MY ONLY ONE

01. The First Day I Ruined Everything

Chapter glimpse-

Author's pov~

Aradhya Sharma arrived fifteen minutes late to her first class at Raichand University.

The professor shouted the moment she asked to enter, reprimanding her for her lack of discipline and warning her never to be late again.

Silent and shaken, she took her seat, unaware that this first mistake would follow her far beyond the classroom.

"If you're enjoying this story, please vote ⭐ and share-it helps more than you think 🖤"

Note~

||This book may make you feel uncomfortable. Please read at your own risk.||

Let's begin~

AUTHOR'S POV

As the alarm rang at 6 a.m., Aradhya Sharma woke up irritably. She had to prepare breakfast and tea for the family members before they threw any tantrums at her. Today was her first day of college at Raichand University. She had received a scholarship, which allowed her to study there.

As usual, she lived like a maid in that house.

As soon as she got up, she folded her blanket and kept it aside on her small bed. She then went to the bathroom, took a quick shower, changed into a kurta, and walked downstairs. She made parathas and dal for breakfast and prepared black coffee for Urvashi, since she didn't like tea. Her chacha and chachi were out of town for a business trip and were expected to return by evening.

Once all the work in the kitchen was done, she went back to her small room and got ready for college.

As she was finally allowed to step out for college, she wore a simple light pink kurta with blue jeans and silver jhumkas. She left her hair open, applied a little kajal and lip tint, and was ready to leave for college.

As soon as she was done, she came downstairs and had a quick breakfast. Just as she was about to leave, Urvashi walked downstairs from her room. She was wearing a knee-length bodycon dress with bold red lipstick.

The moment her eyes landed on Aradhya-who was smiling-Urvashi ignored her smile. She laughed mockingly and said,

"Don't you think you look ugly? Getting ready like this... do you really think boys will run after you?"

Aradhya's face turned pale when she heard those words. It wasn't the first time Urvashi had humiliated her, but today was her first day of college. She had been excited to go, yet her mood completely changed after hearing those words.

She didn't say anything.

She simply walked away and managed to catch the bus to college. On the way, she called Kavya and talked to her to calm herself down.

ABHIMANYU'S POV

As usual, I woke up at 5 a.m., completed my workout, freshened up, and wore a black shirt with grey trousers. I styled my hair and went downstairs. All the family members were already seated at the dining table. I sat beside Papa and started eating without looking at anyone.

Suddenly, Avani called me.

"Bhai, will you drop me at college? It's my first day, please."

I simply nodded. I didn't want any drama.

After breakfast, we left for college.

The ride wasn't silent, as I had expected. Avani didn't stop talking.

"Bhai, I'm nervous. It's my first day of college. Will I be okay? Can I handle it?"

I didn't say much. As soon as we reached the college entrance, I noticed her hands trembling because of nervousness. I just told her,

"You can do it. Don't be nervous."

She gave me a small toothy smile and went straight inside the college. I parked my car and headed towards the campus.

I went straight to my cabin, checked the timetable, and saw that my first class was 2nd BCOM. I was teaching Financial Management.

I'm a very punctual man. I entered the classroom exactly at 9 a.m. Students were settling down and wished me good morning. I nodded back.

"This is my first class," I said. "I'm very strict and punctual. I don't allow anyone to enter my class even a minute late. During my lecture, everyone must concentrate."

Just as I was about to introduce myself, someone knocked on the classroom door. I turned to see who it was.

A girl stood there, panting and gasping for breath. It looked like she had run all the way from hell. Her hair was falling messily onto her cheeks. She looked like a complete mess-yet somehow, still beautiful.

"Excuse me, sir... can I come in?" she asked.

I stayed silent for a moment. She looked confused. Instead of letting her in, I shouted at her.

ARADHYA'S POV

Oh no! I'm late on my first day of college. No, this can't be happening.

I ran as fast as I could, my breath burning in my lungs. Mumbai traffic sucks-I cursed under my breath. I reached the campus and ran across the corridor. When I checked my phone, it was 9:15 a.m.

Shit. I was 15 minutes late.

I stood outside the classroom and saw a man wearing a black shirt and grey trousers. Brown eyes. Muscular build.

How can someone be this handsome?

No... this has to be a mistake.

He's the professor?

The realization hit me all at once, leaving me completely stunned. I couldn't take my eyes off him even if I tried. There was something about the way he stood-straight, composed, commanding-that made it impossible to look away. My breath hitched in my throat, and for a moment, everything around me blurred into nothing.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even notice the noise behind me. A faint sound echoed in the corridor, snapping me out of my daze and forcing me back into reality.

Taking a deep breath, I gathered what little courage I had left.

"Excuse me, sir. Can I come in?" I asked, my voice softer than I intended.

He didn't answer right away.

The silence felt heavy, almost suffocating. My heart started racing, and confusion settled in as I stood there, unsure of what to do next. Every second felt longer than the last.

Then his voice cut through the room.

Cold. Sharp. Unforgiving.

"You are late on the first day of college," he said. "Can't you come earlier? I don't like latecomers." His eyes fixed on me, making me feel uncomfortably small. "This is your first and final warning. Next time, even one minute late-I won't allow you inside my class. Understood?"

Each word hit me hard.

His voice was ice-cold, leaving no space for arguments or excuses.

I nodded silently, my throat too tight to form proper words. "Sorry," I whispered, barely audible, before stepping inside the classroom.

As I walked in, I could feel every pair of eyes on me. My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I scanned the room. That's when I saw Kavya sitting there. Relief washed over me, and I quickly made my way toward her, slipping into the seat beside her as quietly as possible.

Even Urvashi was present.

The moment our eyes met, a smirk formed on her lips. That single expression irritated me more than his scolding had. I looked away, clenching my fists, trying to steady my breathing.

I forced myself to sit straight, pretending nothing had happened-though inside, my heart was still racing, and my mind refused to calm down.

Above all, I was scolded on the first day of college.

AUTHOR'S POV

Abhimanyu introduced himself in a calm, authoritative voice and began the lecture as if nothing unusual had happened. His tone remained professional, his posture rigid, and his focus fixed on the subject. To him, it was just another class.

But for Aradhya, it wasn't.

She sat quietly, her notebook open in front of her, pen resting between her fingers-but she couldn't bring herself to write anything. His cold behavior replayed in her mind again and again. The way he had scolded her, the way everyone had stared, the way her first day had already been ruined-it hurt more than she wanted to admit.

Beside her, Kavya noticed the silence.

Aradhya's eyes looked distant, glassy, as if she was holding back something she didn't want to show. Kavya leaned closer and whispered softly, her voice filled with concern."It's okay, Aru. Leave it. Don't be sad, please."

Aradhya swallowed hard and shook her head slightly.

"I was just fifteen minutes late," she whispered back, her voice trembling despite her efforts to sound normal. "Why did he shout at me like that in front of everyone? On my first day..." Her words trailed off as she looked down at her notebook.

Kavya sighed quietly, placing a comforting hand over Aradhya's for a brief moment. "Some professors are like that. Very strict. Don't take it to heart."

But Aradhya already had.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the period. Abhimanyu closed his book, gave a short instruction, and walked out without sparing a glance at the students. The class slowly filled with chatter as everyone stood up and began leaving.Aradhya let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

Without saying much, she and Kavya walked together toward the cafeteria. The noise of the corridor faded as they entered the calmer space. They ordered coffee and sat on a nearby bench, the warmth of the cups seeping into their palms.

For a moment, there was peace.

The breeze was light, the atmosphere calm, and for a brief second, Aradhya felt her heartbeat slow down. She took a small sip of coffee, letting the bitterness ground her.

Suddenly, Kavya stiffened.

"Aru..." she said quietly.

Aradhya looked up, following Kavya's gaze.

A group of seniors stood a little distance away, openly staring at them. Their whispers were not subtle, their eyes roaming with interest that made Aradhya uncomfortable. Slowly, deliberately, they began walking toward them.Around them, students started noticing.

Low murmurs turned into audible reactions.

"Whiuh!"

"Whiuh! Whiuh!"

The sound echoed, sending a chill down Aradhya's spine.

She tightened her grip around the coffee cup, her heart sinking. Kavya straightened beside her, her expression tense.

Seeing the reaction around them, both Aradhya and Kavya knew-

Something was wrong.

And this was only the beginning.