Eyes That Turned Cold

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Two weeks had passed since Dhruvin had last seen her. Two weeks of restless curiosity, fleeting thoughts of pink kurtas and silver jhumkas, of a girl who had rushed into the lift with an air of irritation and something he couldn't quite place. He had searched for her face in the crowd without realizing it, his gaze unconsciously flickering toward unfamiliar corridors, hoping to spot her again. But she was nowhere to be found.

Today, college had wrapped up as usual, and after loitering around with Manan, Raj, and Saumya for a while, he made his way to the badminton court at the back of the campus. The evening sun was mellow, casting a golden hue over the abandoned pathways, and a cool breeze rustled through the trees. As he neared the court, a sound cut through the silence-a laugh.

Soft. Melodious. Almost musical.

Something about it made him halt mid-step. His head turned toward the source, drawn by an unfamiliar pull. He followed the sound, weaving past the court until he reached the open space near the back gate of the campus. And there she was.

She was standing beneath the shade of an old peepal tree, wearing a white crop top and ripped jeans, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulder in soft waves. A pair of white sneakers peeked from beneath the frayed ends of her jeans. The sunlight danced against her skin, making her glow like something straight out of a dream.

But it wasn't just how she looked-it was the way she moved. The way her fingers gently scratched behind the ears of a tiny, ginger kitten curled in her arms, the way she grinned as she held it up to her face, her nose crinkling in delight.

Dhruvin's heart stuttered.

It was ridiculous. He didn't even know her. And yet, in that moment, watching her laugh, watching her eyes soften at the kitten's playful squirming, he felt something shift inside him. As if some unspoken, invisible thread had tightened between them.

He didn't believe in love at first sight. But this? This was something else entirely.

Just as he took a step forward, intent on speaking to her, she turned her head. Their eyes met.

And in an instant, the warmth in her expression vanished.

Her features hardened, her lips pressing into a thin line as if the very sight of him repulsed her. Dhruvin froze, caught off guard. What the hell? A second ago, she had been smiling, lost in her world of playful kittens and laughter. But now? Now, she looked at him like he was something vile, something unwanted.

She turned to the guy standing beside her-Advait, he realized. The same one from the lecture hall, the one who always had a seat saved for her.

"Advait, start the scooty. Let's go." Her voice was clipped, all traces of amusement wiped clean.

Advait followed her gaze to where Dhruvin stood, his brows furrowing slightly before nodding. Without another word, he swung his leg over the scooter, and Aashna hopped on behind him, not even sparing Dhruvin another glance.

The scooter roared to life, and within seconds, they were gone, leaving Dhruvin standing there, utterly perplexed.

What just happened?

Who was Advait to her? And more importantly-why did she look at him like that? Like she hated him to the core?

Dhruvin ran a hand through his hair, a strange sense of intrigue settling over him.

This wasn't over.

❤️❤️❤️Author's Note

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