Chapter 14: CHAPTER 12

Hey lovies!!!🎀

Vote: 270+

Comment: 70+

Shopping me time lag gya thoda sa🙆🏻‍♀️ soryyy!!!!!

Enjoy reading!!!🍭

_________________________________________

Noor's POV

The classroom buzzed with a mix of laughter and whispered secrets, a sanctuary of chaos during our free lecture. I sat between Aarushi and Aarav, their energy infectious as they plotted our next move.

“Let’s play truth or dare!” Aarushi suggested, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Please, anything but that,” I groaned, half-heartedly trying to resist.

“Come on, it’ll be fun!” Aarav chimed in, nudging me with his elbow.

I sighed, surrendering to the inevitable. “Fine, but I’m not doing anything crazy!”

As more students joined our circle, the air thickened with anticipation. One by one, they took their turns, choosing truths that revealed embarrassing secrets or dares that sent them into fits of laughter.

I watched, half-enjoying the spectacle and half-dreading my own turn.

Finally, it was my moment. “Noor, truth or dare?” Aarushi asked, a wicked grin plastered on her face.

“Dare,” I blurted, feeling the rush of adrenaline.

“Oh, this is going to be good,” she said, excitement bubbling over.

I was blindfolded before I could protest further. “What’s happening?” I called out, laughter echoing around me.

“Just stand still!” Aarushi instructed, her voice laced with glee.

I felt myself being spun around, the world blurring into a dizzying whirl.

“Guys, I’m going to—” I started, only to be interrupted by the sensation of someone’s face beneath my fingers.

“Is this a cheek?” I murmured, trying to focus.

“Just kiss it!” someone shouted, and without thinking, I leaned in, pressing my lips against the soft skin.

The laughter erupted around me. “Okay, take off the blindfold!”

As I peeled the fabric away, my heart dropped. There, frozen in shock, was Crocodile Malhotra—the grumpy math professor who had somehow become the bane of my existence.

“Oh my god!” I gasped, stepping back as heat rushed to my cheeks.

He gulped, a deep crimson spreading across his face. “Uh… I’ll just… take over the class now,” he stammered, his usual composure shattered.

I bolted back to my seat, wishing the ground would swallow me whole.

The giggles echoed in my ears as he attempted to regain his authority, but I was too busy mentally berating my friends.

“Seriously, you guys! You’re the worst!” I hissed in a whisper, but they only laughed harder.

“Come on, it was just a kiss!” Aarushi teased, nudging me playfully.

“Just a kiss? It was Crocodile!” I exclaimed, my voice barely above a whisper, as if the walls themselves could hear my embarrassment.

When the lecture finally ended, I felt a mix of relief and dread. CROCODILE informed us he’d be back after the break, and I couldn’t help but cringe.

“Great, just what I need,” I muttered under my breath.

“Come on,” Aarav said, dragging me towards the canteen. “You’re going to need a snack to recover from this.”

“Recover? I need a full-on therapy session,” I shot back, crossing my arms.

The canteen buzzed with students, the air thick with the aroma of fried snacks and chatter. I sat with my friends, my mind racing through the events of the day.

“Look, Noor, it’s not a big deal,” Aarushi reassured me, taking a sip of her drink.

“He probably didn’t think much of it.”

“Didn’t think much of it? I just kissed my professor!” I exclaimed, half-laughing, half-sobbing.

The laughter returned, and I couldn’t help but join in, though it felt more like a coping mechanism than genuine amusement.

After some time, I managed to escape the chaos of the canteen and headed home, the weight of the day still heavy on my shoulders.

Once inside, my phone pinged, and I saw Rohan’s name flashing on the screen. “Hey, I’m outside! Ready for some shopping?”

I quickly changed into something comfortable, shoving my embarrassment aside. There was no way I was going to ruin this outing by dwelling on the kiss.

When I stepped out, Rohan’s bright smile greeted me. “Hey! You look cute!”

“Thanks! Just trying to survive the day,” I replied, rolling my eyes dramatically.

“Let’s go!” he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards his car.

The mall was a whirlwind of colors and sounds, and for a little while, I forgot the mortification of my earlier encounter.

We laughed, tried on ridiculous outfits, and indulged in overpriced snacks.

“So, what’s the craziest thing that happened at the fresher’s party?” Rohan asked, his eyes glinting with curiosity.

I hesitated, the memory of the kiss bubbling to the surface. “Oh, you know, just the usual—people dancing, some embarrassing moments… nothing too wild.”

As much as I wanted to tell him, I couldn’t bring myself to voice the incident. I didn’t want him to see me as anything less than confident.

“Yeah, sounds typical,” he said, nodding, oblivious to my internal struggle.

The day flew by, filled with laughter and simple joys, but as I returned home, the earlier events started creeping back into my mind.

That night, I tossed and turned, sleep evading me as images of Crocodile swirled in my head. What did he think of me now? Would he avoid me? Would I have to face him in class again?

The clock ticked away, and I finally succumbed to exhaustion, drifting into a restless sleep filled with dreams of red cheeks and awkward encounters.

Reyansh's POV

The hum of the overhead fan was the only sound in my office as I sat at my desk, staring blankly at the stack of papers before me.

I let my thoughts drift, and suddenly, a warm rush of memory flooded my mind—Noor’s lips brushing against my cheek, that accidental kiss that sent my heart racing.

I touched my cheek, a smile creeping onto my face despite my best efforts to maintain my grumpy demeanor.

“What’s wrong with you, Reyansh?” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head to dispel the distraction.

With a resigned sigh, I grabbed my bag and headed home. The moment I stepped through the door, the familiar scent of my mom’s cooking enveloped me. I dropped my bag and called out, “Mom, where’s Rohan?”

My mom peeked out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “He went out. He'll be late.”

I nodded, already knowing she would launch into her usual speech about Rohan stepping into Dad’s business.

“You know, he’s really excited about joining your father’s company,” she continued, her voice warm with pride.

“Yeah, that’s great,” I replied, only half-listening. My mind was still tangled in thoughts of Noor.

My father’s insistence on me joining the family business had always felt like a noose around my neck, a pressure I couldn’t bear. Teaching was my passion, and I wasn’t about to let anyone dictate my life.

Dinner was a quiet affair, punctuated only by the clatter of cutlery and my mother’s occasional comments about the weather or Rohan’s day.

I finished quickly, eager to retreat to my room where I could escape into the world of lesson plans and tests.

After an hour of typing and editing, I glanced at the clock—11 PM. Time flies when you’re buried in work.

I stood up to grab a water bottle from the kitchen, the house silent except for the rhythmic ticking of the clock. As I filled my bottle, I heard the front door creak open and turned to see Rohan strolling in, his usual grin plastered on his face.

“Hey, where’ve you been?” I asked, trying to sound casual, though I felt a twinge of jealousy gnaw at my gut.

“Just out with Noor,” he replied, plopping down on the couch. “We went shopping. You should’ve seen the shoes she tried on—totally ridiculous!”

“Yeah? What did you buy?” I asked, my voice betraying a hint of curiosity.

“Nothing for me! Just some stuff for her.” He chuckled, running a hand through his messy hair. “She can be such a diva sometimes.”

“Right,” I said, forcing a laugh, but inside, I was wrestling with the unwelcome surge of jealousy. “Well, good night, Rohan.”

“Night!” he called as he headed toward his room, oblivious to the turmoil brewing in my chest.

I climbed into bed, my thoughts spiraling back to Noor, her laughter, her chaos.

The next day, as I walked into the classroom, the air buzzed with the usual chatter of students.

I cleared my throat, trying to project authority. “Alright, listen up! Surprise test today!”

The groans echoed around the room, and I felt a pang of satisfaction. They needed a wake-up call. “And to make it more interesting, we’re switching seats.”

“No way!” a student shouted, but it was too late. I had already begun instructing them to move.

Once everyone settled, I distributed the test papers. As I walked around the room, I spotted Noor in the corner, leaning over to whisper something to the girl beside her.

“Noor!” I barked, my voice louder than intended. “What are you doing? Are you cheating?”

She looked up, eyes wide with indignation. “Sir, I wasn’t—”

“Out! You’re disrupting the class,” I interrupted, my irritation boiling over. I couldn’t believe I was doing this again. She gathered her things, her expression a mix of disbelief and anger.

“Unbelievable,” she muttered as she stomped out of the classroom. I felt a twinge of guilt, but I brushed it aside. I had a job to do.

As I resumed my patrol of the classroom, I glanced down at Noor’s desk and noticed her test paper.

My heart sank. She had been almost done, but the last question was left unfinished, her pen barely leaving a mark.

I cursed under my breath and rushed out of the room, hoping to catch her before she left.

“Seriously?” I muttered as I dashed through the hallway, scanning for her familiar figure. The college  was buzzing with students, but there was no sign of her.

“Noor!” I called out, my voice echoing against the tiled walls.

I wanted to apologise but I couldn't.

It was a half day godd!!!

It was a warm afternoon when I pulled into the driveway, the sun hanging lazily in the sky.

I could already see my mother pacing back and forth in the living room, her brow furrowed like she was trying to solve a particularly tricky math problem.

I stepped inside, the familiar scent of her lavender air freshener washing over me.

"Mom?" I called, noticing the way her hands fidgeted, almost as if they were looking for something to grab onto.

"Ansh!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with urgency. "You’re home! Thank goodness. We need to talk."

“What’s wrong?” I asked, the tension in her voice making me uneasy. I dropped my backpack by the door and approached her. She looked like she was about to burst.

“It’s Noor’s birthday today!” she blurted out, her eyes wide. “I completely forgot to prepare a gift! What kind of lady am I?”

I felt the weight of guilt settle in my stomach. Noor's birthday. The realization struck me like a rogue wave.

I had made her stand outside the classroom today, a punishment for something she hadn't even done. And now, here I was, completely oblivious to the fact that I’d just added fuel to the fire of her chaotic existence.

“I—uh,” I stammered, unsure of what to say. “I didn’t realize it was today.”

“Of course you didn’t! You only think about your math problems!” she huffed, crossing her arms.

“But Mr. Sharma has planned a huge birthday party for her! We’re all invited! I need to get her something special.”

“Maybe you can just get her a card?” I suggested, trying to defuse the tension. “You know how much she loves those silly motivational quotes.”

My mother shook her head vehemently. “No, no, no! A card won’t do! You should go out and find her a real gift! Something that says you care! Something... meaningful!”

I could feel my heart racing as I realized that the burden of this task had fallen squarely on my shoulders.

“Okay, okay! I’ll get her something!” I said, trying to sound enthusiastic, but my mind was already racing, plotting a course to the nearest store.

“Good! And hurry! The party starts at eight!” she urged, her voice rising a notch.

I nodded, already halfway to the door. “I’ll be back soon!” I called over my shoulder, my mind wrestling with the embarrassment of what I needed to make right.

I sprinted to my car, the engine roaring to life with a growl. As I drove, I thought about Noor.

She was chaotic, always rushing around, her hair a messy halo as she tackled whatever the day threw at her. It was part of her charm, really, but today?

Today, I had made her day worse. I needed to find something that would show her I cared more than I had demonstrated earlier.

Pulling into the parking lot of the nearest mall, I parked haphazardly and darted inside, scanning the shelves of various stores.

My mind raced through potential gifts—clothes, jewelry, something personal. But what would she actually like?

“Ugh!” I muttered under my breath, frustrated. “Why is gift-giving so hard?”

As I entered a trendy little boutique, a chorus of laughter filled the air, and I spotted a group of girls giggling over a particularly gaudy piece of jewelry. I approached a sales associate, who eyed me with curiosity.

“Uh, I need a gift for a girl. It’s her birthday today,” I said, feeling a flush creep up my neck.

“Is she a friend? A girlfriend? A sister?” the associate asked, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

“Uh, a friend, I guess?” I said, trying to sound casual while internally screaming at myself for being so vague.

“Okay, what does she like? Any hobbies?”

I racked my brain. Noor liked chaos.

After giving him details. I finally bought something. And made my way towards her house.

I was just thinking if she'll forgive me again or not.

_______________________________________

2401 words.

So how was the chapter??

Share your views and complete the target soon so that I can post soon.🎀

Follow me on insta for daily spoilers. I'd is in bio.

Stay blessed and healthy.🌷

Bye bye lovies!!!🍭