Chapter ~1 First day at University

Mia POV

Year 2023, I passed my 12th. My grades aren't too overwhelming, but there's no need to be afraid of admission, for I will get admission at Hampton anyhow. Yes, I'm the daughter of the owner of Hampton University, one of the biggest universities in Mumbai. Tomorrow will be a big day for me and my brother (Anirudh). We will have our first day at Hampton.

Mrs Ahuja: Mia, at the dining table right now. We want to talk to you.

"Yes, coming," I said lazily, as I knew it would be some useless topic again for which I don't really wanna debate.

At the dining table

Mr Ahuja: What have you been doing all this time.

"Do I always need to give an answer about what I have been doing and what not? For God's sake, I'm 19 and an adult now. I don't really need to justify what I do and why I do it," I said, gritting my teeth.

Mr Ahuja: Even taking drugs? For serious?

"You're the one who made me like this. You can't blame me for all this," I said as I stood up from my seat and went to my room, angrily closing the door.

Next day at Hampton University

Our driver dropped us at the door. As soon as Anirudh and I went in, the students' jaws dropped. Even the seniors were staring at me. I directly took Anirudh with me to our class without caring about anything else.

I had been here for half an hour trying to find Vivaan. He is also one of my seniors. There's a reason why I was held back one year in my studies. My past. It was the horrible past I faced, after which I was forced into drugs.

FLASHBACK

Year 2020, I was in class 11, and I had broken up with my boyfriend three months ago. Unfortunately, it was he who broke up, and I am still in love with him. Days passed and soon I found myself in a situation where I didn't really enjoy anything. I got pissed off by someone's presence around me. Particularly, when I was checked by a psychiatrist, I was diagnosed with depression.

Two months later, while I was at school, my parents along with my sister met with an accident in which, unfortunately, none of them survived. I was left alone. My parents were the only ones I could trust, and they left me alone. At the hospital itself, I met the Ahuja family who decided to adopt me. That's how I became part of the Ahuja family and will be the heir of Ahuja Industries.

Soon I was diagnosed with depression. Antidepressants were being suggested, but nothing worked after the tragedy. Soon I was prescribed drugs after the Ahujas thought that I was abnormal. Indeed, I thought of them as abnormal. They were like evil in my life. Although they provided me with all the luxuries, that was not something I actually longed for. I wanted a simple life—a small and happy family. That's what I lost. Soon after I was on prescribed drugs, it turned into unprescribed drugs. My family, too, got to know about it one day, and they opposed it. But what is my fault after all? I was being forced into this due to my condition.

Adwik has always been the opposite of me. We were never a match, even as siblings. He always longed for money and I was his complete opposite. In fact, we never liked each other. Neither each other's presence.

The only person who stayed with me was Vivaan. I met him at the hospital when I was admitted. He was my roommate and within a week we became so close. I was in 11th when he met me. We exchanged ideas and chatted for hours. But this connection was felt only as friends, close friends. My family never knew I still talked to him, but soon the Ahujas got to know and they thought of him as my boyfriend and opposed it a lot. But I was stubborn and never left him, making them realize he was just a friend—more like he was my brother.

I dropped out of school for a year when my condition worsened. The Ahujas then, the next year, got my admission into another school where only I know how I spent two years. The feelings of loneliness, having so many people around, began bothering me. I spent most of my time with Vivaan. He made me feel life was worth living. During all this time in my new school, there were a lot of guys who actually proposed to me, but I didn't care about any. They all felt like they were after money. Years passed, but I never forgot my first love, nor did my feelings for him ever change.

And soon I became heartless—or you can say cold—towards everyone.

FLASHBACK END

"Boo!!", someone suddenly shouted from behind me while I was completely lost in my own thoughts.

"VIVAAANNNNN!!! Where have you been? You know I was searching for you only," I shouted.

"Leave it, c'mon, I'll show you our Uni," he said.

"You know, I already know every corner of this campus," I scoffed.

"Still, na c'mon," he said, dragging me with him to the basketball court.

Some students were already playing there, probably seniors, huh.

The Hampton Basketball Championship will be held in a few months, and we have always held the record of being first.

"I too want to be part of the team," I said to him.

"You can. Just go and talk to the coach. I know you play basketball really well."

As soon as I turned to face the coach, I saw the worst nightmare of my life. My ex-bf, Rudraksh Sekhawat. What the hell is he doing here? Is he actually my senior or what?

MIA POV

My heartbeat began to raise as soon as I saw him, and I realized I still had feelings for him somewhere or another. I immediately turned away as soon as I confirmed it was actually him.

My condition somewhat began worsening. I was having panic attacks, and right now the only solution to my condition was drugs.

I turned towards Vivaan, and he immediately understood my situation, so we went towards the washroom. He waited for me until I was done. Almost all the girls were looking at me as if I were an alien. I mean, yea, isn't it completely fine to use the washroom, or do we need to take their permission? As soon as I came out, he asked, "Are you fine now?"