KASHISH

It had been an hour since I sat like a statue in the chair, my eyes continuously staring at the old man sitting in front of me, wearing power glasses and checking my documents.

I really don't understand what the hell he was searching for in my college documents. "I'm exhausted seeing you read my profile. Please stop reading, Dean," I sighed. Why is he taking so long to approve my college entry?

"My back was aching from sitting straight in the chair, and I desperately wanted to stand up but couldn't. "He looks rude, like a typical dean," I whispered to myself. I made sure he wouldn't hear me, but he was so absorbed in my profile.

"May I have a glass of water, Dean?" I wanted to ask because I was so thirsty. "NO," he screamed in my mind, and that rejection instantly dropped down my neck with all hope.

"Dean, please ask me. I can tell you that I'm a good medical student," a thought brushed my mind, but I stayed quiet. I was tapping my heels on the floor continuously. It seemed like it wasn't a good idea to bother him. He looked stricter than my previous dean.

I was already getting frustrated sitting here, and some of the boys outside the dean's office were quietly staring at me. It was quite irritating. "All the boys are the same. It doesn't matter if they study in an army college or any other college," I murmured, turning my eyes back to the dean, who was still reading.

"Well, Miss Kashish Dandekar, I must say your profile is quite impressive." Finally, he uttered some words, but wait, did he just say that my profile is impressive? Oh, come on, Dean. I already know that I'm a brilliant student. Why did he waste his precious hours just to analyze the fact? Why didn't he ask about me earlier?

"Thank you so much sir, for approving my admission request", I chuckled while my eyes were widened in excitement after all I got the entry into Bangalore's best army medical college.

"It is not possible for us to accept a new aspirant in the middle of the semester, but you have met the criteria, and our college always searches students like you. And, I have a close relation with your father." Dean said, placing his glass on the desk.

Earlier, I was studying medicine in Delhi, but my father decided to change my college after the terror attack that happened six months ago. I never thought I would survive that horrible attack, but that officer saved me while risking his life.

"Means a lot, sir. I assure you that I'll continue to work hard in the future as well." I pulled back my chair and stood up. "I'm leaving, sir." After earning his nod, I turned on my heels to exit. I can't express how relieved I felt after finishing my one-hour-long session with the Khadoos dean.

♡

I was on my way to the hostel rooms, cluelessly searching for them as I was new here and didn't know where they were. I was looking for the girls' hostel, while every passing boy stared at me as if they would devour me with their eyes.

"Why the hell are they staring at me like that?" I whispered, pulling my suitcase. Gosh, I'm getting irritated dragging this heavy suitcase—it's giving me cracks in my backbone.

Thank God I wore sneakers; otherwise, I would have surely fallen to the ground while dragging this fucking suitcase. "Is this really my suitcase?" Of course, sweetie, it's yours, and you're the one who crammed all the clothes into it.

"They're only staring at me. No one thinks, If she's struggling with her stuff, maybe we should help her." I murmured in annoyance, glaring at them. I know I'm gorgeous, but that doesn't mean you ignore the surrounding activities.

Some people think that I'm obsessed with my beauty, and my answer would be yes, I am.

I was so tired, and all I wanted was a bed with a soft mattress so I could lie down comfortably. But I was still searching for a fucking hostel. I wasn't ready to take anyone's help, but now I thought it was necessary, so I asked one of the passing guys, "Excuse me, can you please tell me the way to the girls hostel?" I gasped.

I stood there, trying hard to gather all my flying strands. I don't know why the hell today is such a wind-blown flurry. "Bitch, you remembered to cram your bag with clothes but forgot to bring a little hairband," I whispered but he was staring at me like he'd never seen a girl in his entire life.

"Oh, hello, dude," I gritted my teeth. He swallowed hard after hearing my raised tone. "Stare at me later, first tell me where the girls hostel is." Irritation dripped from my words.

"Yeah, sure, please take a right from there", he said while pointed at the park. "Thanks!" I chuckled while gripping the handle of my suitcase, and I walked towards the park leading to the hostel.

♡

I was on my way, struggling with my disheveled hair and the lovely heavy suitcase. I had no idea that someone was following me. "Excuse me, and please stop," I paused in my steps.

I turned my neck. "Were you calling me?" I asked while he was gasping. It seemed like he had been following me for a long way. He didn't respond to my words, but he was quite handsome. I couldn't deny that fact.

"Hello, are you listening to me, Mr.?" I said, snapping my fingers near his face, breaking his gaze. "Yeah, I'm the one who stopped you," he uttered nervously. "Tell me," I asked hurriedly, as I was quite tired.

"Did you know that you're really beautiful?" he whispered while dropping down his face to the floor. He thought that his appreciation didn't reach my ears, but he forgot that he was too loud.

"What... what did you just say?" I purred, and he leaned his head up. "No, I was saying, do you know the way to the hostel?" he said, confused, and I didn't know why he suddenly changed the topic.

"Yes, I do, and perhaps you're the late one." I replied, my aggressive veins popping up on my forehead. I was exhausted from my hectic schedule and in no mood to entertain anyone.

"Oh, that's great," he caressed his neck. "I thought it would be a hassle for you to find it, so I came." He chuckled, but I cut him off. "Really?" It was a question.

"Yeah, actually, I'm the head boy of the college, so I was just reassuring myself," he continued. He sounded so mischievous.

"Ah, if there are girls in the college, then it is quite obvious that there will be a head girl too." His smile dropped. I was still wondering why he stopped me. I wanted to know his intentions.

"You're smart", he paused while pinning his eyes over me. "Hi, I'm Vikrant...Vikrant Karmarkar", he introduced himself while extending his hand, and I was seeing his jerkiness.

Vikrant Karmarkar, a five feet eleven inch fair complexion guy with black eyes and have slight curly hairs. He was senior cadet of mine.

"I'm getting late," I mischievously said, ignoring him. His hand was still in the air as I turned on my heels toward the hostel. We can get to know each other tomorrow, but not at the moment because I am tired.

♡

I walked to the staircase leading to my room, with no strength left within me. "How many more steps do I need to climb?" I gasped, but what could I do? I needed to climb the stairs with my own fucking legs. Suddenly, my phone rang, and I somehow managed to pick it up after a few rings. "Did you reach the hostel, Kashish?" Baba asked.

"Yeah, Baba. I reached the college, and I'm going to my room," I said, out of breath. Baba was the only family I had left, as my mother passed away when I was 10 years old. I had mostly spent my life in hostels—first in boarding school and now in an army hostel—and the reason was my Baba's occupation.

My Baba was a RAW officer, and he spent most of his 365 days in his agency or on his missions. After my mother's death, he realized that he couldn't take care of me, so he put me in boarding school. "I want to ensure that you are safe," Baba said, making me pause my steps on the staircase.

"Of course, Baba, I'm safe. Don't worry about me," I gasped, wiping away the sweat on my forehead. He was always worried about me after the terror attack in Delhi.

"Take care of yourself, beta, as I'm worried about you," I cut him off. "Okay, Baba, I will," I promised.

"And I love you, beta," he said, showing me so much affection, and I felt like the phone call was a barrier between us. "I love you too, Baba." I wanted a tight hug from my father, but unfortunately, that wasn't possible because he was on a mission, and I wasn't aware of that.

I hung up the call and walked to the corridor. "Okay, this is 102, so where the hell is 105?" I rolled my eyes through the corridor. "There it is, finally, I found it." I breathed a sigh of relief, and without wasting a second, I stepped inside the room.

"What the fuck?" I sighed in annoyance when my eyes fell on the walls. "Who was the moron staying here before me, who liked cartoons?" I rasped. The entire wall was ruined with some shitty drawing stickers, and the worst part was that they were glowing stickers.

I already felt messed up, and those ruined walls pissed me off. "I want to sleep," I cried, tapping my legs on the floor like a kid. "I can't sleep with this shit." I murmured, placing my suitcase against the wall and taking off my leather jacket.

It took me an hour to clean the mess in the room. "Finally, it's done." I pulled the chair from the side and sat down. My head leaned backward. "I'm hungry," I murmured, rubbing my empty stomach.

I quickly stood up and checked my handbag. "Let's see if I have something to eat," I whispered, dragging my hand through the bag. "Thank God I have it," I smiled, kissing the cheese sandwiches. "Otherwise, it would be hard to find food at this hour." It was a life-saving moment for me.

"It's better to take a shower first because I really need one." It doesn't mean I didn't smell good, it's just that I was exhausted. Tip tip barsa pani, pani ne aag lagayi, aag lagi dil mein toh dil ko teri yaad aayi, I sang the song while dancing in the shower.

My hidden talent is that I'm a good singer, but only in my bathroom. I love to vibe in the bathroom while having a shower, and because of this hobby, I got into several fights with my roommates in my previous hostel, as I enjoyed a 1-hour shower daily.

After taking a 30-minute short shower, I stepped outside, wrapping a towel and water still dripping from my body and hairs. I took my lotion and started nourishing my body. As a girl, it's a priority to take care of your skin. I grab my suitcase, "where is my night suit?" I got annoyed while searching for it. "Ridiculous, why am I not getting my things on time today?" I cursed the suitcase.

I was frustrated with the suitcase, completely ignoring the fact that I wasn't an organized person. In fact, I was careless. "Finally, it's here," I pulled it out and wore it, then immediately jumped into bed. I settled my back comfortably against the headboard and started enjoying my favorite cheese sandwich. "Deva, so yummy." I licked the cheese from the corner of my lips with my tongue.

While enjoying the food, my eyes fell on my bare ankle. "I don't know where the hell I dropped my pretty anklet." I cursed myself. I wasn't sure, but perhaps I lost it in Delhi on that horrible day.

That day still haunted me like a nightmare. I got goosebumps just thinking about the terror attack, even though it had been almost six months. Whenever I tried to remember the anklet, my mind would shift to that horrible moment.

"Thanks to that soldier who saved me not only from terrorists but also got a bullet for me", I said low in breath. "He must be a brave soldier", I whispered while wrapping the pillow in my elbows. Every day I retraced him, he was one who made me believe that the soldiers are definitely fearless heroes. I wish I could meet him again.

♡

It had been a week since I entered the prestigious college and three days since I became a cadet. "Riya, can you please give me your notes? I need to copy them," I asked Riya. Riya Patel, a five-foot-six-inch girl with hazel eyes and straight, shiny brown hair, was my new roommate and gossip buddy as well.

I'm a little careless—sorry, more careless—but as a student, I'm enthusiastic and ambitious about becoming a surgeon in the Indian army, and I'm putting all my efforts into achieving my dream. "Have you finished with your note-making?" she asked, but I was still writing.

"Kashish, let's have a cup of tea," she paused as I glared at her. "OK, fine. First, deal with your note-making. I can wait for you." She sat beside me on the bench.

"Kashish, tell me your beauty secrets." She asked. "Wha...what"?

"Yeah, I just wanted to know which ingredients have the ability to gather all admiring eyes," she blinked her eyes. "There are no such ingredients that can gather all the fucking admiring eyes on you," I said with a forced smile. "All the guys in this classroom are staring at me, bitch, not admiring me." I grabbed my bag and stood up.

"You're such a mean bitch," I looked at her with a sly smile. "Why, because I didn't tell you my secret ingredients?" I let out a big laugh when someone approached me. "This is for you." I turned my eyes. He gave me a letter. "What's that?" I took it and opened it.

"Welcome party invitation?"

"Welcome party, tomorrow", Riya asked, and he nodded. "Aren't they throwing a fresher party so early?" I said sarcastically. We are in the middle of the semester. 

Riya cut me off. "No, yaar, there was construction work in college, so the authorities postponed the party." Well, I'm always ready for a party, and I'm the type of girl who can enjoy her own company. I don't need anybody to entertain me.

"What if we don't want to attend the party?" I giggled, but he became serious. "You have to come; it's our college legacy," he threatened us. I must say, the party organizer chose a damn serious representative.

"Okay, dude, we will be there," Riya said, and I blinked my eyes. Then he disappeared. "Can we please have a cup of tea, Kashish?" This bitch is so irritating.

"Okay, fine, let's go."

♡

"Bhaiya, bring two cups of tea and cheese sandwiches for us", I throw my bag on the table and sit down. The hostel tea is good, but Delhi's tea is a kiss of breeze. "I have missed my Delhi tea", I chuckled. "Even I'm missing my Gujarat taste", Riya basically belongs to Gujarat, and I have a long story about my sweet home.

"Did you read Twisted Love by Ana Huang?" she asked while sipping her tea. I was so into my cheese sandwich. "Bitch, stop stuffing your mouth with that sandwich." She said, annoyed.

"I have never read any book that is out of the syllabus," I shrugged. "Darling, if you only focus on your syllabus, then perhaps your life will be out of syllabus." she said, tapping my arm.

"What should I do if I don't believe in fantasy stories?" I asked before taking a bite. "Aren't you going to have love?" she asked. "I don't want love. I want to fall in love." She laughed. "Both sentences have similar meanings," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Sweetheart, that's why I call you stupid." I pinched her cheeks. "Both have different meanings. If you try to understand, you'll surely get my point," I finished.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. It's so difficult to win a word battle with you." I shrugged my shoulders proudly.

♡

The next day, a welcome party was held at the auditorium. Riya and I were on our way there. "Aren't you nervous?" Riya asked. I was fixing my wavy hair. I hadn't tied it up because I loved to flaunt my wavy locks, which cascaded down to touch my thin waist.

"Nervous, but why?"

"This welcome party will be different, darling, as the seniors are going to target us with their fishy tasks." I adjusted the pendant around my neck. "I'm comfortable with any task except singing. I'm a good pop star only within my 40-square-meter bathroom." We both laughed.

"Did I wear something fishy again? But it's just a white anarkali suit," I whispered into Riya's ear, feeling quite embarrassed. "Maybe they're admiring you." she taunted, rolling her eyes.

"Nope, these gazes are equivalent to staring," I corrected her. I would love to be admired by everyone, but right now, I didn't like it at all.

"By the way, where did you get this customized necklace? It's pretty," Riya asked as we passed through the corridor. I had a customized silver necklace, round in shape, with a K letter on it. "I ordered it from an online site. I'll share the link with you, they have beautiful collections." She nodded.

We stepped inside the auditorium. "You like jewelry, don't you?" she asked as I followed her. "Of course! It enhances my beauty, but I only love minimal pieces." I said, rolling my eyes as I looked around the auditorium. It was filled with lots of students, and the decorations were pretty good. Personally, I loved it.

My eyes fell on Vikrant, who was sitting in the fourth row. He was already gazing at me. "Is he a senior cadet?" I turned my neck, putting my hand to cover my eyes.

"Did you steal something?" Riya raised an eyebrow. "Nope!"

"Then why are you hiding your face like a thief?" she asked, sitting in a chair, but I was still standing beside her. "Bitch, sit down." She grabbed my hand, and I ended up landing in the chair.

"I have a question," I said, curious to know about him, but she cut me off. "Later." My smile instantly dropped. "I'm here to enjoy the party, so please focus on that." Riya's eyes darted back to the stage.

"We'll continue our bitching at night." I wanted to ask about Vikrant, but her delusions were always filled with bitching. The program started, and everyone performed their tasks very well.

I was enjoying the performances. While applauding, my eyes once again inadvertently fell on Vikrant, who was already staring at me with a wide smile. "Doesn't he have ay other object in the entire room to stare at?" My voice was barely audible, but Riya heard me.

"Don't look at him. He's a jerk," Riya said, earning my attention. "Really?" I asked. "I mean, he's too flirty and a senior cadet as well," she grumbled, but a male voice cut her off.

"Please, the girl sitting next to Megha, come up to the stage." I was startled because he was talking about me. The way he asked me to join the stage made me the staring object again.

"Best of luck," Riya cheered me up before I stood up. I walked toward the stage while the whole auditorium yelled my name. "Okay, first, introduce yourself," the host extended the mic to me.

For a few seconds, I felt like my knees would give way. I took a deep breath and grabbed the mic. "Hi, everyone, I'm Kashish Dandekar, a third-year transfer student." I introduced myself.

"Okay, take out a chit," the host asked, extending the chit bowl toward me. I pulled out a chit and opened it. Fuck, sing a song. I sighed in annoyance. As I had already mentioned, I wasn't a good singer, so why the hell did they give me a singing task?

"Guys, I don't have a good voice. I can't sing," I refused, with my puppy eyes. "But I can dance to reciprocate my task, if you guys will agree?" I asked nervously, unsure whether they would accept my barter.

"Agree! You can dance," Vikrant's croaky voice came from the crowd. Everyone agreed with his comment. Not bad, he has influence. I prepared myself to dance, tying my dupatta around my waist. The track played, and I performed Kathak.

I had been learning Kathak since the age of eleven, and I could say that now I could perform many smooth moves. "Wow, Kashish, amazing!" My hair was waving in the air, and I was overwhelmed by the appreciation they showered on me.

After the performance ended, "One more, one more!" all the guys screamed. I couldn't do it one more time. I was exhausted, but hearing the crowd appreciate my performance made me happy.

The party ended, and I was going to my room along with Riya when Vikrant again followed me, which led me to have a conversation with him. "Hey Kashish", Vikrant said, and I turned to myself, "you".

"Did you expect someone else?" he raised an eyebrow. "No, but I didn't expect you either," I said, sipping water. "Then why do you put so much emphasis on 'you,' as if I'm a criminal?" I didn't mean that.

"I'm here to tell you that I'm a nice guy," he defended himself. "Then what do you want from me?"

"I want to talk alone. If you don't mind, can we?" he asked bluntly. Doesn't he have any limits when it comes to flirting? "Why not here?"

"I want to ask you for the date because I liked you; come on, tell me whether you want to meet me or not", seriously he is asking about the date, isn't it so quick to ask such things. I liked him because he is handsome, but I'm not ready to date him yet. "Did you ask me whether I liked you or not?" I said dismissively.

"You won't find a guy like me in the whole college," he said confidently. How could you trust him, Kashish? You barely know him, and it would be better to refuse a date. So, as my heart advised, I refused his proposal and walked out of the party.

♡

COCO - The real fun will start in next chapter. Do comment and votes for the next part.