25-07-2025, 01:50 AM
Tuesday Afternoon – The Campus Walk
The scooty rolled to a smooth stop near the university entrance.
Varnika’s arms lingered around Abhi’s waist even after the engine went silent.
“We’re here,” he said, glancing back with a small smile.
“Mm.” She didn’t move. “Five more seconds.”
Her chin lightly brushed his shoulder, and he didn’t argue.
The seconds stretched, warm, easy, until she finally let go and hopped off with a faint grin.
“You’re coming with me,” she said, as if it wasn’t a question.
“It’ll just take five minutes.”
Abhi parked the scooty, and they stepped through the gate together.
The campus was quiet, the afternoon heat softened by passing clouds.
Students lounged in small groups near the benches, but Varnika’s stride was confident,
Her head slightly tilted as though she liked having him there.
“You know, they’re all staring,” he teased lightly.
“Maybe they think I’m your driver.”
She glanced at him sideways, smirking. “Oh no. Not my driver. My… personal chauffeur.”
She let the words hang, deliberate, before adding softly, “The one I hold on to for dear life.”
Abhi chuckled, shaking his head.
As they crossed the courtyard, a couple of juniors whispered something, clearly curious about the tall guy walking next to her.
Varnika didn’t bother lowering her voice.
“See?” she whispered. “Now they’re going to think I’m secretly dating someone mysterious.”
“Are you complaining?” Abhi asked.
“Not at all. I like the mystery.”
They reached the admin block. Varnika went inside to collect her documents, leaving Abhi leaning casually against the wall outside.
Through the glass door, he could see her, poised, talking to the clerk with that animated energy only she had.
Every now and then, she glanced over her shoulder at him.
Not shy. Not hiding. Just… looking.
When she came back out, papers in hand, her smile had that done-and-dusted brightness.
“See? Told you five minutes,” she said, waving the papers.
“Next time I’m charging for escort duty,” Abhi replied.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “And how exactly will I pay you?”
There was mischief in her eyes, the kind that wasn’t looking for an answer.
The scooty rolled to a smooth stop near the university entrance.
Varnika’s arms lingered around Abhi’s waist even after the engine went silent.
“We’re here,” he said, glancing back with a small smile.
“Mm.” She didn’t move. “Five more seconds.”
Her chin lightly brushed his shoulder, and he didn’t argue.
The seconds stretched, warm, easy, until she finally let go and hopped off with a faint grin.
“You’re coming with me,” she said, as if it wasn’t a question.
“It’ll just take five minutes.”
Abhi parked the scooty, and they stepped through the gate together.
The campus was quiet, the afternoon heat softened by passing clouds.
Students lounged in small groups near the benches, but Varnika’s stride was confident,
Her head slightly tilted as though she liked having him there.
“You know, they’re all staring,” he teased lightly.
“Maybe they think I’m your driver.”
She glanced at him sideways, smirking. “Oh no. Not my driver. My… personal chauffeur.”
She let the words hang, deliberate, before adding softly, “The one I hold on to for dear life.”
Abhi chuckled, shaking his head.
As they crossed the courtyard, a couple of juniors whispered something, clearly curious about the tall guy walking next to her.
Varnika didn’t bother lowering her voice.
“See?” she whispered. “Now they’re going to think I’m secretly dating someone mysterious.”
“Are you complaining?” Abhi asked.
“Not at all. I like the mystery.”
They reached the admin block. Varnika went inside to collect her documents, leaving Abhi leaning casually against the wall outside.
Through the glass door, he could see her, poised, talking to the clerk with that animated energy only she had.
Every now and then, she glanced over her shoulder at him.
Not shy. Not hiding. Just… looking.
When she came back out, papers in hand, her smile had that done-and-dusted brightness.
“See? Told you five minutes,” she said, waving the papers.
“Next time I’m charging for escort duty,” Abhi replied.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “And how exactly will I pay you?”
There was mischief in her eyes, the kind that wasn’t looking for an answer.
-- oOo --
.
![[+]](https://xossipy.com/themes/sharepoint/collapse_collapsed.png)