♡Nina Mehra stared up at the towering gates of India’s top university, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. She’d fought tooth and nail to get here on a scholarship, and now that she was finally standing on this campus, it almost didn’t feel real. She brushed her hands down her clothes, straightening her posture. Bas, Nina. You belong here, she reminded herself, breathing deep.
As she walked across the courtyard, feeling eyes on her, she reminded herself to ignore it. Most of the students looked straight out of a magazine—tall, chic, and dripping in designer labels. But she didn’t care. She wasn’t here to fit in. She was here to make something of herself.
But as she approached the central fountain, a guy stepped right into her path. He was tall, with that overconfident smirk that could only mean one thing—he knew people were watching him. The small crowd around him only confirmed it.
Aniket Roy.
Nina had heard about him even before she stepped foot on campus. The guy was a legend here—the son of a business tycoon, drop-dead handsome, and apparently the king of this place. But she couldn’t have cared less.
Aniket’s gaze zeroed in on her with amused curiosity. He looked her up and down, and she knew he was sizing her up.
Aniket: “Oh, so you’re the scholarship kid everyone’s talking about?” He grinned, his tone just a little too sweet. “Little girl from the small town with big dreams, huh?”
Nina felt her irritation flare, but she kept her cool. Nina: “Yep, that’s me.” She raised her eyebrows with a smirk. “And you must be the rich guy who thinks he’s a god just ‘cause he can walk around with a fan club?”
A few people gasped, glancing between the two of them. Aniket chuckled, not used to people talking back to him.
Aniket: “Wah, daring ho,” he said, his grin widening. “Tum jaisi ‘small town’ types usually aren’t this bold. Looks like you’re trying to prove something?”
Nina crossed her arms, unimpressed. Nina: “I don’t have to prove anything to you. Don’t you have better things to do than stand here sizing people up?”
He leaned in a bit, dropping his voice so only she could hear. Aniket: “Yahan naye naye aate hain, par tikta wahi hai jo humein samajh ke chalta hai.”
(New people come and go here, but only the ones who understand us last.)
Nina shot him a defiant smile. Nina: “Samajh gayi—yeh toh aapka khud ka personal kingdom hai, right?”
(Got it—this is your personal kingdom, right?)
Aniket smirked, clearly amused but not expecting her level of sass. Aniket: “Tumhe ek cheez samajhni hogi, Mehra—yahaan raja sirf main hoon.”
(You need to understand one thing, Mehra—I’m the only king here.)
Nina rolled her eyes. Nina: “Haan, haan, raja ho, bas tumhe koi aur yaad nahi dilaye toh.” (Yeah, yeah, you’re the king—as long as no one else has to keep reminding you of it.)
The small crowd was silent, everyone watching the back-and-forth between them. Aniket raised his eyebrow, clearly intrigued but refusing to show it.
Aniket: “Alright, Mehra. Let’s see how long you last with that attitude.” He chuckled. “Yahaan kuch bhi easy nahi hai.” [Nothing is easy here.]
Nina’s smile didn’t falter. Nina: “Good. Mujhe easy cheezein pasand bhi nahi.” (Good. I don’t like easy things anyway.))
Aniket gave her a slow nod, looking slightly impressed, though he wouldn’t admit it. Aniket: “Interesting... Let’s see what you’re made of.” With a final smirk, he turned and walked away, leaving Nina standing there, her pulse still racing.
But instead of feeling intimidated, Nina felt a surge of determination. Alright, campus prince. Let’s see who can handle whom.●
---♡
Author’s Note:
Hey readers! Thank you so much for diving into this journey with Nina and Aniket. Their world is one of intense rivalries, unexpected twists, and a whole lot of attitude. I hope you felt the sparks flying in their first encounter because there's so much more to come! Get ready for a story filled with drama, banter, and a little bit of mischief. Trust me, things are only going to get wilder from here!
Keep reading, and don’t forget to share your thoughts. Your support means everything!
Love,
Author_blury

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"When Hate Softens" (18+)
Romance-- Nina Mehra, a small-town girl with big dreams, joins India's most prestigious university on a scholarship. Despite her struggles with body image, Nina is confident, grounded, and ambitious. She crosses paths with Aniket Roy, the college heartthro...
