Kabir's pov:
I don’t remember falling asleep last night.
One second I was staring at her message — “I missed you the second you left…” — and the next, my alarm was buzzing in my ear.
I groaned, grabbing my phone.
6:45 AM.
Too early.
But before I could even stop myself, I opened her chat.
No new messages.
But just seeing her name made my stupid heart do that thing again.
I ran a hand through my hair and smiled to myself.
God, what was she doing to me?
Without thinking too much, I typed.
“Good morning, Princess. Hope you slept well. I missed you in my dreams too.”
I smirked at my phone, knowing she’d blush the second she read it.
Then tossed the phone aside, stretched lazily, and headed for a shower — the world was already a little better because I’d said good morning to her.
---
Rhea’s POV
A faint ray of morning light streamed through the half-open window as I stirred awake, my hair a mess, and my body still wrapped in the leftover warmth of last night’s memories.
Anaya was snoring softly in the next bed, and the hostel felt unusually quiet.
I blinked the sleep from my eyes and reached for my phone.
And there it was.
A new message.
From him.
Kabir Malhotra: Good morning, Princess. Hope you slept well. I missed you in my dreams too.
I swear I melted right there in bed.
I bit my lip, feeling my cheeks heat up.
How does he manage to make everything sound so effortlessly romantic?
And why do I love it so much?
I hugged my pillow tight and replied.
“Good morning, Malhotra. You invading my dreams too… not fair. Now stop being cute, I need to get ready for college.”
I sent it, grinning like an idiot.
This… whatever this was between us, it felt dangerous.
It felt reckless.
And I didn’t want it to stop.
Not now. Not ever.
I was standing near the college garden after my first lecture, waiting for Anaya, scrolling through my phone, mindlessly rereading Kabir’s Good morning, Princess text for like the tenth time.
Pathetic? Maybe.
Did I care? Not one bit.
That’s when a guy from our senior batch — Rohan, I think his name was — walked over with a casual smile.
“Hey, Rhea right?” he asked.
I blinked up, a little thrown.
“Uh… yeah.”
“I’ve seen you around. You’re friends with Anaya, right? Just thought I’d say hi.”
He wasn’t being creepy or weird.
Just… normal.
We made polite small talk for maybe thirty seconds about how bad today’s lectures were when I suddenly felt this strange pull at my senses.
Like the air shifted.
I didn’t even have to turn.
I knew who it was.
And sure enough, when I glanced over my shoulder, there he was.
Kabir Malhotra.
Leaning against a tree, one hand in his pocket, head tilted slightly, watching us with a look that could freeze blood.
His jaw clenched, eyes locked on Rohan like he was mentally murdering him in ten different ways.
I gulped.
Holy hell.
Rohan was still saying something about the canteen food, completely oblivious to the incoming storm.
“Umm… I should go,” I mumbled, quickly stepping back. “My friend’s waiting.”
He nodded, thankfully not pushing it, and walked off.
I turned back toward Kabir — and yup, still glaring.
I sighed.
Here we go.
---
Kabir’s POV
The second I stepped out of the main building and spotted her by the garden, it felt like the world just… settled.
Until I saw him.
Some random senior standing way too close, grinning at her like he had a right to.
My blood boiled instantly.
Who the hell was this idiot?
I crossed my arms, leaning against a nearby tree, and watched.
My gaze fixed on the guy, silently daring him to touch her, to even look at her a second too long.
She felt it.
I could tell the moment her body stiffened, her eyes darting toward me.
Good.
She knew she was mine.
And when that guy finally walked away, I pushed off the tree and strode toward her.
She gave me a look — a mix of guilt and amusement.
“Really, Kabir?”
I smirked, leaning in close enough that only she could hear.
“Don’t test my patience, Princess. I don’t share what’s mine.”
Her breath hitched.
Cheeks flushed.
God, she was too easy to ruin.
I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and added softly, “Next time, I’ll deal with him my way.”
She rolled her eyes but I caught the tiny smile she was trying to hide.
Yeah, she liked it.
I grabbed her hand casually, locking our fingers.
“Let’s go. Before I actually kill someone.”
---
Rhea’s POV
We walked side by side down the hallway, Kabir casually holding my hand like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I could feel people staring, hearing a few murmurs, but as usual — he didn’t care.
And honestly… neither did I.
We reached the door of my classroom and I stopped, turning to face him.
“Okay, this is it. Go now. Your class is that way.”
He looked at me with those annoyingly adorable puppy eyes.
“I don’t want to go. I’ll be bored without you.”
I raised a brow.
“Kabir, stop it. You’ll get into trouble for skipping again.”
He smirked, leaning a little closer, voice low and teasing.
“I don’t mind. Spending five more minutes with you sounds like a better deal than any lecture.”
God, this boy was impossible.
I placed my hand on his chest and gently pushed him back.
“Malhotra… go to your class.”
He pouted.
“Just five minutes. I’ll sit quietly, promise.”
“No.” I shook my head, crossing my arms.
“If the professor catches you here again, they’ll throw me out first, and you’ll stand there smirking like you always do.”
He groaned dramatically, making me laugh.
“One day you’ll leave me, Rhea. You don’t know how badly it’ll break me.”
I rolled my eyes, trying to keep a straight face.
“Such a drama king you are.”
He grinned, seeing my smile slip through, and finally stepped back.
“Fine, fine. But you better text me the second your lecture’s over.”
“I will. Now go!”
He winked, gave my hand a quick squeeze, and strolled off down the hallway like he ruled the entire place.
I shook my head, a stupid grin on my face, and turned to walk into my classroom — my heart still racing in the best way.
Somewhere across campus, I knew he was already missing me.
And honestly?
I kind of loved it.
I sat in my classroom, pretending to focus on the professor’s voice as he droned on about literary theories I wasn’t even pretending to care about anymore.
Anaya sat beside me, doodling something ridiculous in the corner of her notebook, and every time our eyes met, we’d almost burst into laughter for no reason.
But no matter how hard I tried, my mind kept drifting to him.
His stupidly perfect smile, the way he pouted at me outside class, those words he whispered last night.
And honestly… I was losing this fight with myself.
I sighed quietly, tapping my pen against my notebook, when suddenly — my phone buzzed in my lap.
I quickly checked to make sure the professor wasn’t looking, then tilted the screen just enough to see the message.
Kabir Malhotra: I miss you, Princess. This lecture is hell without you. Come bunk with me 😏
A grin instantly tugged at my lips.
Anaya noticed.
“Who’s texting you with that smile, hmm?” she whispered, leaning over.
I tried to keep a straight face.
“No one. Focus on your doodles.”
She snatched the phone from my hand before I could react and her eyes widened.
“Ufff Malhotra is really head over heels, isn’t he? Look at this — ‘I miss you, Princess.’ Are you blushing? You’re totally blushing.”
I grabbed my phone back, trying not to laugh.
“Shut up, Anaya.”
She smirked, wagging her eyebrows.
“Acha acha, text him back before your lover boy starts a whole search operation outside this class.”
I bit my lip, hiding my smile, and quickly typed.
“Miss you too, Malhotra. Stop being cute, I’m trying to survive this lecture. See you soon.”
I hit send, locked my phone, and shoved it back into my lap.
Anaya grinned beside me.
“God, you’re whipped.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop smiling.
Yeah… maybe I was.
And for the first time in my life, I didn’t mind it one bit.
As soon as the lecture ended, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. I grabbed my bag, eager to leave before the professor could assign another last-minute task.
Anaya gave me a knowing smirk as we walked toward the door together.
“Let’s see if your personal hero is waiting outside,” she teased under her breath.
I nudged her.
“Shut up.”
But honestly?
A part of me hoped he would be.
And of course — there he was.
Leaning casually against the wall right outside the classroom door, a coffee cup in each hand, looking completely unbothered by the world around him. His eyes met mine the moment I stepped out, and a grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
My heart skipped a beat.
Anaya’s grin widened.
“Alright, alright, I’ll head to the hostel. You two go live your filmy romance. I can’t handle the couple energy right now.”
I rolled my eyes as she walked away, leaving me alone with him.
Kabir strolled up, holding out one of the cups.
“For you, Princess. Extra strong, no sugar — just how you like it.”
I smiled, taking it from him.
“You remembered.”
“I remember everything about you,” he said, like it was the simplest thing in the world.
I took a small sip, feeling the warmth spread through me — though I wasn’t sure if it was the coffee or him.
“So… skipping your class again, Malhotra?” I teased.
He smirked, leaning a little closer.
“I told you — being around you is way better than any lecture. And seeing you smile like this?” He paused, his gaze soft. “Worth skipping my entire semester for.”
I rolled my eyes to hide my blush.
“Drama king.”
He chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Yours.”
And just like that — in the middle of the hallway, surrounded by students I didn’t even notice anymore — my world felt steady, safe, and just a little bit reckless.
I took another sip of my coffee, letting myself savor the moment.
Yeah… I was falling for this boy.
And there was no turning back.
took another sip of the coffee, letting the warmth settle into me.
It wasn’t just the coffee though — it was him.
His words, his presence, the way his eyes never left mine.
“You free now?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
I hesitated.
“I have a class in half an hour.”
“Perfect,” he smirked. “That’s plenty of time to steal you for a walk.”
Before I could argue, he took the coffee cup from my hand, slid his fingers through mine, and tugged me down the hallway, ignoring every person we passed.
“Kabir—” I started.
“Nope,” he cut me off, grinning. “You’ve ignored me enough today. Now it’s my turn.”
I sighed, but the smile on my face betrayed me.
We stepped out into the open courtyard. The air was cool, fresh from the rain earlier, and tiny puddles shimmered on the ground.
“This place is so quiet after classes,” I murmured.
He glanced at me sideways.
“You like it?”
I nodded.
He pulled me a little closer as we walked, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“You know,” he said softly, “I was thinking about you the whole time you were in class. Even sent you a text — and what did I get? A two-line reply.”
I laughed.
“Malhotra, I was in the middle of a lecture. You want me to get kicked out for texting you?”
He stopped walking, making me turn to face him.
“Honestly?” He smirked. “Kind of.”
I shook my head, biting my lip to hide my grin.
He leaned in just a little, his voice low.
“Because watching you blush while you read my texts is my new favorite thing.”
I didn’t reply.
Couldn’t.
Because my heart was racing, and my face was definitely doing that annoying blushing thing again.
“Told you,” he chuckled, tugging on a loose strand of my hair.
We kept walking, talking about absolutely nothing and everything, and for those few minutes, it felt like the world had narrowed down to just us.
And honestly?
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
We started walking down the quiet path behind the main building, our coffee cups in hand. The air still carried the crisp freshness of last night’s rain, and tiny puddles shimmered under the weak sunlight.
It was quiet.
Peaceful.
And for once, neither of us felt the need to fill the silence.
He walked close, his shoulder occasionally brushing against mine. Every time it happened, my stomach did this stupid little flip.
“You know,” he said suddenly, breaking the calm, “I never thought I’d be the kind of guy waiting outside a classroom for a girl.”
I smirked.
“And yet here you are.”
“And yet here I am,” he repeated, laughing softly.
There was something about his laugh — low, unfiltered, honest — that made my heart flutter every single time.
I took a sip of my coffee to hide my smile.
“You’re impossible, Malhotra.”
He grinned, leaning in a little.
“And you secretly love it.”
I didn’t deny it.
We kept walking, talking about nothing and everything. He told me about some terrible business lecture he ditched, and I teased him about how he was going to fail because of me. He swore he’d blame me for it proudly.
And the way he said it, so casually, like it was already a done deal — it made my chest ache in the softest, most terrifying way.
After a while, he reached out, taking my now-empty coffee cup and tossing it into a nearby bin. Then, without asking, he took my hand again.
Like it was his by default.
And the worst part was… it felt like it was.
He gave my fingers a gentle squeeze.
“I missed you today.”
I looked up at him, biting my lip.
“I missed you too.”
God, what was he doing to me?
The world around us blurred — students walking by, the occasional horn from the parking lot, the distant echo of a bell.
None of it mattered.
It was just him.
It was always him.
And I wasn’t even pretending to fight it anymore.
We were standing there in the corridor, lost in each other’s presence, when suddenly Kabir tugged my hand and pulled me into an empty classroom.
I gasped, surprised by the sudden move.
Before I could ask anything, his arms wrapped around me, holding me so close that for a moment, it felt like the world outside didn’t exist.
The voices, the footsteps, the distant echoes of lectures — everything faded.
All I could feel was him.
His warmth, his scent, his heartbeat steady against mine.
And God, I had been craving this.
Craving him.
His arms.
His warmth.
That sense of safety only he could give.
I wished time would stop right then, just so I could live in that moment a little longer.
After a while, he gently pulled back, his hands still holding me like he wasn’t ready to let go.
His gaze locked on mine, and in his eyes, there was nothing but love.
Soft, fierce, possessive love.
Like I was his entire world.
Then he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on my forehead, his lips lingering for a moment longer than necessary.
“You are my peace, Rhea,” he whispered against my skin.
My heart ached in the most beautiful way.
He kissed both my cheeks next, his touch feather-light, his eyes never leaving mine.
And then, his lips hovered near mine.
“May I?” he asked softly, his voice nothing but a warm, breathy murmur.
Even in a moment like this — with the world forgotten and me already in his arms — he asked.
He waited for me.
I felt my cheeks heat up as I nodded.
His lips brushed mine gently, a soft, careful kiss that made my stomach flutter.
I didn’t know how to kiss, didn’t know what I was doing — but somehow my body moved on its own, responding to him, matching the rhythm of his lips against mine.
He smiled into the kiss, and I felt it.
A sweet, teasing curve against my lips.
His hand tilted my face slightly as he deepened the kiss, and a second later, I felt his tongue brush softly against my lower lip, asking for permission to enter.
My breath caught, and instinctively I parted my lips.
The kiss turned slow, deep, and yet so gentle it made my heart ache.
His taste, his warmth — I never wanted to forget this.
I was breathless when he finally pulled back, resting his forehead against mine, both of us catching our breath, eyes still closed.
Neither of us spoke.
We didn’t need to.
Then the bell rang, pulling us out of our little world.
Kabir placed one last tender kiss on my forehead before pulling away slightly.
“Love you, Princess,” he whispered, his voice low and raw.
I smiled softly, my heart full.
“Love you more.”
He laced his fingers with mine, gave my hand a light squeeze, and walked me toward my classroom.
At the door, he let go reluctantly, brushing his knuckles against mine.
“See you after class,” he murmured.
I nodded, smiling as he turned and walked away, back toward his own classroom — carrying my heart with him.
I sat in my class, pretending to pay attention, but the truth was — I hadn’t heard a single word the professor had said since I walked in.
All I could feel was his touch.
His arms around me.
The warmth of his lips against mine.
The way his words had settled in my heart like a secret no one else could see.
"You are my peace, Rhea."
I sighed quietly, tracing invisible shapes on my notebook.
My heart hadn’t stopped racing since that moment in the empty classroom.
It was stupid, really — how one boy could mess with my head like this.
And then… my phone buzzed in my lap.
I glanced around. The professor was busy scribbling something on the board.
I carefully slid my phone out and checked the message.
Kabir Malhotra:
“Still blushing, Princess? Because I swear you left looking like a tomato 🍅.”
I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling.
Another message came instantly after.
Kabir Malhotra:
“Also, I’m officially addicted to your lips. Might need a refill soon. Just saying 😏.”
My cheeks burned.
I quickly typed back.
Me:
“Shut up, Malhotra. Focus on your class.”
Not even a second passed before his reply popped up.
Kabir Malhotra:
“I am. Focusing on the memory of your lips counts, right?”
I groaned internally, my lips twitching at the same time.
God, this boy was impossible.
Anaya leaned over, catching a glimpse of my expression.
“What happened? Why are you smiling like that?” she whispered.
“Nothing. Just your usual idiot.”
She smirked.
“Tch. Love’s making you soft, Sharma.”
I rolled my eyes and tucked my phone away.
But no matter how hard I tried, nothing could wipe the stupid, happy smile off my face.
Yeah… I was in deep.
And honestly?
I didn’t mind one bit.
After class, Anaya practically dragged me straight to the canteen.
“You’ve been smiling like a lovesick idiot for the last hour. You owe me fries and gossip,” she declared, linking her arm with mine.
I rolled my eyes but followed her anyway, knowing there was no escaping her questions.
The canteen was bustling with students, the familiar scent of coffee and fried food hanging in the air. We grabbed a corner table by the window and settled in.
A waiter came by and took our order — two cold coffees, fries, and sandwiches.
The second he left, Anaya leaned in.
“Okay, now spill. How was your classroom adventure, Miss Sharma?”
I glared at her, feeling my cheeks heat up instantly.
“There’s nothing to tell,” I muttered, stirring my cold coffee aimlessly.
She raised a brow.
“Oh, please. You practically floated into class after disappearing with Malhotra. And don’t think I didn’t see you blushing every time your phone buzzed.”
I was about to snap back when, right on cue, Kabir and Arjun walked in.
Kabir’s eyes found mine immediately, and that stupid smirk appeared on his face like it belonged there permanently.
He walked over, dropped his bag onto the chair beside me, and slid into the seat like he owned it.
“Missed me?” he teased, nudging my arm.
I rolled my eyes, but my lips betrayed me with a smile.
“You saw me half an hour ago, Malhotra.”
“And yet it felt like years,” he grinned, leaning back in his chair.
Anaya made a gagging noise.
“Ugh, get a room you two. And Rhea, please control your loverboy before I drown him in cold coffee.”
Arjun chuckled as he took the seat beside Anaya.
“Don’t act like you’re not jealous, Anaya,” he teased.
They immediately launched into one of their usual mock arguments, and Kabir used the distraction to scoot a little closer to me under the table.
I felt his fingers brush against mine, and when I looked at him, his gaze softened.
No teasing smirk this time — just that same look from earlier. The one that made my heart race.
He squeezed my hand gently, hidden from the others.
“You okay?” he asked quietly, his thumb brushing over my knuckles.
I nodded, feeling that ridiculous warmth spread through my chest again.
“I’m more than okay.”
He smiled, leaned a little closer, and whispered,
“Good. Because I plan on keeping you this happy, always.”
And just like that — the world disappeared again.
Even in a crowded canteen, filled with noise and chaos, all I could hear was him.
---
Kabir's pov:
The second I stepped into the canteen with Arjun, my eyes automatically searched for her.
And there she was.
Sitting by the window with Anaya, her head tilted slightly as she stirred her cold coffee, that same soft smile playing on her lips.
God, she looked beautiful like that — lost in thought, completely unaware of how easy it was for her to mess up my entire world just by existing.
Arjun elbowed me.
“Bro, you look like you’re about to write poetry. Relax.”
I smirked.
“Shut up.”
Without wasting another second, I made my way over to their table, dropping my bag on the chair next to Rhea like it belonged there — like I belonged there.
“Missed me?” I teased, nudging her gently.
She rolled those pretty eyes at me, but her lips curved into a smile, and damn, I could live for that smile.
“You saw me half an hour ago, Malhotra.”
“And yet it felt like years,” I replied smoothly, leaning back in my chair.
Anaya, as expected, made a dramatic gagging noise.
“Ugh, get a room you two. Rhea, seriously, control your loverboy.”
I chuckled, ignoring her as Arjun jumped in with his usual flirting to annoy her.
As they bickered, my focus stayed on Rhea.
I casually let my hand drop under the table, brushing my fingers against hers. She stiffened slightly at first but didn’t pull away.
Good.
I turned to look at her, and when our eyes met, everything else faded.
I swear to God, the chaos in my head quieted every time she looked at me like that.
I squeezed her hand, my thumb moving slowly over her knuckles.
“You okay?” I asked quietly.
She nodded, and that soft glow returned to her face.
“I’m more than okay,” she whispered.
I leaned in a little closer, speaking just loud enough for her to hear.
“Good. Because I plan on keeping you this happy, always.”
She bit her lip, and I swear my heart skipped a beat.
Damn, I was so gone for this girl.
Anaya and Arjun were still going at it about something dumb, but I didn’t care.
In that crowded, noisy canteen — it was just me and her.
And honestly, I wouldn’t trade that for the world.
After we finished eating, the conversation stayed light — mostly Anaya and Arjun roasting each other like usual, with Rhea quietly laughing in between. And God, if there was a sound I’d never get tired of hearing, it was her laugh.
She was still a little shy around me, but it was getting better.
Bit by bit, she was letting me in.
And I wasn’t about to let anyone take that away from me.
As we stood up from the table, Anaya stretched and yawned dramatically.
“I’m heading to the hostel,” she said.
“Rhea, you coming?”
Before Rhea could even open her mouth, I cut in.
“I’ll drop her.”
Anaya raised a brow at me, smirking.
“Of course you will.”
Rhea glared at her, and Arjun chuckled, shaking his head.
“Lovebirds. Can’t live with them, can’t ditch them.”
I grinned, grabbing my keys.
“Let’s go, Princess.”
She gave me a tiny smile and nodded.
We walked out together, leaving the other two behind.
The drive to the hostel was quiet — the comfortable kind.
I had one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the gear, but every now and then, my eyes flicked toward her.
She was looking out the window, her hair catching the wind, a soft smile on her lips.
God, I could get used to this.
When we reached the hostel gate, I parked and turned to her.
“Home sweet home,” I teased.
She rolled her eyes but didn’t move to get out.
Neither did I.
The silence stretched, thick with all the words we didn’t need to say.
I reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
“I don’t like dropping you off like this,” I admitted softly.
“Feels like leaving behind a piece of me.”
She blushed, looking down, and it hit me again — how much she’d come to mean to me in such a short time.
Without thinking twice, I leaned over and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into a gentle hug.
“Text me when you get to your room, okay?” I whispered against her hair.
She nodded against my shoulder.
“I will.”
I kissed her forehead one last time before letting her go.
“Love you, Rhea.”
She smiled, her eyes shining.
“Love you more, Malhotra.”
I watched her until she disappeared into the hostel building before starting my car again, already missing her the second she was out of sight.
Yeah… I was so gone for this girl.
---
Rhea's pov:
I had just changed into my oversized t-shirt and tied my hair up in a messy bun when my phone buzzed.
Incoming Video Call: Kabir Malhotra.
I rolled my eyes, though a smile tugged at my lips.
Of course he couldn’t stay away.
I picked up, and his face filled my screen — messy hair, that smug grin, looking way too good for someone at this hour.
“Well, well, look at you, Miss Sharma. In bed already? Don’t tell me you were missing me,” he teased.
I scoffed, leaning back against my pillow.
“In your dreams, Malhotra.”
He chuckled, and God help me, that sound did things to me.
“You sure? Because I’m pretty sure someone was thinking about our little moment today,” he smirked, raising one eyebrow.
My cheeks instantly heated.
“What moment?” I played dumb, avoiding his gaze.
“Oh, don’t even try,” he leaned closer to the camera, lowering his voice. “I’m talking about that kiss, Princess.”
I buried my face in my hands, groaning.
“Kabir! Stop it.”
He laughed, clearly enjoying how flustered I was getting.
“Why? It’s not my fault you kissed me like you owned me.”
I peeked through my fingers, glaring at him.
“Excuse me? Pretty sure you were the one asking for permission, Mr. Malhotra.”
“And you gave it so sweetly.”
He winked, and I knew my face was probably red as a tomato.
“Ugh, you’re impossible,” I muttered, pulling my blanket up to my nose.
“And you love it,” he shot back without missing a beat.
I sighed, a smile breaking through despite myself.
“Okay fine,” I admitted softly. “I might… not completely hate it.”
His expression softened, the teasing fading just a little.
“Good. Because I plan on stealing a few more of those, Princess.”
He leaned closer to the screen again.
“Whenever you’re ready, though. No rush.”
And just like that, my heart turned into a puddle.
We sat there for a while, neither of us speaking much. Just… being there. His eyes on me, my heart steadying with every wordless second.
“Okay,” he sighed eventually. “I should let you sleep before you faint from blushing so much.”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
“Goodnight, Rhea.”
“Goodnight, Kabir.”
“Love you, Princess.”
“Love you more.”
And even though we hung up, I kept staring at my screen for a few extra seconds — because honestly, there was no way I was sleeping after that.
---
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