The Heat We Don’t want to Name
Setting: College Courtyard | Lunchtime Chaos
The courtyard buzzed with student chatter and flying paper cups, the scent of samosas mixing with roasted coffee beans. Siyara sat under a shaded corner, legs tucked up, black coffee in hand, and her eyes scanning through UI layouts.
Siyara Banerjee.FL.
*She was calm. Composed. Focused.*
*Across the space, Yuvraj leaned back lazily against a wall, pretending to scroll through his phone—but his eyes kept drifting toward her.*
Until someone approached her.
Abhinash Oberoi
(offering a small smile):
“Mind if I sit here?”
Siyara Banerjee.FL.
(glancing up):
“Sure. I thought you ghosted on this project.”
Abhinash Oberoi
(sitting beside her):
“I was finalizing color palettes. Didn’t want to show up empty-handed.”
He handed her a neatly labeled notebook filled with wireframes and notes.
Siyara Banerjee.FL.
(impressed):
“You’re actually serious about this.”
Abhinash Oberoi
(with a slight chuckle):
“I don’t do things halfway. Especially not with someone like you.”
Siyara Banerjee.FL.
*She blinked at his words but smiled lightly, looking away.*
For her, it was just… kind. Sweet.
She didn’t notice the softness in his gaze as he watched her stir her coffee.
Yuvraj Singh Rathore.ML.
*From across the courtyard, his jaw clenched. His knuckles went white around the edge of the bench.*
Yuvraj Singh Rathore.ML.
(thinking):
“What the hell is this? Since when is he her shadow?”
Yuvraj Singh Rathore.ML.
*He stood, crossing the space like a storm in slow motion.*
Yuvraj Singh Rathore.ML.
(stopping beside their table):
“Interrupting something?”
Abhinash Oberoi
(calmly):
“We were discussing the project.”
Siyara Banerjee.FL.
*Raised her eyebrows slightly with her eyes*
Yuvraj Singh Rathore.ML.
“Looked deeper than that.”
Siyara Banerjee.FL.
(flatly):
“Why are you even here, Yuvraj?”
Yuvraj Singh Rathore.ML.
(eyes on her):
“Because I don’t like watching him in my space.”
Siyara Banerjee.FL.
“It’s not your space.”
Siyara Banerjee.FL.
*She stood, grabbing her coffee.*
Abhinash Oberoi
(standing too, voice calm):
“I think you should back off.”
Yuvraj Singh Rathore.ML.
(low and sharp):
“And I think you should remember who you’re talking to.”
Siyara stepped between them, not touching either of them—but her voice cut through clean.
Siyara Banerjee.FL.
“This isn’t a playground. I don’t belong to either of you.”
Yuvraj’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t say a word.
She turned and walked off.
Abhinash Oberoi
*Stood still, watching her go with quiet respect.*
And Yuvraj?
He didn’t follow her this time.
Because even he could feel it—
She wasn’t ready.
But that didn’t stop the burn inside him.
Because no matter how long it took,
He would make her his.
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