Silent Vows

Chapter 8

Karan was used to being the center of attention. Whether it was on the field, at a party, or just walking down the street, people noticed him. His reputation preceded him—handsome, confident, and never short of a crowd. But lately, his mind kept drifting back to Meera, and it was beginning to annoy him.

Today, the campus was bustling with students, the late-afternoon sun casting a warm glow over the walkway. As Karan walked toward the café, a group of his friends called out to him from across the courtyard. He grinned and made his way over, slipping into his usual position at the center of the group.

"Yo, Karan! You think you can score another girl this week?" Sameer’s voice cut through the noise, his grin wide and teasing. Sameer, one of Karan's oldest friends, was always the one to bring up the next conquest. Karan liked to keep his personal life private, but Sameer had a way of pushing his buttons.

Karan chuckled, taking a seat next to him. “What’s the fun in that? I’ve got my hands full with other things.”

Sameer raised an eyebrow, eyeing him suspiciously. “Other things? Since when do you do ‘other things’ besides girls?”

“I’m starting to focus on more important stuff,” Karan said with a smirk. Sameer didn’t buy it for a second.

“Oh, I see, you’re getting all serious now? This is new,” Sameer teased. He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms, giving Karan a look that was half-curious, half-amused. “You’re not getting soft on us, are you?”

Karan rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of something in his voice. “It’s not like that. I’m just… preoccupied.”

“Preoccupied with what?” Sameer prodded. “Don’t tell me you’ve got feelings for someone. No way.”

Karan hesitated. The last thing he wanted to admit was that he was actually interested in someone—especially Meera, who had shown zero interest in him. But Sameer had a way of getting under his skin, making him say things he didn’t want to.

Before he could respond, another friend, Raj, chimed in, leaning over from the next table. “He’s been thinking about someone, hasn’t he?” Raj grinned, knowing exactly who Karan was talking about.

Karan shot him a look but couldn’t hide the slight flicker of annoyance that passed over his face. “No, I’m not. But if you guys have nothing better to do than gossip about my non-existent love life, maybe I should find new friends.”

Sameer raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, we get it. But seriously, who’s the girl, man? You’ve been acting weird lately.”

Karan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. It was one thing to have a reputation, but now it felt like everyone was starting to see through his usual façade. “I’m just busy with projects, alright? No time for distractions.”

Raj snorted, clearly unconvinced. “Yeah, distractions. Sure, sure.”

Karan’s phone buzzed on the table, interrupting the conversation. He glanced at it and saw a message from Meera—just a simple update on their project. His stomach tightened involuntarily. He quickly typed a reply, keeping it casual, but his thoughts were already with her. The way she worked, the way she was so focused—there was something about her that pulled him in, and he hated how powerless that made him feel.

“Who’s the lucky girl?” Sameer asked with a teasing grin, noticing Karan’s distracted expression.

Karan didn’t respond immediately. He felt his usual cocky confidence slipping away, replaced by a rare vulnerability. “No one,” he muttered. “Let’s drop it.”