The lecture hall emptied with the usual rustle of bags and murmurs of students relieved to escape another hour of dense theory. But Jia moved with quiet urgency. She stuffed her notebook into her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and walked out without a glance at her friends.
Pratima noticed immediately. "Jia?" she called out, confused by her sudden departure.
Jia didn't respond. Her steps were fast, her expression unreadable.
Pratima ran after her, finally catching up near the staircase. "Hey! What happened? Why did you rush off?"
Jia turned, her voice calm but sharp. "Nothing happened. I just don't want to waste time."
Pratima frowned. "Is this about that call? Arav?"
Jia looked away for a second, then met her eyes. "I know what it was about. Some silly game, a bet maybe. I don't care. People like him don't matter to me."
"Jia…"
"I mean it. I'm not interested in being anyone's joke."
Before Pratima could say anything, they heard footsteps behind them. Arav had just stepped out of the hall. He saw Jia and hesitated, then took a few steps toward her.
She didn't even look back. She turned and walked away toward the hostel gate, leaving the conversation behind her.
Arav looked at Pratima, frustration written all over his face. "She didn't even give me a chance," he said under his breath.
"Can you blame her?" Pratima replied, arms folded.
He was quiet for a moment. Then, almost hesitantly, he said, "Can you talk to her? Please?"
Pratima raised an eyebrow. "Why would I?"
"Because I want to fix this. Not because of the bet. That's done. I just... want to know her. For real."
"And what do I get if I help?" she asked, her tone half-teasing, half-serious.
Arav smiled slightly, catching on. "I'll owe you one. Assignments, notes, help during exams—whatever you need."
Pratima looked at him for a moment, measuring the honesty in his eyes. Then she shook her head, chuckling softly. "You really are something."
She glanced back at Jia's retreating figure, then looked at Arav again.
"I'll try," she said. "But you better be serious. Because if you mess this up again—she won't look back a second time."
Arav nodded slowly, not smiling this time. "I know."