In annual break, Abhimanyu had a great time at home catching up movies with friends, conversations with mom and sister and reading his favorite novels. He even took a short trip to London where his dad was on a business trip. Only a week was left for the college to start.

Mom: Anything you need for college, let me know?

Abhimanyu: I was thinking of buying a bike this year. I don't know if I should or not, but sometimes it really becomes difficult to go anywhere. Have to wait hours for bus to come.

Mom: What's stopping you?

Abhimanyu: Nothing. Yet to make up mind.

Mom: I don't understand why you insist on leading such a difficult life. Last semester, you hardly called us. I had to write e-mails to you. Those too you replied with just two sentences. "I'm good. Love you mom". What is this Abhimanyu? It really makes me sad.

Abhimanyu: Mom, honestly I was very busy last semester. I had absolutely no time at all for anything, but trust me it was worth every bit of my time. I was helping Sir John with his work.

Ria: Mom, he was serving Sir, John. Did you hear that? I'm telling you to open your eyes now. By the time you open your eyes it would be too late. After serving sir John he will be serving a church.

Abhimanyu: Shut up, Ria. Don't start it again.

Abhimanyu: Mom, can you believe it, John got the best project award in the State in Final Year. Wow, it felt great to create something that's actually being used.

Ria: You are so good, that I know, but why are you then not topping the university there. Are you going to top this year, bhai?

Abhimanyu: Actually, I never will. Because, I make sure that I don't .

Ria: What? She asked looking shocked.

Abhimanyu: After I have answered enough questions to get the marks in the range I want, which is less than what usually a topper might get. I stop at that and don't bother to answer the rest of questions despite knowing answers to all of them.

Mom: Why? You don't want to be a university topper when you can easily be the one.

Abhimanyu: To save your lie, mom. Kidding. Actually, it might get my picture in newspaper. Even if it's on a local/regional newspaper who knows which minister will read and etc etc. I want to avoid unnecessary attention that it might get.

Abhimanyu: Don't worry mom, topping university is nothing. Your son is cut out for big things in life. I'll make you happy and proud one day.

Ria: Mom will be happiest if you show her a girl you like. She teased him.

Mom: Ria, behave.

Abhimanyu: Decided mom. I'm getting a bike for myself this semester. Don't forget to give me money for the bike. He smiled.

Mom: Take as much money as you want. Everything is yours only.

Abhimanyu: No, mom. Only the cost of the bike.

              After the new year in college started the last year results came and so did the freshers. Sunita got the highest percentage in second year. She topped the university this year also. Ram and Abhimanyu retained their second and third positions overall. Shanaya's name was not in top three in Electronics and Telecommunication but she got first class. There was no freshers party for third year students but they did get to check them out in the dance party that followed it. Boys hostel was abuzz how this year freshers batch had more number of girls than previous years and also how it had some of the most beautiful girls ever. Some of them were already topping the popularity charts in boys and girls hostel alike.

             Shanaya was disappointed that she didn't get distinction in SY(second year). She promised herself to focus in studies in third year. She realized she was wasting a lot of time chit chatting and gossiping with her roommates and other girls who joined them in their room after college. Sometimes, there were long sessions of non-veg jokes in hostel rooms. She decides to complete her practical assignments and studies in library after the college hours to avoid wasting time. A few other students also preferred studying in library to hostel.

             Shanaya and Yash were in the same batch for practicals this year. They were not friends but he spoke with her whenever he needed any help with practicals and assignment notes. Shanaya sat with her classmates to finish the assignments with them in library. Sometimes, Yash too sat with them to take the completed assignment file to his room to copy. Shilpa came there to meet  Yash on certain days.

             Abhimanyu was alone in his room reading 'Effective Algorithm' book when he needed to write something. He was looking for his lost pen when his eyes fall on a file on Yash's table. The file had name Shanaya on it. He  immediately felt the desire to see something that belonged to her. To touch something that had touched her hands and was going to go back into them. He picks up the file and brushes his fingers along her name, touching and feeling every letter from S to A . He brings the file close to his lips and  plants a tight passionate kiss on  her name. He opens her file to be amazed by the beautiful handwriting that his eyes were looking at. The experiments were explained very systematically with neat diagrams,charts and conclusions. He was impressed and believed that she must be a good student.

         A bunch of third year E&TC students sat in library chit chatting, few studying and others writing assignments at the same table. Shanaya and Yash were also in the group.

Shanaya: I don't know. I am finding microcontrollers very difficult. I think I'll flunk in this subject.

Stella: Yeah, it is. But they say if you get the logic, it's not that difficult. But how to get hang of that damn logic?

Shanaya: If only someone could teach me nicely, I might get it for once. It's so boring to read by yourself again and again and not get it.

Yash: Yeah, it actually works better if someone who is real good at it teaches you. You learn quickly. Last semester, during exams I thought I'll fail this subject 'Digital Logic Design'. I was literally on the verge of crying when my stud roommate jumped on board to help me in last minute. He had not studied his own subjects as he was busy assisting a senior in his project. Can you believe what? He took and read the book for one whole day and next day he taught me the whole thing like no professor ever did. I got my highest in Digital Logic Design.

Stella: Really? Lucky you.

                Abhimanyu had forgotten his keys in the room in a hurry. He knew Yash spent time in library with Shilpa after college hours. He goes to library looking for Yash to take keys from him. He enters library and there she was in the library sitting at a table near a window. Shanaya was sitting across Yash who had his back to the door. She was busy writing something in a file. Abhimanyu froze for a moment on seeing her. She looked beautiful in a red full sleeves fitted kurta with lustrous black hair covering her assets. He gulped saliva in his throat and walked slowly to Yash. He tapped his shoulders to get his attention without disturbing anyone around. He then said very softly almost whispering,"I need your room keys. I forgot mine in room. I'll be there in room when you come."

              Shanaya raised her head from book to see who that amazing voice belonged to. She was stunned to see Abhimanyu standing across her at a table's width distance. Her body stoned and her heart pounded so fast as if it would fall out. His profile looked ravishingly gorgeous. She forced her craving eyes to look back into book. Yash gave the keys to Abhimanyu and Abhimanyu left the library. Shanaya could not focus on what she was doing and watched him walk out the library.

Yash: Shanaya, saw my dear friend? He is the roommate I was talking about. He is darn too intelligent. He is also very helping. If you want, I can ask him to teach you microcontrollers, he will teach you like an expert in one day even if it's not his subject.

Shanaya: Abhimanyu is your roommate? She asked hesitating.

Yash: Yes from the first year itself. Also Ram from Computer Science is my roommate. See both my roommates are toppers and I barely manage higher second class. Don't tell me you didn't know that the hottest boy of college is my roommate?

Shanaya: No, I didn't.

Yash: And the hottest girl of college is my girlfriend. He said pointing to Shilpa who entered library looking hot in a tank top and black shorts.

              Shanaya's heart couldn't stop fluttering with Abhimanyu's thoughts that day. It was a good day for her after long. She tried to imagine how it would be if he taught her. It would be a dream with him in front of her, but she doubted she would learn anything with her eyes stuck on that handsome face. It wasn't possible because in reality, she struggled hard to keep normal in his presence. 

           Abhimanyu started making frequent trips to library. He always saw Shanaya sitting on the same table doing her assignments with few of her other classmates. Sometimes he would return  from front desk after a few words with librarian. Other times he went behind rows of book shelves looking a book for himself. Shanaya tried to learn but not even a word of what she read went to her head. If someone asked what she read she would be blank. This is what always happened until he was there in library. But once she had seen him in the day, she felt very happy and could focus on her studies.

       Shanaya loved playing this silly game with herself on some days like if he came to library that day that means he loves her if he didn't then that means he doesn't love her. Slowly she found herself playing this game more often especially if it came negative last time. She had studied the pattern of his visits. So, she played it more on days she was sure he would show up in library which pleased her most times and made her sad on few days. Her eyes would keep going to library door waiting for him to make an appearance. But now she was kind of hopeful to see him next time even if he didn't turn up on some days.

           She once saw Abhimanyu standing outside the library door talking with a friend. Shanaya kept staring at how handsome he looked. She thought God must have challenged himself to make the most beautiful man when He created him. There was no way she could have him. He was just too good looking for any girl. He turned his head to look at her from there and then left without entering the library. There was something in the way he looked at her that made her feel loved and set her heart racing.

           Abhimanyu often went to library to see Shanaya, mostly every alternate day but kept it random by sometimes skipping two days together or going on consecutive days. He wouldn't sit there to read though. He would go behind the shelves and peek at her from the gap between the shelves that gave him a clear view of her table. He would open any random book from the shelf in his hands and stare her for good ten minutes never making it obvious to anyone around. She always looked pretty in her simple fitted kurta chudidaars with chiffon dupattas. She swiped strands of hair behind her ear that kept falling in front of her eyes. She would put the end of pen in her mouth as she would try to think and focus. He noticed her eyes wandered every now and then as if looking for someone. He enjoyed every bit of her action from there. He almost got caught in action by Ram once.

Ram: Abhimanyu, what are you doing here?

Abhimanyu: I am reading. Abhimanyu was startled by Ram's sudden appearance there.

Ram: Here in the civil engineering section? He asked totally confused.

Abhimanyu: I was curious to know what civil engineering fellow mates are studying in their Third Year.

Ram: Strange. Is everything alright with you? He asked showing concern?

Abhimanyu: Why?

Ram: You were not even looking  into book. You looked lost thinking something else.

Abhimanyu: Oh that! I was just pondering on the topic looking out in blank space. I do that often.

Ram: God! This boy can read any subject any time. Why don't you do engineering in all the streams at the same time?

Abhimanyu: Civil engineering is really very interesting. He smiled and laughed a little.

Ram: Anyways, enjoy your civil engineering. He showed him thumbs up and smiled.

Abhimanyu: Thank you. He smiled back and kept the book back on shelf.

Ram moved on to check books in other shelves.

             Shanaya hated weekends because those were the only days she didn't get to see him at all but then she utilized them studying as it was very important for her to do well in third year. Shanaya wanted to download some stuff to read from internet but the campus internet cafe was closed. She decides to go to town internet cafe in evening. Last semester she ventured out alone  so much that she no longer asked anyone to give her a company to anywhere. She was waiting at the bus stop away from the road  when a sexy blue Suzuki bike with a sexy tall guy on it passed and stopped a little ahead of her on the road. The guy turned his head, lifted the helmet cover and looked at her. Shanaya felt shivers run in her body when she saw Abhimanyu wait on bike to give her lift. She looked around to see if there was someone else he had stopped for but no, she was the only one at the stop that time. Abhimanyu looked at her for sometime as he waited for her to come and sit. When she didn't move from her place , he asked loud, "Lift?". Shanaya looked at the seat that had nothing to hold behind it. The seat was raised at  an angle that if she sat, she would slip down on him until her front was pressed tight on his back. There was no way she could sit on that bike without her body touching his. That was the last thing she needed to drive her more crazy than she already was for him. She smiled nervously and stammered, "No, thank you. I'm fine. I think I'll go by bus". He zoomed away and she hated how boys especially buy such bikes to offer lift to girls. She had also heard how they applied brakes often when girls sat behind them.

             Abhimanyu didn't come to library two days in a row and Shanaya wondered if he was angry with her and didn't want to see her at all. She had started feeling  kind of love between them. On third day, she sat alone in library finishing her practical assignment that Yash was going to collect later in the evening. Shanaya told herself ,"If Abhimanyu didn't come today that means he doesn't love me and if he came that means he loves me. That's it. It's the last time I'm playing this game today. I'm never going to play it again. But let it be whatever the truth is". She waited patiently for him doing her work. When she lifted her head in between to check for him, she saw the most handsome guy at library door. Her heart fluttered with happiness, may be with what her silly game suggested. She wanted to believe it. She quickly looked down in her book but watched him from the corner of her eyes without lifting her head. Abhimanyu walked to the bookshelves like he mostly did. Then, Shanaya waited to see him walk out the library after few minutes as always.

              Abhimanyu walked to the librarian with two books to issue. Instead of walking out, Abhimanyu walks to the table next to Shanaya's, right in front of her. He pulls a chair to sit facing her. Shanaya literally starts trembling. She didn't know what to do. She tries to focus on reading her book with her heart thumping faster and faster. She keeps reading the same line over and over but to no use. Abhimanyu looks at her for a minute and then opens a book on 'Networking' and starts reading it. In between he lifts his head to look at her. He could make out how uncomfortable she was with his presence as she shifted side to side on her chair and didn't look at him.  He saw her steal glances of him from corner of her eyes when he looked in his book and focus too hard  into her book when he  looked in her direction. Her body language screamed that she secretly harbored hots for him and he loved that.

                After half an hour, Yash and Shilpa come to library. On finding Abhimanyu reading there, Yash and Shilpa join him at his table.

Yash: What happened? You studying in library today?

Abhimanyu: Yeah, decided to have a change.

Shanaya could clearly hear their conversation and now her ears were all on Abhimanyu's table.

Shilpa: What is that other book. A novel! She was all shocked.

Shilpa: Pretests are on head and you are going to read a novel?

Abhimanyu: Yes, I can't sleep without reading one.

Yash: Novels are what he reads religiously. Books he just happens to read in between. He laughed.

Shilpa: I too love reading novels. But I can't read when exams are only a week away. By the way, what type of novels you read.

Yash: Those which have never ending pages of sensual love-making. He said very seductively and stifled his laugh.

Abhimanyu: Common! Anything. When I reach those pages in any genre of novels, I skip them. I read mystery, adventure, romance. He smiled mischievously.

Yash: Liar. Such a liar he is. He is lying. I swear he reads them over and over and those are the first few pages he attacks in any novel. You don't know, he is actually a very romantic guy.

Shilpa: What's there to hide in it. Everybody loves those pages and no one skips them ever like ever. She laughed. Girls love romantic guys.

Shilpa: Do you have any girlfriend outside college?

Abhimanyu: No, not at all. Why do you ask that?

Shilpa: I thought so since you don't have one here. Why don't you have one then?

Abhimanyu: I'll as soon as I like someone that much.

Yash: Any girl would love to see his romantic side. He just has to pick one.

Abhimanyu: Why only side, the girl I choose will get to see every part of me. He joked and then laughed.

Shilpa: How naughty! I think we should take our discussion to canteen.

Shilpa and Abhimanyu walk out library chatting. Yash gets the file from Shanaya and joins them.

             Shanaya had this big grin from the conversation that she heard. She was happy to get to know new things about him other than that he was handsome, intelligent and a good singer. She didn't know why she started feeling as if she knows him now. She got back to her studies seriously as exams were leaping closer. She loved loved library. It was the most beautiful place on earth for her. Between books and his smokin' looks the days in library were pure bliss.