Chapter 10 The Unexpected Visitor
656 Words
The next morning, college felt different.
Not because Aarav and Aadhya had almost confessed on the rooftop…
But because a brand-new disruption entered the campus.
A tall girl stepped through the gates—trendy outfit, confident walk, sunglasses pushed into her hair. Every head turned.
Aadhya, who was quietly walking with Meera, whispered,
“Who is she?”
Meera shrugged. “New admission maybe? She looks… intense.”
Meanwhile, Aarav and Rishi were on the other side.
Rishi noticed her immediately. “Woah. New girl alert! Bro, she’s walking like she owns the building.”
Aarav didn’t care. His attention was on something else entirely—
Aadhya entering the corridor.
He smiled without even realizing.
But fate had a plan.
The new girl walked straight to Aarav.
Straight. To. Him.
“Aarav?” she asked with a bright, familiar smile.
Aarav froze.
Aadhya, who had been approaching from behind, stopped too.
The girl removed her sunglasses dramatically. “It’s me… Reva!”
Aarav blinked. Twice. Then again.
“Reva? WHAT?! You’re here?”
She grinned. “Transferred this semester! Thought I’d surprise you.”
Rishi looked between them. “Uhhh… who is she?”
Reva answered first, tossing her hair.
“I’m Aarav’s childhood friend.”
Aadhya’s chest tightened unexpectedly.
Childhood friend? Why does that sound dangerous?
Aarav scratched his neck awkwardly. “Reva and I were neighbors when we were small. Like… 8 years old small.”
Reva linked her arm with his casually.
Aarav nearly fainted in stress.
Aadhya watched silently… and for the first time, a strange feeling twisted inside her.
Not jealousy.
But something very close to it.
---
Later – Aadhya’s Confusion
Aadhya sat in the canteen, poking her idli like it had personally offended her.
Meera sipped juice and raised an eyebrow. “You look angry.”
“I’m not angry!”
Meera smirked. “You’re stabbing your food.”
Aadhya put her spoon down. “…fine. Maybe I’m annoyed.”
“With the food or with Reva?”
Aadhya glared. “Both.”
Meera burst out laughing. “Aadhyaaa, you’re jealous!”
“I AM NOT!”
Meera leaned forward. “Then why did you turn red when she held Aarav’s arm?”
Aadhya went silent. Completely silent.
Her heart whispered the answer.
Because… I like him. And I don’t want anyone else close to him.
But she didn’t say it out loud.
---
Meanwhile – Reva & Aarav
Reva walked beside Aarav, talking nonstop.
“You didn’t change at all! Still shy, still cute, still—”
“I’m not cute,” Aarav muttered.
“You’re adorable,” she corrected.
Aarav looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him.
Rishi whispered in his ear, “Bro, Aadhya is going to misunderstand SO MUCH.”
Aarav’s stomach dropped.
He quickly stepped away from Reva. “Reva… listen. There’s someone I—”
Before he could finish…
Reva grabbed his hand.
“Show me around the campus first! Then tell me everything.”
Aarav tried to free his hand, but she dragged him along.
And unfortunately…
Aadhya had seen it.
Her heart sank.
---
Night – Private Messages
Aarav stared at his phone. He typed a message to Aadhya.
Aarav:
Can we talk?
He deleted it.
Typed again.
Aarav:
About today…
Deleted it again.
Finally he sent a very Aarav-style panicked message:
Aarav:
I swear the new girl is not my girlfriend. Not even close. Not even 0.01%. Please don’t think anything weird.
He regretted it instantly.
Aadhya saw the message, blinked… and smiled softly.
She typed back:
Aadhya:
Why are you explaining so much? Did you think I was jealous?
Aarav panicked.
Aarav:
No! I mean yes! I mean— I don’t know what I mean.
Aadhya laughed quietly.
Then she typed the one message that made Aarav’s heart jump:
Aadhya:
Maybe I was… just a little jealous.
Aarav stopped breathing for three seconds.
Three. Whole. Seconds.
---
- Writer
