The next morning at school felt strangely tense.
Meera had barely slept the night before. Rohan's words kept replaying in her mind.
Stop letting people like Kitty tell you what to think.
She tried to convince herself everything was fine.
But the knot in her stomach hadn't gone away.
At lunch, Meera sat at the usual table with her notebook open. Harsh was explaining another problem while drawing diagrams on the page.
"Look," he said, tapping the notebook. "If you just understand this concept, half the chapter becomes easy."
Meera leaned closer to see.
"I swear you say that about every chapter."
"Because it's true," Harsh replied. "The problem is you panic before even trying."
She laughed softly.
"Okay, teacher."
Across the cafeteria, Rohan had just walked in with his friends.
He immediately noticed them.
Meera.
Sitting close to Harsh.
Laughing.
His expression hardened.
Kaiser nudged him.
"Looks like your girlfriend is busy."
Rohan didn't respond.
He walked straight across the cafeteria.
When he reached the table, Meera looked up.
"Oh—hey."
Harsh glanced at Rohan briefly but kept his pen on the notebook.
"Almost done," he said to Meera.
Rohan pulled out the chair beside her and sat down.
"So this is where you disappeared."
"I didn't disappear," Meera said. "We're studying."
"You study a lot with him," Rohan replied.
His tone sounded casual.
But his eyes weren't.
Harsh leaned back slightly.
"She has exams," he said calmly.
Rohan looked at him.
"I wasn't talking to you."
Harsh shrugged.
"Still true."
Meera could feel the tension building.
"Rohan, it's fine," she said quietly.
But Rohan's attention was still on Harsh.
"You really enjoy spending time with her, don't you?"
Harsh didn't react.
"I enjoy helping people who actually want to learn," he replied evenly.
Rohan scoffed.
"Right."
He turned to Meera.
"Come on. Let's go."
"Where?" she asked.
"Anywhere that isn't here."
Meera hesitated.
"Harsh is still explaining—"
"You can study later," Rohan interrupted.
His voice was sharper now.
Meera looked between them.
Then slowly closed her notebook.
"Okay."
Harsh watched quietly as she stood up.
Before leaving, Meera looked back at him.
"I'll finish the problems later."
Harsh gave a small nod.
"Sure."
But his eyes followed them as they walked away.
Outside in the corridor, Rohan stopped walking.
"I don't like that guy," he said.
"Why?"
"He's always around you."
"He's helping me."
"You don't need his help."
"Yes, I do," Meera replied.
Rohan shook his head.
"You spend way too much time with him."
Meera crossed her arms.
"He's my friend."
Rohan stepped closer.
"You're my girlfriend."
The words felt heavier this time.
"I'm not doing anything wrong," Meera said quietly.
Rohan sighed like she was being unreasonable.
"I'm just saying… maybe don't talk to him so much."
"That's not fair."
"I'm your boyfriend," he repeated. "I get to have boundaries."
Meera felt trapped between guilt and frustration.
"Fine," she muttered.
Rohan's expression softened instantly.
"Good."
He kissed her cheek quickly.
"See? No need to argue."
Later that afternoon, Meera returned to the classroom where Harsh was already sitting with their books open.
"Back already?" he said.
"Yeah."
They started working again quietly.
A few minutes passed before Harsh suddenly stopped writing.
"Give me your hand."
"What?" Meera blinked.
"Your hand."
Confused, she held it out.
Harsh turned her wrist slightly.
There was a faint purple bruise near the bone.
His expression changed immediately.
"Where did this come from?"
Meera quickly pulled her hand back.
"It's nothing."
"That doesn't look like nothing."
"I probably bumped into something."
Harsh raised an eyebrow.
"You probably don't remember what you bumped into?"
Meera avoided his gaze.
"It's not a big deal."
Harsh studied her for a moment.
Then he leaned back in his chair.
"Did someone grab you?"
Meera froze.
"No."
The answer came too fast.
Harsh didn't push further.
But the suspicion in his eyes didn't disappear.
"Meera," he said quietly, "if someone is hurting you—"
"No one is hurting me."
Her voice was firm now.
Harsh nodded slowly.
"Okay."
But he clearly didn't believe it.
They continued studying in silence.
And for the first time since they met, Harsh wasn't joking or teasing.
He was watching her carefully.
Trying to figure out what she wasn't telling him.