Aarohi And Dev

CHAPTER 63

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Aarohi POV

"I have prior commitments for this evening," I responded, tenderly brushing his cheek as we arrived at the university. "Let's rearrange it for another time."

He grumbled slightly, clearly disappointed by the change in plans, but ultimately acquiesced. "Okay," he conceded, his tone softened with understanding. "Just drop me a message, and I'll be there to whisk you away."

Upon stepping into the classroom, a palpable sense of tension hung in the air, thick with anticipation as we approached the final lecture before the imminent group assignment deadline.

Rajveer and Tara were already seated, their expressions betraying disinterest following a struggle to stay engaged during the previous session. Absent from the room was Mayank, prompting me to settle in beside Tara and inquire about his whereabouts. Rajveer merely shrugged, seemingly oblivious to his absence.

Turning my attention to Tara, I couldn't help but notice the weariness etched on her face. "Why the long face?" I inquired, genuine concern evident in my voice. With a heavy sigh, she rested her head on my shoulder; her voice tinged with defeat as she whispered, "I'm so tired of this constant drama, Ruhi. What should I do?"

Gently patting her head, I paused to carefully consider my response. "If you're exhausted from resisting him every single day, imagine how tired he must be after trying to win you over for the past six months. I know you don’t feel the same, and that’s perfectly okay. You don’t owe him anything, and he should realize that he can’t force love. But maybe, just maybe, you can show him a little kindness. Not because you owe him that, but because it might help you both move on. Talk to him like an adult and end it properly." Sometimes, navigating unreciprocated feelings can weigh just as heavily as harbouring them.

Tara chuckled softly at my words, a hint of levity colouring her mood. "Ruhi, you always say what I can't seem to put into words," she remarked, a grateful smile gracing her features. Witnessing her demeanour lighten brought a sense of relief, knowing that beneath Tara's hardened exterior lies a heart of gentleness. Tara can be tough on the outside, but I know how gentle-hearted she is beneath it all.

A few seconds later, Mayank walked in, his face etched with stress, even more so than Tara’s. Without greeting any of us, he quietly took a seat beside Rajveer, his usual energy replaced by a brooding silence. I immediately sensed that something was off.

"Don't be too friendly with that idiot today, like last time," Tara teased, playfully tapping Mayank on the head, referencing Karthik. But to our surprise, Mayank didn’t react at all. He simply stared ahead, lost in his thoughts, as if the weight of the world was pressing down on him.

Before we could ask what was bothering him, the seniors entered the room and quickly moved our group away from the rest of the class, separating us for the assignment. Despite the change of focus, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that something serious was on Mayank’s mind.

Completely engrossed in the task at hand, I suddenly realized that it was almost time to bring our work to a close. A swift glance toward my classmates Mayank and Tara revealed an unusual sight - Tara was managing the assignment effortlessly, while Mayank, typically brimming with lively banter, was unusually subdued. The usually vibrant atmosphere of his group was overtaken by a peculiar silence today. Despite this unexpected shift, I found solace in Tara's composure as she steered the group project to a smooth conclusion.

Just as I redirected my attention to our task, a sudden uproar shattered the calm of the classroom. My eyes darted towards Tara, who stood over Karthik, visibly shaken from a recent slap. Without a second thought, we hurried towards them.