Mussoorie College
Within five minutes, the news had spread throughout the entire institute. Everyone was whispering about Ishika's future. Different kinds of rumors floated in the air because everyone knew that the gang involved was notoriously ill-mannered. And after what had happened today, no one believed they would spare Ishika under any circumstances.
Unaware of all this gossip, Ishika quietly walked into her classroom and took her seat. Her heart was still pounding painfully as she replayed everything in her mind. Who was that boy? Would he complain to the dean? Would she be suspended or expelled from college? But it wasn't even her fault. She hadn't done any of it willingly. The seniors had forced her. Many people had witnessed it.
But then another thought struck her would any of them testify for her?
"Probably not."
When she had needed help the most, not a single person had stepped forward. Thinking about it made her eyes turn red with unshed tears. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't even realize when her first lecture ended and the professor walked out.
The second lecture began soon after. The noisy classroom suddenly fell into pin-drop silence. Everyone sat properly in their seats with perfect manners. It was the Biochemistry class, and the students had already heard countless stories from seniors about the cruelty and strictness of the professor.
Soon, the sound of firm footsteps echoed in the corridor. All eyes shifted toward the entrance. Professor Chauhan entered with a cold aura surrounding him. Wearing a cream-colored shirt paired with a dark grey coat and trousers, he looked exceptionally handsome. Yet his presence was so intimidating that no one dared to look at him directly.
As he stepped inside, the entire class greeted him. He simply nodded in acknowledgment. In his cold voice, he spoke, "Students, today is your first day. And I think before we start studying, we should have introductions. I am Ashwatth Chauhan, your Biochemistry professor."
"Students," he began, voice calm yet commanding and He gestured toward the first bench.
"Start."
One by one, students introduced themselves. Ashwatth casually checked something on his phone until a soft voice reached his ears.
"Hello everyone, I am Ishika Agnihotri from Delhi."
After four or five students had introduced themselves, Ashwatth's ears caught a soft, pleasant voice. His gaze lifted from his phone and fixed ahead. Ishika was standing there, giving her introduction while unknowingly looking straight at him.
For a brief moment, their eyes locked.
But Ishika quickly lowered her gaze.
Ashwatth, however, continued staring at her face. The morning's incident replayed in his mind.
Her breath caught.
His expression didn't change.
But his mind replayed the morning scene.
The forced kiss.
The trembling lips.
The fear in her eyes.
.
Suddenly, his eyes drifted toward her lips.
He stiffened
Realizing , What the hell are he thinking?
he shook his head and forced himself to look away.
After finishing the lecture, Ashwatth closed his laptop and walked toward the door. Then, as if remembering something, he turned back.
"Miss Ishika, meet me in my cabin after your classes are over."
Hearing her name, Ishika looked up from her book. Ashwatth was staring at her expressionlessly.
"Is that clear?"
She nodded silently.
Without another word, he left the classroom.
Some students who knew about the morning's incident looked at Ishika with pity. She could feel their stares on her, but she sat quietly without reacting. Inside, however, her heart trembled with anxiety.
Ashwatth's Cabin
Nearly three hours later, once all her lectures ended, Ishika walked toward Professor Chauhan's cabin. Her classmate and friend, Suhani, helped her find it.
Standing outside for a moment, she took a deep breath and knocked.
"Come in."
Ashwatth's deep voice came from inside. Nervously, Ishika stepped in. But as soon as she entered, she was shocked. The cabin looked more like a royal chamber than a professor's office. Every item inside seemed unique and expensive. It didn't look like a simple faculty room at all.
Her eyes settled on the desk ahead, where Ashwatth sat working on his laptop. On one side of the desk was a nameplate in bold italic letters: Professor Ashwatth Chauhan.
"If you're done observing everything carefully, can we talk now?"
His serious voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Y-yes, sir," she stammered.
"What do you have to say about what you did with me this morning?"
Ashwatth stood up from his chair and began walking toward her, his gaze sharp and piercing.
In a trembling voice, Ishika replied, "Sorry, sir. I didn't want to do that. But I didn't have any other option."
"If tomorrow they ask you to do something worse, will you do that too? Right?"
He looked her up and down. Understanding the implication, Ishika clenched her hands against her jeans. She squeezed her eyes shut.
"I'm sorry, sir. I will never do anything inappropriate with you again," she said, her voice breaking.
His brows furrowed.
"So you'll do it with others?"
"No, sir!" Tears streamed down her face.
"It would have been better if you had stood up for yourself back then instead of crying now," he said sternly, stepping closer to her. "What made you think that accepting a task to kiss someone would make them spare you?"
His tone turned harsher.
"You are completely wrong, Miss. This will only encourage them further."
He continued, anger evident in his voice. "You should be thankful that I reached there first. If it had been some other guy, by now your dignity would have been publicly ruined."
Just imagining the possibility made him angrier.
Hearing his words, Ishika finally realized how foolish she had been. Tears flowed endlessly from her eyes. Seeing her cry, a strange coldness settled over Ashwatth's face.
He stepped back and turned his back to her.
"The mistake you made," he said calmly, "must never happen again. Okay?"
"Yes, sir," she replied softly.
"Now you may go."
Without wasting a second, Ishika hurried out of the cabin. A moment later, Ashwatth picked up his coat and laptop and walked out as well.
To be continue