"Lectures in the Heart: A Love Unforeseen" (Khushi Arnav)

5.Uncharted Territories...

Today, however, the air crackled with the anticipation of something new. Aman Sir, stood at the front, his eyes shining with excitement, as he announced an inter-college quiz competition.

"Listen up! We have the opportunity to showcase our talents! Khushi Ahuja has been selected as our representative!" he declared, pointing straight at Khushi.

Khushi's heart dropped at the sudden spotlight. "Par sir, mai kaise, I mean how...?" she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Why don't you believe in yourself?" Aman nudged her gently, a smile playing on his lips. "You're the brightest student in the AI stream. Plus, Arnav Sir will be your mentor!"

Khushi's stomach churned. "Sir, fir toh mujhe bilkul nahi karna ,

Kyu? Aman asked.

Can't you take me under your wing instead? Arnav Sir, he'll teach me well, but he's harsh too!" she protested, a hint of panic lacing her words.

"Trust me, Khushi! Everything will be fine. Prepare well; the competition is next week," Aman urged, not giving her a chance to refuse.

With resignation, Khushi replied, "ok, sir."

Arnav took over the class with his usual authoritative demeanor.

"So, who from this class is going to represent us at the quiz competition?" He asked, leaning casually against the desk.

"Khushi!" the class erupted, their voices united in enthusiasm.

Arnav fixed his gaze on her. "Alright, Miss Ahuja, consider yourself in extra classes. We'll begin today after college."

"Okay, sir," she replied, albeit a little hesitantly.

"After college, come to the lab, and if you have any free periods, join me there as well," he instructed with an air of authority.

"Yes, sir," Khushi agreed, though half of her was nervous just thinking about it.

In the lab, with rows of computers illuminating their faces, Khushi sat down at her workstation, focusing on her practice. Arnav stood behind her, observing every move she made as she navigated through complex algorithms and quiz questions. His presence was daunting yet oddly comforting-until, without warning, he placed his hand over hers.

Khushi's heart raced, She felt a rush of nervousness, the air thickening around them. As reality sank in, Arnav seemed to sense her tension and withdrew his hand immediately. "I'm sorry, Miss Ahuja. I didn't realize..." he murmured, stepping back.

"It's okay, sir," Khushi replied, her voice wavering slightly. "Can we continue tomorrow? I think I'm a bit overwhelmed right now."

"Sure. Come early tomorrow, and we'll practice before the lecture starts," Arnav said, still looking somewhat flustered.

As she packed her things to leave, her mind was racing. What just happened? The moment replayed in her mind. Why did my heartbeat increase like that? He was just helping, right? The warmth of his hand lingered in her memory, igniting a butterfly reaction in her stomach.

Next day

Khushi had arrived at college by 7:00 AM, even though classes would not officially begin until 9:00 AM. Arnav Singh Raizada, told her to come early for extra classes in preparation for the upcoming quiz competition.

she settled onto a chair
, allowing her to focus on the intricacies of computer systems.

As the minutes ticked by, she lost herself in her notes, her pencil dancing across the paper as she took careful notes, silently practicing the concepts they had covered. Just as she started to wonder if perhaps Arnav had forgotten about her, she spotted him striding towards her, his usual confident demeanor in place.

"Good morning, Khushi," he greeted, a warm smile breaking acr wwwoss his handsome face.

"Good morning, sir!" she replied, her voice light and tinged with excitement.

"Ready for some tricks today?" he asked, settling down on the bench beside her. He leaned closer, their shoulders nearly touching, as he began to explain the nuances of the material in a manner that made her forget the world around them.

Khushi listened intently, nodding as she absorbed the information. The hours slipped by unnoticed until the distant sound of students filtering into the building snapped her back to reality. Panicking as she realized their time had run out, she stood up abruptly, losing her balance. In a split second, Arnav's strong hands were around her waist, steadying her.

Her cheeks flushed deep crimson as their eyes met; the world around them faded into a haze. Normalcy was lost in that electrifying moment, and she felt a spark of something more. It was then that the spell broke, and she instinctively tried to step away, his grip releasing her as she stumbled back into awkwardness.

"I... I have to go," she stammered, her heart racing, and without waiting for a response, she hastily walked away, the warmth of his touch lingering on her skin.

Unbeknownst to them, Aman stood by the classroom window, having accidentally witnessed the scene unfold. He raised an eyebrow but opted to keep his thoughts to himself, knowing the dynamic between Arnav and Khushi was delicate territory.

The first lecture began, and as Arnav entered the classroom, Khushi's heart sank. She tried her best to focus, to pretend as if their earlier moment hadn't happened. However, every time she stole a glance in his direction, she felt a rush of heat flood her cheeks.

As the lecture carried on, she felt his gaze lingering on her, and she consciously avoided meeting his eyes. What was it about him that made her heart race and her stomach churn with butterflies? She couldn't fathom it-after all, he was just her professor.

When the class finally ended, a wave of relief washed over her. Students filed out of the room, their voices mingling into a chaotic hum. Khushi gathered her things, thinking she could slip away unnoticed. Just as she was about to leave, she heard his voice call out to her.

"Khushi, stop!"

She turned around, heart hammering in her chest. "Yes, sir?"

"Is something bothering you?" he asked, his brow furrowing with concern.

She swallowed hard, wrestling with the urge to confess what she felt. "N-no, sir. Nothing's wrong," she replied, forcing a smile.

"Then why aren't you meeting my gaze?" he pressed further, his dark eyes searching hers, as if trying to peel back her layers.

"Sir, my friends are calling me," she fibbed, feeling the weight of his stare. Without a moment's hesitation, she turned on her heel and dashed out of the classroom, desperate to escape the intensity of the moment.

As Khushi hurried down the hallway, she couldn't shake the feeling of his presence lingering behind her. Her heart raced with confusion and excitement-the quizzes and competition seemed trivial compared to the real challenge ahead: navigating the complexities of her feelings for Arnav Singh Raizada.

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