Hey, Petals!🌸

I hope you are loving this story.💗

Here's another chapter for you all.

Happy Reading! 🤗💞

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Northspire University

Shikha sat in her classroom, waiting for the professor to arrive. With a few minutes still left before the lecture, she casually scrolled through the Aarohan '26' event list on her phone.

Right then, a familiar voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "Hey, Shikha! Where are you lost?"

Looking up, she saw Sakshi standing beside her with a smile.

"Oh, nothing," Shikha replied. "I was just going through the event list."

Sakshi laughed, "But you don't even need to look at it. Your participation is already confirmed." She nudged Shikha playfully, "Punjabi Folk Dance, Giddha."

Shikha smiled."Yeah, it is. I just thought I'd go through the list once."

Sakshi was about to say something when the professor entered the classroom. Their conversation came to an end as the lecture began.

•••••••

Later...

Ahanshi stepped out of her classroom after attending her morning lecture. It was lunchtime. She, along with her best friends Naina and Kashish, headed towards the canteen.

(A/N: ANK Trio 𐀪𐀪𐀪)

The three of them settled around a table while waiting for their order. Kashish rested her chin on her palm before looking dramatically at Ahanshi. "Oyee, if you don't come first in Poetry Recitation..." she pointed a finger at her, "I swear I'll file a complaint against the judges."

Ahanshi looked at her, amused. "Oh Miss Khiskelii and what reason will you give?"

Kashish replied without missing a beat, "They failed to appreciate my Anshi Panshi's talent."

Naina let out a helpless sigh, "You both seriously need treatment."

Ahanshi and Kashish exchanged a glance. The very next second, both rolled their eyes in perfect sync before bursting into laughter.

Naina couldn't help but smile at their childish antics.

*********

Malhotra & Associates Global

It was almost lunchtime.

After wrapping up the last file on his desk, Rudraksh pressed the intercom."Mehra, my cabin now."

Within a few moments, Shivam Mehra entered. "Yes, Sir?"

Rudraksh picked up his blazer, "I'm leaving for the university. From there, I'll head straight home. So cancel all my post-lunch meetings. If anything urgent comes up, Kunal will be in the office."

"Certainly, Sir. I'll inform everyone and reschedule the meetings accordingly."

"Good." With that, Rudraksh walked out of his cabin.

A few minutes later, he reached the parking area. His driver was already waiting beside the car with the keys in his hand. "Good afternoon, Sir."

Rudraksh nodded."Keys."

The driver immediately handed them over.

"I'll drive myself today." There was a brief pause before Rudraksh added,"You can leave."

"Okay, Sir." With a respectful nod, the driver walked away.

Rudraksh unlocked the car, settled into the driver's seat and started the engine. Within moments, the car rolled out of the parking area, heading towards Northspire University.

*********

Northspire University

After lunch, the ANK Trio made their way towards the auditorium where the participants had already begun rehearsing for Aarohan '26'.

The entire auditorium buzzed with excitement. Music echoed through the hall. Students rehearsed dance performances, practiced speeches, adjusted props and laughed loudly with their friends.

Kashish suddenly stopped near a flower decoration. She picked up a fresh red rose and looked at Ahanshi with a mischievous grin.

"What?" Ahanshi narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Without answering, Kashish gently tucked the rose behind Ahanshi's ear. "There." She stepped back dramatically.

Laughing, Ahanshi took out her phone and switched to Snapchat.

(A/N: Guys this girl is crazy about Snapchat... You'll get to know soon.👀)

Within seconds, the three girls were making random videos, clicking selfies and recording their streaks while laughing uncontrollably.

•==•==•==•==•

Meanwhile...

After parking his car, Rudraksh made his way towards the Conference Room.

As soon as he entered, the Vice- Chancellor walked forward with a welcoming smile. "Good afternoon, Mr. Malhotra. Thank you for taking out the time."

Rudraksh shook his hand politely."Good afternoon."

After exchanging a few formal greetings, everyone settled into their seats. The Event Coordinator switched on the projector before beginning the presentation.

"As we all know, Aarohan '26' has been announced. This year, we've expanded the fest to include both cultural and academic competitions."

Rudraksh quietly listened as the presentation continued.

The discussion gradually moved towards the event budget, sponsorship, security arrangements and the overall schedule. In between, Rudraksh glanced through the documents placed before him, occasionally sharing his suggestions.

After reviewing the event schedule for a few moments, he finally spoke, "I think the Poetry Recitation Finals should be held in the Main Auditorium as well."

The Event Coordinator looked up, "We were actually considering the Seminar Hall."

Rudraksh closed the file before him, "Poetry doesn't need a smaller audience."

He paused for a brief second. "It deserves the stage."

The room fell silent.

A few moments later, the Vice-Chancellor nodded in agreement."I think Mr. Malhotra is right." He turned towards the coordinator, "We'll shift the finals to the Main Auditorium."

"Yes, Sir." The coordinator immediately noted the change.

The meeting continued for another fifteen minutes before all the remaining points were finalized.

The Vice-Chancellor stood up and extended his hand."Thank you for your valuable time, Mr. Malhotra."

Rudraksh returned the handshake.

With that, he walked out of the Conference Room.

•==•==•==•==•

Back to Auditorium...

(Song - Mere Haath Mein by Sonu Nigam & Sunidhi Chauhan.)

Students were busy rehearsing for their performances while music echoed through the hall. The atmosphere was loud, lively and full of energy inside the auditorium.

The speakers blasted the romantic chorus of Mere Haath Mein, and the girls instantly began lip-syncing the words perfectly in sync.

Kashish suddenly grabbed Ahanshi's wrist, "Come on!"

Before Ahanshi could even ask where they were going, Kashish pulled her towards the center of the auditorium. She dramatically placed one hand around Ahanshi's waist and stretched the other forward like they were shooting the climax of a Bollywood movie.

Ahanshi instantly understood what she was doing. Suppressing a laugh, she placed one hand on Kashish's shoulder and played along. The two began lip-syncing to the song with overdramatic expressions, earning amused looks from everyone around them.

Standing a few steps away, Naina held Ahanshi's phone, "Smile!" She started recording them for Ahanshi's Snapchat streak.

The rehearsal soon turned into complete chaos. Instead of dancing properly, The two girls were laughing more than they were performing.

Naina could barely keep the phone steady because she herself was laughing so hard.

•••••••••••

Moments Passed...

After stepping out of the Conference Room, Rudraksh took out his phone and dialed Shikha's number. She answered after the second ring."Ji, Bhai?"

"Done for the day, Princess?"

A smile immediately spread across Shikha's face."Yeah. I'm free. Tell me where you are. I'll come there."

Rudraksh looked around the campus before replying,"I'm near the auditorium."

"Okay. Wait there. I'll be there in five minutes."

"Take your time."

"Coming, Bhai." She disconnected the call.

Rudraksh started walking towards the auditorium. As he reached the corridor outside, he stopped near one of the pillars. Music from inside the auditorium drifted into the hallway.

"♪ Tu jo paas ho... phir kya yeh jahaan... ♪"

Ignoring the noise, Rudraksh unlocked his phone and resumed replying to a few pending emails.

Inside the auditorium, the rehearsal continued in full swing. Music echoed through the hall as students laughed, danced and practiced for the upcoming fest.

Ahanshi's phone suddenly vibrated. Naina glanced at the screen before handing it to her."Anshi, Someone is calling."

Ahanshi looked at the unknown number."Oh... probably my parcel."

She answered the call, but the loud music made it almost impossible to hear the person on the other end. "Guys, I'll be back." She stepped out of the auditorium and moved a little away from the noise.

"Hello?"

"Ma'am, I'm outside Verma House with your parcel."

"Oh, Bhaiya. I'm not home right now." She spoke while covering one ear with her hand to block the noise. "You can note down the OTP. My mumma is coming to collect it. Just wait for a few minutes."

"Okay, Ma'am."

The call ended.

As Ahanshi ended the call, she turned around in a hurry. At the very same moment, Rudraksh looked up from his phone.

Ahanshi didn't notice Rudraksh.

Thud.

She walked straight into him. The sudden impact made her lose her balance. She was about to fall when his strong arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, pulling her back before she could hit the floor.

At that exact moment...

The soft strains of "Mere Haath Mein..." drifted through the corridor from the auditorium nearby.

"Jitne paas hain, khushboo saans ke

Jitne paas hothon ke sargam...

Jaise saath hain karwat yaad ke

Jaise saath baahon ke sangam..."

For one fleeting moment, everything around them seemed to fade away. Ahanshi's breath hitched. Slowly... she looked up.

A perfectly tailored blazer. Broad shoulders. A sharp jawline covered with a neatly trimmed beard. Rimless glasses framed his cold, unreadable eyes, adding to the quiet authority he carried effortlessly.

For a second...

He reminded her of every fictional hero she had secretly fallen for through the pages of her favourite novels. His subtle cologne lingered in the air around them.

She had never stood this close to a stranger before. Yet... she didn't feel the urge to step away. Normally, she would have stepped away instantly. But this time... she didn't.

His touch didn't make her uneasy.

Neither of them spoke.

Rudraksh stood unusually still. His hand still rested around her waist, making sure she had regained her balance. His gaze remained fixed on hers.

Those black eyes...

Calm. Steady.

Yet somehow impossible to look away from.

Then there was her fragrance.

A soft scent of roses clung to her, subtle yet impossible to ignore. It didn't smell like perfume.

It smelled like... her.

"Jitne paas paas khwabon ke nazar

Utni paas tu rehna humsafar..."

A gentle breeze brushed past them, sending a few loose strands of Ahanshi's hair across her face.

Almost absent-mindedly... His gaze shifted.

A single red rose rested gracefully behind her ear. It framed her face beautifully. His gaze lingered there for a second longer than it should have. Before he even realized it...

A word escaped his lips. Barely above a whisper.

"ROSE."

"Tu jo paas ho, phir kya yeh jahaan...

Tere pyar mein ho jaun fanaa...

Mere haath mein tera haath ho...

Saari jannatein mere saath ho..."

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CHATAR PATAR TIME 💬🎀

So... Rudranshi 💕 finally met... and someone unknowingly became "Rose"🌹

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!😚

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~itiii