Teaser ;)
The office is quiet, Adrian stands at the desk, fiddling with some papers for a documentation project while Anya stands across from him, looking uneasy. The principal, Adrian's father, is still absent, which leaves the two alone.
Adrian l...
The fog hung thick and low, blanketing the world in a soft, muted veil. Trees loomed like shadowy sentinels, their outlines blurred and indistinct, as if they belonged to another realm entirely. The air was cool and damp, carrying the faint scent of earth and wet leaves.
Anya reached the campus quite early, she set up her easel under an oak tree. The campus was quite,with just a few students passing by,their figures merging in the translucent scene. Anya started to paint the scene before her.
She was wearing a pink sleeveless kurti with floral print design. The fabric was light and breathable,flowing slightly with the breeze. She paired it with light blue wide jeans with multiple silver bangles and rings,giving a boho touch. Overall laid back and comfortable.
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Adrian was passing and paused mid-step, his gym bag slung casually over one shoulder. The fog blurred the edges of everything, giving the scene an almost dreamlike quality. But it was her—standing in front of an easel, beneath the sprawling tree—that caught his attention.
Her head was tilted slightly as she studied her canvas, a paintbrush poised delicately between her fingers. The soft strokes of watercolors bled across the paper, merging seamlessly into what looked like the misty outline of the campus gardens. The kurti hugging her perfectly,adding a splash of vibrant color to the otherwise muted morning tones.
He could hear the faint scratch of the brush against the paper and the occasional clink of a jar as she dipped her brush into water. It was common for students to sit around and paint or do any of the activities,but this felt different.
He leaned against a nearby bench, deciding not to interrupt just yet. There was something fascinating about how absorbed she was. Her hands moved quickly but delicately, like she was trying to capture something fleeting before it slipped away.
Finally, he spoke. “Do you always invade campus this early?”
Anya jumped at the sound, her brush slipping. She spun around, eyes narrowing as she spotted him lounging a few feet away, his gym bag slung over his shoulder. “Do you always sneak up on people like that?”
Adrian shrugged, unbothered by her tone. “Didn’t mean to. Just passing through.”
She turned back to her painting, clearly unimpressed. “Then keep passing.”
He didn’t move, his curiosity outweighing his irritation at her curt response. “What are you painting?”
“Nothing you’d understand,” she muttered, adjusting her hair and leaning closer to the canvas.
Adrian smirked, stepping closer despite her obvious attempt to brush him off. “Try me.”
Anya let out an exasperated sigh but turned the canvas slightly so he could see. It was a work in progress—soft washes of color forming the silhouettes of trees and the faint glow of light trying to break through the fog.
“It’s the atmosphere,” she explained reluctantly. “The way it feels. Not just what it looks like.”
Adrian studied it, his smirk fading. “You’re trying to paint something invisible,” he said, more to himself than to her.
Anya blinked, surprised by his understanding. “Yeah,” she admitted softly.
For a moment, they were silent, the only sound the rustle of leaves overhead. Adrian finally straightened and adjusted the strap of his bag,becoming his usual self again“You’re pretty deep for someone who looks like they’d rather stab me with that paintbrush.”
Her lips twitched, almost forming a smile, but she held it back. “Maybe I would if you keep interrupting.”
Adrian smirked. “Noted. Enjoy your masterpiece, then.” He turned to leave, but not before adding, “It’s not bad, though. What you’re doing.”
Anya blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected compliment. Before she could respond, he was already walking away, disappearing into the mist. She glanced back at her painting, the scene before her suddenly feeling a little more alive than it had moments ago. __________________________________
Anya's POV
My classes were finally over. I was done with today. It had been stressful—Mr. James’s endless chatter about some stupid physics concept that felt like it belonged in another dimension.
Zindagi main physics sachme jaruri hai? (Is physics really a need to live?)
Adrian, however was enjoying the class. His gaze was focused on the chalkboard as if equations were puzzles meant only for him to solve.
Annoying.
Effortlessly, his pen moved across his notebook, and the numbers and symbols came together like they belonged in a different language—one that only he could speak.
It made me frustrated, somehow. How could someone just get things so easily, without even trying?
I knew I shouldn’t care. He was cold, detached, and he certainly wasn’t interested in talking to someone like me.
But the thing was... he had complimented me in the morning. It had come out of nowhere, completely unexpected, and my heart had raced. Not just because of the compliment itself but because he exactly knew what I was painting.
He didn’t talk to me after that. Not a glance, not a smile—nothing.
Forget it...mujhe kya? (I don't care)
I slung my bag over my shoulder and forced myself to focus on the sound of the hallway. It was late in the evening-The hallway was eerily silent,the lights casting a dim glow in the polished floor. Yes, I stayed late in the library getting that equation right and guess what!
I failed...
I was walking and just then, a small whip of smoke caught my attention.
What?-
There he was, Adrian Marshall, stood casually leaning against the lockers, his head tilted back as he exhaled a thin plume of smoke. The orange glow of the cigarette lit up his sharp features, his sage-green eyes glinting under the dim lights.
The colour of his eyes is the only good thing about him.
“You know smoking’s prohibited on campus,” I called out, my voice surprisingly sharp.
His gaze slid to me, slow and lazy, like he couldn’t be bothered to move. He took another drag before flicking the cigarette onto the floor, crushing it under his boot.
“Problem?” he asked, his voice low and indifferent.
What does he think of himself?
“Yes, actually. I’m going to report this to the principal.” I retorted,my voice echoed in the vacant hallway.my arms crossed as if I was trying to resist actually walking into the office.
He didn't respond,his head leaning on the lockers.
I'll kill him.
"Did you here me?" I retorted taking steps towards him and stopping near.
He chuckled,it wasn't a humours one,more like....it bit me. "Cute." His voice nonchalant yet dangerous.
My fists cleanched,my anger threatening to spill over. And I started towards the principles office,"mr.edward will definitely punis-"
Before I could finish,his hand shot out,grabbing my wrist forcefully and slamming me on the lockers.My jhumkas jingled and I stumbled,His grip on my wrist made the bangle dig into my skin.
"Not so fast," his tone low and dangerous.
My breath hitched as his other hand rested beside my head,trapping me and he-
