“Now, the announcement of the first rank holder of Top Students’ Scholarship program goes to miss Sparsh Shinde from the Department of Journalism.”
The audience filled in the auditorium were either booing at the announcement or clapping with disinterest while Ayaan a tall, lanky guy with a well-built chest wearing a casual white tee with rugged jeans sitting among the crowd, kept his focus towards the stage nonetheless. The student who was supposed to receive the award was not turning up at all and somehow that itself gave him a sort of satisfaction and he couldn’t hold up his smug face away. Knowing what he was thinking, his friend Rohan nudged him making him jump out of his bubble.
“Why am I getting a bad feeling about this?”
Ayaan chuckled and shrugged as if he doesn’t have any clue about it.
“Well, I feel that the demon inside Ayaan is rising… All hail the Demon Ayaan”
Nikhil stood up from his seat and bowed to him.
“Uh! I guess, Sparsh is not present at the auditorium but students, you all must take some tips from miss Sparsh. Thank you, Mr. Aditya Singhaniya for gracing us with your presence.”
“Thank you, Dr. Pathak for inviting me to be present with these young minds. And I am pretty sure the first ranker is quite busy rather in her work than claiming her award.”
The elderly-looking businessman in his mid-50s wearing his typical three-piece business suit calmly spoke to the Vice-chancellor of GQI
Golden Quill Institute
while another elderly-looking male who was in his kurta pajama hesitantly gave a smile as the students were leaving the podium while the students rushed towards the exit with much relief.
“I request all the students to go to their departments.”
The Vice-chancellor spoke loudly with the mike, but before his announcement, most of the students were already outside the auditorium.
“Why do I feel like you are scheming something?”
“Me? Why would I do that? Come on bro… have some faith in me.”
Ayaan and Rohan were making their way towards the cafeteria while Nikhil was hiding behind Arjun as he found Meghna his recent fling approaching him.
“Guys, I don’t know about Ayaan, but if I didn’t escape from Meghna right now, she will scheme my murder. Bye”
Both the boys chuckled as Nikhil left and they made their way to the cafeteria. Both of them took their usuals. Few fried munchies with a cup of tea. They took their seat while lazily sipped their tea. It was their go-to snack whenever they felt like discussing with each other about life since their highschool hostel times. As Nikhil was a bit childish and goofier among them, he never used to join their serious talks.
“So what’s going on in your mind right now? Are you scheming something against your father?”
“Gosh, dude! You get me so well sometimes. Were you my better-half in my previous life perhaps?”
Ayaan started laughing while annoyed Rohan started to kick him under the table.
“Well, you are somehow right, but not exactly on the point. I have got something to annoy the hell out of Aditya Singhaniya now. And I have a feeling that I am going to enjoy it. I am gonna use this scholar girl and squash him like an insect.”
The next morning Sparsh rode her cycle to the parking area of the institute wearing her usual light blue oversized tee with faded jean pants and her favorite old black bag pack placed at the basket and she started searching for a place to park it properly where her cycle would be safe from those bulky and expensive two-wheelers and four-wheelers, after all, it’s a prized possession for her from her high school days as her mother gifted it.
"Hey cycle girl this parking lot is ours as in for our awesome bikes not like your stinky stupid chopstick like cycles."
She heard someone yelling from behind, making her turn. Three bulky men with their obvious branded clothing were approaching her. Her only thought was to escape those heavily built bullies in one way or other. The other two leaving the leader who yelled circled her and the leader took further steps towards her. She tried her best to stick to her cycle while avoiding any sort of contact with that burly-looking leader. He was about to touch the cycle and courage flared within her causing her to grab his arm before it reached the cycle.
“Don’t touch it.”
All three laughed loudly while her courage evaporated as they laughed causing her to shiver uncontrollably. The leader took the chance of her weakness and pushed her causing her cycle to fall and she was about to touch the ground, which caused her to gasp loudly. But a strong hand held her and pulled her towards them and as a result, she collided with their chest.
“Don’t worry sweetheart. I am here.”
Such a film-like romantic moment was never supposed to happen to her. She was anti-social after all. Yet here we are, feeling someone’s hard chest and well-made taut biceps to hold, and being the great damsel in distress, she made it to Disney’s fairy tale. Ugh! Sparsh just stop it. There must be something wrong or you must be dreaming.
“Come on guys! Do you all need a suspension letter from the dean? Because at the moment, few people are recording your harassing and this could be easily reported as ragging or harassment which will eventually lead to your rustication because last time I have checked, VC has all the rights to do so. And now as you all are messing with my girlfriend, I would like to take it personally and let VC know about you filthy rats.”
Girlfriend? Did he just say, girlfriend? Sparsh kept thinking while Ayaan shooed those students away while few girls who were looking like juniors snapped pictures and were taking videos. Satisfied with how the whole scenario turned up, Ayaan took hold of the girl who is in front of him and crashed his lips on hers. The sensation made her freeze on the spot while Ayaan felt a whole new feeling. Like the ground beneath him is melting, like some sort of fire ignited in him making him pull her further closer. A lone tear escaped under the closed eyelids of Sparsh tickling his cheek snapping him back to reality. Sparsh pushed him causing him to stumble a bit. Sparsh made her way out of the parking trying to avoid the whole situation and its consequences.
Ayaan matched up her pace leaving those juniors behind and as he came next to her, he took hold of her arm and dragged her to a secluded corner.
“Not so fast… girlfriend!”
A chuckle escaped from him causing her to shiver a bit she tried to escape him but went in vain as he stopped her by placing his arm over the wall behind them.
“Why are you treating me this way? I am not your toy, so mind your busine-”
Ayaan raised his hand and shut her mouth and he leaned further towards her which disgusted her and made her repulse him further.
“Listen to me very well. I will pay you and take care of your stuff. Be my girlfriend and do good acting, while you could use my luxury as an intensive. Let’s close the deal at this now. Alright?”
