He was the professor no one could ignore. She was the girl everyone overlooked. Professor Abhimanyu, 32, wasn't just another name on the faculty list...he was a presence. Known for his sharp mind, unmatched work ethic, and an aura of quiet authority, he taught Architectural Design like it was more than a subject... like it was a language of the soul. But he wasn't easy to keep. In just two years, he had already left two prestigious universities...never for better offers, but for something far more rare: his self-respect. He refused to compromise his dignity, no matter the cost. Then came Amrita. A final-year student. Always present, yet invisible. Always silent, yet full of unspoken thoughts. She wasn't the girl people noticed..she was the one they laughed at. The one who tried to fit in but somehow became the punchline instead. Shy. Introverted. "Boring," they called her. But they never really saw her. Because beneath that quiet exterior lived a mind that felt deeply, imagined endlessly, and observed everything. And yes... She had a crush on him. Just like many others. But unlike them, hers wasn't shallow admiration. It was something softer. Something deeper. She didn't just notice his looks, she noticed the way he spoke about design, the way he stood by his principles, the way he never pretended to be someone he wasn't. And maybe... he noticed something too. Not the loudest voice in class. Not the brightest attention-seeker. But the girl who stayed back, whose designs carried emotions no one else could draw, whose silence spoke louder than words. What happens when a man who values dignity above everything meets a girl who has never been valued at all? When admiration turns into understanding... When silence turns into connection... When two completely different worlds begin to align.. A story begins. Not loud. Not rushed. Not perfect. But real. Ranks - No.1 in Slowburn (24 feb 2025)

A melodious laugh suddenly resonated in Anamika's ears as she looked in the direction from where it came. Anamika was mesmerised at what she saw. Eklavya was laughing heartily as he played around with the pups. Who also were chasing him with great pleasure. Anamika had always seen him with a frown etched on his heavenly crafted face, eyes jaded with annoyance, an overwhelming hauteur looming around him. But never had she seen him so carefree as he was looking at this moment. Fooling around with the pups as they chased after him, the smile on his face made him look amiable, his face glowing with cheeriness. At this moment he didn't look forbidden but rather amicable. The pups seemed to sense her presence as they hurriedly ran towards her and successfully placing his attention on her. Laughing at their enthusiasm she gave the bags to Rudra and captured both the pups in her arms. Eklavya strolled towards them leisurely with his eyes on the brown-haired girl who was busy teasing the little pups. "What are their names?" He asked in his usual deep voice that never failed to arrest her senses. And suddenly her lips felt dry and instinctively she moved her tongue over them sensuously. And the action didn't go unnoticed by his perceiving deep eyes. And so, her absolute resolution of avoiding him came crashing down horribly. ~~~~~~~~ Anamika is a 16 years old girl, and had just returned to her roots after staying for two long years in Varanasi. Now, she's back in Dehradun. With a family that includes her crazy grandparents, an elder sister and a little brother along with her parents, of course, Anamika is all set to have a blast these oncoming years. But what she never expected was to fall on a complete stranger on her first day at Dehradun, that too on her best friend's cousin, the brooding angel, Eklavya. ~~~~~~~ Swarna_Mriga. Eklavya @2019. Cover. All rights to its owner.