Maybe in next life

chapter 11

Mihir🦋🖤

The college auditorium buzzed with activity, the final preparations for the annual event in full swing. I stood near the stage, my sharp gaze scanning the hall as staff and students moved about, carrying decorations, setting up lights, and testing sound systems. Everything needed to be perfect. This wasn’t just any event—it was my father’s college, and the legacy of his name demanded excellence.

I adjusted the cuffs of my tailored black three-piece suit, the fabric crisp and immaculate. Every detail of my appearance was precise, deliberate. My tie was perfectly knotted, my shoes polished to a mirror shine. I was the image of control, of authority, and I intended to keep it that way.

“Mihir, the caterers just called. They’re running ten minutes late,” one of the event coordinators said nervously, clutching a clipboard.

“Then tell them to pick up the pace,” I said coolly, not bothering to look at him. “And make sure the table settings are perfect before they arrive.”

“Yes, sir,” he mumbled, scurrying away.

“Mihir, you really should smile more,” Vihaan said, appearing beside me with a mischievous grin. He was dressed in a black three-piece suit same as mine.
his casual confidence a stark contrast to my rigid formality. “You’re going to scare away half the guests with that death glare of yours.”

“do I give a fuck if they’re scared?” I replied, my tone flat.

“That’s the spirit,” Rohan chimed in, joining us with a chuckle. “The colder you are, the more mysterious you look. And let’s be honest, the girls love that.”

I ignored them, my focus returning to the stage. The decorations were almost complete, the golden drapes and fairy lights casting a soft glow over the setup. Everything was coming together, as it always but this time its done by ruhi she handledher responsibilities very well.

Then, as if the universe had timed it perfectly, she walked in.

Ruhi!

The moment I saw her, the noise of the auditorium seemed to fade into the background. She stood at the entrance, her white gown flowing like liquid light around her. The fabric was delicate, shimmering faintly with every movement, as if it held the stars themselves. The neckline was modest yet elegant, and the gown hugged her figure in a way that was both graceful and understated. Her long hair was swept to one side, cascading in soft waves over her shoulder.

She looked... ethereal.

I had seen her countless times before, but tonight, she was something else entirely. Her beauty was not just in her appearance but in the way she carried herself—poised yet unassuming, as if she didn’t even realize the effect she had on the world around her.

“Mihir.”

Rohan voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I realized I had been staring. I quickly schooled my features, letting my usual cold mask slip back into place.

“Are you even listening?” Vihaan asked, smirking as he followed my gaze. When he spotted her, his grin widened. “Ah, I see. Our stone-hearted Mihir has a weakness after all.”

Rohan, ever the instigator, nudged me with his elbow. “You’ve been caught, my friend. Admit it—she’s stunning.”

“She’s...” I hesitated, my voice betraying a softness I hadn’t intended. “She looks fine.”

“Fine?” Vihaan repeated, feigning offense. “That’s all you’ve got? Come on, Mihir. Give us something real. We all saw the way you were looking at her.”

“I wasn’t looking at her,” I said firmly, though even I didn’t believe the words.

“You were looking,” Rohan said, leaning closer with a conspiratorial smirk. “And your expression wasn’t cold for once. I think I even saw a smile.”

I shot him a glare that could have frozen fire, and he raised his hands in mock surrender.

“Fine, fine. Don’t admit it. But we know the truth,” he said, laughing as he walked away.

Vihaan stayed behind, his teasing grin softening into something more thoughtful. “You can deny it all you want, but we both know she’s different. She gets to you, doesn’t she?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

Instead, I turned my attention back to the stage, trying to refocus on the event. But no matter how hard I tried, my thoughts kept drifting back to her.

Ruhi was speaking to someone near the entrance now, her laughter light and melodious. It was a sound that somehow reached me, even across the crowded hall.

I clenched my fists, willing myself to stay composed. I had a reputation to uphold, an image to maintain. I couldn’t afford to let my feelings show—not here, not anywhere.

But as she turned her head and her eyes briefly met mine, something in me softened again. For just a moment, the cold, unyielding façade I wore every day threatened to crack.

And that terrified me.

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Thank you to everyone who is reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it. If you are enjoying the story please let me know your thoughts in the comments. I would love to hear your feedback and what you think about the story so far.
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AND SORRY FOR SHORT CHAPTERS

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