Dhruv, a young and passionate computer teacher at a prestigious institution, leads a structured life focused on his career. Shanaya, a first-year college student, enters his class with dreams in her eyes and an eagerness to learn. Despite the bounda...
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Shanaya's POV
It was another day at Singhania Institute. The classroom was filled with students quietly working on their computers, tapping away at the keys, focused on the assignment Dhruv Sir had given them. Shanaya was sitting at her desk, intently working on her project. Her fingers moved quickly over the keyboard, but her mind kept wandering to Dhruv. His tall, imposing figure, the calm yet intense aura he carried, and the way his sharp eyes seemed to notice everything.
Suddenly, she felt something—like a warm presence close to her. The fine hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She could feel someone’s breath, hot and close, against her ear. Her heart raced as she slowly turned to see who it was.
It was Dhruv. He stood so close to her desk, his face just inches away from hers, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.
For a few seconds, time seemed to freeze. His dark, intense eyes bore into hers, and Shanaya found herself unable to look away. Her heart pounded in her chest, her pulse quickening. There was something about this moment, about being so close to him, that made her forget everything else around her.
“Sir?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Dhruv didn’t say a word. His eyes remained locked onto hers, his face calm yet holding something unspoken. She could feel her skin tingling under his gaze. It was like the world had shrunk down to just the two of them, alone in that moment.
Shanaya’s mind whirled. She had never felt this way before—this mix of nervousness and excitement. She felt drawn to him in a way that made no sense. Her fingers gripped the edge of the desk as she waited, breathless, for what would happen next.
But then—RINGGGGG!
The loud ringing of her phone shattered the moment. Shanaya jumped, her heart racing as reality pulled her harshly out of the dream. She groaned in frustration, quickly grabbing her phone from the nightstand. Who calls this early? she thought irritably.
"Hello?" she said, her voice still thick with sleep.
"Open the door, you bitch!" a familiar voice chirped on the other end. It was Niyati Sharma, her childhood best friend.
"Niyati?!" Shanaya exclaimed, sitting up fully now, the dream already slipping from her mind. "Tum Mumbai aayi ho?"
"Haan, main neeche khadi hoon, door kholo!" Niyati laughed.
Shanaya stumbled out of bed, still half asleep, but her heart was now racing from the excitement of seeing her best friend. She quickly unlocked the door, and there she was—Niyati, standing with her suitcases and a huge grin.
"Bitch, finally! Welcome to Mumbai!" Shanaya squealed, hugging her tightly.
"Thanks, babe! Aur yeh dekh, finally mil gaye hum dono," Niyati said, dragging her suitcases inside. "I’ll be living here with you, remember? Aur UPSC ki tayyari bhi yahin se hogi!"
The two of them had been best friends since childhood, and now Niyati had moved to Mumbai for her UPSC coaching classes. The idea of living together made both of them giddy with excitement.
"Yeh toh amazing hone wala hai! Ab hum dono saath main sab kuch explore karenge," Shanaya said excitedly as she helped Niyati settle in.
As they began unpacking and chatting about everything from college to Niyati’s coaching, the dream from earlier faded into the background. But every once in a while, Shanaya couldn’t help but think back to it—the feeling of Dhruv’s presence so close to her, the intensity of his gaze. She brushed it off with a sigh, but something inside her wondered why she couldn’t stop thinking about him.
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Dhruv's POV
It had been a month since the new batch had joined Singhania Institute, and something had shifted inside Dhruv. He had noticed her—Shanaya Oberoi. At first, she was just another bright student, eager to learn and always ahead of her peers. But lately, something had changed.
Whenever he entered the classroom, he found his eyes being drawn to her, as if she were some sort of magnet. She was intelligent, no doubt, but there was something about her presence that he couldn’t ignore.
Focus, Dhruv, he scolded himself, pacing his office. Tum yeh distractions afford nahi kar sakte. Tumhara ek hi goal hai—Singhania Institute ko aur aage le jaana.
But no matter how hard he tried to push the thoughts away, they kept creeping back. He had never been this distracted by a student before. He was strict, particular, and professional in every sense. Yet, when it came to Shanaya, something felt different.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his door opening. It was his sister, Ruhi Chauhan, walking in with her husband, Vinayak.
"Bhai!" Ruhi smiled, coming over to hug him.
"Ruhi, Vinayak, kaise ho tum log?" Dhruv greeted them, momentarily pushing his thoughts aside.
Ruhi sat down, studying her brother closely. "Tum kuch alag lag rahe ho, bhai. Sab theek hai?"
Dhruv raised an eyebrow. "Main bilkul theek hoon, Ruhi. Tumhara dimag zyada chal raha hai."
But Ruhi wasn’t convinced. "Pichle kuch mahino se tumhe dekh rahi hoon. Tumhara focus waisa nahi hai jaisa hamesha hota tha. Kya chal raha hai?"
Dhruv sighed, sitting down opposite her. "Kuch nahi, bas institute ka kaam zyada ho gaya hai."
"Woh toh hamesha hi hota hai. Tumhe jaanti hoon main, kuch toh hai," Ruhi pressed, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Vinayak, ever the calm one, chimed in. "Ruhi, Dhruv ko space do. Agar kuch hoga toh yeh humein batayega."
But Ruhi wasn’t ready to let it go. "Dhruv, agar tumhe lagta hai ki tum khud ko zyada push kar rahe ho, toh break lo. Kabhi kabhi hum sabko zarurat hoti hai."
Dhruv smiled faintly. "Tumhara concern appreciate karta hoon, Ruhi. But I’m fine. Just a little preoccupied with work."
Ruhi looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "Bas yeh yaad rakhna ki tumhare paas hum hamesha hain, okay?"
“Hamesha,” Dhruv echoed, grateful for his sister’s concern but unwilling to share what had really been on his mind. After all, he himself wasn’t sure what it was. How could he explain this strange pull he felt toward Shanaya?
After they left, Dhruv sat back, running a hand through his hair. He needed to get his mind back on track. This distraction—whatever it was—couldn’t be allowed to affect his work.
But deep down, he knew it wasn’t that simple. Shanaya had somehow managed to capture his attention in a way no one else had. And as much as he tried to fight it, the connection was growing stronger with every passing day.
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This chapter builds on the growing connection between Dhruv and Shanaya. Shanaya's dream hints at her subconscious feelings for Dhruv, while Dhruv begins to realize that his feelings for Shanaya are more than just a distraction. Both of them, however, continue to push these thoughts away, unsure of how to deal with them. Meanwhile, Niyati’s arrival adds a fresh dynamic to Shanaya’s life, bringing her comfort and familiarity.
