Chapter 7: mysterious girl
As Vihaan walked me to the door, the silence between us was palpable. I could feel the weight of unspoken emotions hanging in the air, and my heart was racing with anticipation.
When we reached the door, Vihaan turned to me, his eyes searching mine. "Janvi, can I ask you something?" he said, his voice low and husky.
I nodded, my throat dry. "Of course, what is it?"
Vihaan's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze piercing. "How do you feel about Raj?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I hesitated, unsure how to respond. Vihaan's eyes narrowed, his expression intense.
"Janvi, I need to know," he said, his voice firm but laced with vulnerability.
I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "Vihaan, I value Raj's friendship," I said, choosing my words carefully.
Vihaan's face was unreadable, but I could sense a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "And?" he prompted, his voice low.
I hesitated, unsure how to articulate the emotions swirling inside me. "And... I don't know, Vihaan. You're making me feel things I don't understand," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Vihaan's expression softened, and he took a step closer to me. "What kind of things?" he asked, his voice husky with emotion.
My heart was racing as I looked up at him, the tension between us almost palpable. "Things that make me feel alive," I said, my voice trembling.
Vihaan's eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, we just stood there, the world around us melting away.The next day, Vihaan didn't show up to college, and my attempts to reach him were met with silence. I tried calling and texting him multiple times, but he didn't respond. The uncertainty was eating away at me, and I couldn't focus on my classes.
After a long, grueling day, Raj suggested we grab dinner at a new restaurant that just opened up. I agreed, hoping to take my mind off Vihaan.
As we sat down at a table, I couldn't help but scan the restaurant, my eyes searching for a familiar face. And then, I saw him. Vihaan was standing by the bar, chatting with the same girl I had seen him with before. My heart sank, and I felt a pang of disappointment.
Raj followed my gaze and raised an eyebrow. "Looks like Vihaan's getting around, huh?" he said, his tone neutral.
I shook my head, trying to brush it off. "I don't know what's going on with him," I admitted, feeling a mix of emotions.
Raj's expression softened, and he reached out to put a hand on mine. "Maybe he's just going through a tough time," he suggested.
But as I watched Vihaan laugh and smile with the girl, I couldn't shake off the feeling that he was avoiding me. And that realization hurt more than I was willing to admit.
The rest of the evening was a blur, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of Vihaan and the mysterious girl. Who was she, and what was her relationship with Vihaan? And why was Vihaan avoiding me? I knew I had to talk to him and clear the air, but for now, I just pushed my food around my plate, lost in thought.
The next day at college, I made a conscious decision to ignore Vihaan. I wasn't going to chase him or beg for his attention. If he wanted to play games, I could play too.
As I walked through the campus with Raj, I made sure to laugh and smile at all of Raj's jokes, subtly leaning in close to him as we talked. Vihaan was standing across the courtyard, his eyes fixed intently on me. I could feel his gaze burning a hole in my skin, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging him.
Raj, sensing my plan, played along perfectly, casually draping his arm around my shoulders as we walked. "So, have you thought about what you're going to wear to the festival next week?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.
I smiled up at him, feeling a spark of mischief. "Not yet, but I'm sure you'll help me pick out something amazing," I said, batting my eyelashes at him.
Vihaan's expression darkened, his jaw clenched in annoyance. I could almost see the green-eyed monster rearing its head, and I felt a thrill of satisfaction. Maybe this would teach him to ignore me.
As we walked away, Raj whispered in my ear, "You're playing with fire, Janvi."
I grinned, feeling a sense of empowerment. "Maybe I am," I whispered back, "but someone's got to make him realize what he's losing."As the day went on, I made sure to keep the charade going, laughing and joking with Raj, and making sure Vihaan saw us having a great time together. I could feel Vihaan's eyes on me, his gaze burning with intensity, but I refused to give in.
At lunchtime, Raj and I sat together in the cafeteria, and I couldn't help but notice Vihaan watching us from across the room. His expression was unreadable, but I could sense the tension emanating from him.
Raj, sensing my gaze, turned to me and smiled. "You're doing great, Janvi," he said, his voice low. "I think Vihaan's getting the message."
I smiled back at him, feeling a flutter in my chest. "Let's see," I said, playing it cool.
As we finished our lunch, Vihaan suddenly appeared at our table, his eyes locked onto mine. "Janvi, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, his voice firm.
I raised an eyebrow, playing dumb. "What's up, Vihaan? I'm kind of busy right now."
Vihaan's jaw clenched, and for a moment, I thought he was going to say something else. But then, he turned and walked away, leaving me feeling a mix of emotions.
Raj watched him go, then turned to me with a knowing look. "I think you're getting under his skin," he said, a small smile playing on his lips.
I smiled back at him, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "Mission accomplished," I said, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in my stomach.