𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈!♡♡

At college

Aishani’s POV

Avoiding Dr. Grumpy 101.

Rule number 1: Act invisible.

Rule number 2: Pretend every wall, notice board, and ceiling fan is far more interesting than him.

Rule number 3 : Definitely don’t think about how good he looks in that crisp white coat.

I sighed, clutching my file as I walked into the corridor.

Peace. That’s all I wanted.

But peace and I had a complicated relationship - especially with him around.

“Miss Mitra,” came that familiar voice. Calm. Low. Commanding.

I froze. Every cell in my body immediately forgot how to function.

Slowly, I turned around, plastering on a polite smile. “Yes, Sir?”

His gaze swept from my messy notes to my slightly crooked ID card.

“You’re late. Again.”

“I was-uh-helping…”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Creating chaos? Hmm.”

My mouth opened  then closed.

A muscle in his jaw twitched - the grumpy version of him trying not to smile.

“Focus on your work, Miss Mitra.”

Ugh. Always that same line.

“Yes, Sir,” I mumbled under my breath.

“Focusing on breathing around you is hard enough though.”

He turned and walked away, and I rolled my eyes.

Step one of avoiding him: failed. Again.

Later in class, things didn’t improve.

My usual bench - the one near the window was occupied.

By none other than him.

He was discussing something with the senior professor, his pen tapping rhythmically against the desk. He looked too serious for someone who ruined my mental peace.

So I quietly sat a few rows behind, pretending to take notes.

Except my pen hovered in midair the entire time.

When his eyes lifted mid conversation and caught mine, I nearly dropped my pen.

One brow arched.

I quickly looked away, scribbling nonsense on my page.

“Busted,” my friend Shree whispered, stifling a laugh.

“Don’t,” I hissed. “He can smell fear.”

A few moments later, as he walked past, his gaze flicked to my notes.

“Miss Mitra,” he said softly. “If those squiggles are anatomy, I suggest you practice more.”

The class chuckled. My cheeks burned.

Ugh.

Dr. Grumpy - 1 Me - 0.

By the end of the day, I was done.

The lab was quiet except for the faint hum of the centrifuge.

Everyone else had left. Just me, my clumsy hands, rearranging slides just to avoid bumping into him again. But fate? Fate has a wicked sense of humor.

I reached for a tray of test tubes and of course, the universe said nope.

They slipped.

Crashing.

Shattering.

Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

And then, because the devil has a name, he walked in.

Dr. Revansh Roy.

In his usual calm stride, sleeves rolled up, white coat crisp, gaze sharp enough to slice through air.

His eyes swept across the mess. Then at me.

One eyebrow arched.

“Do you have a personal vendetta against glassware, Miss Mitra?”

I groaned. “I swear, they slipped on their own!”

He crouched down to help me pick up the pieces, his movements steady, efficient, annoyingly graceful.

I reached for one piece at the same time he did - our fingers brushed, and my heart completely betrayed me.

“Careful,” he murmured. “You’ll hurt yourself.”

“I’m fine,” I said way too quickly. “Just my soul is bleeding a little.”

That earned the faintest twitch of his lips.

He straightened, crossing his arms.

“You are a walking disaster,” he said, voice low, teasing now.

I gawked. “Excuse me!? I’m a multitasking genius who happens to be temporarily gravity challenged.”

He smirked. Actually smirked.

“If you say so. Though somehow, every time you’re near glass or peace, both end up breaking.”

“Wow,” I deadpanned. “You should print that on my ID card.”

“Noted,” he replied smoothly, turning toward the sink. “Now clean up before you destroy the entire department.”

“Heartless,” I muttered.

He didn’t turn, but his tone softened.

“I know. But you make it difficult to stay that way.”

I froze mid wipe, blinking at his back.

Did he just…?

No. Nope. I’m definitely hallucinating again.

After some time, he came again and offered me a ride home or rather, ordered me to come.

“It’s late. We will go home..”

I didn’t argue much; part of me wanted one quiet moment before everything changed.

The evening breeze brushed against my hair as the car hummed along the familiar road. The ride home was quieter than usual no lectures, no sarcastic remarks. Just silence… the kind that made you aware of every heartbeat.

I turned toward the window, the fading sunlight painting the city gold.

I kept staring outside, pretending to admire the street lights, until something shiny caught my eye.

My breath hitched.

And then I saw it.

The watch.

That old wristwatch I had left on his desk..now gleamed faintly under the setting sun, wrapped around his wrist.

I blinked once.Twice.

Just to be sure.

Nope. Not my imagination.

The world’s most emotionless man was actually wearing something sentimental.

“You actually wore the watch…” I asked, half shocked, half smiling.

He didn’t look away from the road.

His fingers stiffened around the steering wheel.

“So you gave it to me just to look at, not to wear?” he replied, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“No! I just didn’t think you’d wear it. It’s old, Sir.”

He hummed softly.

“Old things are usually the most precious.”

My heart thumped once. Loud and clear.

Why did his voice have to sound so steady? Why did it always feel like he said more than his words carried?

“You like emotional gifts now?” I teased, trying to steady my tone.

He glanced sideways, lips curving slightly.

“Maybe.”

That one word.

Short. Simple. Dangerous.

He was definitely smirking now.

The car fell silent again. But this time, it wasn’t awkward. It was warm, heavy, full of unspoken things floating between us.

After a while, he spoke again, voice quieter.

“Why are you leaving, Aishani?”

I blinked.

“What kind of question is that? I can’t stay here forever.”

“You could,” he said simply.

That word hit too deep.

I looked at him, surprised. He still didn’t meet my eyes.

There was something in his tone not irritation, not authority… something softer. Something that made my heart stutter.

I looked down, forcing a laugh.

“It’ll be easier this way. You won’t have to drop me or pick me up anymore. See? Convenient.”

He sighed not out of irritation, but something heavier.

“So you think you will manage everything alone?”

“I know I can, and I just want to stand on my own,” I said, trying to sound confident.

“Besides, my father and brother are there to help me. Always. And uncle and aunt too.”

He didn’t reply for a moment, only drove slower. The headlights from passing cars flickered across his face calm, unreadable, and yet somehow sad.

Finally, he said quietly, “It’s better for me then.”

I nodded, though it stung more than I expected.

“Yeah,” I whispered. “Now there will be no one to annoy you.”

When we reached home, I reached for the handle but his voice stopped me.

“Aishani.”

I turned.

His hand rested lightly on the steering wheel, his thumb brushing over the edge of the watch.

“Don’t forget your files tomorrow.”

I smiled faintly.

“And you, Sir don’t forget to check your watch.”

He looked at me. Really looked.

For a long second, his eyes softened in a way that made everything inside me go quiet.

Revansh’s POV

She left the car quietly, her dupatta fluttering in the night breeze.

I watched her go small steps, soft laugh as she greeted Ma near the porch.

And just like that, the house felt less silent.

The watch ticked faintly on my wrist.

She had called it old. I called it something else.

Precious.Personal.Hers.

I am thinking too much.

Only one week. Of enduring her. Then she will be gone from my home. No more annoying. And I will be in peace.

✿✿✿

And I have updated Character Aesthetics.. Please go and check it out!!

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