"A no is a no. Period."

SANA and Julia sat together at the college cafeteria, their usual spot near the large glass windows overlooking the bustling courtyard. Julia was happily munching on her sandwich, savoring every bite and sipping on her coffee, while Sana sat across from her, staring blankly at her untouched food.

Julia glanced at Sana, raising an eyebrow. Sana hadn't said a word since they sat down, and her coffee was likely ice cold by now. Pouting, Julia placed her sandwich down.

"Alright, spill it," Julia said, waving her hand in front of Sana's face.

Sana blinked, her trance broken. "What?"

"What's with the 'I'm-lost-in-my-own-world' act? You haven't even touched your coffee, and it's been four days of this moody version of you. What's going on?" Julia asked, narrowing her eyes.

"It's nothing," Sana replied, avoiding her friend's gaze.

Julia crossed her arms. "Nothing? Really? Sana, I'm your best friend. I know when something's up. You can't fool me. So, start talking."

"I told you, Julia, it's nothing serious," Sana insisted, trying to sound convincing.

Julia frowned. "Liar. You've been acting weird for days now. First, you're all smiley and giddy, and now you look like someone stole your favorite shoes."

Sana let out a small laugh but quickly composed herself. "It's just... mood swings. You know, period stuff. Cramps and all. Nothing to worry about."

Julia tilted her head, studying her closely. "Period mood swings? Really? You sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Sana said firmly, hoping Julia would drop the topic.

"Fine," Julia relented, though her tone made it clear she wasn't entirely convinced. She took a sip of her coffee and leaned back in her chair. "By the way, have you talked to Kapoor and Siya lately?"

Sana shook her head. "No, I've been avoiding drama. What about you? Did you talk to them?"

Julia nodded. "Yeah, I did. And with Ram too."

Sana sat up straighter. "What's the update?"

"Well..." Julia began, setting her cup down. "Kapoor is done with Siya. Like, absolutely done. He's made up his mind to break up with her. He told me he doesn't want to be someone's second option."

Sana's eyes widened. "Seriously? He's not mad at Ram?"

"Nope," Julia said, popping the 'p.' "According to Kapoor, Siya is the one at fault here. Not Ram."

Sana shook her head in disbelief. "What about Siya? What's her take on all this?"

Julia sighed. "Siya doesn't want to break up with Kapoor. She's still obsessed with him, but..."

"But what?" Sana pressed, sensing there was more.

"She admitted she likes Ram too," Julia revealed.

"What?" Sana nearly shouted, drawing the attention of a few nearby students. Lowering her voice, she continued, "Are you telling me Siya wants both Kapoor and Ram? Is she serious?"

Julia nodded, her expression grim. "She's confused, Sana. On one hand, there's Kapoor-her so-called 'love.' And on the other, there's Ram-her best friend, someone she claims to like a lot. She doesn't want to let go of either of them."

Sana leaned back in her chair, stunned. "That's... insane. She can't have both. What does Ram think about all this?"

"Ram is pissed," Julia said bluntly. "He's mad at Siya for her indecisiveness and her ridiculous expectations. He told me he's planning to talk to Siya's mom about it. Maybe she and Mr. Shukla can knock some sense into her."

Sana blinked in surprise. "He's going to involve her parents?"

Julia shrugged. "He thinks it's the only way to make her understand. Her parents had a love marriage, so maybe they can explain the difference between love and obsession to her."

"Wow," Sana muttered, processing everything. "Siya really thinks she can keep both of them?"

Julia nodded, sipping her coffee. "She's delusional. Kapoor isn't going to stick around for this, and Ram isn't going to wait forever. If she doesn't figure it out soon, she's going to lose them both."

Sana let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through her hair. "What a mess."

Julia smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "You think your mood swings are bad? At least you're not stuck in a love triangle."

Sana rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. "True. But still, poor Kapoor and Ram. They don't deserve this."

Julia nodded in agreement. "Let's just hope Siya comes to her senses before it's too late."

Sana leaned back, picking up her cold coffee and taking a sip. "If she doesn't, she's going to regret it for the rest of her life."

Julia raised her cup in mock toast. "Here's to hoping for some clarity in this mess. Cheers!"

"Cheers," Sana said, clinking her cup against Julia's with a wry smile.

Sana's gaze shifted to the cafeteria entrance as loud laughter and chatter echoed through the space. Sidharth Vyas walked in with his group of friends, their presence commanding attention as always. His usual confidence radiated off him as he exchanged grins with Kartik and Karan, their voices loud enough to draw glances from every corner of the room.

Sana hadn't noticed her grip tightening on her coffee cup until Julia nudged her arm.

"What are you looking at?" Julia asked, following Sana's gaze.

Sidharth.

Sidharth and Sana's eyes met, just for a moment-a fleeting, intense glance that seemed to freeze time. But before Sana could even make sense of the moment, Sidharth broke the connection, looking away casually as if she didn't exist.

That quick dismissal cut deeper than Sana cared to admit.

She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to turn back to Julia, but the ache in her chest wouldn't go away. His ignorance in college stung, especially after the events of the past weekend.

She hadn't forgotten the desperation in his message, the raw vulnerability in the words he'd sent late at night.

"I fucking need you. Tell me where we can meet. NOW."

The thought of him sneaking into her house had made her nervous, but excitement had coursed through her veins. She had waited for him, heart pounding, her mind racing with anticipation for their next session.

And yet, he didn't come.

Sana had waited until 2 a.m., staring at the clock, her ears straining for the sound of footsteps or the faint knock she was expecting. She hadn't realized when exhaustion had claimed her, but she woke up the next morning feeling hurt and angry.

He didn't even have the decency to let me know he wasn't coming.

When she checked her phone, however, she found a few of his messages-sent at 4 a.m.

Sidharth: Sorry for making you wait for me. But, later I realized it was a mistake. I shouldn't have forced you. You said you aren't ready for it and were denying it too. But I was acting blind and was literally forcing you for THAT. Plus, me coming to your house that late night wouldn't look good either. You live with your parents, after all.

Sidharth: Anyway, we'll have our next session next weekend. Till then, EAT GOOD FOOD. Take care of yourself. You NEED to be healthy. See yah.

Sidharth: And, morning.

Her anger had softened a little after reading his words. He had thought about her comfort and the risk of sneaking into her house late at night while her parents were downstairs. The realization overwhelmed her. He cared enough to stop himself, to acknowledge her boundaries, something not everyone would do.

And yet, the sting of disappointment lingered. She had blamed her heightened emotions on her period mood swings when it started later that day, but she couldn't entirely shake off the hurt.

Now, as she watched him laughing with his friends, acting as if she didn't exist, that hurt bubbled up again.

"You okay?" Julia's voice broke through her thoughts.

Sana blinked and shook her head slightly. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Julia wasn't convinced but didn't press further. Instead, she glanced at Sidharth and his group. "He's so loud. I don't know how you tolerate him."

Sana forced a laugh. "It's not like I have a choice."

Sidharth glanced her way again, his face devoid of the warmth or teasing smirk he usually wore when they interacted. This time, Sana looked away first, unable to bear the indifference in his gaze.

Her chest tightened, and she exhaled deeply. She hated how much his actions-or lack thereof-affected her.

"Let's go," she said abruptly, pushing her chair back.

Julia looked up in surprise. "Go? Where?"

"Anywhere but here," Sana muttered, grabbing her bag.

Julia sighed, shaking her head as she stood. "Alright, Miss Mood Swing. Let's go."

As they left the cafeteria, Sana couldn't resist one last glance at Sidharth. He didn't even notice.

The group sat in their usual corner of the college grounds, their laughter and chatter echoing in the crisp afternoon air. Sidharth sat at the center of the group, leaning back on the bench with an unreadable expression, his jaw clenched. His friends, however, were anything but subdued.

Karan leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "So, Sidharth, what's the plan? You can't just let that girl get away with slapping you twice and humiliating you in front of the entire college."

Payel nodded eagerly. "Karan's right. She made you do 100 sit-ups holding your ears, Sidharth Vyas! The 'king' of St. Merry College! That kind of disrespect can't go unpunished."

Sidharth stayed silent, his dark eyes fixed on the ground as Karan smirked. "I've got it. Make her fall for you, bro. Make her think you're all she needs, her one true love. Then crush her. Show her what happens when someone messes with you. You don't even believe in love or relationships anyway, so it's perfect."

Surya chuckled darkly. "Too tame. You know what would be better? Spike her drink. Something harmless but crazy. Watch her act like an idiot, then film it. Imagine her reputation tanking when the video goes viral."

Kartik grinned wickedly, wagging his eyebrows. "Or better yet-sleep with her. Break her spirit. Show her who's boss. Show her who her daddy is."

"God, Kartik, you're disgusting," Payel scoffed, rolling her eyes before adding with a smirk, "Here's an idea: throw a massive party. Invite the whole college, even her. Then humiliate her in front of everyone. Make her do sit-ups holding her ears again, but this time, she says, 'I'm sorry, Sidharth.' That would be poetic justice."

A few others in the group began chiming in, their voices overlapping with more wild, vindictive suggestions:

"Dump food on her in the cafeteria."

"Publicly accuse her of cheating on an assignment."

"Plant something in her locker to get her in trouble with the principal."

Sidharth clenched his fists, his patience wearing thin as the noise grew louder and the ideas crueler. His friends' laughter grated on his nerves. Finally, unable to take it anymore, he slammed his hand on the bench, silencing them instantly.

"Shut up!" he snapped, his voice sharp and commanding.

The group stared at him in stunned silence. They hadn't expected this reaction.

Sidharth rose from the bench, his tall frame towering over them as he glared at each of them. "What the hell is wrong with you people? Get a life! I'm not taking revenge on her, okay? I'm done with this nonsense."

Karan blinked in disbelief. "But... Sidharth-"

"Enough!" Sidharth cut him off, his voice laced with frustration. "She slapped me, she humiliated me, so what? I deserved it! I crossed a line, and she put me in my place. End of story. I'm not some petty loser who needs to stoop to your level just to feel better about himself."

Payel frowned, crossing her arms. "So you're just going to let her win?"

"This isn't a damn competition!" Sidharth shot back. "Maybe you all think life is about one-upping everyone and proving some stupid point, but I'm not interested. She's not worth all this."

He turned to leave, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "Grow up," he muttered over his shoulder before walking away, leaving the group dumbfounded.

As he stormed out of the cafeteria, his jaw clenched, his thoughts still swirling from the heated exchange with his friends. As he turned a corner, he nearly collided with Sana.

Her eyes were glassy, holding no hatred, only something softer-admiration.

"What?" he asked coldly, trying to mask the confusion and her expression stirred in him.

Sana didn't reply. Instead, she glanced around nervously before grabbing his hand. "Come with me," she said firmly, dragging him along.

"Sana, people are watching," he hissed, pulling his hand back abruptly.

"I don't care," she replied, grabbing his hand again, her grip firmer this time.

"But I do! Damnit!" he snapped, but she ignored him and continued pulling him across the hallway until they reached an empty classroom.

Sana shut the door behind them and locked it. Before Sidharth could question her, she turned and hugged him tightly. The sudden warmth of her embrace caught him completely off guard, and he stiffened.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for taking a stand for me. I know you're not like them. They're not good people, Sidharth. But you... you are."

"What are you doing, Sana?" Sidharth asked, his voice low and tense. He gently but firmly pushed her away, creating distance between them.

The push wasn't forceful enough to hurt her, but it was deliberate. It wasn't her touch that bothered him-it was the hug. They weren't supposed to do this. It wasn't in their arrangement. Plus, he hadn't been hugged like that in over a decade, and it brought back memories he preferred to bury. Memories of his father's drunken, suffocating embraces.

Sana looked up at him, her eyes wide and filled with hurt. "Did my touch make you uncomfortable?" she asked softly.

Sidharth didn't respond immediately, and his silence only deepened the pain etched across her face.

"I'm sorry for doing that," she said, stepping back a few paces, her voice trembling slightly.

Her apology felt like a stab to his chest. He knew why she was upset. She must've heard about what happened at the club last weekend-the incident that spread like wildfire across the college. A drunk girl had touched him without his consent, and in his anger, he had lashed out, breaking her nose. It was an impulsive reaction, but the memory of unwanted touches always brought out his darkest fears.

He stepped closer, trying to explain. "You're misunderstanding, Sana," he said softly. "I wasn't uncomfortable because of you. I was just... shocked, okay? And I already mentioned it in our contract-no hugs, no kisses, no cuddling. I stopped you because I didn't want you to break a rule."

Her eyes searched his face for the truth. "So that's it? Just the rules? Or did I really make you uncomfortable, Sidharth? If I did, I promise I won't touch you without your permission again."

Her honesty disarmed him. He sighed, closing the distance between them again. Gently cupping her face, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. Sana closed her eyes, her lips curving into a small, contented smile.

He straightened, his hands still cradling her face. "This is why I like you, Sana," he said, his voice warm. "You don't throw yourself at me like others. You know your worth, and you never compromise it."

She opened her eyes, meeting his gaze with a soft smile. "We're in this together, Sidharth. If you can think about my comfort, I can too. A 'no' is a 'no,' no matter which gender it comes from."

He nodded, smiling. "You're smart."

"I am," she replied with a playful flip of her hair.

His chuckle escaped before he could stop it. She admired him quietly, her eyes twinkling.

"Don't look at me like that," he warned, his laughter dying as he noticed her staring.

"You have a beautiful smile, Sidharth," she said earnestly. "You should smile more often."

Her words caught him off guard, leaving him momentarily speechless.

She stepped closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. "But do it just for me. If anyone else sees you like this, they might fall in love with you."

He smirked, raising a brow. "And what about you? Won't my charm work on you?"

Her smile faltered for a moment before she shrugged casually. "Nah." She lied. "We're in a no-strings-attached arrangement. And I still hate you, remember?"

"Of course," he said with a wry grin. "Let's go before someone sees us here."

She nodded, but as they moved toward the door, he grabbed her arm, pulling her back to face him.

"What now?" she asked, exasperated.

"Don't pull this stunt again in college," he said firmly. "No one should know about us."

"Yes, sir," she replied with a teasing smirk, noticing the shift in his expression. His eyes turned darker, more serious.

"Oh, by the way," she added sassily, "I'm on my period, so don't even think about it."

With that, she walked out, throwing him a middle finger over her shoulder. It was a clear jab for making her wait the other night and not showing up.

Sidharth let out a low laugh, shaking his head. "She's going to be the death of me one day."

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