When Eyes Meet

Episode 5

Because unlike most adults who dismissed writing as “just a hobby,” he spoke about it seriously.

Like it mattered.

Like stories mattered.

And somehow… that made her want to join even more.

Sakshi adjusted the syllabus papers in her hand before asking curiously,

“So… who should we contact if we want to join?”

Adit glanced once at the notice board beside them.

“The official registration forms will be released next week,” he explained. “You’ll probably get a notification through the student portal too.”

“And who are the people behind the club?” Meera asked immediately. “Like… is there any head for it?”

“There is,” Adit replied.

For some reason, Sakshi suddenly became very attentive.

“The club has both student coordinators and faculty heads. The student side changes every year depending on the senior batch.”

“And the faculty head?” Sakshi asked carefully.

A tiny smile appeared on Adit’s face.

“That would be me.”

Both girls blinked at him.

Meera’s mouth literally fell open.

“You?”

Adit nodded casually as though it were no big deal.

“I’ve been running the Creative Writing Club for the last three years.”

Sakshi stared at him for a second longer than necessary.

Somehow, that made perfect sense.

The way he spoke.

The way he noticed books.

Even those strange lines, he casually said.

Of course, he loved writing too.

Meera looked impressed immediately. “Okay, that’s actually cool.”

Adit laughed lightly. “I’ll accept that as a compliment.”

“So students can directly contact you regarding the club?” Sakshi asked before she could stop herself.

“Yes,” he answered simply. “Either me or the student coordinators.”

He reached toward the notice board and pointed at a small section near the bottom.

“There’s usually an orientation meeting before selections. Attend that first. You’ll get all the details there.”

Sakshi nodded slowly.

“Thank you, sir.”

Adit looked at her for a brief moment.

“If you enjoy writing,” he said calmly, “don’t hesitate to try.”

Something about the sincerity in his voice surprised her.

It didn’t sound like empty encouragement.

It sounded like he genuinely believed she should.

Then another faculty member appeared near the library entrance again.

“Adit sir, the meeting has started already.”

“Coming,” he replied before looking back at the girls.

“Well,” he said lightly, “I’ll see both of you tomorrow. Try surviving your first official class first.”

Meera saluted dramatically. “We’ll do our best, sir.”

Adit chuckled softly and walked away once again.

The moment he disappeared from sight, Meera slowly turned toward Sakshi with narrowed eyes.

“Okay,” she whispered suspiciously, “there is definitely something going on here.”

Sakshi immediately looked away.

“There is not.”

Adit adjusted the files in his hand before taking a small step back.

“Well then,” he said calmly, looking between the two girls, “I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

Meera smiled immediately. “See you, sir.”

Sakshi nodded softly. “See you tomorrow.”

Adit gave a small approving nod before continuing,

“And welcome once again to Westford. I hope both of you have a wonderful year here.”

There was something sincere in his voice that instantly made the nervousness about college feel lighter.

“You’ll learn a lot,” he added. “Not just from classes… but from people, experiences, mistakes, everything.”

Meera sighed dramatically. “That sounds suspiciously motivational.”

Adit laughed softly.

“Also,” he continued, his tone becoming gentler, “don’t stress yourselves too much from the beginning. First years usually panic over everything.”

As if on instinct, his eyes briefly landed on Sakshi while saying that.

And somehow, she felt personally called out.

“I’m not stressed,” she defended immediately.

Meera snorted beside her.

Adit raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly unconvinced.

“Hm. Good,” he said with a faint smile anyway. “Try to keep it that way.”

For a second, silence settled comfortably between them.

Outside the library windows, rain continued falling softly against the glass, turning the entire campus grey and dreamlike.

Strangely enough…

Sakshi didn’t dislike it anymore.

“Alright,” Adit finally said. “Go home safely before the weather gets worse.”

With one last small smile, he turned and walked toward the exit of the library.

Sakshi watched him leave quietly.

And beside her, Meera slowly turned with an expression full of disbelief.

“… You do realize your college life already feels like chapter twelve of a romance novel, right?”

Sakshi tried to hide her smile as she picked up her bag.

“What are you saying?” she said, pretending to sound normal. “He’s just being nice.”

Meera gave her a look.

“Mm-hm. Sure.”

Sakshi rolled her eyes dramatically before glancing once toward the library exit where Adit had disappeared moments ago.

Then, almost absentmindedly, she murmured,

“But… if he does become one of our professors…”

Meera immediately leaned closer with interest.

“… I think we’d actually be lucky.”

The words slipped out more honestly than she intended.

Not because of his looks.

Not because of the strange dream.

But because of the way he spoke about stories, writing, and life itself.

He didn’t sound like someone who taught just for a job.

He sounded like someone who genuinely cared.

Meera smiled knowingly. “Oh, so now we’re admiring professors already?”

“I meant academically,” Sakshi defended quickly.

“Of course you did.”

Sakshi laughed helplessly and lightly pushed Meera’s shoulder.

“Anyway,” she said while adjusting her bag properly, “let’s head back before this rain traps us here forever.”

The two girls slowly walked out of the library together.

The campus corridors are quieter now compared to earlier. Most students had already left, leaving behind only the distant sounds of footsteps and rainwater dripping from rooftops.

As Sakshi stepped outside the building, the cool wind brushed against her face gently.

She looked around the beautiful rain-covered campus once more.