06-10-2024, 09:08 PM
Chapter 1: The First Glimpse
Clara adjusted her dupatta as she stepped out of the rickshaw in front of her college. The sun’s early rays warmed her soft brown skin, highlighting her simple yet graceful beauty. Clara wasn’t the type who needed expensive clothes or makeup to turn heads. Her almond-shaped eyes, framed by thick lashes, her smooth, dark hair tied neatly back, and her natural elegance drew more attention than she realized. She was shapely, with a gentle confidence that came from growing up in a middle-class family that valued hard work and kindness. Today, like every other day, she carried herself with an air of humility, her eyes set on her studies and her dreams.
College life was a whirlwind of energy. Students gathered in groups, exchanging gossip, laughter, and stolen glances. Among them was Rahul, standing near the main gate, surrounded by a group of girls giggling at his every word. Rahul came from a well-to-do family and was known for his carefree charm. Tall, with chiseled features and an easy smile, he had the reputation of being the campus heartthrob, and he loved every bit of it. Girls fawned over him, and he flirted back effortlessly. His casual relationships never seemed to last more than a few weeks, but Rahul didn’t mind. For him, college was a time to have fun.
He saw Clara the moment she walked in. Even though she wasn’t dressed as extravagantly as some of the other girls, there was something about her that caught his attention. Maybe it was her modesty or the way she always seemed too focused to care about the kind of games he played. That intrigued him, though he’d never approached her.
Meanwhile, Rashmi, Clara’s close friend, was waiting by the steps, waving her over. Rashmi wasn’t as striking as Clara but came from a more affluent family. She wore designer clothes and carried herself with an air of sophistication, but despite their different backgrounds, Rashmi and Clara were inseparable. They shared everything, from gossip to dreams, and they had been each other’s pillars since the first day of college.
“Clara, you’re late again!” Rashmi teased as Clara approached. “I swear, one of these days you’ll miss an exam.”
Clara laughed, brushing off the comment. “I won’t let that happen.”
The two girls made their way into the building, unaware that they were being watched closely from a distance.
Standing a few steps away, Rahul’s best friend, Shri, observed them quietly. Shri was Rashmi’s older brother, and unlike Rahul, he wasn’t the type to flirt or show off. He was composed, thoughtful, and very much aware of his feelings for Clara. Shri had admired Clara from afar for as long as he could remember, captivated by her grace and kind spirit. It pained him sometimes, watching her interact with Rahul, wondering if she saw him the same way he saw her.
But there was another layer to this delicate triangle—Rahul, Shri’s best friend, was used to having everything come easy. And Clara? She was one of the few things Rahul couldn’t seem to get. This made her all the more desirable to him.
Clara was blissfully unaware of the emotions swirling around her. To her, Rahul was just a name that floated through college gossip, and Shri was simply Rashmi’s quiet, polite brother. She had her goals, and boys weren’t one of them. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.
As Clara and Rashmi disappeared into the lecture hall, Rahul’s eyes lingered on Clara’s retreating figure, while Shri remained deep in thought, wondering how long he could keep his feelings hidden.
Clara adjusted her dupatta as she stepped out of the rickshaw in front of her college. The sun’s early rays warmed her soft brown skin, highlighting her simple yet graceful beauty. Clara wasn’t the type who needed expensive clothes or makeup to turn heads. Her almond-shaped eyes, framed by thick lashes, her smooth, dark hair tied neatly back, and her natural elegance drew more attention than she realized. She was shapely, with a gentle confidence that came from growing up in a middle-class family that valued hard work and kindness. Today, like every other day, she carried herself with an air of humility, her eyes set on her studies and her dreams.
College life was a whirlwind of energy. Students gathered in groups, exchanging gossip, laughter, and stolen glances. Among them was Rahul, standing near the main gate, surrounded by a group of girls giggling at his every word. Rahul came from a well-to-do family and was known for his carefree charm. Tall, with chiseled features and an easy smile, he had the reputation of being the campus heartthrob, and he loved every bit of it. Girls fawned over him, and he flirted back effortlessly. His casual relationships never seemed to last more than a few weeks, but Rahul didn’t mind. For him, college was a time to have fun.
He saw Clara the moment she walked in. Even though she wasn’t dressed as extravagantly as some of the other girls, there was something about her that caught his attention. Maybe it was her modesty or the way she always seemed too focused to care about the kind of games he played. That intrigued him, though he’d never approached her.
Meanwhile, Rashmi, Clara’s close friend, was waiting by the steps, waving her over. Rashmi wasn’t as striking as Clara but came from a more affluent family. She wore designer clothes and carried herself with an air of sophistication, but despite their different backgrounds, Rashmi and Clara were inseparable. They shared everything, from gossip to dreams, and they had been each other’s pillars since the first day of college.
“Clara, you’re late again!” Rashmi teased as Clara approached. “I swear, one of these days you’ll miss an exam.”
Clara laughed, brushing off the comment. “I won’t let that happen.”
The two girls made their way into the building, unaware that they were being watched closely from a distance.
Standing a few steps away, Rahul’s best friend, Shri, observed them quietly. Shri was Rashmi’s older brother, and unlike Rahul, he wasn’t the type to flirt or show off. He was composed, thoughtful, and very much aware of his feelings for Clara. Shri had admired Clara from afar for as long as he could remember, captivated by her grace and kind spirit. It pained him sometimes, watching her interact with Rahul, wondering if she saw him the same way he saw her.
But there was another layer to this delicate triangle—Rahul, Shri’s best friend, was used to having everything come easy. And Clara? She was one of the few things Rahul couldn’t seem to get. This made her all the more desirable to him.
Clara was blissfully unaware of the emotions swirling around her. To her, Rahul was just a name that floated through college gossip, and Shri was simply Rashmi’s quiet, polite brother. She had her goals, and boys weren’t one of them. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.
As Clara and Rashmi disappeared into the lecture hall, Rahul’s eyes lingered on Clara’s retreating figure, while Shri remained deep in thought, wondering how long he could keep his feelings hidden.
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