Aanya walked slowly toward Aryan's room, her fingers trembling slightly.
She raised her hand to tap the door…
but froze.
"Why am I feeling so scared?" she whispered to herself.
"I'm just asking for help, right?"
She took a deep breath.
"Aanya… you can do it," she encouraged herself softly.
She lifted her hand again—
and again stopped.
"No… I can't do it," she muttered and turned around, ready to leave.
But before she could take even two steps, the door opened behind her.
Aanya jolted in shock.
Aryan walked out and stopped when he saw her standing there.
She forced a smile. "Hello, Arya— I mean… Mr. Aryan."
His brows pulled together. "What are you doing outside my room?"
Aanya swallowed. "Well… I'm just… haaa… I'm just—"
She cleared her throat quickly.
"I'm just here to ask your help."
The words came out fast, almost tangled.
Aryan stared at her with a questioning expression. "Help?"
"Yes! I-I mean yes, Mr. Aryan. I… need your help."
"What help?" he asked, voice calm but firm.
Aanya's heartbeat grew wild.
"Well, Mr. Aryan… I mean… you know… from tomorrow onwards I'm going to college. I mean—before also I used to go, but tomorrow I'm going from here, right?"
Aryan simply listened, silently, expression unreadable.
Aanya took a shaky breath.
"So… well… I wanted to ask…"
She stopped.
Words refused to come out.
"You wanted to ask?" Aryan repeated.
"Yes…" She looked up nervously.
"I… I want to ask you to drop… and pick me up daily…"
Silence.
Aryan just looked at her.
No reaction.
No answer.
Nothing.
Aanya felt her stomach twist.
Suddenly embarrassed, she spoke quickly, her voice trembling.
"N-no problem, Mr. Aryan. I mean… I can understand. It's hard to drop and pick up daily. It's okay, I know it's difficult. I'll… I'll try to do something else."
She took a step back.
"Sorry for disturbing you. Good night."
She turned and walked away fast, her face burning with embarrassment.
Aryan stood there at his door, quietly watching her leave…
his expression unreadable,
Back in her room, Aanya threw herself onto the bed.
She grabbed her pillow and pressed it over her face.
"Oh no, Aanya… what have you done?" she groaned.
She rolled to the side, kicking her blanket in frustration.
"You totally embarrassed yourself in front of Mr. Aryan!"
She hid her face again.
"Why did you even ask him? Now I can't even look at him properly…"
Just then—
ding!
Her phone buzzed with notifications.
Aanya sat up quickly and checked it.
Her friends had messaged.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh no… what should I tell them now?"
She bit her lip nervously.
"They must have found out I left the hostel. Now they'll ask where I am… what am I supposed to say?"
She started pacing the room again.
"I can't tell them about Aryan… they'll definitely laugh at me!"
"That I'm loving a man who is nine years older than me…"
She covered her face with her hands.
"What should I do… what should I do…?"
Then she stopped, took a deep breath, and nodded to herself.
"Okay. I'll just say something tomorrow at college. I'll think of a reason… anything else."
---
The morning sunlight poured gently into the room as Aanya opened her eyes. A soft breeze danced through the curtains. She sat up, stretched lightly, and glanced at the clock. It was already 7:15 AM.
She freshened up and got ready for college in a pastel blue kurti and jeans, tying her hair into a soft braid. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of her room.
"Good morning, Aunty," she smiled, seeing Aryan's mother in the kitchen.
"Good morning, beta," she replied warmly. "Breakfast is ready. Come sit."
"Good morning, Prerna," Aanya greeted cheerfully.
"Morning! You look fresh," Prerna said, sipping her tea.
Aanya bent down and gently patted Max, their dog. "Good morning to you too, Max," she giggled.
She sat down at the table and started eating her breakfast. A few minutes later, Aryan walked in wearing a crisp white shirt and black trousers.
Aanya's spoon froze mid-air.
Her throat tightened.
She looked at him for a second —
and immediately turned away, staring hard at her plate, pretending to focus on her food.
Aryan glanced at her, noticing her stiff shoulders, her sudden quietness, her face slightly red.
"I've packed lunch for both of you," Aryan's mother said, placing two lunchboxes on the table.
Aanya smiled.
After finishing breakfast, Aryan suddenly stood and picked up his bag.
"Let's go," he said calmly.
Everyone at the table paused.
"To whom are you saying that?" his mother asked, amused.
Aryan looked at Aanya. "I'll drop you at college."
Aanya blinked. "Me?"
"Yes."
She was silent for a moment, then quickly nodded, surprised but slightly pleased.
Outside, as they walked to the car, she hesitated before asking, "But yesterday you didn't say yes Mr Aryan..."
Aryan shrugged slightly. "I didn't say no either."
Aanya smiled to herself as they got into the car.
"Nice thing, Aanya," Aryan's mother called from the door. "Go with Aryan. It'll be easier for you."
As the car started, Aanya felt a mixture of happiness and nervousness. She glanced at Aryan, who was focused on driving.
"Mr. Aryan," she spoke carefully, "your office... is it in the same direction as my college?"
"Actually, it's in the opposite direction," he replied without looking at her.
Aanya's smile faded a bit. "Oh… then maybe it's difficult for you to drop and pick me up every day."
Aryan replied, "It's fine. I'm okay with it."
Aanya looked away, hiding her smile. Silence settled between them.
"5:30 PM," she suddenly said.
"What?" he asked, glancing at her briefly.
"You need to come at 5:30 PM to pick me up," she clarified.
"Oh. Okay. I will," he replied, returning his focus to the road.
As the car neared the college, she said softly, "Bye."
He nodded in response.
Just as Aanya stepped out of the car, her three best friends came running toward her.
Aanya quickly acted normal. "Hi guys!"
But Tara held up her hand.
"Stop it. We don't want to talk to you."
Aanya blinked. "Why? What happened?"
Nisha crossed her arms.
"Why didn't you tell us you changed to day scholar?"
Aanya became silent, guilt sinking in.
Meera jumped in.
"Yes! And Shruthi told us you weren't in your room. All your things were gone! We didn't understand anything. Then when we asked the warden… she said you turned into a day scholar!"
Aanya stared at them quietly, feeling worse with every word.
Tara stepped forward.
"And we messaged you last night! Why didn't you reply?"
Nisha added sharply, "And also… who was that guy who dropped you here?"
Aanya froze for a second.
Then she took a breath.
"Guys… can you give me a moment to talk?"
All three folded their hands together dramatically.
"Okay. Talk."
Aanya began softly, "I know I'm wrong… and I'm really sorry. Even I didn't know all this would happen suddenly."
They slowly relaxed.
"My mother told me we have a distant relative living here… so I can stay with them instead of the hostel."
The girls listened carefully.
"And I don't even know them properly…" Aanya continued, acting convincingly.
"I just met them yesterday. And till night we were arranging my room and doing so much work… I didn't even get time to check my phone."
Her friends went silent, guilt replacing their anger.
Tara sighed. "Okay… we trust you."
Nisha leaned closer.
"BUT— who was that guy who dropped you? Tell us!"
Aanya cleared her throat.
"His name is Aryan."
Nisha's jaw dropped.
"He is SO handsome! Can I get his number?"
Aanya snapped instantly, "NO!"
All three stared at her suspiciously.
Aanya quickly tried covering.
"I mean— I don't even know him properly. How can I give his number? Anyway, let's go to class. We're getting late. Come on!"
She pushed them forward hurriedly.
Tara laughed.
"First talk to Shruthi. She thought you got kidnapped along with your luggage!"
All four burst into laughter as they walked to class.
---
After college, around 5:25 PM, the girls walked out together, chatting.
Just then, another group of girls walked past them — led by Rhea, who never liked Aanya.
"Oh, Aanya," Rhea smirked, loud enough for everyone to hear. "You're still in college? I thought you left hostel without telling anyone, so we assumed you left college too."
Her gang laughed.
Aanya's friends glared, but Aanya held her hand up. "Leave it, guys. Not worth it."
They started walking away.
Aanya looked around, slightly worried. She checked her phone. 5:32 PM.
Maybe he forgot... she thought. He has work after all.
She dialed Aryan's number. He picked up.
"Hello, Mr. Aryan... actually it's 5:30 already. Looks like you forgot."
Aryan calmly replied, "Turn left."
Aanya turned her head and saw his car parked right at the corner, engine running.
Her heart skipped a beat.
---
End of Chapter 4.