Hateship

10

As Aarohi stepped out of the car, she caught sight of Vidyut leaning against the vehicle, a cigarette dangling from his fingers. The sight made her pause. "I don't like cigarettes," she said, her voice firm but not unkind.

Vidyut looked up, surprised by her sudden declaration. "Since when do you care about what I smoke?" he asked, a teasing lilt in his voice, though he could sense the seriousness behind her words

"I don't care about you, Vidyut," she said, her voice steady and devoid of any softness. "But I don't like cigarettes. They stink, and they're bad for you. You can take my advice or throw it away; it's up to you."

Vidyut raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips as he leaned back against the car, the cigarette still dangling from his fingers. "Wow, thanks for the concern," he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't realize you were my personal health advisor."

Aarohi crossed her arms, unfazed by his mockery. "I'm not trying to be your advisor. I'm just stating a fact. You can keep pretending that it doesn't matter, but it does. You're just too stubborn to see it."

He took a slow drag, the smoke curling around him like a protective shield. "And what if I like it? What if I enjoy the way it makes me feel?"

"Then enjoy it," she shot back, her voice sharp. "But don't act surprised when it catches up to you. You think you're invincible, but you're not."

Vidyut's smirk faltered for a moment, and he looked at her, the teasing glint in his eyes dimming. "You really don't care, do you?"

"Not about you," she reiterated, her tone firm. "But I care about the choices people make. You're free to make yours, but don't expect me to cheer you on while you do it."

He held her gaze, the weight of her words hanging in the air between them. The silence stretched, filled with the tension of unspoken thoughts. Finally, he shrugged, a nonchalant gesture that belied the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "Fair enough. I'll keep that in mind."

Aarohi turned to walk away, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't want to care but what is happening to her why is she caring about him. But as she glanced back, she saw him still leaning against the car, the cigarette still in his hand.

As Aarohi stepped into the bustling college hallway, the familiar sounds of laughter and chatter enveloped her. Students were gathered in groups, some frantically reviewing notes while others exchanged last-minute encouragements. Just as she began to navigate through the crowd, Vaani spotted her and rushed over, her face lit up with excitement.

"Aarohi! There you are!" Vaani exclaimed, her voice bubbling with energy. "I was starting to think you'd bail on us before the exams!"

Aarohi forced a smile, trying to shake off the lingering tension from her encounter with Vidyut. "I wouldn't miss it for the world," she replied, though her mind was still partially occupied with thoughts of him. "How are you feeling about today?"

Vaani rolled her eyes dramatically. "Nervous, obviously! But I've been cramming all night, so I'm hoping it pays off. Did you see the last-minute questions they posted online? I swear, they're trying to kill us!"

Aarohi chuckled, grateful for Vaani's infectious enthusiasm. "I did see them. I'm just going to focus on what I know. Overthinking won't help."

As they walked toward the exam hall, Vaani glanced at Aarohi, her expression shifting to something more serious. "Hey, about Vidyut... Are you two okay? You seemed a bit tense when you got out of the car."

Aarohi sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's just the usual back-and-forth. He thinks he can do whatever he wants, and I'm just trying to remind him that he's not invincible."