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Am really overwhelmed seeing your response on the previous chapter. Please continue supporting me the same way you have done till now....😘

However, am really sorry that I wasn't able to reply to your comments....😔

Target- 70 votes

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CAFETERIA:

Dev and Jatin join some other friends on a table. "OK, Ms Bose...ab aap sabke order lee jiye aur jaldi se le aaiye!" said Dev authoritatively.

Sonakshi just stared at him and took her PDA out to take the orders.

"Wow, high tech junior hai, bhai!" quoted Manek, one of the other students.

Ritwik was also at the table but was busy researching something on his laptop and did not even look up.

"mujhe coffee chahiye with a spoon of sugar and some cream-naa zyaada naa kum. GOT IT!" Dev ordered. Sonakshi looked at him with a mischievous expression and turned around to bring the orders.

She came back with a tray with drinks, coffee, tea, pakoras, samosas etc etc –whatever she was asked to bring. She saw another woman student sitting next to Dev. The woman had her elbow on Dev's shoulder and whispered something in his ear as Sonakshi approached the table.

She served everyone their choices but as soon as Dev sipped his coffee, he spit it out, "yeh, kya mazaak hai? Yeh tumne namak daala hai ya cheeni?"

"I am sorry, Dev..."

"Dev nahin....SIR kaho!"

"I am sorry sir....yahan Mumbai mein sugar aur salt bilkul ek jaise lagte hain....can I get another cup?"

Everyone got a chuckle to see Dev flustered. It was rare to see Mr. Overconfident, Dev Dixit in that state. Ritwik was particularly pleased as Dev and he were arch rivals-both smart, brilliant and ambitious. Ritwik was aware that Natasha was crazy about Dev and he tried his best to keep their rivalry at the professional level only.

Sonakshi came back with another cup but the coffee was just lukewarm; Dev liked his coffee piping hot. Dev was a perfectionist in every sense; he got frustrated and grabbed Sonakshi's hand, "Mere saath chalo, main tumhein dikhata hoon coffee kaise serve hoti hai." He pulled her towards the food counter. Sonakshi realized that he held on to her hand till they reached the coffee machine. What was there in his touch......did she feel something tingle inside.....???

Meanwhile, Natasha had her eyes on Dev and Sonakshi. She did not like the way he was holding her hand. She was relieved when they came back, Dev a few steps ahead of her. Sonakshi soon made friends with most of the people on the table. She was generally a friendly girl and made friends wherever she went. Natasha did not like that either...she was used to getting all the male attention in the college...after all she was "the princess...the Dean's darling....", why were all the men talking to Sonakshi instead? She was even more furious when she saw Dev sipping his coffee but staring at Sonakshi intently, without even blinking.

"Dev, let's go...you need to help me with a paper....." Natasha pulled Dev by his hand forcing him to get up.

"Ragging abhi khatam nahin huyi hai....Ms Bose....aaj raat ko theek 8 baje, you shall report to the men's hostel mess...GOT IT!" Dev snapped his fingers at her as he got up.

EIGHT O'CLOCK AT MEN"S HOSTEL MESS

Sonakshi promptly arrived at the required destination. She knew that there was no way out of this ragging...even though she had her fair share at her previous college, the only difference was that in her previous college, only women could rag women but Mumbai....that is a different story. Trying to resist ragging or portraying fear usually made it worse; the best course was to humor the "bunch of boys"- yes they were boys and not men...real men would have more respect for women at their college!

8'O clock was the seniors' dinner time- no one else was allowed in the mess at that time. The "seniors" had earned that status as this was their final year and the mess cooks would oblige them with special feasts, not available to anyone else in the college.

"Aaj, hamare beech ek junior student hain , Ms Bose...wo aaj sab seniors ke liye khana banayengi" Dev announced as everyone clapped. Sonakshi was shocked....how was she expected to cook for a bunch of hungry boys? She did not protest but gave Dev one of her cold looks and stepped into the kitchen. In a short while, the students were surprised to see a variety of dishes being served by Sonakshi and the mess boys.

"Wow, ladki ke haath ka khana khane kaa mazaa hi kuch aur hai" said one of the students. Dev quietly chewed on his food but could not help agreeing that this was one of the best meals he had tasted in ages.....perhaps since his mother's cooking.....

As Sonakshi gathered her belongings to leave, Manek got up and came close to Sonakshi. " Ab ladki jab men's hostel aa hi gayi hai, toh aaj ki raat bhi yahin guzaarni chahiye" he said with a devilish grin on his face. The other students laughed in agreement but Dev stayed quiet. He thought this was getting too far.

"Theek hai, toh aaj ki raat, Ms Bose mere saath rahengi...." Dev got up and declared. He knew no one would challenge him but Sonakshi gave him a disgusted look and raised her voice finally, "'aap log iss country ke future physicians and surgeons hain......dont you have any shame??......"

"humnein sharam to medical college mein aate hi chodd di thi...ha...ha...ha" one of them said as everyone joined in the laughter.

Dev came close to Sonakshi, grabbed her hand and turned around, "she is going with me....so all of you stay out of it!" No one had the guts to challenge Dev so they remained seated and said nothing.

Dev walked with Sonakshi down the stairs and then to the main gate of the hostel while Sonakshi kept trying to set herself free, "you guys disgust me....I wish I had never moved to Mumbai......" she was almost tearful but was surprised when she saw they were at the main gate of the hostel. She looked up at Dev and before she could say anything, Dev set her hand free, "Kal subah surgical floor par rounds ke liye 6 baje aa jaana...Dr Gupta likes to start on time....GOT IT!" he pointed towards the gate and waited till Sonakshi left the premises safely. Sonakshi felt relieved as she left.....why did Dev do that....was he trying to be protective or just trying to scare her......?

WOMEN's HOSTEL

Sonakshi entered her room late at night; her heart was still beating fast after her experience at the men's hostel, "I hope this is the end of ragging!" she said to herself.

She had not even unpacked her boxes yet as she had been busy with orientation and ragging all day! She sat down on the floor and started opening the boxes one by one. She was wondering whether she made the right decision in switching colleges at this stage. It would take her time to break into the culture at a new college; so far she had not been impressed!

She heard a knock on her door, "OH, Hi Sneha, tum abhi soyi nahin?"

"Tumhari light dekhi toh aa gayi. Waise hum sab bohot der se sote hain...we are all night owls you see." Sneha smiled as she walked in.

Sneha joined Sonakshi on the floor and helped her unpack. "Sonakshi, tumhein unn ladkon ne zyaada tang toh nahin kiya? Hamare college ke ladke thode sir-phire hain par waise bahut helpful aur protective hain. Don't take them too seriously." Sneha advised Sonakshi.

Sonakshi smiled, "Don't worry, Sneha, aisa kuchh bhi nahin hua" she remembered how scared she was when they had asked her to spend the night at the men's hostel and how Dev had saved her from further harassment.

"Waise, most guys are fine but wo jo Dev hai naa, bahut arrogant hai. Uski naak hamesha oonchi rehti hai. No doubt, he is very smart but itnaa attitude.....GOD....aur uski girlfriend, Natasha.....she is something.....she is very possessive about Dev and does not like it if any girl even talks to him ......we all can't stand her either! I think they are made for each other......ha...ha...ha" Sneha could not control herself.

Sonakshi remembered the woman in the cafeteria; she was clinging to Dev and did not look very happy when Sonakshi was the center of attention, "Ah...now I understand" she muttered softly.

"Tumne kuch kaha.....?" asked Sneha

"Nahin.....thanks a lot Sneha for all your help. I am glad I have a friend in this new place...." They both wished each other good night......

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That was the end of the chapter. Please comment and do vote

Target- 70 votes

P.S - The spoiler for Love Till Eternity has been posted on my instagram account. My id mssweet18