Fate has a strange way of unraveling the life you thought you knew.
Mahira a dreamer-bright, bubbly, and hopelessly romantic is in the first year of her college, loves K-dramas and is waiting for her Prince Charming.
Ved an intriguing stranger with...
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The moment I stepped off Ved's bike and entered the college gates, I couldn't help but feel like I was floating. The morning ride with Ved had been... perfect. The wind in my hair, his calm voice telling me to hold on, and that little bit of awkwardness between us—it was all too cute.
I knew I'd be telling Ayesha every little detail as soon as I saw her.
"Mahira!" Speak of the devil—there she was, waving at me from across the campus yard, her curly hair bouncing as she skipped toward me.
"Oh my God, you actually came on a bike? No way! And with *him*?!" Her eyes widened with excitement, clearly already ahead of me.
I laughed and tossed my backpack over my shoulder. "Yup, Ved dropped me off today! Apparently, the buses aren't running."
"Oh my God, tell me everything. Did he look all intense and brooding while he drove? Were you clutching him dramatically from behind?" She smirked, nudging me as if I'd just had the most epic romantic moment of my life.
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but smile. "No, nothing like that. He was... normal. Just being his usual calm and mysterious self. But I *did* make him laugh."
Ayesha raised her eyebrows. "No way! The brooding hero laughed? Wow, Mahira, you're working magic!"
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. But inside, I was buzzing. There was something about Ved that made me want to keep him smiling, even if it was just for a second.
Before I could dive into more details about the ride, we heard a loud honk. I turned around to see Arjun, a guy from our class, pulling up on his bike with his signature wide grin plastered on his face. Arjun was always over the top, always loud, and always trying to flirt with anyone who'd listen.
"Oh great," I muttered under my breath. Arjun's cheerful personality wasn't the problem—it was his constant, *obvious* flirting that made me want to roll my eyes into another dimension.
"Heyyy, Mahira!" Arjun called out, hopping off his scooter and walking toward me with that swagger he always used, like he was some kind of Bollywood hero. "Need a ride tomorrow? I can drop you off on this bad boy." He patted his bike like it was a luxury sports car.
I forced a smile, trying to be polite. "Thanks, Arjun, but I'm good. I think my ride's already sorted."
Arjun didn't seem to take the hint. "Come on, Mahira, riding with me would be a total upgrade. Plus, I'm a lot more fun than whoever's dropping you off now."
Ayesha stifled a giggle beside me. She knew how much Arjun's flirting amused me—though sometimes, it was more annoying than funny.
I was about to brush him off when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone familiar standing by the gate. Ved.
He was still on the bike, helmet off, watching us from a distance. His face was calm, but there was something in his eyes... something different. Was that—no, it couldn't be jealousy, could it?
"Hey, Ved!" I called out, waving at him as I walked over, leaving Arjun and his over-the-top flirting behind. Ved's gaze shifted to me, but there was still that strange intensity in his eyes.
"Mahira," he greeted me with a small nod, his tone neutral, though his grip on the bike's handlebar looked a bit tight. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, of course," I said with a smile, trying to ignore the weird tension in the air. "You didn't have to wait for me, though. I could've gone in on my own."
Ved shrugged, his expression still unreadable. "I just wanted to make sure you got in safely."
Okay, now he was being *too* calm. Ved wasn't exactly the type to explode with emotions, but I could sense something was off.
Before I could say anything else, Arjun swaggered up behind me, his grin as wide as ever. "Who's this, Mahira? Your *bodyguard*?"
I could feel Ved tense next to me, and suddenly the air between them felt thick. Ved's calm eyes turned sharp, and the way he looked at Arjun was—well, let's just say it wasn't friendly.
"I'm just making sure Mahira gets where she needs to be," Ved said in a tone that was polite but cold. "Who are you?"
Arjun seemed oblivious to the tension, laughing like this was all some kind of joke. "Oh, I'm Arjun! Mahira's classmate. You know, I could've dropped her off today, but it looks like you beat me to it. No big deal, right?"
I quickly stepped in before things got awkward. "Arjun, it's fine. I already told you I don't need a ride."
Arjun waved his hand dismissively. "I was just teasing, Mahira. But hey, if this guy ever bails on you, you know where to find me!"
I cringed internally. *Could he be any more obvious?*
Ved didn't respond. He simply stared at Arjun for a moment longer, his jaw tight. Finally, he turned to me, his expression softening. "I'll see you at home later, Mahira."
Before I could say anything, he put on his helmet and sped off without a second glance.
As I watched him go, my stomach twisted. Something wasn't right. I turned to Ayesha, who had been standing a few feet away, watching the entire interaction like it was her favorite soap opera.
"Okay, what was *that*?" she asked, her eyes wide with amusement.
"I... I don't know," I muttered, feeling confused. "I think... was Ved jealous?"
Ayesha raised an eyebrow. "Jealous? Of Arjun? Oh my God, Mahira, this is getting *good*. I need popcorn."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the nervous flutter in my chest. The way Ved had looked at Arjun—the way his tone had changed—it was like something had flipped inside him. But why? Why would he care if Arjun was flirting with me? He barely knew me, and yet...
Ayesha nudged me with her elbow, breaking into my thoughts. "So? Are you gonna do something about this? Maybe get Ved to confess his feelings?"
I shot her a glare. "Ayesha, seriously. You know there is nothing like that."
"Why not? You're practically living in a K-drama right now! And trust me, that look Ved gave Arjun? Classic jealousy. It's only a matter of time before he realizes he's falling for you."
I shook my head, laughing despite myself. "You and your theories."
But as I walked toward the college building, I couldn't stop thinking about the way Ved had acted. Jealousy? It seemed ridiculous, but maybe... just maybe, there was something more going on in that quiet, mysterious head of his.
