Luck By Chance

The College

Deepak woke up, avoiding eye contact with Vijay.
The tension between them was palpable after Vijay's surprise kiss the night before.

They got ready in silence, the only sound being the rustling of clothes and the running water.

As they ate lunch, the awkwardness grew. Vijay attempted small talk, but Deepak responded with monosyllables.

"Hey, man, you wanna grab a snack later?" Vijay asked.

"No," Deepak replied curtly.

"Everything okay?" Vijay pressed.

Deepak shrugged.

Vijay sighed. "Deepak, c'mon, talk to me. What's going on?"

Deepak stared at his plate, his expression unreadable. "Nothing."

The silence lingered until they left for college.

In class, Deepak's henna-adorned hands and red-painted nails drew snickers. Some guys whispered "Rani sa..." under their breath, mocking his fashion event appearance.

Professor Sharma cleared his throat, "Alright, settle down. Today's topic is..."

During the lecture, Professor Sharma couldn't help but steal glances at Deepak, a mixture of amusement and curiosity on his face.

As students filed out, Professor Sharma called out, "Deepak, may I have a word?"

Deepak approached his desk, wondering what this was about.

"Deepak, I must say, your... extracurricular activities have made you quite the celebrity," Professor Sharma said with a chuckle.

Deepak's face warmed up. "Sir?"

"The fashion event. I heard you stole the show." Professor Sharma paused, his expression turning serious. "Are you free tonight?"

Deepak's mind raced. What did he mean? "Free" as in...?

"Y-yes, sir. What's this about?" Deepak asked, trying to sound casual.

Professor Sharma smiled cryptically. "Just meet me at the college auditorium at 7 pm. Come alone."

Deepak nodded, still confused.

Deepak slumped into the chair beside Roshni, recounting his encounter with Professor Sharma. "He asked me to meet him tonight, alone."

Roshni's eyes sparkled with amusement. "He asked you out on a date!!"

Deepak's face contorted in confusion. "What? Really? But why would he? I'm a guy."

Roshni's laughter filled the room. "Yesterday, you weren't! You were like the prettiest girl in the whole college, maybe the whole city. I can't blame him for trying his luck."

Deepak buried his face in his hands, his voice laced with frustration. "What a headache! First Vijay, now Mr. Sharma. I can't handle this."

Roshni's curiosity piqued, she leaned in. "Wait, what happened with Vijay?"

Deepak hesitated, his eyes avoiding Roshni's. "Nothing, it was weird. I don't want to talk about it."

But Roshni's persistence wore him down. "He tried to kiss me yesterday. We haven't spoken since then."

Roshni's eyes widened in shock, her grip on the pen tightening until it snapped. "He did what?!" Her voice was laced with a mix of anger and surprise.

Deepak's fingers instinctively brushed against his lips, the memory of Vijay's kiss still vivid. Roshni noticed the subtle gesture.

As she gazed at Deepak, Roshni realized her feelings had shifted. She had never been drawn to men, never experienced butterflies or a racing heart.

But Deepak, especially after his stunning performance as Rani Padmavati, had awakened something within her.

Watching him walk the ramp, his confidence and grace captivating the audience, Roshni felt an unfamiliar flutter. It wasn't just admiration; it was an attraction. She couldn't explain it, but Deepak's presence made her happy, his smile infectious.

"Did you... Did you like it?" Roshni asked, her voice barely above a whisper, wondering if the first person she'd ever felt drawn to might reciprocate.

Deepak's response was immediate, though unconvincing. "No, of course not."

Deepak had harbored a secret crush on Roshni for three years, but fear of rejection kept him from confessing.

Now, his emotions were further entangled by Vijay's unexpected kiss. He couldn't understand why he wasn't angry; instead, he felt a lingering curiosity.

Roshni let out a relieved sigh. "Phew..." she whispered.