Chapter~3 Are you fine?

RUDRAKSH POV

I was in the canteen when I saw Yashika coming toward Mia. Yes, I remember Mia. She was my first love. No, no—she is my first love. There were reasons why I was forced to leave her. I never intended to leave her. I wished I could fight back for her, for us. I know she must not be fine. I wish I could embrace her and tell her the truth that happened with me.

When Yashika approached Mia, she was about to slap her. I quickly held her hand. The first and foremost reason was that I still had feelings for her. I couldn't let a slut like Yashika insult her in front of the whole university.

Secondly, I really didn't want one more drama by Yashika that I would have to handle in the end. I don't know why Yashika always had to be the only girl with whom I was forced into a relationship. I wish I could break the deal with the Malhotra group of industries. If this deal did not have the audacity to bankrupt us, I would have never dated Yashika under the threat of her father.

When I stopped her, she said, "Baby, why did you stop me from slapping her? You know how much she insulted me?"

Why does she always have to be so cringe? I don't like her calling me baby.

I gave her a strong glare and dragged her out of the canteen to avoid the drama and talk to her in person.

Always, and always, I have to teach her a lesson for her stupidness, and she still does the same. She fears me; still, I can't do anything. If she says a single word against me to her parents, they will directly cancel the deal, leaving us bankrupt. Although my father and her father are friends, we shouldn't have trusted him and invested a huge amount in this deal.

I took her to our empty classroom and jerked her hand away.

"Are you mad or what? Do I look like a fool who has no work except cleaning up the mess you always create?" I shouted at her.

"Rudra, you don't know the real story. She called me a bitch in front of the whole class," she said, trying to act innocent.

"Oh please, Yashika. Just shut up. And guess what? Whatever was said was right. You better stay in your limits. I tolerate you just for the sake of business, or it won't take me seconds to drag you out of my life," I said and left.

"I must apologize to her for Yashika's deeds," I thought while I was on my way back to the canteen.

MIA POV

It's been 15 minutes since that incident happened, and I was in no mood to stay there anymore. I informed Vivaan that I'd be outside the uni; in the meantime, he could have his lunch. I was roaming around when Rishabh approached me.

"Hi! Thank you mere liye stand lene ke liye. Aap toh naye ho iss jagah fir bhi aapne mera saath diya. Jo pichle mahine se bacche aa rahe hain vo bhi kabhi mere saath baithe tak nahi," he said nervously, not knowing how I would react to this.

{Hi! Thank you for taking a stand for me. You are new to this place, yet you stood by me. Even those students who have been here since last month have never even sat with me.}

"It's fine. I don't really differentiate between people. I understand how it feels to be treated differently, being thought of as lower caste just because of financial issues. So, friends?" I asked him.

He gladly accepted my handshake, and we talked for a while until I noticed it was time for my lecture. He had a different lecture and schedule. I really had to face the ugly-faced Ani again.

While I was on my way to the class, I was informed that the professor was not going to take this lecture. I decided to go to the terrace so that I could have some peace for a while.

{SHE WENT TO THE TERRACE NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH HER}

I was sitting near one of the pillars on the terrace, reading my favorite dark romance books, when suddenly I heard someone saying my name. The voice was soft yet emotional.

I turned around, and it was Rudraksh.

"Oh, hi!" I said, trying to act normal.

"Uh... I'm sorry for what Yashika did," he said in a low tone. I guess he cried. But for what reason?

"No, no, it's fine. Thanks for stopping her, anyway," I said, trying my best not to cry. I really felt my eyes moist at the fact that he cried. True, I still have feelings for him somewhere or another in my heart.

"Ar...are you fine?" he asked. His voice cracked because he was crying, but he didn't let his tears fall. Maybe he didn't want to show me his weaker side.

As soon as I was about to answer him, my phone rang. It was my best friend from my previous school—the only one I'm currently in contact with. Maybe I really needed to have a long conversation with her.

I excused myself and went to the garden area. As I talked to her, I found out that our previous school friends are hosting a party in a few months. Everyone from our batch will be there. I guess I have to talk to Dad about this.

I somehow feel guilty for leaving Rudraksh alone that time. But I don't have the courage to face him. Time passed by, and I decided that if I ever met him, I would apologize. But he was nowhere to be seen after that. After the dispersal, I headed straight home. I was too tired to even think about finding him.

At night, after dinner, I was on my phone. His ID was right in front of my eyes. He still follows me. Should I talk to him just once? This was the only thought in my mind. Suddenly, a message popped up. Vivaan messaged me, saying that I got the chance to join the basketball team. I was happy about it. I opened Aksh's ID. Yep, I used to call him Aksh when he was my boyfriend. I opened his highlights and saw him playing basketball. "He's still as hot as always," I mumbled. Oh no, what am I saying? This is wrong—he has a girlfriend. Soon, I felt my eyes grow heavy, and I drifted into sleep.