Author's POV :
"It's not what it looks like, Saanvi," he began, his voice tight. "She just... she just came up to me after the game."
Saanvi's eyes searched his, looking for the truth. "What did she want?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Samay recounted the tense exchange in the locker room, his words tumbling out like a confession. He told her about Amisha's unnerving confidence, her cryptic offers, and the way she had so casually dismissed their relationship. With every word, he could see the doubt and hurt building in Saanvi's eyes, like shadows lengthening with the setting sun.
When he finished, she let out a long sigh, her shoulders dropping with the weight of the revelation. "Samay," she said, her voice a soft reprimand. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
He ran a hand through his hair, the frustration etched on his face. "I didn't want to drag you into this mess," he said. "You've got enough on your plate with the paper and your studies."
But Saanvi was already shaking her head, her eyes flashing with anger. "Don't do that, Samay," she said, her voice firm. "Don't treat me like I'm made of glass. I can handle this."
With that, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the library, the newspaper fluttering in her wake. Samay watched her go, his heart racing. He knew he had to fix this, to prove to her that she was the only one for him. He shoved his books aside and took off after her, his long strides eating up the distance between them.
The canteen was ablaze with chatter and laughter, the smell of greasy food and freshly brewed coffee a comforting balm to the chaos outside. But amidst the din, he spotted Amisha, her dark hair a stark contrast to the brightness of the room as she sat with her friends, her laughter ringing out like a siren's call. His stomach clenched at the sight of her, the memory of their encounter still fresh in his mind.
Saanvi had listened to his words, her expression a storm of emotions. But rather than dissolving into tears or rage, she had simply nodded, her jaw set with determination. "I'll handle it," she had said, her voice cold as ice. And with that, she had stormed out of the library, leaving him in a whirlwind of confusion and guilt.
Now, as he searched the crowded canteen for her, his eyes fell on the very person he had hoped to avoid. Amisha was sitting with a group of friends, her laughter as loud and unbothered as if she had not just tried to sow the seeds of doubt in his relationship. The sight of her, so at ease and smug, fueled the fire in Saanvi's belly. She had had enough of the whispers and the glances, the feeling of being played for a fool.
With a fury that surprised even herself, Saanvi marched over to their table, her grip tightening around the paper cup of coffee she had brought with her. Without a word, she flung the scalding liquid in Amisha's face, the dark liquid splattering across the girl's cheeks and clothes. The room fell silent, the buzz of conversation dying out like a snuffed candle.
Amisha shrieked, her hands flying up to her face as the coffee burned her skin. Her friends gasped, jumping back in shock. For a moment, no one moved, the only sound the hiss of the hot liquid on the cafeteria floor. Then, with a roar of rage, Amisha launched herself at Saanvi, nails bared like claws.
Samay was quick to intervene, his body a blur of motion as he pushed himself between the two girls. "Back off, Amisha," he growled, his voice a low rumble that seemed to echo through the stunned silence. "You don't mess with her."
But Amisha was beyond reason, her eyes flashing with pain and fury. "Look what your girlfriend did!" she screamed, pointing at Saanvi, her face a mask of outrage. She turned to the crowd that had gathered around them, her voice rising with the pitch of a siren. "Look at what she's done to me! She's insane!"
Samay's muscles tensed, his arms straining to hold her back. "You brought this on yourself," he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "Stay the hell away from us."
But Amisha was not to be deterred. She wiped the coffee from her face, her eyes narrowed into slits. "You think you can get away with this?" she spat. "You're going to regret crossing me."
Saanvi's gaze remained steady, her voice calm and clear. "I'm not the one who needs to be worried about regret," she said. "You're the one playing with fire."Amisha's eyes widened in surprise, the crowd around them hanging on every word. It was clear that she had not expected such a fiery response from the usually poised and collected Saanvi. But the incident in the locker room had lit a fire within her, one that would not be easily extinguished.
"Back off, Amisha," Saanvi said, her voice firm and unwavering. "Samay is not some prize for you to claim. He's my boyfriend, and if you have any decency, you'll respect that."
The cafeteria was a tableau of shocked faces, no one quite believing the transformation of the usually soft-spoken Saanvi. But the fire in her eyes was unmistakable. This was not the sweet, bookish girl they knew; this was a lioness defending her pride.
"What's your problem, Saanvi?" Amisha sneered, wiping the last remnants of coffee from her cheek. "Jealous that I can get what you can't?"
The words hung in the air, a challenge that seemed to resonate with the very air around them. But Saanvi's expression remained unflinching. "I'm not jealous," she said calmly, her eyes never leaving Amisha's. "I'm just making it clear that you don't get to play games with us."
Her words were as sharp as a blade, cutting through the tension in the room. The crowd that had gathered took a collective step back, sensing the power struggle unfolding before them. Samay felt a strange mix of pride and fear swell within him. He had never seen Saanvi like this, never knew she had such a fiery spirit hidden beneath her quiet exterior.
"Always," he murmured, his voice a gentle reassurance that seemed to break through the chaos. "I've always loved you, Saanvi."
Her eyes searched his, finding the truth in their depths like a lighthouse guiding her through a tempest. "And I've always loved you, Samay," she said, her voice a soft echo of his.
Their bond was unshakeable, a beacon of certainty in a world that often felt like it was made of shifting sands. Since their first awkward conversation at the college's orientation, they had grown together, their love a constant amidst the tumult of academic pressures and social expectations. They had faced challenges before, but none quite like this. The shadow of
Amisha's meddling loomed over them, threatening to cast doubt on the solidity of their relationship.
Amisha, now fueled by a burning determination to make Samay hers, watched from a distance as Saanvi walked away, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and satisfaction. The burn from the coffee had been painful, but the victory of planting the first seed of doubt in Samay's mind was sweet. She had studied him from afar, observed his every move, and knew exactly how to get under his skin. Her father had taught her well, and she was more than ready to play the game of power and seduction that had been the family's legacy for generations.
Meanwhile, Samay and Saanvi's retreat from the cafeteria was a silent one, their hearts beating in a tumultuous rhythm that drowned out the sounds of the bustling college life around them. Samay felt the weight of his own confusion and fear of losing Saanvi's trust, his grip on her hand tightening with every step. Saanvi's eyes remained focused on the path ahead, her mind racing with questions and accusations.
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