The sun peeked through the cloudy skies as the Vipers strutted into Prestige University the next morning, radiating their usual aura of charm and dominance. Ishaan walked ahead, his confidence unshaken, his eyes covered by designer sunglasses, and his steps matching the beat of the music playing from Bunny's portable speaker.
They were halfway to the student lounge when a sweet, high-pitched voice called out, "Ishaan!" A petite girl in a pastel pink dress came bouncing toward him, her curls bouncing with her.
"Oh hey there, Meera," Ishaan said smoothly, his trademark smirk curling his lips.
"Missed seeing you around," she giggled, brushing her hand along his arm. "Still the most handsome guy in the college?"
"Guilty as charged," he winked, indulging the moment.
The others rolled their eyes, used to Ishaan's effortless magnetism. But his attention wavered when he spotted someone in the distance — Aisha.
She was walking toward the campus library with her usual swagger, dressed in a slightly oversized grey hoodie and black joggers, with her signature white sneakers. Her hair was tied in a messy bun, and she wore her confidence like a crown. Her group of friends walked beside her, but something about the way she moved — so unfazed and free — caught Ishaan off guard.
Just then, a random guy carrying a stack of books collided with Aisha. The books tumbled to the ground, and Aisha lost her balance. Before she could hit the pavement, Anish caught her by the waist.
"Whoa, easy there," Anish said, steadying her.
From Ishaan's viewpoint, it looked like they were wrapped in an intimate hug. Something flared in his chest — annoyance? Jealousy? He wasn't sure, but he didn't like it.
Raha hurried forward, helping Aisha fix her hoodie and asking, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Aisha brushed herself off with a chuckle. Her eyes met Ishaan's across the distance. For a second, she felt a strange flutter in her chest. His gaze held something intense, unreadable. She looked away quickly.
Later, Aisha walked into her Business & Strategy class, chatting casually with anish, only to stop short when she saw Ishaan sitting at the back.
She blinked, confused. "You're in this class now?"
Ishaan smirked without turning his head. "Looks like it."
"You're from the International Business course. This is the BT elective," she said, slipping into her seat.
He shrugged. "Guess I'm expanding horizons."
The professor entered just in time. Aisha thought Ishaan would zone out like most rich kids did during lectures. But to her shock, he sat up straight, eyes focused, and even answered a few questions.
"Anyone here can explain the relevance of Lean Management in a high-pressure market cycle?" the professor asked.
Before Aisha could even think, Ishaan raised his hand.
"Lean Management allows flexibility, sir. Especially in crisis-mode operations — it cuts down waste and maximizes response agility. Like what happened to the pharma sector during the pandemic."
The professor nodded, pleasantly surprised. "Good. Very good."
Aisha stared. Who was this version of Ishaan?
After class, Ishaan walked up to the professor as Aisha lingered nearby.
"Sir, I wanted to ask if I could sit in on your lectures regularly."
The professor looked up from his papers. "You're not from this course. Why the interest?"
"One of my friends has just taken over her family business. It's in trouble. I want to support her properly, not just with funds but with the right advice. So I need to learn this stuff."
Aisha, who had been eavesdropping shamelessly, froze. The sincerity in his voice stunned her.
"Alright then, Mr. Ishaan," the professor said. "If you're serious, you're welcome here. But I expect your participation to be more than symbolic."
"Absolutely, sir," Ishaan replied, then turned to leave. His eyes brushed past Aisha, who tried to pretend she hadn't heard a thing. But the faint pink on her cheeks betrayed her.
As she picked up her books, Anish walked up beside her and whispered, "He really did that? For a friend?"
"Apparently," Aisha said, still stunned.
"I didn't know rich kids had depth."
Aisha cracked a smile. "Me neither."
Meanwhile, in the exclusive Vipers' lounge — a sleek, glass-walled space elevated above the common atrium — the group had settled into their favorite booth. From their vantage point, they could see the common student area below, where most of the new students, including scholarship kids, were hanging out.
Ishaan leaned back on the couch, tossing a stress ball between his hands.
Down below, Aisha and Raha walked into the bustling common lounge, books in hand, settling onto a table near the window with a few other scholarship students. The two girls weren't aware they were being watched, but their presence did not go unnoticed.
"They're back," Ria murmured, glancing down at them through the lounge's glass panels.
"They're not sitting with us. Just nearby," Naina said, folding her arms. "That's something."
"Do they even know this lounge is VIP only?" Bunny asked with a smirk.
"Of course they do," Niall said, tilting his head. "They're smart enough to read the air."
Ishaan's gaze was locked on Aisha again. She was laughing at something Raha had said, her boyish charm and unfiltered energy striking a stark contrast to the overly polished, elite girls that usually hung around him. He didn't say anything — just watched.
"They're not friends yet," Ishaan finally said, voice quiet but certain. "But something tells me… that might change soon."
Ria looked at him with a knowing smirk. "What gave it away? The way you were staring like a Shakespearean hero?"
Naina snorted, trying to hide her grin. "We're doomed if Ishaan actually catches feelings."
"I did not catch anything," Ishaan retorted, clearly flustered. "I'm just...observing. Strategically."
"Sure, Captain Strategy," Bunny teased.
As the group continued teasing and laughing, the glass between them and the common lounge created a physical boundary that echoed the unspoken social divide — a line that was still firm, but perhaps not for much longer.
And down below, unaware of the stir they'd caused, Aisha leaned back in her seat and muttered to Raha, "Do you feel like... someone's watching us?"
Raha glanced up toward the glass-paneled lounge above. "Maybe. Or maybe it's just your paranoia."
Aisha chuckled. "Or maybe the snakes are curious."
"The Vipers, you mean?" Raha laughed at it.