****The sign "##" before the chapter number means it's Flashback****

Ananya.

The rumour spread like a wildfire on the campus.

"Did you hear the news?" Arun came to the lecture hall and said, "Few guys from the boxing academy caused a ruckus in the underground parking lot of the Emerald hotel," he said. "Apparently they were unhappy about Jay and Aryan winning the tournament," he said.

I froze at the news. I know exactly what happened at the parking lot.

Conversations break out as everyone looked outraged. Our college and the boxing academy started the enmity ever since Jaydev started winning the tournaments.

When I joined this college to do my PG, Jaydev and Aryan were legends. One of them was a real genius and the other one was an incomparable boxer.

Everyone thought Aryan will leave the college as he scored the highest in the university and earned a gold medal in the business administration, but he surprised everyone by selecting the same college to do his PG too. Needless to say, Jaydev opted to follow his best friend and remained back, which in turn re-fuelled the enmity between our college and the boxing academy as it was obvious that the championship will be taken by our college in Kickboxing competition.

"The sore losers can't even take their failure properly,"

"They can't win the game, so they used underhand methods,"

"They must be humiliated to get the second place once again,"

"They even destroyed Aryan's new car," one of the guys said and another bunch of curses breaks out.

"They planned the whole thing, it looks like the CCTV was 'malfunctioning' that day, and the police couldn't get any evidence,"

Whoa! Jaydev and Aryan are really amazing! Not only did they remove the evidence but also managed it to look like the other gang did all the damages.

Everyone was talking while I sat there silently. I dunno how they turned the situation around.

Suddenly the door opened and the very two devils appeared inside the classroom with their gang while the whole class acted as if they are some superheroes.

"Listen, listen, we have an important announcement to make," Rahul, the third one in the gang said and everyone settled down. "I am sure that you all must have heard the news already," he said, his eyes stopped on Arun for a moment before sweeping through the whole class.

"Yes, we need to teach them a lesson on this,"

"We can't just let go of them,"

"No," Jaydev stepped forward and took charge. "We will let go of this matter here and now," he said. "Do you understand?" He asked and silence filled the room again.

Everyone looked confused now but still nodded 'yes'.

"I hope we will not meet again regarding this matter," Jaydev's eyes rested on me and I was taken aback.

a strange thought popped to my mind.

He is intentionally targeting me... Is he here to warn me!?

I stared straight back, feeling uneasy suddenly.

Aryan stepped forward and tapped Jaydev's shoulder. "You are making them confused without explaining things clearly, Jay," he said while Jaydev was still looking at me. "Let me tell you," Aryan stepped forward slightly and blocked the death glare from him, causing me to come back to earth.

"We don't want this to affect the kickboxing tournament. The final match is yet to be determined," he said. "If news gets out that the participants had a street fight outside of the ring, it will not be good," He added.

Everyone's face cleared and there was a collective understanding nod.

"That's good then," Aryan smiled pleasantly. "What do you have now?"

"Business law by professor Radika," One of my classmates said.

"That's an interesting topic," Aryan said. "I will attend this class," he turned to his gang and said and they looked surprised.

Aryan turned back to the class, obviously looking for a place to sit. Everyone was raising their hands or moving over to make space for him.

I looked down and slowly slumped down the seat and hide behind someone else.

Please don't come here...please don't come here...Please don't-

"Hi there," I heard his voice and mentally groaned.

I slowly straightened up in my seat.

"Can I sit here?" He asked me.

"Ah... of course..." I nodded my head but refused to move.

Vini, the person next to me moved towards me and made a place for Aryan on her other side.

"There's space here," She said.

Aryan didn't even look like he could hear her; he was still expectantly looking at me.

I realised that he will not step back and I reluctantly moved to my right and gave him space on the three-person-bench.

"Thank you, Ananya." he smiled and took the seat next to me and I was shocked to realise that he remembers my name.

I took a deep breath and turned to the front only to see the whole class looking at me curiously.

What's the big deal about sitting with Aryan Kashyap? He is also a student here.

Everyone will forget this as soon as the day gets over-

... or maybe not!

I watched as Jaydev walked to our table.

"You said you like professor Dhyani's class better, that's why you signed for his class," Jaydev said.

"Did I?" Aryan looked genuinely curious.

"You did," Jaydev confirmed.

"I like this topic," Aryan shrugged.

Jay sighed, now understanding that he won't budge, and then gave me a look as if it's my fault.

If you ever mention what happened here to anyone else, you are dead meat...

I remembered his threat.

Well...looks like Jaydev is more dangerous than Aryan.

I moved my eyes away and forward.

I don't want to have another staring contest with him.

Jaydev moved away and I was relieved for a moment...

...only a moment before I realised what's happening. He came over and looked at Vini pointedly and she nodded and got up quickly.

What the heck!

Don't tell me that I have to sit between them!

Before Jay could sit, I got up, "Feel free to sit here, I will move-"

I stopped as Aryan took my wrist and pulled me down to sit back on the bench.

"Sit Ananya, you were sitting here first," He said.

Where was his sense of justice when Vini was mercilessly moved away by his best friend?

Before I could react, Jaydev already sat down by my right side.

"Jay, you skip the classes often, what happened now?" Aryan asked.

"I like the professor," Jaydev said.

Great... Aryan like the topic and Jaydev like the professor!

As if I am going to believe that!

It was obviously a lie; she is boring and torture. I only take her classes as the timing is more comfortable and flexible for me.

"What's wrong with you two?" Rahul reached the desk as the other two guys who followed them waited at the front. "You suddenly feel like attending the class?" He asked.

Both of them nodded.

Rahul sighed, and then looked at me. I looked back at him expectedly.

Tell me to move over... Tell me to-

"Take the seat in the front, there are only two people there," Aryan said.

So in the next one minute, I was surrounded by the "six-foot-something-inches" tall guys from all around as the other two in the gang chose to sit behind me.

I don't even know how I ended up in this situation.

"Wow, I never saw my class this filled before," professor Radika said as she took in the class. "Aryan, Jay...Rahul...To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"We missed the last business law class, Hope you will allow us to attend today," Aryan said.

She nodded and started with the class and it was really better than her usual style.

To my surprise, Apart from taking initiative to sit beside me, Aryan just listened to the class while Jay started to play some boxing game on his phone.

Halfway to the class, Rahul yawned and turned back.

"Call me when the class get over," he said before placing his head on the desk and took a nap.

As soon as the hour ended, I packed my things and got up.

Aryan was starting to tell me something while I called the professor.

"Professor, I have a small doubt in the topic," I said and she nodded, looking surprised.

I nodded at Aryan and he slowly moved to make way for me and Jaydev looked slightly surprised.

Everyone else was already leaving as I approached her.

I just made up some question and was planning to run for my life after my "doubt" was cleared.

"I can help you with this, Ananya, It's an interesting topic for me," Aryan said from behind and I stilled.

"That's good then, you discuss it and tell me your opinion in the next class." The professor said.

"But-"

"I will see you then," she walked away and I stilled there, stupefied.

I heard a soft chuckle and turned around to see Aryan trying to hide his laughter.

Don't tell me that he noticed me trying to escape!

So after Ten long unbearable and torturing minutes of clearing my doubt, I started to run out of there.

"Ananya," I stopped as he called me. I turned around to see him looking grim.

"About the issue at the Emerald hotel..."

The scene of him stabbing the guys filled me and I took a step back.

"I...I didn't see anything at the Emerald hotel," I cut across him.

I just caught his surprised and understanding look flash across his face, but I was already moving away.

He is not normal.

I don't want to get involved with him.

Aryan.

I watched her as she hurried away and felt a pang deep inside my heart.

She's behaving exactly like the few people who know my secret.

Scared and eager to getaway.

Well...I can't blame her; she has seen me going crazy.

I guess I should be thankful that she doesn't include in the other few who resorts to blackmail me for money to keep my weakness a secret.

Ananya.

"Ananya Vishwam," I heard Jaydev and stopped.

What now? I just managed to shake Aryan off, what does he want now?

I really don't know how he kept up with me; I thought I was doing a good job running away.

I looked at him; he was towering over me and looked very intimidating.

Well...with his built, I guess it's not difficult for him.

"You want to tell me something?" I asked him, trying to be brave.

"You managed to get Aryan clear your doubt," he said as if it's something bad. "I will not underestimate you," He said.

"I didn;t ask him to do that," I said. But Jaydev didn't seems to hear me, he was looking at me with a strange expression.

I turned around to walk.

"How did the incident at the Emerald hotel get exposed?" I stilled at that. "there were only three people there then," Jaydev continued, "Aryan, I and you," he stopped.

I turned to look at him.

"It was not me," I said firmly. "And you cannot just accuse people without any evidence," I added.

Yes, I am angry now. All I was trying to do was helping someone in need, but it looks like I just landed myself in trouble instead.

"We will see, Ananya Vishwam. And for your sake, I hope you are telling the truth," our eyes met for a moment and I had an impression that he is declaring war.

I just stayed there while he turned around and walked away from me.

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