(Aryan's POV)
The college was buzzing with excitement- today was our Traditional Day. It was one of those occasions when everyone seemed to come together to celebrate the culture, and the air was alive with energy.
The campus had a vibrant atmosphere as students prepared for the cultural event. They were all busy dressing in their best traditional attire, and there was something infectious about the excitement in the air.
I hadn't really thought much about it at first. To be honest, I wasn't usually into these events. They always felt a bit cliché to me. But when Hriday mentioned it last friday morning, something about the whole idea suddenly piqued my interest.
Last Friday. 8.05 am
"Hey, man, have you picked your outfit? Hriday asked me as we were walking between classes.
"Outfit? For what?" I questioned him.
He stopped, stared at me for a second, then shook his head. "Traditional Day, idiot."
I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, yeah. I'll wear something."
He rolled his eyes, clearly not impressed by my nonchalance.
"No way, man. You have to wear something that'll stand out. Don't just throw on some random stuff."
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "And what do you suggest?"
Hriday grinned. "Wear a soft light pink kurta."
I almost laughed. "Pink? Seriously?"
Hriday smirked, like he'd been waiting for that reaction.
"Yeah, pink. And before you argue, let me tell you a secret- girls love guys in pink. They just don’t admit it.” He winked..
I scoffed, but he continued, more serious now.
"I'm telling you, Aryan. It'll complement your fair skin tone, and with your build? It's over. Simple, clean, deadly. Don't overdo anything. Just... show up."
I didn't respond immediately.
But the thought stayed.
Not the color.
Her.
For some reason, my mind drifted straight to her.
Would she notice?
Would she even care?
Would she... like it?
That was enough to make the decision for me.
Traditional day -
Morning 7 am.
Standing in front of the mirror, I adjusted the sleeves of the soft light pink kurta.
It fit perfectly.
The fabric hugged my shoulders, my arms, settling just right over my chest. Not too tight, not loose either- just enough to show the work I'd put in without trying too hard. Clean. Effortless.
I exhaled slowly, studying myself.
Hriday wasn't wrong.
The color... it worked.
I looked different. Softer, maybe but in a way that didn't take away from anything. If anything, it made everything sharper.
But even then, one thought pushed through everything else.
Will she like this on me?
I clicked my tongue, annoyed at myself.
Why did that even matter?
And yet... it did.
When we entered the college, the energy hit immediately. Music, laughter, colors everywhere. People mostly girls turning, reacting, noticing.
I could feel the looks, but I ignored them.
Because the only person I was looking for- was her.
And then I saw her.
For a second, everything else blurred out.
My gaze locked onto her before I could stop it.
And just like that...nothing else mattered again.
She walked in, stepping onto the scene like she belonged there, a vision of quiet elegance. The fabric of her soft green saree flowed effortlessly with every step she took, the light catching the delicate threads in a way that made her stand out from the crowd. It wasn't flashy. It didn't need to be. She had this understated elegance that made it impossible to look away. Soft makeup enhanced her natural beauty, glowing skin, eyes that seemed to hold a thousand stories, She wasn't trying to draw attention, but the way she moved, the way the fabric of her saree caught the light, made it impossible not to notice her.
I couldn't stop staring.
Her right wrist was adorned with simple golden bangles that jingled softly as she moved, and on her left wrist, a small, elegant analog watch glinted in the light. On her index finger, a small diamond heart-shaped ring sparkled, subtle but undeniably beautiful. Which made me fight with the sudden urge to kiss her pretty hands. Good thing I had the sense to stop myself.
The way she carried herself- graceful, poised, yet distant- was like nothing I had ever seen before. She wasn't loud or in-your-face like most people in the crowd. She didn't need to be. There was a quiet confidence about her, one that radiated without trying, a presence that made the world around her feel like it slowed down, just for a moment.
I didn't even realize I was staring until Sameer nudged my shoulder with that mischievous grin of his.
"Someone is very distracted today, haina?" he teased, his voice dripping with amusement.
I quickly tore my eyes away, pretending I wasn't paying attention. "No, I'm not."
"Uh-huh, sure, Aryan," Sameer said, raising an eyebrow. "You might want to talk to her before you turn into a stalker."
I shot him a warning glare. "Don't be an idiot."
But inside, I was torn. A part of me wanted to go up to her, to introduce myself and figure out what made her so different from everyone else. But another part of me was scared. Scared of how she might look at me, how she might dismiss me. There was something about her that made me feel out of my league.
I turned my attention back to the crowd as the music started. The DJ began setting the tone for the dance floor, and soon enough, the rhythmic beats filled the air, pulling everyone into the moment. I joined my friends, but my mind kept drifting back to her.
She was there, too.
She wasn't in the center of the action like everyone else. No, she was off to the side, her friends surrounding her, but even in the midst of the noise and the chaos, she stood out. She was swaying gently to the music, as if it didn't matter whether she was in the spotlight or not. The soft green of her saree seemed to blend perfectly with the crowd, yet it still managed to catch my attention every single time.
I wasn't the only one who noticed. Sameer, Vikram, and Hriday were all aware of the quiet pull I felt toward her. They teased me relentlessly.
"Hey, Aryan," Vikram whispered with a grin, "I'm pretty sure you've been staring at her for the past five minutes. You know she's over there, right?"
I rolled my eyes but didn't respond. I couldn't. There was nothing I could say. I was lost in the music, sure, but even more so in the thought of her. What was it about her that made her so... captivating?
The DJ ramped up the energy, and the crowd surged forward, everyone dancing, laughing, living in the moment. Sameer tried to pull me into the circle, urging me to loosen up. But no matter how much I tried to focus on the fun around me, my gaze always drifted back to her.
She wasn't part of my world. She didn't belong in the world I had built with my friends, my routines, my familiar spaces. And yet... she was all I could think about. The longer I watched her, the more I felt like I wanted to know her. To be a part of her world, even if I wasn't sure where I fit.
Eventually, the day started winding down, and I saw her once more, walking with her friends. As she moved toward the exit, her figure slowly disappeared into the crowd. Something inside me twisted at the thought of her leaving, of not knowing her, not having the chance to talk to her.
Even though the evening was over, even though I hadn't spoken a word to her, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted more. I wanted to know where she was going, to follow her just a little longer, to be near her. But I stopped myself. I didn't know her.
I didn't belong in her world. And yet, that didn't stop me from feeling like I wanted to.
End of Chapter 3.
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