"Silence is the tortured man's revenge." - Gregory David Roberts

SANA glanced up from her phone as Siya and Ram continued their thumb war, oblivious to the world around them. The tension between them was palpable, though neither seemed aware of it.

"Sana, are you going?" Siya asked, sipping her cold coffee, her eyes still focused on her hand, struggling against Ram's.

"Yeah?" Ram muttered without looking up. He was too busy wrestling Siya's thumb into submission.

Sana sighed, placing her phone on the table. "Honestly, I don't know. First, I need to take permission from my parents. After all, Mount Abu is in a different state."

"Same here," Julia chimed in, tapping her fingers on the rim of her cup. "I need to have a serious conversation with my mom about it."

Sana smirked and turned to Siya. "What about you, Siya? Think your protective dad will let you go?"

Siya groaned but didn't break her focus. "I doubt it," she mumbled. But then, as if fueled by sheer determination, her eyes brightened. She suddenly jumped up from her seat, thumb pinning Ram's down. "Yes! I won!" she screamed in triumph.

Before anyone could react, Siya, fueled by excitement, stood up on the bench, doing an impromptu bhangra, arms flailing and legs kicking in every direction. The three of them burst into laughter until her leg accidentally knocked over her cold coffee. Time seemed to slow as the cup flew through the air, its contents splashing all over Ram's pristine white dress shirt.

Ram sat still for a moment, the cold coffee soaking through his shirt and falling on his lap ruining his denim too. The playful atmosphere turned tense.

Julia whispered under her breath, "Someone's in trouble."

Siya froze, her wide eyes darting to Ram. "Oh no, Ram, I'm so sorry!"

Sana and Julia exchanged worried glances. Everyone knew by now about Ram's obsession with cleanliness.

Ram's jaw clenched, his usually warm greenish-brown eyes now simmering with quiet fury. "You idiot," he muttered, his voice harsh.

"Ram, please," Siya started, her voice shaky, "I didn't mean to-"

Before she could finish, Ram, in one swift motion, grabbed his own cold coffee and tossed it straight at Siya, the icy liquid drenching her white top.

"Ram!" Siya gasped, her hands flying to her chest in shock as she stood frozen, dripping with coffee.

Sana and Julia were equally stunned, their mouths agape in disbelief.

"Revenge taken," Ram said, a smug smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Ram!" Siya exclaimed, her voice quivering as she blinked back at the moisture forming in her eyes. "Why would you do that? It was a mistake."

Ram stood up, his expression softening slightly but still laced with amusement. He reached for Siya's arm, gripping it firmly but not harshly. "Stop crying over a stupid dress," he muttered, tugging her off the bench. Despite the mockery in his voice, his touch was gentle, *almost* possessive. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up, little princess."

Siya pushed his hand away, her voice rising in frustration. "Don't 'little princess' me! You just ruined my top!"

Ram's grip only tightened. His fingers slid to her waist as he steered her toward the canteen exit, ignoring her protest.

"Don't be dramatic," he teased, his tone calm but commanding. "I'll make sure you get cleaned up."

For a brief second, as they walked side by side, Ram's arm still around her waist, Sana noticed the unspoken tension between them. Siya, though visibly upset, allowed herself to be guided by Ram, her resistance minimal. She mumbled something under her breath, but when Ram's hand grazed her waist again, she didn't pull away. Instead, she cast a quick glance at him, her lips pursed, but her body betraying a sense of comfort under his touch.

Julia raised an eyebrow at Sana. "Tell me I'm not the only one noticing this."

"Noticing what?" Sana asked, though she already had a hunch.

Julia sipped her coffee thoughtfully, her eyes still following Ram and Siya as they disappeared out of the canteen. "I'm just wondering why they haven't fucked each other yet. They've got this tension... it's like they're unaware of how perfect they are for each other."

Sana's eyes widened. "What are you even talking about? Siya's with Sidharth, and she's obsessed with him."

"Yeah, but come on," Julia leaned back, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. "Have you seen them? Ram and Siya? The way they move around each other, the way he touches her and she doesn't even flinch..."

Sana interrupted her. "They're best friends. They're comfortable with each other. Isn't it normal?"

"Fuck off! Look at their chemistry, Sana. And Kapoor? Mr. Hot chocolate. He's like Salman Khan from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The guy who's too cool and can have *any* girl he wants. While Ram? He's totally her Rahul. But a green flag. They should be together."

"Julia, you've lost your mind," Sana groaned. "Ram's not like that, and Siya's loyal to her boyfriend."

"Yeah," Julia shrugged. "But there's something there, Sana. You can see *it* in the way she responds to him, even when she's mad. It's like she instinctively knows he's there to catch her."

Sana rolled her eyes. "You're reading too much into it. Think about how you're going to convince your mom to let you go on this trip instead of creating non-existent love stories."

"Yeah, yeah." Julia sighed dramatically. "But I'm just saying... Ram and Siya? It's only a matter of time before they figure it out."

Sana shook her head, though a part of her couldn't shake the feeling that Julia might be onto something to make it happen. "Jesus!"

As they finished their coffee, Julia left to make a quick call to her mom, leaving Sana alone in the canteen. She absently scrolled through her phone, trying to distract herself from the lingering conversation. Suddenly, she sensed someone approaching her table.

Her heart sank when she looked up and saw Sidharth Vyas walking past her table, his tall frame cutting through the crowd like he owned the place. He didn't glance her way-didn't even acknowledge her presence. His friends, Kartik and Akhil, laughed at some joke he made, oblivious to the silent tension building around them.

Sana's grip tightened around her phone. A part of her had expected him to at least throw her a smirk, a teasing comment-anything. But Sidharth didn't stop, didn't slow down. He walked past her as if she didn't exist.

Her chest tightened with a mixture of relief and frustration.

"Why does it bother me so much?" she asked herself. "This is exactly what I wanted, right?"

But something about his cold indifference stung more than she'd anticipated. She clenched her jaw, staring at his back as he exited the canteen.

After classes ended, Sana and Julia made their way to the parking lot. Sana walked briskly, her eyes scanning the area, hoping to avoid another run-in with Sidharth. She didn't have the patience for it today.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

As they neared her newly painted red scooty, Sana spotted Sidharth leaning casually against his black bike. His gaze was focused elsewhere, probably on his phone, but the moment she saw him, her stomach did an uncomfortable flip. Julia nudged her when she noticed Sana slowing down.

"Just walk past him like he's air," Julia whispered, sensing Sana's hesitation.

Sana squared her shoulders, determined to act like he wasn't there. She kept her gaze forward, deliberately avoiding his figure. But as she passed, she couldn't help but steal a glance at him. Not even a flicker of acknowledgment from him.

Sidharth didn't look up. He didn't smirk, didn't mock her like he usually would. It was as if she wasn't even in his line of sight.

She hated how that made her feel-like she was invisible. But she pushed the feeling down and quickened her pace toward the scooty.

Once hopping on it, Julia wore her helmet and looked at Sana expectantly. "Okay, spill. What's going on between you and Vyas?"

Sana groaned, leaning her head back against Julia's front. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

Julia raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "That didn't look like 'nothing' back there."

Sana rubbed her temples, feeling the weight of the whole situation pressing down on her. "It's complicated," she muttered. "I don't know what's going on, but whatever it is... it's messing with my head."

Julia smirked, her voice teasing. "Sounds like someone's got you feeling some type of way."

Sana rolled her eyes, though she couldn't deny it. The truth was, Sidharth Vyas had a way of getting under her skin like no one else, and now that he wasn't actively trying to irritate her for the last few days, it bothered her more than she cared to admit.

"He's been busy," Sana said, shrugging. "Doing his classes, basketball practice, hanging with his friends... and ignoring me, apparently."

Julia gave her a knowing look. "And that's bothering you, why?"

"It's not!" Sana insisted, though the lie was obvious. "It's just weird. One minute he's always there, being annoying, and now he's completely indifferent. It's like I don't exist to him anymore."

Julia chuckled. "Oh, so you miss the attention?"

"No!" Sana glared at her, though the defensiveness in her voice was clear. "It's just unsettling, okay? I thought I'd be relieved if he left me alone, but now...."

"But now you're wondering why he suddenly stopped," Julia finished for her, a smug smile on her face. "Face it, Sana. He's in your head."

Sana didn't answer. She hated how accurate Julia's words were. Sidharth Vyas was slowly becoming someone she couldn't stop thinking about, even when she tried.

As they drove off, she couldn't help but glance in the rearview mirror, half-expecting to see him standing there, watching her leave. But when she looked, he was already gone.

And maybe, just maybe, she wasn't sure if she wanted him to stay out of her life.

•••

After days of begging, pleading, and some expert-level emotional blackmail, Sana and Julia had finally managed to convince their parents to let them go on the Mount Abu trip. It had taken everything from tears to promises of good behavior, but in the end, victory was theirs.

Now, Sana, Julia, Siya, and Ram were at the mall, shopping for warm clothes as Mount Abu would be cold in late January. Sidharth, Siya's boyfriend, had planned to come along but was stuck at home dealing with some family issues.

"How did your father agree for this trip?" Sana asked Siya, checking out a black leather jacket for her.

Siya looks annoyed with the question. "My personal bodyguard, Ram will join us."

"Why? Sidharth is coming with us. He can safe guard you. Then why Ram?" Julia asked, showing extra interest.

Sana noticed Ram's gloomy face. She understood Julia's words might have hurt him. "Fucking bitch,"

"What do I say. My parents trust Ram a lot with me." Siya said locking her arms around Ram, and a small smile came on his face; which was noticed by both Sana and Julia. "On top of that, they don't know I'm dating Sidharth."

"Oh! Great!" Julia smiled in glee, earning a shut-up glare from Sana.

"Huh?" Siya looked at her suspiciously.

"Nothing,"

"Guys, let's do shopping?" Ram suggests, keeping a close eye on Julia.

Sana agreed. "Yes, please."

After hours of wandering from one shop to another, the group decided to take a break and headed to the food court for lunch.

The food court was buzzing with people, and after a quick scan of the area, the group found an empty table near the edge of the seating area. As they settled down, Sana's eyes inadvertently wandered over to a familiar group across the room.

Sidharth Vyas. And his friends.

There they were, just hanging out, laughing and talking, as if the world was at peace. But what struck her most was the way Sidharth completely ignored her presence. Again.

He didn't even spare her a glance. He was laughing at something Kartik said, his attention fully on his friends, as if she wasn't even in the room.

Sana's chest tightened with frustration. Why wasn't he doing anything? Why wasn't he teasing her, smirking at her, throwing some snarky remark her way? After everything that had happened between them-after she insulted him in front of the entire college-how could he just sit there and act like she didn't exist?

Her thoughts spiraled. This indifference from Sidharth was getting under her skin. It felt terrifying, as if he was planning something big, stepping back to launch a larger attack. His laid-back attitude was unsettling, and the silence made her more anxious than his usual teasing ever did.

Julia, who was seated next to her, noticed the tension radiating from her friend but chose to let it go. She had another mission in mind. Her attention was focused on Siya and Ram, who were engaged in yet another playful argument over what to order for lunch.

Siya pouted, folding her arms. "I'm telling you, we should order pizza. It's the safest option."

"Pizza is boring," Ram countered. "Let's get some Indian food. Something spicy. How about lemon chicken and rice?"

"Cool with me." Sana agreed.

Siya wrinkled her nose. "You know I can't handle spicy food."

Ram chuckled, leaning closer to her. "That's because you're a weakling."

Siya smacked his arm playfully. "I am not! Moreover, my mom makes the best chicken in the world. Ask my Dad." she added with pride.

"Of course," Ram agreed. "Then let's have Chinese?"

"No, pizza."

Julia, sitting next to Sana, glanced at her curiously but didn't comment. She was aware of the tension between Sana and Sidharth but decided to let it slide for now. After all, they were out shopping with Siya and Ram, and Julia had her own mission-to figure out if Siya had any hidden feelings for Ram. Sana had already told her about Ram's feelings for Siya, and Julia was now observing them like a hawk.

Meanwhile, Sana tried to focus on the conversation, but her mind kept drifting back to Sidharth. As the group debated what to order, Sidharth suddenly stood up, making an excuse to his friends that he had to make a call. Without sparing a glance in Sana's direction, he casually walked away.

Something snapped inside her.

"He's ignoring me again?" Sana thought, her frustration mounting. "No. I'm not letting this go."

Sana's heart rate picked up. She needed answers.

"I'll be right back," she said quickly, standing up before anyone could question her.

"Where are you going?" Julia asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Just... need to use the washroom," Sana mumbled, glancing at the direction Sidharth had taken.

Julia nodded, too engrossed in watching Ram and Siya's bickering to think much of it. Sana cursed under her breath and quickly made her way toward the hallway leading to the restrooms, following Sidharth at a distance.

Sidharth stepped into the quiet corridor near the washrooms, pulling out his phone to make a call. His jaw clenched as he waited for the line to connect. After what happened at college with Sana, his father had blocked his cards and accounts for a month as punishment. He hadn't expected his father to be so harsh, but now he needed extra money to get through the month.

He hated asking for money. Especially from his father.

He sighed as the call connected, his voice strained as he spoke. "Dad, I need you to transfer some extra cash this month."

His father's voice came through the line, curt and cold. "I warned you, Sidharth. This is your punishment for that disgraceful stunt you pulled. You'll survive."

Sidharth gritted his teeth, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "Fine. I'll manage."

He ended the call, shoving the phone back into his pocket. His gaze darkened as he thought about Sana. He hated her for this. She was the reason he was in this mess.

But even as he thought that, he couldn't deny the way she'd been getting under his skin lately. His father had called her punishment fitting, but Sidharth couldn't let go of what she had done to him. She had humiliated him-twice. Slapping him was one thing. He could have forgiven her for that.

But the sit-ups? Holding his ears like a fool in front of the whole college?

His ego was bruised. Badly. And now, he wanted revenge.

A sweet, slow revenge.

✿✿✿

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