Chapter 3. Campus Queen
1300 Words
By mid-morning, Starlight University buzzed louder than the December wind. Students filled the courtyard, chattering about assignments, gossip, Christmas events, and the newest campus rumor:
“Who is the Christmas Phantom?”
Yet one name kept cutting through every conversation—Anaya Mehra.
Her presence was magnetic in a way that couldn’t be explained by beauty alone. She wasn’t loud, wasn’t flashy, didn’t flaunt her intelligence or family name. Yet she drew people in, like light attracting moths.
Aarav was nowhere near her world.But he saw the signs everywhere.
Even from the distance of his silence.
The Queen Arrives
At 9:45 a.m., Anaya stepped into the central quadrangle wearing a navy coat, her hair loose, sunlight touching her cheekbones. Conversations around her paused, reformed, then swirled louder.
Within moments, students flocked.
Girls complimented her scarf.Boys tried to catch her attention.Seniors smiled respectfully.Juniors stared like she was a celestial event.
Her elegance wasn’t forced—it was effortless.
Yet behind her grace, there was something else today—something thoughtful, almost troubled.
As if she had spent the night thinking about something…or someone.
The Competition Begins
“Anaya!”Another boy—Vikrant—ran up with a bouquet. “For you.”
She blinked, politely forcing a smile.“Oh… thank you, Vikrant. But I don’t accept flowers randomly.”
Vikrant laughed nervously. “Nothing random. I’ve liked you for months.”
Anaya looked genuinely uncomfortable.
Riya, her best friend, appeared instantly like poison wrapped in pink lipstick.
“Vikrant, darling, do you really think our Anaya will date a guy who barely passes exams?”
Vikrant glared at her.“Stay out of this, Riya.”
“Oh I would—if your confidence wasn’t so hilarious.”
Anaya frowned.“Riya, stop. He didn’t do anything wrong.”
But the damage was done.
Vikrant left, humiliated.
Riya turned to Anaya smugly.“You should thank me. These boys don’t deserve you.”
Anaya didn’t answer. Her eyes drifted across the courtyard, toward the café—toward a certain someone she had accidentally glimpsed last night.
But he wasn’t there.
The Rich Rival Moves In
A sleek black car pulled into the campus. Two guards stepped out, clearing the way. And then—
Kabir Oberoi emerged, confident as a king among peasants.
He walked straight to Anaya.
“Good morning, Anaya.”
She nodded politely. “Morning, Kabir.”
Kabir smirked. “About yesterday—I'm sorry for the dramatic proposal. I just couldn’t help myself.”
Anaya kept her tone cool, calm.“It was flattering, but unnecessary.”
Kabir leaned closer.“I don’t mind trying again. Maybe something bigger? Balloons? Fireworks?”
Anaya stepped back.
“Kabir, please don’t—”
Before she finished, a crowd of boys gathered subtly behind Kabir, watching with envy.
Kabir turned to them arrogantly.“You all can go back to your classes. She’s out of your league.”
The boys grumbled. Some left. Others stayed, glowering.
Anaya inhaled sharply.“Kabir, don’t speak about people that way.”
He chuckled. “Why? It’s the truth.”
Her jaw tightened. “That’s not who I am.”
Riya stepped in with a bright smile.“Oh Kabir, ignore her. She’s just shy.”
Anaya shot her a warning look.
From a distance, Aarav watched—his expression unreadable.
He was delivering a tray of fresh pastries to the cafeteria, but his eyes were on her for one moment too long.
Kabir noticed.
And smirked.
The Boy From Nowhere
“Who’s that?” Kabir asked lazily.
Riya followed his gaze and snorted.“Aarav. Delivery boy. Probably earns in cents.”
Kabir’s smirk widened.“So that’s the guy who stared at you yesterday?”
Anaya’s eyes widened.“I never said that—”
Riya grinned.“Oh, you didn’t have to. I saw him staring too.”
Aarav immediately looked away, jaw clenching.
Kabir took a step forward, voice laced with mockery.“What’s his deal? Thinks he stands a chance?”
Anaya snapped.“Kabir. Stop. Right now.”
Her tone was sharp and uncharacteristically fierce.
She wasn’t defending Aarav romantically—she was defending basic humanity.
Kabir raised his hands. “Fine, fine. No need to get upset.”
But his narrowed eyes said something else.
Aarav’s existence had just become a threat to his pride.
Politics of Beauty
Anaya walked ahead, leaving Kabir behind. Riya followed.
“Anaya, seriously?” she hissed. “Why defend a delivery boy?”
Anaya shot her a cold look.“Why insult someone who hasn’t done anything wrong?”
Riya rolled her eyes.“Because that’s how this world works. There are levels. You’re on top. They’re—down there.”
Anaya stopped walking.
For the first time, her voice held steel.“Then maybe this world is wrong.”
Riya blinked.“Fine, philosopher queen. But listen—rumors are already flying.”
“What rumors?” Anaya asked quietly.
“That a poor guy has fallen for you. And apparently, he’s been watching you.”
Anaya’s stomach dropped.
Her eyes involuntarily drifted toward the café again.
The shadow she saw last night.The quiet presence.The glance that felt too honest, too pure.
Her heart fluttered—against her will.
Unexpected Kindness
During lunch break, Anaya sat alone on the lawn bench, scrolling her phone, visibly stressed.
Suddenly—
A cup of hot chocolate slid onto the table in front of her.
She looked up, startled.
The café boy—no, Aarav—stood there.
Expression calm.Eyes unreadable.Hands steady.
“I didn’t order this,” she whispered.
He didn’t blink.“It’s cold. Thought you might need something warm.”
She stared.He didn’t wait for thanks.Just placed the cup quietly and walked away.
But her gaze followed him—longer than she realized.
Her fingers curled around the cup. It was warm, gentle, oddly comforting.
Then something else hit her—
The cup wasn’t from the café.It was from the campus charity stall.He had bought it with his own money.
Her heartbeat stuttered.
Why would he…?
She looked toward the café windows.Aarav was already back inside, working silently.
Her breath trembled.
Did he know she loved hot chocolate on cold days?Did he notice that she wasn’t feeling okay?Had he been watching… that closely?
Why didn’t that thought scare her?Why did it…
Warm her?
She placed a hand on her chest.
“What’s happening to me?”
The Storm of Rumors
By late afternoon, whispers filled the hallways:
“Anaya was seen with the café guy.”“He bought her hot chocolate.”“Maybe he’s the Christmas Phantom?”“No way a poor guy can afford those gifts.”“Unless… someone rich is hiding behind him.”
Her ears burned with embarrassment.
Riya rushed to her, panicked.“If Kabir hears this, he’ll explode!”
“Let him,” Anaya said quietly, her eyes drifting toward the bookstore now.
Riya grabbed her arm.“Anaya—be smart. Don’t let a small act of kindness ruin your image.”
Anaya shook her off.“I don’t care about image. I care about truth.”
Riya stared, shocked.“You’ve changed… in just one day.”
Anaya didn’t answer.
Because she didn’t know why her world suddenly felt different.
Because of a boy she never spoke to.
A boy who felt like…
A silent guardian in the cold.
Cliffhanger:
Before Anaya could leave campus, a note was slipped under her bag.
Not typed.Handwritten.
“If you want the truth, meet me at the old library tonight.—A Friend”
Her heartbeat froze.
Was it…
the Christmas Phantom?A stalker?A trap?Or someone else entirely?
She swallowed hard, staring at the handwriting.
She had seen these curves before.
But where?
- Writer
