"Excuse me."

The soft velvety voice slid so smoothly off his tongue, making her turn and step aside to give the space for the gentleman to pass through the crowded corridor. Giving her a warm smile, he continued his steps towards the end of the corridor that will take him to the building of Commerce Faculty.

For a moment, Sakshi had forgotten that she was on a phone call until she heard the girls around her murmuring.

"That silky 'Excuse me' is going to echo all day in my mind."

"That geekiness. I wonder, he must be the sexiest nerd I have ever seen around here."

Sakshi giggled silently and shook her head at the girls' antics. She couldn't disagree though. The boy, wait. Man. Yes, with the way those chiseled jaws held faint stubble, those specs enhancing his smart look and the maturity shown through his charming smile, she could guess that the devilishly-handsome man must be pursuing his post graduation or maybe PhD.

The muffled voice coming from the phone pulled her attention back and she immediately listened to the worried voice asking, "Hello? Are you listening to me? Sakshi?"

A faint smile curved her lips estimating that it had been three years away from home. But it all still felt as if she had just arrived yesterday and had to begin a new life again. Alone. However, it was just her heart trying to be naive which had always been pampered by her family. Still she knew that she had came ahead of that naive era and entered a period where she was two years away from achieving her dreams. Skipping festivals, family tours, she knew at last.

It would be all worth it.

But being far away from home had led to her gaining more attention from her family than she ever had before. Especially, relatives who had started asking her tai ji to start finding marriage offers for her and the reason as they would always call it—the girl has grown up.

No matter how rich and forward her family was, when great offers would come— any parent would get greedy for their kid's bright future.

"Yes. Yes. I am listening. But don't you begin with it again, please. I am about to reach my class." Her nose scrunched and she almost groaned while turning to the other side of the corridor that led to the Business Department.

The voice came softer from the other side on the call, sweeter that Sakshi knew what was about to come just like every other morning.

"Sakshi, but the boy is well-behaved and has a great family. Also, very handsome. If he has been any other rich boy, I wouldn't have given it a thought. But good offers don't come all the time."

There she goes.

Sakshi's eyes narrowed at the silly excuse. "They would come when I will be leading a successful startup, years later. Now is not the time. I haven't even completed my education. Also, that you are talking about arran-" She halted her tongue.

Of course, she wasn't really intrigued with the idea of getting arranged with a stranger. But when life had already given her a hard lesson, she couldn't defend her opinion of going for love marriage by any chance.

"Sakshi, who talks about wedding? I told you before. It's just a matter of engagement and through time, you will yourself come to accept it. This boy I am talking about is my friend's son-"

Sakshi stopped in front of the class and took a breath, smiling guiltily. "Okay, alright. I will talk to you in the evening. Right now, I have a class. Bye. Love you."

She hung the call without waiting for the reply. It wasn't like she had lied to her Aunt. But she couldn't deny that she hated when another eligible bachelor would be the subject of talk. She wasn't ready yet. Not for a long run thing like marriage.

Groaning, she entered the class while straightening her ID card on the light yellow top. She had paired it up with denim and black strapped peep-toes. Running fingers through her dark hair, she walked into the class while looking for the familiar faces.

Students were already seated while her favourite spot at the third desk in second row, close the centre of the class— was still empty. She liked teachers' attention and therefore, she always liked sitting there where their gazes would fall effortlessly.

"Hey, Bitsy."

She had a great urge to remove that arm off her shoulder but thought better to prevent an hour of being guilt-stricken. Three years and her best friend had still not learnt to care about her vulnerable shoulder. Even today, it would give her faint internal pain if moved or pressed too harshly and the hold she was in right now, was harsh.

"Dreamer," she teased with a sly smile while noticing the dark blue shirt paired up with black pants. "Formals? So, they were having Miss Khanna's lecture today.

"Don't give me that look. I swear, she really notices every hot guy. She observes things and would surely observe my attraction towards her."

With a roll of eyes, Sakshi sat down on the desk with her friend following her actions. "That's a forbidden thing. You can have a crush on your teacher but can't really involve in a relationship with her. Alright? Don't be a freak. For what I think, she already must be having a very possessive fiance."

She couldn't help but chuckle at the dirty look that Aarush Mehra sent to her. "You can't just spoil my morning like that. Besides, I have seen her already. She looks dreamy today. Cheers to my volunteering in handling the seminars' plans, Mrs. Gupta called me for helping her in making the schedule."

Sakshi sighed with a shake of head while Aarush continued, "My girl was right there in pink gorgeous saree. She is the youngest teacher here. Too young to be engaged. I don't think-"

"Yeah, too young." Why couldn't her own family think like that? Sakshi was irritated with the thought.

A notebook thumped on the desk as the third musketeer joined them. "By that cheeky smile, I can guess the talk is about his stupid dream woman," said Aditi Goyal with an active smile.

Sakshi chuckled, "Not a doubt."

Aditi ignored the offended look that Aarush gave to Sakshi. "What's with your answer for the party? I won't hear a No in any way. You have been skipping my plan for weeks."

Aarush interrupted with a raise of eyebrow, "So you can drink to the end of the world and vomit on my dick again?"

"Well, sure if you'll nauseate me with your fantasies about Miss Khanna again."

Sakshi covered her mouth for muffling a laugh when Aarush's ears turned red. "It sick how he's so whipped. Forbidden love is for giving birth to erotic novels and movies only. It doesn't work in real life."

Aditi winked at the agreement while Aarush fake glared at her.

"I just wish you too fall for the impossible person. You would know how it feels to secretly admire-"

"Lust," retorted Aditi."

"Admire the person whom you can't even give a look in front of people," grunted Aarush giving her a stern gaze.

"Not happening any soon." Sakshi couldn't help but shrug her shoulders and straightened when the gorgeous professor entered the class. She was expecting a retort from Aarush but knew that he had gotten busy in staring dreamily at the woman in the front.

"What about the party?"

Giving a glare at Aditi who knew that she hated created chances of getting scolded by professors, Sakshi shook her head. "Not happening either," hissing at her.

Ignoring her pout, she focused at the front waiting for the lecture to begin while watched as both her friends started murmuring. Aarush being in the middle was audible to Sakshi and she didn't forget to keep her ears alerted.

"Stop with the creepy smile. She's going to throw you out."

"She secretly likes it."

Sakshi furrowed her eyebrows in irritation. "Will you two be quiet?"

Aditi glared at her and straightened. Hissing at Aarush, "Did you see that new professor?"

"You are asking me? He was there is the staff room, introducing himself to Khanna. She was already lusting for him," whispered Aarush.

Sakshi rolled her eyes and starting making her notes while Aditi replied, "Well, before he lusts back for her, I can help you get reference for joining business club this semester. She is the one holding it. Fests, Seminars and researches— so many events working with her."

"You can help me? Well, you will help me."

"Make her agree for the party."

Sakshi's jaw dropped and she controlled hard not to glare at her best friend.

"Not a chance." She mouthed while concentrating back on the lecture.

Aditi only smirked at Aarush. "Depends on you, buddy. Remember, so much time to spend with the dream woman."

Sakshi's gaze turned stern at the teacher as she tried hard not to react. Aditi had directed a prize that Aarush could never let go. If only they knew, how vulnerable she felt with drunken people around. Most importantly, having a rowdy brother didn't give much of the courage to behave like a free adult, go to clubs and flirt with guys.

Blame the lesson she took from past, she herself didn't want to do it. It was all a trap. To get hurt in the end.

She didn't want to go through that again. But by the looks of her best friends, she knew this night would not be in her favour.

Not when, Miss Khanna was the prize.

"She is coming. Lock it."

______

"Is that a duct tape?"

"Yeah, for you so I can save my lap from being washed by your unchewed contents again."

Sakshi groaned at the conversation and got out off the car just as it stopped at the parking. Straightening her black dress that Aditi had forced her to buy weeks ago for any upcoming night out, she stood near Aditi who was glaring at a smirking Aarush.

"Well, seal your own mouth from muttering sick fantasies about the professor. The problem will be solved."

"Damn you guys! Stop fighting already. Hey! Is that Ronnie Shekhawat?" Sakshi's eyes widened when Aditi nodded simply at the jock getting out of the car with a girl clinging to his arm. Chill ran down her spine at remembering what happened at the last bonfire party.

"I am not going."

Aarush wrapped his arms around her shoulder and started taking her to the club while Aditi followed them. "Don't be a cow. I am with you, alright. He is a dumb ass jerk who just wanted to scare you off that night. If you don't cross him, nothing happens. That's the rule."

"It's not like I was roaming in front of him, that night. Even, then he tried to follow me to the Girls wash-"

"He is not going to do that again. Don't you remember my punches?"

Sakshi sighed while holding his elbow and walked quietly with her heart racing as the beats got louder. Her dress was short with reaching a two hands above her thighs. She too wanted to wear a cute skirt like Aditi, that Pihu had sent for her weeks ago but thought better of it. Aarush on the other hand was rocking a white tee with blue denim. His eyes already taking in the joyful environment.

"Wohoo."

Swinging her head wildly, Aditi danced as she had gotten some partners while Sakshi laughed at Aarush's passionately singing the song. He twirled her around and her smile faltered when she caught Ronnie coming towards them.

But her heart swelled in relief when Aarush pulled her close and caught her waist, shrugging at the guy and signing him that she was taken. Sakshi could only give him the sweet smile and continued dancing until the night finally ended for them when her phone vibrated Aarush's pocket.

A cry left her mouth as she started jogging towards the iron gates, getting as far as she could to muffle the loud music.

"She's at the club, Raghav." Aditi yelled at the phone and giggled at her shocked face.

Aarush pulled her back to him while walking towards the parking lot. "I am bringing the car while you receive the call, alright? Stay right near the gates," he alerted.

Sakshi desperately nodded, her thumb already sliding to the green while she jogged, stumbling towards the gates.

"Still studying?"

A nervous laugh escaped her lips. "Yeah, Bhai. Was about to wrap it."

The deep voice from the other side held her heartbeats at a stop while she still tried to reach the gates breathlessly.

"Why am I hearing songs then? I won't sentence you for watching TV. Would I?" Despite understanding the humour in his tone, a squeak left her mouth.

"Oh! No, Bhai. It's Aditi. I am entering the other room. What about you? Did you have the dinner?"

"Yeah, we did. You?"

"An hour ago. . ." She trailed off as she told Raghav about her day. A smile lit her lips when he mentioned his argument with his mother about again distracting her by talking about marriage proposals.

"Don't give a single thought to them. Focus on your studies." She couldn't help but thank him for always being there to scold her, motivate her. He was the brother she would die for. "Don't stay awake for long."

She laughed in admiration. "Yeah, within some minutes."

Exchanging good night wishes, she finally hung up the call and held her wrist to straighten her watch which was a silly habbit of her. Except that the watch wasn't there anymore.

Her eyes widened in horror. "My watch?" Muttering to herself, she turned around to check on the concrete road. She hadn't even realised that she had crossed them and was standing outside. Walking back inside the lawn, she stopped to ask the Watchman who immediately denied.

Pursing her lips, she looked here and there. She couldn't afford losing the watch that her Tau ji bought on her last birthday. All these little gifts were what she relied on while staying here far away from them. Her heart sank deeply when she reached out of the gates again and didn't find the thing.

Wetting her red-colored lips, she sucked in a huge breath. It couldn't be somewhere on the dance floor since she had checked the time on it while coming out of the club. Biting her lip, she looked around with a sour face and sighed.

I can't even keep a precious gift, properly.

"Excuse me."

The deep voice wasn't the same as she had heard in the morning. But she was surely familiar to it. Too much familiar that her heart had started crawling up from the bottom again. In suspense.

As she turned around at a slower pace, her breaths shook. Her dark eyes frozen on the source of the masculine voice and throat tightened.

"Is this yours-"

His words were blocked by the shock he received at recognising her. She knew, he did. He couldn't really forget her. Even if he did, he must be knowing that she was at least someone he knew. Someone whom he had pretended to love. Someone whom he had left broken that she still couldn't stitch herself back. Someone who had trusted him so blindly that now it was hard for her to trust anyone.

She knew about it very well as his eyes screamed the shock while hers held the unshed tears.

________

"Hope, you like it."

Please vote and comment.

_____

hai - brother

tau ji - Tau is what an Indian kid would call his/her father's elder brother or basically Uncle.

same goes with tai ji. In Hindi, the person will use it for calling or greeting his/her Aunt, simply.

Ji is used for denoting the respect. It can be used in any relation. (Uncle-ji, Papa-ji, Mama-ji) Can also be used after names. (Raghav-ji, Pihu-ji, Nikki-ji 😋)