Rhea woke up early and was getting ready for college. Just then, Anaya walked in and teased,
“Lately, someone’s been getting all dressed up for college!”
Rhea rolled her eyes and replied,
“It’s nothing like that. I always dress like this.”
Today, she wore a black kurti paired with jeans and oxidised earrings.
She was lost in thoughts about Kabir when Anaya nudged her and said,
“Come on, your highness. If you get late, how will you get a glimpse of your king?”
Rhea glared at her and muttered,
“Shut up.”
And with that, the two headed off to college.
At college gate
Rhea and Anaya were walking through the college gates when they spotted Kabir standing with Arjun, both laughing over something.
Arjun nudged Kabir and smirked,
"Look, your secret poet is here — the one you were going crazy over."
Just then, Kabir’s eyes landed on Rhea, and for a moment, his world went still. She looked effortlessly beautiful — her black kurti swaying with every step, those oxidised earrings glinting under the sun.
Kabir murmured under his breath, mesmerized,
"She’ll be the death of me one day..."
His mouth was fully opened.
Unfortunately for him, Arjun heard it all.
“Bro, shut your mouth before a fly flies in,” he teased, elbowing Kabir.
Kabir rolled his eyes and smacked the back of Arjun’s head playfully.
By then, Rhea and Anaya had reached them.
Anaya, grinning mischievously, greeted Kabir with,
"Hello, Mr. Hot."
Arjun instantly narrowed his eyes at her, while Kabir chuckled, replying,
"Hello, Miss Beautiful."
But his eyes — they were locked on Rhea. His voice may have spoken to Anaya, but his heart had already said it to someone else.
Rhea felt his gaze, and the compliment, and blushed. She looked away, hiding her smile.
Arjun, ever the instigator, scoffed,
"Only a blind man would find this snob beautiful."
Before Rhea could react, Anaya snapped back sharply,
"And only a brainless girl would find you attractive."
The tension cracked the moment, and Kabir burst out laughing, while Rhea simply shook her head, a shy smile tugging at her lips.
After that little moment at the gates, the group headed to their class.
Rhea and Anaya took seats in the front row, while Kabir and Arjun settled in right behind them.
Moments later, the professor entered and began the lecture.
Kabir was already bored. His head was resting on one hand, barely pretending to listen. With a quiet sigh, he tore a piece of paper from his notebook, scribbled something on it, folded it quickly, and flicked it forward — landing it neatly on Rhea’s desk.
Rhea glanced down, confused. She picked up the note, opened it quietly under the desk, and read:
> “Aren’t you bored too?”
She turned around slightly — and there he was, winking at her with that infuriatingly charming grin.
Her stomach flipped. A thousand butterflies fluttered all at once.
Trying to act unfazed, she grabbed her pen and wrote back:
> “If you’re that bored, why don’t you just leave the class?
Besides, thanks to you, no girl in here can actually focus.”
She folded the paper and threw it over her shoulder — it landed perfectly on Kabir’s desk.
Kabir opened it, read it, and chuckled. Arjun raised an eyebrow, but Kabir ignored him and started writing again.
> “Aww… is someone jealous?
Or maybe… you just can’t focus because your eyes are on me?”
Rhea felt her face grow warm the second she read it. Her hands were literally trembling as she scribbled back:
> “Why would I be jealous? I was studying just fine —
You’re the one who broke my focus!”
Kabir grinned the moment he read it. Without a pause, he replied:
> “Ohhh… so I do ruin your focus, huh?
Well, if it bothered you so much,
you could’ve just ignored me.”
When Rhea opened that note, the heat rose straight to her cheeks. She could feel the smirk on his face behind her.
Without thinking, she turned slightly and hissed under her breath,
“Shut up.”
Unfortunately, at that exact moment, the professor glanced in her direction.
“Rhea,” he snapped, “if you want to chat, please do it outside the classroom. Don’t disturb the lecture.”
Rhea’s face turned crimson. She lowered her eyes and muttered quickly,
“Sorry, sir.”
Behind her, Kabir was grinning ear to ear, absolutely loving every second of it.
Anaya leaned over and whispered,
“You’re so gone for him.”
Rhea shot her a glare — but her cheeks were still red, and her heart hadn’t stopped racing.
During the break, the canteen was buzzing with students.
Rhea and Anaya found a seat near the corner. Rhea's stomach growled as she slumped into the chair.
"I'm starving!" she groaned, nudging Anaya.
“Go, please! Quickly grab something to eat for me.”
Anaya raised an eyebrow and teased,
“Why should I go? Why not call your dear Kabir? I’m sure he’ll bring you whatever you want — the whole menu, even.”
Rhea shot her a glare, cheeks already turning pink.
“Shut up,” she muttered, just as fate would have it — Kabir and Arjun walked in.
Kabir overheard the last part and grinned while sliding into the seat right behind Rhea.
“If you want something,” he said smoothly, “say the word and I’ll get you the entire canteen.”
And he winked.
Rhea froze. Her heartbeat spiked. Heat rushed to her face as she quickly looked away, pretending to fiddle with her phone.
Arjun looked at Kabir in surprise, then smirked and added,
“Would be nice if you asked your friend too what he wants to eat.”
Before Kabir could respond, Anaya jumped in with her classic sass.
“God gave you hands and feet too, right? Go get your own food.”
Arjun narrowed his eyes at her.
“Well, you’ve got hands and feet too. Why don’t you go?”
Just as the banter was heating up, Rhea stepped in, trying to stop the argument.
“Alright! I’ll go myself. Just tell me what you want to eat.”
Anaya smiled and said, “Burger and cold coffee.”
Arjun flashed a grin at Rhea and added, “Chicken burger.”
Anaya made a face behind his back, rolling her eyes dramatically.
Kabir leaned toward Arjun and said,
“What are you, a princess now? Go get it yourself — she’s not your personal waiter.”
Arjun pouted dramatically, placing a hand on his heart.
“So rude…”
But before anyone else could say anything, Rhea stood up and said sweetly,
“It’s okay, I’ll bring it. I’m going anyway.”
Just as she turned, Kabir stood up too.
“I’ll come with you,” he said, grabbing his wallet.
Arjun raised an eyebrow.
“Why? Is she a little kid who’ll get lost in the crowd?”
Kabir shot him a glare.
“Chalein?” he asked Rhea again, softer this time.
Rhea just nodded, still blushing — and the two walked off together.
Behind them, Anaya grinned and whispered to Arjun,
“Dekha? Hero banne ka itna shauk hai na tumhe — try being actually sweet for once.”
Arjun rolled his eyes, but a small smile played on his lips.
At the food counter, Rhea glanced at the menu board before turning to the man behind the counter.
“One sandwich and a chocolate ice cream, please,” she said with a hopeful smile.
The man checked the counter and replied apologetically,
“Sorry, ma’am. The chocolate one’s finished. Only strawberry is left — should I get that instead?”
Rhea’s smile faltered. Her shoulders dropped ever so slightly, and a soft pout formed on her lips.
“It’s okay. Just give me the sandwich and the rest of the order,” she said politely, stepping aside.
Kabir was standing beside her, watching her expression the whole time. He noticed the disappointment flicker across her face — the way she tried to hide it and play it off.
Just then, Rhea turned toward him and asked,
“What about you? What do you want?”
Without thinking, Kabir looked straight at her and said,
“You.”
Rhea blinked, stunned. Her eyes widened slightly.
“Huh…?” she managed, caught completely off-guard.
Realizing what he had just blurted out, Kabir quickly tried to cover it up.
“I-I mean, you go ahead. I’ll just get my stuff and pay for it,” he said, clearing his throat.
Still flustered, Rhea replied,
“I can pay for mine—”
But Kabir raised a hand to stop her.
“No. I’ve got it. Just think of it as… my treat.”
Rhea gave him a small look — unsure whether to smile or scold him — then nodded and picked up the tray with her food. She turned and headed back toward Anaya and Arjun.
The moment she left, Kabir pulled out his phone and made a quick call.
“I need a chocolate ice cream here, at college, in five minutes.”
He hung up before the other person could even reply.
After paying for everything, he waited by the counter. A few minutes later, the watchman walked over, holding a small box of chocolate ice cream.
Kabir thanked him, took the box, and turned toward the table where Rhea was sitting — a satisfied little smirk playing on his lips.
Because when Rhea said "It’s okay", what he heard was "I really wanted it."
And he wasn't the type to let her go without what she wanted.At the food counter, Rhea glanced at the menu board before turning to the man behind the counter.
“One sandwich and a chocolate ice cream, please,” she said with a hopeful smile.
The man checked the counter and replied apologetically,
“Sorry, ma’am. The chocolate one’s finished. Only strawberry is left — should I get that instead?”
Rhea’s smile faltered. Her shoulders dropped ever so slightly, and a soft pout formed on her lips.
“It’s okay. Just give me the sandwich and the rest of the order,” she said politely, stepping aside.
Kabir was standing beside her, watching her expression the whole time. He noticed the disappointment flicker across her face — the way she tried to hide it and play it off.
Just then, Rhea turned toward him and asked,
“What about you? What do you want?”
Without thinking, Kabir looked straight at her and said,
“You.”
Rhea blinked, stunned. Her eyes widened slightly.
“Huh…?” she managed, caught completely off-guard.
Realizing what he had just blurted out, Kabir quickly tried to cover it up.
“I-I mean, you go ahead. I’ll just get my stuff and pay for it,” he said, clearing his throat.
Still flustered, Rhea replied,
“I can pay for mine—”
But Kabir raised a hand to stop her.
“No. I’ve got it. Just think of it as… my treat.”
Rhea gave him a small look — unsure whether to smile or scold him — then nodded and picked up the tray with her food. She turned and headed back toward Anaya and Arjun.
The moment she left, Kabir pulled out his phone and made a quick call.
“I need a chocolate ice cream here, at college, in five minutes.”
He hung up before the other person could even reply.
After paying for everything, he waited by the counter. A few minutes later, the watchman walked over, holding a small box of chocolate ice cream.
Kabir thanked him, took the box, and turned toward the table where Rhea was sitting — a satisfied little smirk playing on his lips.
Because when Rhea said "It’s okay", what he heard was "I really wanted it."
And he wasn't the type to let her go without what she wanted.
Kabir walked up to their table, his expression calm but a glint of satisfaction shining in his eyes.
Without a word, he placed the chocolate ice cream in front of Rhea.
Rhea looked at it in surprise, completely stunned.
“But… this was out of stock, right? How did you get it?”
Kabir sat down beside her, his tone casual but his gaze warm.
“Looks like the canteen guy thought it was finished,” he shrugged slightly, “but there was one left… so I brought it for you.”
Rhea couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
Kabir looked at her for a moment, then replied just as softly, under his breath,
“Anything for you.”
He didn’t want anyone else to hear it — not Anaya, not Arjun — just her.
And in that quiet moment, he felt proud of himself… for making her smile.
Rhea turned toward him again, holding out her sandwich with a small, gentle gesture.
“Here, you can have this. I’m full.”
Kabir didn’t move. He just stared at her for a second.
Rhea felt something sink in her chest — maybe he didn’t want it… maybe because she had already taken a bite.
Just as she started to pull her hand back, Kabir gently took her wrist, leaned in… and took a bite.
Rhea froze. Her eyes widened, watching him, speechless.
Sensing her gaze on him, Kabir glanced up with a faint smirk and said,
“My hands weren’t clean. That’s why… will you feed me?”
Rhea’s heart skipped a beat. Slowly, she started breaking the sandwich and feeding him small bites, both of them silently locked in the softest kind of intimacy — the kind that didn’t need loud words, only glances and quiet smiles.
Once he finished eating, Rhea returned to her ice cream, savoring every bite like a child. Her mood was visibly lighter, and happiness lingered on her face.
Kabir noticed… and smiled to himself.
After a while, the bell rang, and the group picked up their things and headed back to class — but something between Rhea and Kabir had shifted that day.
Not in words.
Not in declarations.
But in gestures that said everything.
After college wrapped up for the day, Kabir and Arjun headed home, while Rhea and Anaya returned to their hostel, chatting and laughing about the day’s events.
At the grand Malhotra Mansion, Kabir stepped inside only to be greeted by complete chaos.
In the living room, his younger brother and sister were at each other’s throats — quite literally.
Pillows were flying, hair was being pulled, and insults were being flung around like confetti.
Kabir shook his head and strode toward them.
“Why are you two fighting like monkeys?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ishani, his little sister, crossed her arms and shouted,
“Bhai! This idiot ate my chocolate!”
Ishan, her twin, defended himself,
“It was in the fridge! I didn’t know it was yours, okay? I was hungry.”
Ishani glared at him.
“You knew! You ate it on purpose!”
“If I knew it was yours, I wouldn’t have even looked at it,” Ishan snapped.
“Well, you didn’t just look. You ate it!” Ishani screamed, lunging toward him.
Kabir rolled his eyes and finally snapped,
“Enough! Both of you — shut up. Ishani, no chocolate for you for a whole week. Ishan, forget about that bike ride you’ve been begging for.”
Both siblings gasped in horror and slumped back dramatically.
“Not fair!” they whined in unison.
Kabir ignored their protests and headed up to his room, changed into a comfortable T-shirt and joggers, and sat down at his desk to revise a few notes.
Just then, his chachi peeked into the room.
“Kabir, dinner’s ready. Come eat.”
“Coming, Choti Maa,” he called back with a small smile.
Before heading down, he picked up his phone and typed a message to Rhea.
> Kabir: Hi, Ms. Sharma 😊
How are you?
He slipped his phone into his pocket and made his way to the dining hall.
The long dinner table was already full — his grandparents, parents, chacha-chachi, cousins, his younger siblings, and his elder brother Abhay all seated and chatting.
Kabir took his place beside Ishan, joining in the family banter and laughter.
After dinner, he returned to his room and unlocked his phone to find a reply waiting.
> Rhea: I’m fine, Mr. Malhotra. What about you?
He smiled.
> Kabir: Now I’m good too.
> Rhea: Weren’t you fine before?
> Kabir: I was. But now… I feel even better.
> Rhea: Why?
Kabir’s lips curved into a grin as he typed his next message.
> Kabir: Maybe… because I finally talked to the one I was waiting to talk to.
Rhea stared at the message. Her heart skipped.
Was he talking about me?
She shook her head, laughing softly to herself.
“No, no. Don’t overthink it, Rhea,” she murmured.
> Rhea: That’s nice to hear.
Anyway, Mr. Malhotra, I’ll see you tomorrow. Time for sleep now.
> Kabir: Definitely. Good night, Ms. Sharma.
> Rhea: Good night, Malhotra.
And with that, they both went to bed — smiling — thinking about each other.
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