Silent Vows

Chapter 9

The campus was bustling with energy as the semester moved into its final stretch. The end-of-term projects and papers loomed large, but Karan couldn’t quite focus on his work. Meera was always in the back of his mind, and the more time he spent around her, the more he found himself noticing little things about her—things that had previously gone unnoticed.

It was strange how he kept thinking about her, especially considering how little she had shown interest in him. She wasn’t playing hard to get, not in the way most girls did. She was just indifferent, and that made him want to try harder.

But today was different. He had a meeting with Sameer, one of the few people he didn’t mind spending time with. Sameer was Karan’s closest friend and the one person who could always talk him out of any mood. They had been inseparable since high school, and though Sameer was far more serious and grounded than Karan, they balanced each other out.

“Hey, man,” Sameer said, leaning against the bench in the quad where Karan was waiting. Sameer was wearing his usual look—jeans and a hoodie, a stark contrast to Karan’s carefully curated style. “You still working with Meera?”

Karan grinned, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah. It’s been… interesting.”

Sameer raised an eyebrow. “Interesting? That’s one way to put it. You’ve been spending a lot of time together lately.”

Karan hesitated, his mind momentarily drifting to the way Meera had looked earlier in the library. She was always so composed, but today, there had been something different about her. Something almost… vulnerable. “I don’t know, man. She’s… different.”

Sameer chuckled, sitting down next to him. “Different how?”

“I don’t know,” Karan muttered, his fingers drumming on the table. “She’s so focused. It’s like nothing distracts her. And yet… she’s not like other girls I’ve been around.”

Sameer studied him, clearly intrigued. “So, you’re saying you’re actually starting to like her?”

Karan snorted, rolling his eyes. “Like? No. She’s not really my type.”

“Uh-huh,” Sameer said, his voice teasing. “If you say so.”

“Fine, maybe I am a little interested,” Karan admitted. “But she’s different. I can’t figure her out.”

Sameer laughed, slapping him on the back. “Man, you’re hopeless. It’s obvious she doesn’t like you, but you keep chasing her anyway. Classic Karan.”

Karan sighed, leaning back. “I don’t know why it bothers me so much. It’s just... I don’t know. She’s so calm, so put together. It’s like she doesn’t even care.”

“Well, she doesn’t,” Sameer replied casually. “You’re not the first guy to throw a little attention her way, Karan. She’s probably just not into the whole ‘playboy’ thing. You know how it is.”

Karan wasn’t entirely convinced. There was something about Meera’s indifference that intrigued him. “She’s not like the others, Sameer. I can tell.”

“Alright, alright,” Sameer said with a smirk. “I get it. You’re interested. But listen, man, if you really want to get anywhere with her, you might need to change tactics.”

Karan leaned forward. “What do you mean?”

“You need to show her you’re not just some pretty boy who’s used to getting attention,” Sameer explained. “You’ve got to show her the real you. No games.”

Karan rolled his eyes. “You make it sound like I’m playing a game. I’m just trying to figure her out.”

“You’re playing a game, whether you realize it or not,” Sameer said, laughing. “Look, I’m just saying, don’t rush things. Take your time. And don’t act like a jackass, alright?”

Karan nodded, though he wasn’t sure how much he could change. He’d always been the way he was—charming, confident, and a little bit of a flirt. But Sameer was right about one thing: Meera wasn’t falling for any of it.

Later that evening, Karan found himself walking across the campus, his mind still preoccupied with Meera. He had to admit, Sameer had a point. He was used to things coming easy. But with Meera, nothing was easy. And maybe that’s what was driving him crazy.

As he turned the corner near the dorms, he bumped into someone—literally.

“Whoa, sorry!” Karan exclaimed, steadying the person.

“No problem,” the girl said, looking up with a smile. It was Anika, one of Karan’s classmates. She had long black hair and a bright, cheerful personality that contrasted with Meera’s reserved demeanor.

“You alright?” Karan asked, still a little flustered.

“Yeah, I’m good,” Anika said, adjusting the strap of her bag. “I was just heading to grab some coffee. Want to join?”

Karan hesitated for a moment, but then smiled. He didn’t mind spending time with Anika. She was fun, easy-going, and didn’t have the cold indifference that seemed to surround Meera. “Sure, why not?”

As they walked to the café, Anika kept the conversation light and playful. She had a thing for Karan, that much was obvious. But Karan couldn’t stop his mind from wandering back to Meera. She wasn’t in the café, but he found himself looking around, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

Anika seemed to pick up on his distracted attitude. “You’re not paying attention, are you?” she teased, nudging him with her elbow.

Karan blinked, realizing he had been zoning out. “Huh? Oh, sorry, Anika. I was just thinking about something.”

“Something important?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Karan hesitated, then shrugged. “I guess you could say that.”

“Well, whatever it is, I hope it’s not another girl,” Anika said with a wink, nudging him again. “You know, I don’t really like to share.”

Karan couldn’t help but laugh. “You have nothing to worry about, Anika. There’s no one else.”

Anika’s face lit up, but Karan’s mind was still on Meera. He tried to shake the thought, but it lingered.

As the evening wore on, Karan found himself increasingly drawn into his thoughts. Why was he so obsessed with Meera? She wasn’t anything like the girls he usually went after. And yet, there was something about her that made him want to prove himself to her.

He was more determined than ever to break through the wall she had built around herself.