Destiny: Time To Fall In Love

Chapter 9 - Reunion Party

Three months. It has been three months since that chaotic day at the accident site, and sometimes I still have to pinch myself to believe it's real. Aryan and I are officially dating.

Of course, the "Official" part is a bit of a stretch. To the world, he is still the brilliant Professor Oberoi, and I am his dedicated senior student. Nobody knows, not our classmates, and definitely not our parents. We've agreed to keep it a secret until my graduation, which is only a few months away. The only person who knows is Richa, mostly because I'm a terrible liar and she could see the "glow" on my face from a mile away.

Being in a secret relationship with your professor-neighbor is... challenging. Especially since my darling boyfriend has the possessive streak of a lion. Every time a male classmate breathes in my general direction, I can see Aryan's jaw tighten from across the lecture hall. I usually have to shoot him a warning glare, the 'Don't you dare start a scene' look to keep him from losing his mind again.

I was rushing to my morning seminar, clutching my folders, when a hand suddenly shot out from the shadows of the old wing. Before I could even gasp, I was pulled into the dark storage room. A hand firmly but gently covered my mouth.

"Shhhh... it's just me," a familiar, husky voice whispered.

I relaxed instantly as the door clicked shut. Aryan was looking down at me, his eyes dark with mischief. He pinned me against the wall, trapping me within the cage of his arms.

"What are you doing, Aryan?" I breathed, my heart already doing that familiar dance.

"Stealing some time from my girlfriend," he said, actually pouting. "Since she's apparently too busy with 'Advanced Aromatics' to give me even five minutes of her attention today."

I giggled, trying to look stern. "What are you, a sixteen-year-old boy? Let me go, Aryan. I have a class to attend, and you have a faculty meeting."

"Who's stopping you?" he asked, a naughty smirk playing on his lips as he leaned closer. "Just give me what I want, and you're free to go."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what exactly do you want, Professor?"

He sighed dramatically, leaning his forehead against mine. "Aashi, we have been dating for three months now. Three months! And we still haven't had our first kiss. Don't you think it's a little unfair to my fragile, suffering heart?"

I felt the heat rush to my cheeks. He wasn't wrong. Between my shyness and our constant fear of being caught, we hadn't moved past hugs and forehead pecks.

He didn't wait for an answer. His gaze dropped to my lips, and he began to lean in, agonizingly slow. My breath hitched. I could feel the warmth of his skin, the scent of his cologne, the one I helped him pick.... filling my senses. My eyes fluttered shut, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird.

Just as I felt his lips about to touch mine...

TRING! TRING! TRING!

The sharp, loud ringtone of his phone shattered the silence of the storeroom. I jumped, my eyes snapping open.

"Saved by the bell!" I squeaked, a mix of relief and disappointment flooding me.

I didn't give him a second to recover. I ducked under his arm, pushed him gently, and sprinted for the door.

"I'll be late for class! Bye, Aryan!" I called out over my shoulder as I vanished into the hallway.

Aryan's POV

I stood in the dusty storeroom, my phone still vibrating in my pocket. I stared at the door where Aashi had just disappeared, a frustrated but fond groan escaping my throat.