"When Hate Softens" (18+)

"3" "Finding Your Tribe"

I sat there for a moment, the words of the mysterious note echoing in my mind. My thoughts were scattered, trying to make sense of the warning when a voice broke my concentration.

A soft, upbeat tone interrupted the tension in the room. "Hey, you okay?"

I looked up to find a girl standing beside my easel. She had an easy smile, dark hair tied up in a messy bun, and a camera slung around her neck. Her presence was warm and calming, the opposite of everything I had just experienced with Aniket.

"Yeah, just... fine," I replied, forcing a smile as I set the note aside in my bag.

She tilted her head, eyeing my sketchbook. "That's some pretty intense focus you've got there. Mind if I take a look?"

I hesitated for a moment before offering my sketchbook. Her eyes brightened as she flipped through the pages, pausing at a particularly detailed drawing of a cityscape.

"This is amazing!" she exclaimed. "You've got talent, Nina, I can tell."

I blinked, surprised. "How did you know my name?"

She grinned. "I'm Aisha. Aisha Kapoor. I noticed you in the scholarship student group during orientation. And, well, this piece? It definitely has your name written all over it."

I felt a sense of relief wash over me at the kindness in Aisha's voice. I had been dreading more awkward interactions, but Aisha's confidence and warmth were immediately comforting.

"Thanks, Aisha," I said, smiling genuinely this time. "I'm just trying to make sense of all this."

Aisha shrugged, still flipping through the sketchbook. "I get it. But trust me, you've got this. Art's a great escape, right? No judgment here."

I nodded, grateful for Aisha's understanding. Just then, the door opened again, and in walked two more figures. One was Aniket's ever-present best friend, Raghav Kapoor-tall, lean, with a sharp jawline and a sense of quiet confidence that spoke volumes. He had the kind of presence that made heads turn without even trying. The other was a shorter guy, equally well-dressed, but his demeanor was far more laid-back.

Raghav made his way across the room, his eyes flicking briefly to me before settling back on Aniket's seat, as if assessing the situation in a way that only someone who had spent years alongside the campus prince could.

Aisha leaned in, lowering her voice. "That's Raghav Kapoor. Don't let his chill vibe fool you. He's Aniket's right-hand man. If Aniket's the king, Raghav's his royal advisor-silent but deadly. Kind of a genius too, though. He's also here for art."

I watched Raghav carefully. He had the air of someone who didn't care for the drama of the crowd, but at the same time, his sharp eyes missed nothing. He nodded at Aisha when he passed her, but his gaze lingered on me for a second longer than necessary.

Aisha followed my gaze. "Don't worry about Raghav. He's got his own thing going on. But trust me, when you mess with Aniket, you mess with Raghav, too."

A knot tightened in my stomach at the mention of Aniket. I glanced back at my sketchbook, trying to refocus.

Just then, Raghav turned to face me, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Hey, I saw your piece over there," he said, his voice low but friendly. "It's impressive. Really. Not the usual stuff you see around here."

I was taken aback. Was he... complimenting me?

"Thanks," I said, a little cautiously. "It's a work in progress."

"Everything's a work in progress," Raghav replied, shrugging. He gave Aisha a quick glance, and she returned a smirk before looking back at me.

I couldn't help but smile a little at their dynamic. It was clear that Aisha and Raghav had their own shared understanding, and maybe-just maybe-I could find a similar connection.

"So," Aisha said, nudging me lightly, "if you're not too busy with 'Mr. Royal Pain in the Ass,'" she said with a wink, "we should grab a coffee later. Talk art, life, and how to survive this crazy place."

I felt a spark of something unfamiliar-a sense of hope. I had already begun to feel like maybe this room, this class, and even this university weren't as impossible as they seemed.

"I'd like that," I said, my tone more relaxed than it had been all day.

Just then, Raghav shot a final glance toward the door. "Aniket's probably just warming up for his next big spectacle," he muttered, as though he knew exactly what I had been thinking. "Don't let him get to you. He's not worth it."

I looked over at him, surprised at his rare display of empathy. "You don't think he's as untouchable as everyone else makes him out to be?"

Raghav smirked. "Trust me, there are layers to Aniket. And not all of them are pretty."

As the class continued to fill with chatter, Aisha and I exchanged a few more words before settling into a comfortable silence. The atmosphere in the studio had shifted, and despite everything that had happened with Aniket, I felt something else-an odd sense of belonging.

And maybe that was all I needed to keep moving forward.

•~•~•~☆~•
Hey guys, please vote and share your thoughts. 10 vote for the next chapter.

AUTHOR_BLURY♡~~~~♡