Hello my hotties!

Thanks for giving my story a chance.

His eyes might not be the color of the ocean, but i drown in them every time.

- यह तेरे दो नैना!!

"For god's sake, why can't they leave me in peace in the morning too?" I muttered to myself as my deep slumber is interrupted by the shrill ring of my phone. The sound pierces through my dream, dragging me unwillingly into the harsh reality of the morning.

"What?" I answered groggily, without checking the caller ID. I'm too lazy and too tired to even consider the possibility that it might be important.

Besides, it's not like my one and only crush would call me at 7 o'clock in the morning. I roll my eyes at the thought.

"What, what? You sleepyhead, wake up! Today is our first day of college, and you're still sleeping. I don't want to be late on the first day." My best friend, Kuhoo, yelled in one breath.

Her voice is so loud and clear that it takes me a minute to comprehend what she's saying. I'm still half-asleep, and my brain is sluggishly trying to catch up.

"Thanks for the reminder, but I already know. Pick me up at 8:20. Bye." I hang up before she can say anything else.

I sit on my bed and stretch, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. The excitement of the first day of college slowly starts to seep in.

I head to the bathroom to begin my morning routine. The cold water splashing on my face wakes me up completely.

I brush my teeth, wash my face, and then apply my favorite face cream. The routine is soothing, a familiar comfort in the midst of a new beginning.

After that, I play some music on my phone and approach my wardrobe to choose today's outfit. The familiar tunes of my favorite playlist fill the room, giving me a burst of energy.

Alright, first day-first impression!

"Top and jeans or a dress?" I murmured to myself as I stare at my wardrobe full of clothes, yet unable to select one.

"Need some help?"

"Ahhh!" I screamed in fear, startled by the unexpected voice. I turn and see-

"Mumma, you scared me." I said, giving her a morning hug. I yelped in pain when she grabs my ear firmly.

Bhavana Thakkar, my mother. The most beautiful woman I have ever seen. At 42 age, she's more energetic than I am.

"Don't you care about your mother's throat? I've been shouting for the last five minutes, and here you are, listening to music loudly." She said calmly as I try to free my ear from her grasp.

"Okay, sorryyyyy." I said, and she lets go of my ear. She shook her head while I make a pleading face.

She glances at the wardrobe for merely 15 seconds and pulls out an outfit. She has an eye for these things, always knowing exactly what would look best on me.

"I'm not looking that bad." I murmured as I glance at myself in the full-length mirror. My outfit, chosen by Mumma, fits perfectly.

The color complements my skin tone, and the cut flatters my figure. I finish up with a delicate necklace that sparkles subtly and my favorite nude pink lip-gloss- which adds just the right amount of shine to my lips. Satisfied with my appearance, I give myself a small smile. 

First day of college, here I come.

"Meeru, come quickly. Breakfast is ready." I heard my Mumma's sweet, angelic voice calling from downstairs. I grab my bag and phone, taking one last look in the mirror before heading downstairs.

"Chocolate pancakes!" I exclaimed excitedly when I see my mom making pancakes in the kitchen. The scent of melted chocolate and warm batter fills the air, making my mouth water.

In our home, we don't usually eat pancakes because they're a special treat. So, Mumma makes them for special occasions and today is-

My first day of college!

"Thank you" I say gratefully as she serves me three large pancakes, each one golden brown and fluffy. I add extra chocolate syrup, letting it drizzle over the stack until it's a gooey, chocolaty masterpiece.

I can't wait to dig in. Look at this-my mumma's special chocolate pancakes. Before diving in, I quickly take out my phone, snap a picture of the delicious stack, and post it on my Instagram story with a caption: #bestmomever

Almost immediately, my phone starts buzzing with notifications. Soon, I receive 30-35 likes. I don't have many followers, just 467k, since I don't post too much.

"Ahemm" I moaned contentedly as I take the first bite, the pancake melting in my mouth. It's heavenly. The perfect blend of soft, warm pancake and rich chocolate.

"125 calories" Here comes my annoying brother, but I still love him despite his constant teasing.

"You know, you just added 125 calories to your body." He said, smirking as he leans against the kitchen counter with his cup of tea. I rolled my eyes at his comment and stick my tongue out at him before continuing to eat.

Nothing, not even his calorie-counting, can ruin this moment.

Devang Thakkar. Age: 25. Ready to get married. If any girl is interested in my brother, they need to come through me first. He has black curly hair and a stylish beard.

He looks like a hero in a gray suit, effortlessly handsome and always impeccably dressed. Despite his teasing, he's protective and caring-a big brother in every sense of the word.

This is my family: Mumma, my annoying brother, and me. They are my world. We've been through so much together, and their support means everything to me.

If you ask about my father, he's no longer with us; he died in an accident when I was younger. His absence left a void, but we've learned to lean on each other and find strength in our bond.

～⁠～✿～⁠～

"Babe, you look stunning." Kuhoo said, breaking the hug and stepping back to admire me. Her eyes sparkled with genuine admiration.

"You're too." I replied, but before I could fully process her compliment, she hugged me again, tighter this time.

"I missed you." She murmured into my shoulder, and I shook my head in mild amusement. I gently patted her back, signaling the end of our embrace.

"We just met two days ago." I reminded her as we made our way to her sleek Mercedes-Benz S-class. It's not like we don't have any vehicles at home, but I don't know how to drive.

"Two days felt like an eternity to me." She whined and I chuckled. As we settled into the plush leather seats and began our drive, we chatted about various trivialities, catching up on the minor events that had occurred in the short time since we'd last seen each other.

Within fifteen minutes, we arrived at our college. Stepping out of the car, I took a moment to absorb my surroundings, feeling the familiar buzz of student life all around us.

"Kuhoo!" I screamed in surprise as she suddenly grabbed my hand, pulling me along with unexpected urgency.

"I think I saw someone from our school." She said, not slowing down her pace.

"So what? It's normal for our school's students to attend this college." I replied, trying to keep up with her hurried steps. She stopped abruptly and turned to look at me, exasperation written all over her face.

"Girl, do you know who I'm talking about?" She asked, tapping her foot impatiently. I gulped, suddenly anxious, and shook my head, feeling a bit clueless.

"Your one and only crush." She revealed with a teasing smile, her eyes twinkling mischievously. My heart skipped a beat. Okay, it's not normal, for me.

"Leave it, I must have imagined him." She said, snapping me out of my daydream. I nodded, trying to shake off the nervousness that had crept over me.

"Right, how could he be here?" I said with a nervous laugh. She shook her head, muttering a small 'silly girl' under her breath.

Grabbing my hand again, she led me towards our classroom, knowing that in my current distracted state, I'd likely bump into someone if left to navigate on my own.

"You two are late." Kunal yelled as soon as we stepped into the classroom. He stood up, approached us, his expression a mix of annoyance.

"I know, I know..." Kuhoo said dismissively, waving him off as she made her way to her seat. Kunal's eyes followed her, clearly unimpressed. Are they both of same zodiac sign that's why they don't get along, or there's another reason.

Who knows?

"Let's go" I say, tugging on Kunal's arm and dragging him to our seats. The day has just started, and we find ourselves in the familiar surroundings of our new college classroom.

Here's the backstory: Kuhoo, Kunal, and I have been friends since our school days. We share a lot of memories, both good and bad, and have always been there for each other through thick and thin.

Kuhoo is my bestie. We have a close-knit group of friends that also includes Pragati and Rushabh. If I talk about male bestie then Rushabh is super close to me.

First, he's a great cook-

Second, he's very caring-

Third, he's very cute.

But if you ask why he's not here, it's because he doesn't want to study further. He wants to focus on his cooking skills.

He said he wants to follow his dreams. If you ask what his dream is-it's to become the best chef in the world.

Crazy, right?

But I know one day he will achieve his dreams. I snap out of my thoughts when our professor arrives. He clears his throat, and the chatter in the room dies down to a hushed silence.

He introduces himself as Professor Rajiv Joshi, though he prefers to be called Prof. Joshi. At 30 years old, he's quite young for a professor, yet his numerous awards and certificates speak volumes about his accomplishments.

But I'm not interested in listening to him because I'm looking out the window at particular person. His back is facing me, but there's something familiar about him.

I snap back my attention to Prof. Joshi when he starts taking attendance. I realize that most of our schoolmates are here.

"Present" I said when my name is called, trying to keep my voice steady. But then, my heart skips a beat when the professor calls out next person name.

"Akshnav Mehra"

"Akshnav Mehra"

At first, I think I misheard, but when the professor repeats the name, it's confirmed.

"I'm saying this for the last time. If Akshnav Mehra is here, raise your hand." Prof. Joshi said loudly this time. Each repetition of the name felt like a hammer strike to my chest, and I could feel my heart racing as if it were trying to escape.

My pulse quickened, my palms grew sweaty, and I felt as though I might have a heart attack if the professor said the name once more. And then, it happened - the door burst open with a loud bang, and a husky voice filled the air.

"Here" the voice echoed through the room. Every head turned towards the source of the voice, me included. My breath caught in my throat, and I felt a paralyzing shock run through my body. I could only stare, unable to do anything more.

There he is-

Our school's most popular bad boy-Akshnav Mehra.

His straight, jet-black hair frames his face, striking against his smooth, naturally tan skin tone. His deep, dusk brown eyes are warm and expressive, drawing you in with their intensity and sincerity.

His physique is lean and muscular, reflecting dedication and strength, yet retaining a sense of natural grace. His presence is both commanding and approachable, embodying the perfect balance of power and gentleness, for those he allowed.

"College ke pahle din hi late." the professor scolded him, but as usual, there was no expression on his face, or in other words I sat there is no hint of regret on his face.

 (Late on the first day of college.) 

"Come in" the professor instructed. Akshnav walked into the classroom with an air of casual confidence, his eyes scanning the room. I didn't know what he was looking for, but when his gaze landed on me, I froze.

He walked in, I looked at him;

Our eyes met, he smiled at me;

but I couldn't.

"I think you need this." Kunal said, passing me a water bottle. Without hesitation, I grabbed it from him and started gulping down the water in large, desperate swigs.

"Easy... easy, girl" Kunal said, but his caution came too late. I had already drained the entire bottle in one go, feeling slightly embarrassed as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

"Are you alright?" someone asked gently. I looked up to see a girl sitting alone in front of me, her concerned eyes locked onto mine.

"I-I'm alright" I stammered, trying to steady my breathing. She smiled at me, and I returned, though it was clear she wasn't convinced by my response.

My heart is still racing. It's normal for me; whenever I get too excited, or someone surprises me, my heartbeat starts racing.

Just then, Akshnav walked closer to where I'm sitting and tapped on the seat next to me. The boy currently occupying the seat looked up at Akshnav, confusion evident on his face.

"Stand up!" Akshnav commanded, his voice brooking no argument.

"Excuse me?" the boy said, clearly taken aback. Akshnav clenched his jaw, a clear sign of his irritation. He hated it when people didn't comply with his wishes, and I'm at the top of his hit-list.

"What's going on there?" the professor's voice cut through the tension. My eyes widened in alarm. No, no, I pleaded silently to god, but it was too late.

"I want this seat." Akshnav declared loudly enough for everyone in the classroom to hear. The room fell into a hushed silence, all eyes turning to witness the unfolding drama.

"And why through?" the boy challenged. I groaned inwardly, wondering why he was digging his own grave with his words.

"Because I want through." Akshnav replied, his tone dripping with menace. He dared the boy to push further.

"Is your name written on this seat?" the boy retorted. I bit my lower lip, trying to suppress a laugh at the sight of Akshnav's increasingly pissed-off expression.

It gives me a unique happiness that nothing else can.

"Here" Akshnav said, taking out his bike key and starting to carve his name into the wooden bench. The loud, grating noise made me quickly cover my ears, wincing at the sound.

"Now, get up!" Akshnav yelled, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. The boy flinched, and the professor, sensing the escalating tension, intervened and gestured for the boy to stand up.

Thank God!

The boy stood up and went to sit on the other side. I caught a glimpse of fear in his eyes as he passed by. I quickly put my hands over my ears again as-

Akshnav dragged his seat closer to mine, the screeching sound of metal against the floor echoing in the classroom. He settled into the seat next to me, his presence dominating the space.

My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of anxiety and something else I couldn't quite identify. This first day of college was turning out to be far more intense than I had anticipated.

"Why do you have to create a scene on the first day of our college?" I asked, frustration evident in my voice. As usual, he ignored my question, his expression unreadable.

I scoffed when he smiled at me, a smile that seemed to melt any resolve I had. He took my hand in his, starting to play with my fingers. Damn, his smile. But as much as I hated to admit it, I liked him more when he smirks.

The professor resumed teaching, and I sighed, knowing full well he wouldn't address what had just happened. Why would he? We were at Granville University, one of the top five universities in Bengaluru.

Here, the power of money spoke louder than any disciplinary action. The children of the wealthy elite attended this institution, and the professors knew their place. One wrong move, and they could find themselves out of a job.

A sudden pressure on my knuckles made me flinch. I snatched my hand away from Akshnav and glared at him.

"Don't touch me." I warned. He smirked, clearly amused by my reaction. I cursed him silently and focused on my notes, determined not to let him hold my hand again.

Meera, focus! I mentally scolded myself, glancing back at Kuhoo and Kunal. Both of them smirked at me, clearly enjoying the spectacle. I rolled my eyes, exasperated.

"When is this lecture going to end?" I murmured to myself, lowering my head onto the bench and closing my eyes, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

"Attention ladies and assholes." Akshnav shouted, his voice cutting through the classroom noise and catching everyone's attention. As soon as our first lecture ended, he made his way to the front of the class, all eyes following him.

I rolled my eyes at his theatrics, wondering what he was up to this time. He grabbed a red marker and looked at me, a smirk plastered on his face. I stuck my tongue out at him childishly and lowered my head, hoping to ignore whatever stunt he was about to pull.

A moment later, the collective gasp from the class made me look up. My eyes widened as I read the words he had written on the whiteboard:

(Meera Thakkar is my girl. Dare to even think of looking at her, you'll die by my hands)

My heart pounded in my chest, and I quickly closed my mouth, realizing it had fallen open in shock. My head felt like it was going to burst if I stayed in that room another second. I grabbed my bag and stood up from my seat.

"Where are you going?" Kuhoo and Kunal asked in unison, making me flinch.

"My first bunk" I breathed out, whispering to them. Without waiting for their response, I marched to the front of the class. I snatched the marker from Akshnav's hand and started writing furiously:

I'm not 'YOUR GIRL'

Leaving those words on the board, I turned and stormed out of the classroom, not daring to glance back. I heard footsteps behind me, and I didn't need to look behind to know who was following me.

"One tea, please-"

"And one strong coffee." Akshnav cut me off, and I rolled my eyes. The canteen staff began preparing our order. I was about to pay, but before I could-

I heard Alexa's notification. He had paid online. I looked around, searching for the best table in the canteen.

"From now on, you're going to be my favorite spot for the next three years." I said to a table with six chairs, perfect for our group.

The cold, clear wind brushed against my skin as there was no one else in the canteen. I closed my eyes to feel the atmosphere.

I exhaled deeply as I settled into my seat. I groaned when he took the seat beside me. I didn't want to look, but when I felt his gaze on me, I turned.

His face was resting on the back of the chair as he turned it around. I tried my best to hide my blush, but I couldn't. The way he was admiring my face, I couldn't.

"What do you want?" I asked, irritated by his continuous staring.

"I want you." He hushed out. I quickly bit my inner cheek to suppress a blush at his sentimental remark.

"Why are you here?" I asked, my voice tinged with confusion as he looked at me, equally bewildered.

"My girl, it's college." He replied with a slight chuckle.

"I know it's college. That's why I'm asking. Aren't you going to abroad for your studies?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't want to go."

"And why so?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Because my girl isn't there." He said softly. I bit my lower lip to avoid saying something stupid.

He cupped my face and traced his thumb over my lower lip, pulling it out from between my teeth. His eyes darkened as it made a soft 'tuck' sound.

We both held strong eye contact, daring each other not to blink. He's so good at playing eye contact game, I am no less.

"If I win, I'm touching you, in class." He said. My eyes widened, but I still maintained eye contact.

He smirked at my next words, and I groaned, regretting being so specific and giving him his way.

"If I win, then you're not touching me, in class."