Chapter 4

The halls of St. Xavier's were alive with the pulse of students rushing to and from lectures, laughter echoing through the corridors. Ayaan Malhotra walked amidst it all with an ease that was almost infuriatingly natural. At 6 feet tall, with an athletic build and a lopsided smirk that could disarm even the sternest professors, he was the kind of guy who stood out even when he wasn't trying.

It wasn't just his good looks or the fact that he was on both the cricket and football teams. It wasn't even his reputation as the campus heartthrob who occasionally sang and left half the auditorium swooning. It was the way he carried himself—confident but not arrogant, approachable but with an air of mystery that made people want to know more.

"Dude, you're walking like you own the place again," Rohan, his best friend since their first day of college, said as he fell into step beside him.

"Own it? Nah," Ayaan replied with a grin. "I just rent it for the vibe."

Rohan groaned. "And yet people think I'm the arrogant one."

"Because you are," came another voice as Arjun, their third musketeer, joined them, juggling a laptop and a pile of books. "By the way, Ayaan, stop smiling at every other girl. It's exhausting to watch."

Ayaan shrugged, unfazed. "Not my fault if people smile back."

"Right. The campus playboy strikes again," Rohan said, bumping him lightly.

"Playboy?" Ayaan shot back, feigning offense. "I'm selective, thank you very much."

"You're impossible," Arjun said, shaking his head.

The trio's banter was as familiar as the sound of the college bell ringing for the next class. Ayaan had always believed that no matter how chaotic life got, friends like these were his anchor. Rohan was the loud one, a walking ball of energy who could talk his way out of any situation. Arjun, on the other hand, was the quiet pragmatist, the one who kept them both grounded.

"You guys staying for the performance tonight?" Ayaan asked as they neared the auditorium.

"Obviously," Rohan said. "Can't miss my best friend getting fawned over by the entire campus."

"And you still owe me a coffee for being your backup guitarist last time," Arjun added with a smirk.

Ayaan laughed. "Fine, fine. Coffee's on me."

As they reached the backstage area, Rohan clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't mess up. There's a lot riding on that SRK love song, my friend."

"I've got this," Ayaan said, brushing off his nerves.

But as he stepped onto the stage, the usual adrenaline rush hit him, steadying him. The lights dimmed, and the murmurs in the crowd quieted. He adjusted the mic, strummed his guitar, and scanned the audience out of habit.

And then he saw her.

She wasn't like the others.

Sitting toward the middle, partially obscured by a group of girls who seemed more interested in taking selfies, she was a study in contrast. Where the rest of the audience leaned forward with anticipation, she seemed hesitant, almost as if she didn't want to be there. A caramel-highlighted strand of hair fell across her face from her braid as she tugged her sweatshirt closer.

His gaze would have lingered on her longer than it should have, drawn to the quiet way she carried herself, but the sudden call of Rohan forced him to look away. There was something about her—something unassuming yet impossible to ignore.

"Focus, Ayaan," he muttered to himself.

The opening chords of his guitar filled the auditorium, and he closed his eyes, letting the music take over. The song was a classic SRK love anthem - Kal Ho Naa Ho - one of his favorites, and as the lyrics flowed, he let himself feel every word.

When he opened his eyes again, they locked with hers.

This time, she wasn't looking away. Her expression was soft, unguarded, as if the music had disarmed her. Ayaan's breath hitched, the noise of the crowd fading to the background. Her eyes weren't like the flirty glances he usually received—they were deeper, more meaningful, and for a fleeting moment, he felt like they could see straight through him.

The chorus swelled, and Ayaan felt his lips curve into a small, almost imperceptible smile. He wasn't sure what it was about her, but he knew one thing for certain.

This wasn't going to be the last time he'd look into those eyes.

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