Ruhi had always prided herself on being in control-of her emotions, of her actions, of the way she played her cards. But something about Ishika's presence was gnawing at her, like an itch she couldn't scratch.
The next day at college, she expected Abhi to be the same-flirtatious, playful, and entirely hers. But as she walked toward their usual spot in the courtyard, she noticed something different. Abhi was surrounded by his usual crowd, yet his responses seemed more distracted. He laughed at a joke but didn't add his usual witty remark. He glanced at his phone more often than usual.
Ruhi folded her arms, approaching him. "Lost in thought, Mr. Golden Boy?"
Abhi looked up, flashing his usual smirk, but she could tell it wasn't entirely effortless today. "Maybe. But don't worry, you're still my favorite distraction."
Ruhi's lips curled into a smile, but she wasn't convinced. "Oh? And what's keeping you so distracted?"
"Nothing important." He leaned back against the bench, tilting his head toward her. "Just thinking."
Ruhi didn't like that answer. "Thinking about her?"
Abhi chuckled, shaking his head. "You sound jealous."
She scoffed. "Please. I don't get jealous."
"Uh-huh." He studied her, his gaze sharp, as if trying to decipher something in her expression. "So, what would you do if I told you Ishika is actually... not that bad?"
Ruhi felt something cold settle in her chest. She forced a laugh. "Wow. One dinner and suddenly she's your new favorite person?"
Abhi shrugged. "I wouldn't go that far. But she's not the stuck-up snob I thought she'd be."
Ruhi clenched her jaw, keeping her expression light. "Well, good for her. Too bad she won't get the prize she's after."
Abhi raised an eyebrow. "And what prize is that?"
She rolled her eyes. "You, obviously. Every girl wants you, Abhi. But only I have you."
Something about the way she said it made Abhi pause. There was an edge to her tone-not possessiveness, but something close to it. He studied her for a moment before smirking. "That's true. But tell me, Ruhi..." He leaned in slightly. "Are you worried someone might take me away?"
Ruhi met his gaze head-on, her smile unwavering. "No one can take what's already mine."
Yet, as she said the words, she couldn't ignore the unsettling feeling creeping into her chest.
---
Later that night, Ruhi found herself scrolling through Ishika's social media. She hated that she was doing it, but she couldn't stop. Every post, every perfectly curated picture of Ishika's luxurious life, made her blood boil. She's nothing special, Ruhi told herself, but a tiny voice in her head whispered otherwise.
Meera, lounging beside her on the bed, peeked at her phone. "Wow. Stalking her already?"
Ruhi clicked her phone off. "I was just checking."
Meera smirked. "Right. And I just go to the gym to take selfies."
Ruhi huffed. "She's just... irritating. Acting all perfect."
Meera raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like someone's threatened."
Ruhi scoffed. "Please. Abhi is mine. I have nothing to worry about."
Yet, as she lay in bed later that night, staring at the ceiling, a nagging thought crept in.
What if, for the first time, she was wrong?
.....to be continued.....
Author's Note:
Ah, the fine art of control—Ruhi has always had it down to an art form, hasn't she? But the cracks are starting to show. Ishika's mere presence is enough to stir something within her, and for the first time, Ruhi's cool, calculated world is starting to feel... uncertain.
Abhi, on the other hand, is slowly becoming a mystery of his own, isn't he? The golden boy is slipping into a strange fog, and that playful smirk? It's no longer as effortless as it used to be. Could it be that Ruhi's hold on him is weakening? Or is it simply a test of whether she can hold on to the reins?
It's so easy to forget how vulnerable we all are in the face of what we want most. And maybe, just maybe, Ruhi's about to learn that the game she's playing could be more than she ever bargained for.
Until the next twist,
With tension and tangled hearts,
The Author