The Unwavering Love

~CHAPTER 12~

Thanks a lot for your patience people!!

Will seriously try to update often after this... ENJOY READING!!

AUTHOR'S POV

It had been almost a week since freshers. Kiara was new to campus, but in past few days, her presence had somehow become impossible to miss. It wasn't just her laughter that echoed in the canteen or the way she always seemed lost in thought while walking to class-it was something else.

Shivansh couldn't quite put his finger on it, but ever since their performance had rocked at the Freshers' Day, he had been more aware of her than he cared to admit.

The days following that brief encounter had passed in a blur of assignments, lectures, and hanging out with friends which became less as he was often lost in his own world. Shivansh's group had barely noticed his distracted state, but he could feel it. His thoughts kept drifting toward Kiara, replaying the few interactions they had.

She was quiet but observant, always listening more than she spoke. There was a calmness to her, a certain groundedness that intrigued him.

It was on a random Monday after fresher's when he caught a glimpse of her in the library. She was sitting by the window, a soft beam of sunlight catching her hair as she flipped through her textbook. He hadn't planned on staying-he was only there to grab a book for a project-but seeing her, so focused and peaceful, made him hesitate.

Without thinking, he found himself seated a few tables away, pretending to read but actually stealing glances in her direction.

That day turned into a series of small, unplanned moments over the next week. Every day, it seemed like their paths crossed just a little more.

On another day, he had been leaving the canteen with a couple of friends when he bumped into her near the entrance. May be intentionally but that too respectfully!!

"Whoa, sorry!" he blurted out, steadying her as she nearly dropped her books. Kiara looked up, her eyes widening for a brief moment before breaking into a soft smile.

"It's fine Shivansh." she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She bent down to pick up her notes that had fallen.

Shivansh quickly bent to help her, fumbling a bit with the scattered pages. "Here," he said, handing them over, trying to sound casual despite the sudden rush of adrenaline that coursed through him.

"Thanks," she replied, her voice warm but short, as if she was in a hurry.

And just like that, she walked off, leaving him standing there, heart racing over what was essentially a non-event. But to Shivansh, it felt like more. He had replayed that moment far too many times in his head that night, grinning at the ceiling like an idiot before forcing himself to focus on his assignments.

By Friday, Shivansh found himself actively seeking her out. He didn't know why or what he even wanted to say-he just wanted to talk to her again. But by this time his friends noticed his restlessness.

"You've been acting weird all week," Vihani teased as they sat in the canteen, slurping down cold coffee. "Something's up. Spill it." She added.

Shivansh shrugged, trying to play it cool. "It's nothing," he mumbled, though the thought of Kiara sitting just a few tables away gnawed at him. He knew this crush, or whatever it was, wasn't going away.

~PRESENT DAY~

In the main courtyard, chaotic group of friends gathered around the banyan tree, their voices blending with the occasional honk from the street outside the college gates. Advik, slinging his backpack over one shoulder, animatedly telling a story about the previous night's cricket match. Shivansh listened with half-interest and Ishu scrolling through her phone, Shivansh was more focused on finishing his last bite of a samosa before their economics lecture began rather than listening to Advik's talks or nonsense in his language.