ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ [ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ]

• Part 32 •

Nikita POV:

What was she doing here?
She's their family friend dude!
Right!

I saw Riya ogling me. Her face dark and rude. I gulped and stayed on the side with Aunty.
"Come beta." She said, taking me to the hall. I followed her and came in front with everyone.
"Arre! Nikita! Hello bete!" Uncle said.
I smiled, "Hi, uncle."
"Hi Nikita!" Gautam Dada said.
"Hi..." I felt weird calling him Dada again.
"Gupta's, this is Nikita, she's in university with Riya, same year infact." Aunty said.
"Oh yes Aunty... we know each other." Riya scoffed, "very well - infact." Riya's gazed at me.
"Oh really! That's nice!" Aunty said.
Oh God. She's screaming anger. I need to go.

Thankfully, Aunty announced that we are starting the pooja soon, and we all made our way to the pooja house, me following silently behind.
Suddenly, I heard Riya beside me, "So, you showed up here as well?" 
"What.. no... I..."
"I didn't think you'd be this desperate honestly, I gave you everything you want, and you're still out here trying to win him?!" She scoffed.
I felt uncomfortable. Tears filled my eyes, "I'm not trying to win anyone Riya."
"Don't take my name from your mouth. I know what you're trying to do. Play the victim card and then get Mayukh, you want money, don't you?"
"I don't want him..."
"Sure babe. I can read through you." She said and walked off.
I cursed my fate and put on a smile - fake smile.

I looked behind to wipe my tears and I saw him coming down the stairs.
Wow.
He looked amazing.

He wore a beige kurta while he rolled his sleeves up coming down the stairs, his white pants underneath highlighted the look, along with his messy yet classy hai and the two open buttons of his kurta.
Holy.....
Stop it. No.

I tore my eyes away and focused back on the pooja, turning around, ignoring him. He walked towards me and I could smell his cologne coming closer. I took a deep sigh and quickly acted unaffected.  
"Hey." His voice echoed in my ears.
I didn't look at him and just nodded, "Hi."
I knew he'd try to talk to me, but she was there too, I don't want to get involved. I quickly excused myself and stood in the corner, near Juma aunty - their house help.
I saw him looking at me from the corner of my eyes but I ignored him.

"Mayukh!" Aunty said and he walked over to her.
"Yes Mom?"
"Sit with us and finish this pooja now, come!"
He did as she said and I watched them. I really missed Aai.

I excused myself and quickly called her.
"Hi Aai." I said slowly.
"Hi beta, where are you? Indian wear?"
"I'm at the Roy's house."
"Roys? Like Sunil and Shambhavi Roy?!"
"Yes."
"What? How?"
I narrated the whole incident of tutoring Jhanvi and explained how I ended up here.
"That's very nice." Aai said.
"I don't know. I feel out of place."
"I know. They're way above..." she didn't finish.
She didn't need to.
"Yeah."
We stayed silent for a minute before I spoke again, "I want to come home."
"Only 5 days now. Tuesday is also over, you're coming on Sunday morning."
"Yeah, but... I want to come sooner."
"Beta... okay talk to Nikhil and see what he can do."
"I will."

I cut the call and turned to see Mayukh there. He approached me slowly and I stood still.
"You want to leave earlier?" He asked.
He heard me?
I didn't answer.
"Answer me Nikita. You want to leave?" He said, coming closer, "why do you want to leave earlier? What happened?"
"I just... miss my family."
"You think I believe that?" He was now just a few inches away from me.
"You... have to..." I stammered.
I looked around. What if someone comes?!
"No one's coming. Everyone's busy."
Did he just read my mind?
"Why do you want to go?"
"I told you why."
"I don't believe you."
"Don't. It doesn't change the truth." I said.
He slowly pinched the bridge of his nose and came closer, "start talking to me, if there's anything bother you, tell me."
"You're bothering me. You're giving me a headache." I said. I don't know how I'm getting the courage to say this to him.
He smirked and grabbed my waist, "I'll grab you a Panadol then, gotta get used to this headache."
"Mayukh. Leave me." I said sternly.
"Nope. Ask me anything else, you'll have it."
"I don't want anything else."
He sighed and pulled me closer, "why are you so repulsive."
I gulped. My head came to around his chest in our height difference and his chest.
"Leave me."
He chuckled, "you know the answer to that. Just know, the more you repel, the more you attract."