."
"He? Mayukh?!" Aisha asked.
"Yes, and his brothers. They... He yelled at Riya and defended me and Riya got mad and said that she can easily get me kicked out.... And Mayukh reverted back by saying that he can get her kicked out, along with her mother."
"Oh my God! No way!" Aisha exclaimed.
"She left... and that night when we came back, i met him and... he took me to this nice like garden, and I... I couldn't."
"He likes you babe."
"No. He doesn't."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because today in class, Riya said that he sees women for their bodies. She came to class and she said I was so desperate for him that I came to his class.... She said I was faking my tears."
"That girl?!"
"She made me an offer then."
"An offer?"
"Yeah. She said that I stay away from Mayukh, as much as I can and in return, she'd help me get the most out of the university."
"What? What does that mean?" Aisha asked.
"Extra credits, internal competitions, external representative events like MUN."
"She'd help you in that."
"Yes."
"You really think she has any intention of helping you?"
"I mean, why not? She gets her boyfriend and I get my grades."
"Wait! Boyfriend?"
"She said that Mayukh is her boyfriend."
"Didn't he yell at her and defend you?"
"He did, but she said that this is common between them and that... that they went to her room later and...."
"Yuck, okay. So what do we do?"
Nikita sighed and got up, "I'm gonna give her what she wants. I'm gonna stay away from him."
"What if he comes to you?"
"He won't. I'll be rude and push him away, and I'll just keep myself busy."
"I don't know if it'll work."
"It'll work. It has to." She said, "I'm gonna sleep now. Goodnight."
"Goodnight babe."

Nikita walked into her room, tired by the day's events. All she wanted was a relaxing university life.

~~~~

Mayukh POV:

"Any update?" I asked Ved as soon as he entered.
"Nope. Her minions don't know much, which I don't believe. There must be another way to get this out of her." Ved said.
I sat down. I didn't like how rude she became and I know why she's being rude. I know that's not her and I needed an answer.
"I need to figure this out." I said walking around.
"Mayukh...." Ved said, turning around, "Why is she bothering you so much?"
"What?"
"Why's Nikita bothering you so much? Why does her every action bother you?"
"Because.... I... I want her." I said, more to myself.
I didn't realise how much her presence is addicting to me. I need her around.
"You do?" Ved asked, "You're ready?"
"I am." I said, sighing.
I didn't think I'd be open to another woman after what happened, but I don't think Nikita that. I don't want her going away, she's mine.
"What do we do?"
"Well, for starters, I don't want her to be scared of me. I need to know what triggers the fear."
"How do we do that?"
"By leaving her no choice but to be around us." I smirked.
"Okay! Sleep now! We figure tomorrow."
"You sleep. I need to grab a few things."
"Okay!"

I walked out of my room and made my way to my car. I walked around until I saw Tulip Towers. I smirked mentally and made my way to the door.
She lives on flat 203, doesn't she? Interesting.

Every flat has an exit route through the fire exit. No one knows it because they don't need it and it's not said out loud unless necessary. I am aware because I was there when this building was redesigned.

Slowly, I reached the balcony door. I saw her look at me as she was standing in her balcony.

I looked at her—she looked oddly comfortable? That's a boost. I guess.

"What are you doing here?!" She whispered.

"Hey babe." I said, climbing the little fence and reaching the balcony, "Can I come in? If you're okay with it?"

She looked at me, and gave a small nod, "Come."

I smiled. I wouldn't want to come in unless she said okay. Once she said yes, I entered.

I was about to speak when suddenly she looked down and saw Riya walking downstairs. She got alert and quickly pulled me in the room and closed the balcony. She then leaned against the wall and was panting heavily until she relaxed.

It hurt me to see her like this. I didn't want her to be so scared.

"Nikita..." I said, coming closer, "Why did you react like that?"
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I want to meet you. Is that a problem?"
"What. No.... But, You... you need to go."

I came closer and held her hand. Her other hand pressed her sweater tightly.

"Why are you so scared of me?" I asked.
"I..." she didn't reply.
"You what?"
"Go, Mayukh... please..." she whispered.

I looked at her. They was the first time she took my name—She said my name! I really wanted to kiss her, but I couldn't.

I looked at her. She was looking down, her hair in a messy bun, her oversized sweater and her shorts. She looked beautiful.
I smirked and I made my way to the balcony door, with my eyes fixed on hers. She looked up and caught my eyes and instantly looked away. Once I reached the balcony, I turned to her and smirked, "Sleep well."

She gave me a confused yet shocked look while I made my way down her flat and onto the campus grounds.

Once I reached my room, I smiled to myself.
You're mine, Nikita. It's time to make you mine.

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