ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ [ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ]

• Part 61 •

Nikita POV:

Monday.
No one likes Mondays, but I do.

Let's be honest, you get to see your campus crush, why wouldn't you like Mondays! But on the other hand, I genuinely did like Mondays. Sitting at home was fun, but I didn't mind going out with I'm going with my friends.

I got dressed in a simple skirt and a full sleeve top, along with my hair braided and my usual makeup. I got myself ready and then went outside where Aisha and Krutika were waiting for me.

Yesterday, I reached home at around 1am. We sat and watched a movie, then just yapped about a bunch of things - it's safe to say, time was going way too fast!

"Wow I'm surprised you're up at 8:30." Aisha said, "I didn't think you'd be coming!"
"Why not?" I asked her, grabbing chai.
"Well, seems like you had a late night!" Kru smirked at me, "Didn't you?"
I blushed, "shut up."
"So tell us, why aren't you two together yet?"

I looked at them, thinking more to myself. That's a good question. Why am I not with him yet? He did tell me that he'd ask me when he can sense that I'm okay to be with him, but I am now. Is he okay for it? Of course he is.

If there's anything he's taught me, it's to stop overthinking and just ask him!

If he can't ask me out, why don't I?
Should I?

Maybe I should.
But how? I've never done this before. I don't know what he likes. Would he even say yes? Maybe I should hint it out.

"I don't really know." I finally said, "He said he'd give me time, after the whole month we were not meeting and everything that happened with Riya, but I'm not really sure how long this time is supposed to be."

"Do you want to be with him?" Aisha asked.

Is that even a question?
I'd say yes a 1000 times!

"I.... I wouldn't mind." I blushed, "But I don't think he wants to or he sees me that way. I'm not sure."

"He definitely sees you that way, but you're right, the guy could have asked you, but I'm sure he's just waiting for the right time, it's nothing else." Aisha reassured.

"We'll see!" I said, "Let's go now."

———

I walked to the cafeteria before my class and bumped into a friendly face. Ved.
"Hi." I said to him as I noticed me and waved back, "how are you?"
"I'm good Niki, how are you?"
"I'm good."

I looked around and he caught me, "He's not here."
"W...what?"
"Mayukh, he's not here." He smirked.
I blushed and looked down, "I... I wasn't finding him, I was just seeing wha—"
"Oh Niki! Come on. I can see the way you two look at each other. If anything I'm confused as to why you two aren't together.
"Oh, well, maybe he doesn't want to, or maybe he isn't rea—"
"I know the guy my whole life, he's ready and he definitely wants to. I think I know what's stopping him."
"Shruti." We said in unison.
He looked at me, "it's strange that she's back. That too now, it doesn't add up. She left before university started and since then no one has heard of her at all, and for her to come back randomly right now, it's strange."

He was right. It indeed was strange.

  ———

I reached my class and sat down, where after 5 minutes, the seat next to me was taken by Ayush. I smiled and waved to him and tried to reserve the next seat near me but Aisha sat there and I couldn't say no to her.

Before I could text Mayukh, the class had started, so I started to listen and I noticed him walk in 10 minutes after the lecture started. In university, no one asks you why you're late.
They don't care.

I saw him look at me and then sit on the row behind me, his gaze fixed on mine.

But when I turned to look from the corner of my eye, he was focusing. That's what I admired about him, he might be entirely flirty and lovely dovey, but when it comes to work, he will never let all this affect his studying.
I admire that so much.

Once class ended, everyone started heading out while Ayush and I got talking in a conversation. He must have noticed through someone's stories that it was my birthday yesterday and so he wished me and we had a chat about things in general. After a while, he left and Aisha also left since she had another class to get to.

I started packing my stuff when I sensed Mayukh behind me. So I spoke without looking at him, "What's up?"
He chuckled, "Wow, you can sense me without looking at me now. Interesting."
"I've been around you so much."
"Hmmm," he said in his husky voice as he turned me around and grabbed my waist, "This isn't 'too much', there's a lot more left."
I gulped at his words, "m...eaning?"
"You'll find out."
"Let me go, I need to get to class." I said and freed myself and packed my stuff. He came in front of me once I finished packing and we were heading out the class together until he pinned me against the wall.
"Mayukh!" I whispered, "chodo!"
"Shh." He said and cupped my face, "Mishbo..."
I looked at him, "yeah?"
"I hate sharing you." He whispered against my neck, "It angers me."
"W...what?"
"Mishbo, you're mine." He said and closed the gap between us.

He was confusing me, but I don't mind staying confused.

                                     ———

After finishing 2 back to back classes, I reached the library. That's the only place I need to be in after the hustle and bustle of the day. I'm tired. I quickly got my stuff and sat down when I noticed Shruti walking towards me.

I stiffened.

"Hello." She said, sitting down.
I looked at her, gave her a small smile, then greeted her back, "Hi."
She looked at me up and down, "So, I heard a lot about you. I must say.... People described you exactly like you are."
"I see. That's nice to hear then."

She chuckled, "So, are you and Mayukh a thing? I've noticed his behavior towards you."

Why does she need to know? Should I be honest with her? "Shruti, I don't really like to discuss all this in open, I am sure you understand."

"In the open? It's just me. We can discuss it, after all, I'm his ex and you're his next. We have that in common."

I sighed, "Look, let's be honest. I don't know why you are talking to me, and I don't want to cause issues between us because we don't know each other, so can we just go back to not knowing each other exist?"

She looked at me, "I.... I wanted to talk to you about it because I've been misunderstood."
"By who?"
"Mayukh, and his brothers."

I scoffed, "Shruti, you were using him. There's no misunderstanding there."
"I know, I'm not defending myself. I'm saying that there's a reason why I did all that.
"And what's that?"

"I was forced to break up with him."

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