The atmosphere at college had completely transformed. After the fest, the classroom had found a new vibrance. Aarav's dedication, humble nature, and willingness to help had not only made him a recognized face during the fest but had also carved a special place in a few hearts.
In the Commerce First-Year class, three new faces had started appearing—Bhavya Sharma, Meera Gupta, and Megha Mishra. Until now, they hadn't attended regular classes, relying instead on private coaching. But after witnessing Aarav's hard work during the fest, they were inspired to attend college regularly.
All three girls were good friends of Priya, but she had never particularly mentioned Aarav to them. So when they saw Priya and Aarav together at the fest, they simply assumed they were just good friends.
The classroom had now become more dynamic and lively. One day, Sanjana Mishra, Megha's mother and the Head of the Commerce Department, made an announcement during class:
"There will be a group presentation in Business Studies. Each group will have four members and will be required to come up with an original business idea and present it."
She continued, "I've already made the groups. Some of you have been paired intentionally so you can learn from each other."
Aarav glanced up when he heard the names in his group—Bhavya Sharma, Meera Gupta, and Megha Mishra.
He was a little surprised but didn't object. Meanwhile, Priya had been placed in a different group. She briefly looked over at Aarav, offered a small smile, and walked toward her team.
During the lunch break, the three girls initiated a proper conversation with Aarav for the first time.
"Hey Aarav, hope you don't mind working with us," Bhavya said politely.
Aarav smiled, "Not at all. In fact, I'm glad you all are in my group. Let's share our ideas and try to create something meaningful together."
Meera added, "We do have a few business concepts in mind, but we'll need your help with how to present them."
"No worries," Aarav replied. "From today onwards, let's meet for an hour daily in the library and work on it."
Megha nodded, "Done. Sanjana Ma'am did say we're supposed to learn from you, after all."
All three girls chuckled lightly and exchanged glances, while Aarav shyly looked away, smiling.
Meanwhile, Priya had been watching them from a distance. Her face carried a complex smile—one with a faint tinge of jealousy, but mostly pride.
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The Next Day in Class:
Sanjana Ma'am finalized the topic for the presentation: "Rural E-Commerce Expansion in Chhattisgarh."
Aarav opened his notebook and spoke, "We can build a model where even remote villages get access to online shopping. It'll involve local suppliers, transporters, and laborers."
Bhavya instantly chimed in, "That's a very practical and impactful idea. I can get some data from my dad regarding rural trade."
Meera said, "I'll research the legal aspects of implementing something like this."
Megha added, "I can structure the entire financial model for it."
Aarav smiled, "Then our presentation is going to be top-notch."
For the first time, the three girls sat down seriously to study with Aarav. And in that one hour, not only did a solid business plan begin to take shape, but something unspoken also began to form—a subtle connection, soft and undefined, but real nonetheless.
(To be continued…)