Avantika's POV

It was raining, and I was busy with work when the café’s doorbell rang. A customer walked in. He felt familiar, but I wasn’t sure.

“Nisarg?” I asked.

“Who are you?” he replied, like he had never seen me before.

Honestly, I had a crush on him back when we were in school together. I never told him, but it was special to me — he was my first ever crush.

“Oh, I was your classmate in school,” I said confidently.

“I don’t remember you though."

And just like that, my confidence went silent.

“It’s fine. Welcome to my café. What would you like to order?” I wanted to dig my own grave from the embarrassment, but instead, I chose to brush it off.

"Jumbo Chicken Cheese Burger."

It was his favorite in school; he would order it every time in the canteen. I remembered that very well.

“Coming right up!” I rushed into the kitchen, taking deep breaths like I just ran a marathon.

“Why am I so nervous after seeing him?” I asked myself. But there was no time to waste — he was my customer for now.

Exactly ten minutes later, his order was ready. I plated it like I was competing on a cooking show. I took the plate and walked out.

He was gone.

I checked the counter.

GONE.

“Why did I forget to tell him to pay first? I LITERALLY made that rule myself for this café.” I was crashing out.

The Next Day

I was opening the café when I saw him walking toward me. I wasn’t angry anymore about yesterday, but I still wanted to ask why he’d done that.

“About yester—” he began, but I stopped him mid-sentence, placing a finger on his lips. Yes, they felt soft against my finger.

“I don’t want to hear any excuses. Pay the bill, and let’s move on.” I smiled after telling him, even though I promised myself I’d be rude to him. But I just couldn’t stay angry.

“All right, love. I’ll pay. Still, I’m sorry about that. Just…work calls anytime. Can’t help it.”

Love? LOVE? I wasn’t listening to anything else he said — I only remembered what he called me.

We went inside, and he asked for the bill. But I didn’t want him to pay anymore.

“No need, actually. As your old classmate, I can forgive you for that.”

“It’s fine, I can pay.”

“NO NEED,” I ordered him like I was his wife.

He didn’t pay after that, but instead, he ordered the same thing as yesterday.

“You won’t run away this time, will you?” I asked.

“I don’t plan on it.”

I went to the kitchen and made his order. (Yes, I own this café and do all the work myself. It's a little small, but it helps me pay for my university fees, so I don't mind.)

He didn’t run away this time. He took forever to eat — just like he used to in school. Everyone else would finish first, and he’d take his time, savoring every bite.

“It was delicious. I’ll come here often, so you better make it like this every time…with your gentle hands.”

Why is he talking like this? Something is definitely wrong with him.

Avantika's POV

After a few days, I got a call from one of my old school classmates saying a reunion was being held at a café out of town.

I called my best friend, Nishita. She said she wouldn’t be able to come as she had some important family-related work. I didn’t want to go without her, but she convinced me to go and meet our old classmates.

Since it was out of town, it was kind of difficult for me to get there—cabs in this town are the most frustrating thing ever.

The day of the reunion arrived.

I wore a vibrant wine-red dress that hugged my figure perfectly, paired with glossy black heels and a touch of makeup. I looked at myself one last time in the mirror and told myself not to be nervous at all—because I knew she would come.

I went downstairs to the living room and found my family watching a horror movie.

“Darling, you look beautiful,” my father said with a bright smile on his face. He has always supported me in everything I do, and the same goes for my sister and mom.

“Let me take a picture of my princess!” my sister shouted as she ran toward me.

“I don’t have time right now,” I told her with a tired expression.

“Oh, come on!”

Then she wasted half an hour of my time taking pictures of me in a hundred different poses.

I headed out, telling my family I’d be late. I knew it wasn’t just going to be a casual hangout—everyone’s an adult now. There would be drinks and dancing. I wouldn’t touch a single drink though; I’ve never liked those things. (As in alcohol)

After an hour, I reached the destination—luckily, I got a cab within ten minutes of leaving home.

I walked inside. There were many familiar faces, though some felt like strangers. One face stood out immediately—it was him, Nisarg.

I had completely forgotten that he would’ve received the invite too. I tried not to look at him, but he was dressed in a white formal suit, looking effortlessly handsome.

“Hello there, gorgeous,” a guy came up to me and said in a flirty tone.

“Who are you?” I didn’t recognize him, nor did I care to.

He made a weird face and walked away.

I went to the drinks counter—it was kind of boring without my best friend.

“I’ll take a virgin mojito,” I ordered and sat on the chair in front of the counter.

“Well, well, well… look who’s here!”

I recognized that voice instantly. It was her.

Sam—my school bully. She made some of my school years hell, but I’m over it now, so it didn’t matter.

“Hey,” I said, disinterested.

The guy who had complimented me earlier stood behind her like a clown, with her two sidekicks, Lia and Ananya, just like old times.

“I knew you’d never forget me.”

“Oh, how could I? You were soooo good to me,” I replied sarcastically.

“Looks like the scared little rat has some confidence now. Interesting.”

“Get out of my face before I throw up from the sound of your voice,” I snapped, irritation rising as old memories flooded back.

“You—”

“Hey ladies, why don’t we cool down for now?” Nisarg said calmly, appearing beside me out of nowhere.

I got up from the chair and walked upstairs into the empty hallway. At the end was a small balcony—it seemed perfect for some fresh air.

“You look beautiful today.”

It was him, standing behind me.

Avantika's POV

"You look beautiful today."

It was him, standing behind me.

“Thank you,” I said, realizing I was blushing.

“So... is there some beef between you two? Seemed like something happened back in school,” he asked, looking concerned.

“Nothing very interesting. She was just my bully when we were in sixth grade. It was childish, but the memory still hasn’t vanished from my mind.”

“What did she do?”

I hesitated. It was years ago, and it didn’t matter now—but I’d always wanted to tell someone.

My best friend knew everything about me except this. She transferred to our school in seventh grade, and I never mentioned it to her. If I had, she would’ve literally beaten the crap out of Sam.

“I used to score the highest marks in English, and Sam loved the subject too. But she always scored one or two marks below me. She hated that.”

“And then?” he asked calmly.

“One day, I went to the washroom, and Sam, Lia, and Ananya came in and locked the door. Sam yelled at me, saying I shouldn’t cheat and should score at my ‘actual level.’ I never cheated, though—she just couldn’t accept that I was better. I don’t want to sound like a ‘pick me,’ but I really was better, and I can say that confidently."

“I like your confidence. Go on,” he said with a smile.

“After that, she tore my uniform while Lia and Ananya held my hair and hands. She pushed me under the sink, and I hit my head. Instead of being concerned, she laughed.”

“I don’t know why, but this is seriously pissing me off. Makes me want to slap her,” he said, clearly irritated.

“Then she tied a cloth around my head that covered my mouth, and also tied my hands and legs. After that, she and her minions locked the door from the outside. They made sure no one would find me—even if someone came into the washroom—because I was locked inside one of the stalls.”

“But you never tried kicking or freeing yourself?” he asked, confused.

“I didn’t get the chance. When I hit my head, I was dizzy—I passed out for a while.”

“Oh... now I see.”

“Yes. After a few hours, school was over and most students had gone home. But the cleaning lady came in and found me.”

“I’m sorry, love.”

“It’s fine. I just hoped she’d get what she deserved. But her father’s a businessman. He covered it all up by bribing the principal after my family and I complained.”

“That’s so fucking unfair,” he said, frustrated.

“I know. I can’t do anything about it now.”

“But where the hell was I? I was your classmate too, and I had no idea this happened.”

How could I tell him that I was too embarrassed to share it with anyone in class? I looked so weak in that story.

“Because no one knows about this,” I said nervously.

“What? I’m the first person you’ve told?”

His eyes softened.

“Yes.”

“Let’s go. She’s about to face the consequences—because I saw something today with my own eyes that no one else knows.”