The vibrant energy of the fest reached its peak as everyone gathered near the stage for the final results. Music echoed, banners waved in the wind, and students from every department stood together—anxious, excited, and hopeful.
The host took the mic.
"And now… the moment we've all been waiting for."
The crowd hushed.
"For the Tech Department, the winner of the Intercollege Fest is… Apex Tech Institution!"
Aarav's team burst into cheers. The seniors high-fived each other, and Aarav smiled wide as they were called on stage to collect the trophy. Nitya, standing right next to him, was ecstatic. She quickly moved closer, holding the trophy with him as cameras flashed.
Then came the announcement for the Architecture Department.
"And the runner-up position goes to… Devante Arch College!"
Anaya's group clapped for themselves with proud but slightly disappointed hearts. It was a good performance, and the runner-up position wasn't bad, but they had really hoped to win.
As the crowd cheered for both departments, students congratulated each other. Aarav looked around, hoping to find her.
And then he saw her.
Anaya stood behind her group, dressed in a simple white outfit that somehow stood out among the crowd. Her hair was loosely tied, and her face had that soft, calm glow that made him forget where he was.
He wanted to walk to her.
Congratulate her.
Just speak… like before.
But before he could take a step, Nitya noticed his gaze.
She followed the direction of his eyes and saw Anaya.
A subtle shift happened in Nitya's expression. She didn't say anything, but a wave of uneasiness washed over her. The way Aarav looked at that girl—it wasn't casual. It wasn't the way he looked at anyone else.
Still, she composed herself quickly.
"Aarav," she said with a soft voice, stepping closer, "let's take a few more photos before the seniors leave. We should capture the moment, right?"
He looked at her, distracted, then back at Anaya—but she had already turned to walk toward her group.
Nitya gently looped her arm around his, pulling him back toward their team.
From a distance, Anaya saw it.
That moment.
That closeness.
The smile Aarav gave when Nitya whispered something in his ear.
She looked away.
It wasn't jealousy. Not really.
It was just the sting of remembering how she used to stand in that place.
Later, as buses lined up and students began to return to their campuses, Anaya's group boarded theirs. She sat by the window, her thoughts restless and eyes heavy.
Aarav, meanwhile, was still searching. He needed to see her one last time. But as he reached the exit, the Devante Arch college bus had already begun to move.
And in a fleeting second—
Their eyes met through the window.
She didn't wave.
Neither did he.
But something passed between them.
Something unspoken… and still so loud.
As Anaya's bus rolled away, Aarav stood frozen, hands in his pockets, eyes tracing the outline of the window where she sat moments ago. He had missed his chance again.
Aarav turned back slowly, the cheering from other students fading in the background. For the first time in weeks, he wasn't thinking about the trophy. He was thinking about a girl who once waited for him, and now didn't even look back.
He knew now: if he didn't do something soon, he might lose her forever.
But the story wasn't over yet.
Nitya, who was standing behind Aarav the whole time, noticed the look on his face. The way he kept staring at the bus even after it turned the corner.
Her heart sank a little.
And for the first time, she felt something she had never expected—insecurity."