Aaradhya's POV)
The lab door slammed shut behind him.
For a moment, silence reigned—thick, awkward, electric.
Everyone was still staring at her.
At her hand that had just struck Veer.
At her flushed cheeks.
At her storming breaths.
The air was tight in her lungs, like it had solidified in her throat. Her heart thudded angrily inside her chest. She hadn't realized she was shaking until her knees nearly buckled beneath her.
"Aaru—"
It was Anushka. Her voice gentle but hesitant, stepping over the line of shocked classmates toward her. "Are you okay?"
Aaradhya blinked hard, still breathing too fast. "I... I'm fine."
"You're not. Look at you." Anushka slipped a hand around her shoulder. "Come on. Let's get out of here."
They walked out of the lab, past the too-silent corridor, down the stairs. Every sound felt too loud—her footsteps, the creak of the railing, the slam of a distant door.
Once they were outside, under the soft shade of a neem tree, Aaradhya finally exhaled.
"What the hell was that?" she muttered. "What the actual hell was that?"
Anushka shook her head, her expression unreadable. "Don't even think about it. Boys like him—ugh—they love drama. Arrogant, possessive, attention-seeking types. Just ignore him."
Aaradhya didn't answer. Her mind was already somewhere else.
Not here. Not now.
It was then.
The first time she'd seen him.
In the palace.
The way he had looked—quiet, composed, almost too still, like he belonged to a different world.
There was something... peaceful about him then.
No sharp words. No rough edges. Just... calm. Mysterious.
And then again, that moment in the restaurant. A waiter had stumbled. A tray of drinks went flying—half of it had spilled down Veer's shirt. And yet, he hadn't raised his voice. Not even a grimace. He had just stood up, nodded politely, said "It's okay," and walked away.
That boy...
That boy wasn't this.
This—whatever had just happened in the lab—this wasn't calm. This wasn't composed.
This was chaotic. Loud. Unhinged.
She clenched her fists. How dare he say that? In front of everyone. That she was his? That she belonged to him?
A blush of shame and rage crawled up her neck again.
"I hate him," she said through gritted teeth. "I hate that I... I even thought there was more to him. That maybe something was wrong and that's why he was being—"
She stopped herself.
Anushka raised an eyebrow. "Wait. You thought what?"
"Nothing."
"No, Aaradhya." Anushka crossed her arms. "You thought there was something more to him?"
"I don't know!" Aaradhya snapped. Then sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Maybe. I guess... I just—he wasn't like this before. I mean, when I met him at the palace, and again at that restaurant... He was different."
Anushka scoffed. "He's always like this. He acts like he owns everything. Like the world owes him something. I've grown up watching him. This isn't new."
Aaradhya was quiet for a moment.
But still, her memories didn't match.
Yes, he had this dangerous aura—but he wasn't cruel. At least not always. Not then.
Her mind drifted again to that strange, fleeting look in his eyes before she slapped him. That... hurt. That flicker of vulnerability. It was there. She saw it. Just for a second.
Why did he look hurt? He's the one who embarrassed me. Why should he be the one in pain?
"Maybe he's going through something," she said aloud before she could stop herself.
Anushka gave her a withering look. "Aaru. No. Don't. Don't do that thing where you try to find the sad little backstory for the monster. He did what he did. That's it."
"I know," Aaradhya muttered. "You're right."
But then why does it still not make sense?
"I think we should call my dad," Anushka said, more serious now. "And Aaditya. You shouldn't be dealing with this alone."
"No." Aaradhya shook her head quickly. "Please don't. It's not that serious."
"He literally said you belong to him in front of an entire lab."
"It's a college fight, Anushka. Calling your father and Aaditya will just make things bigger. And then everyone will look at me like I'm some weak girl who needed saving."
Anushka bit her lip but said nothing.
"And I really don't want Aaditya to get involved in this," Aaradhya added softly.
Because if he did...
She wasn't sure how far things would go.
Veer had something... dangerous in him.
And Aaditya was fiercely protective.
It could get out of hand.
Aaradhya sank onto the low concrete boundary wall near the campus garden, placing her head in her hands. The wind played with her dupatta. The sun filtered through the trees, warm and golden and wholly indifferent to her racing thoughts.
She thought she would feel better after letting it out.
But instead, she just felt... tired.
And confused.
And somewhere—buried under all the fury—still aching for an answer that refused to come.
Would you like the next chapter to continue with this emotional aftermath, or shift to a moment where Veer is alone again, beginning to sense the author's control again but struggling to fight it?