"Why are you so naive and innocent?"

He shook his head as if disappointed by her traits and it didn't settle well with her.

"I'm not naive. Maybe I'm too kind but I'm not a fool."

She said and he nodded in mock agreement.

"You don't know how easy it is to fool you."

He said and she shook her head.

"Nhi! Aisa nhi hai. Aisa hota toh mai class ke bacho ko pagal bana kr aur ye keh kr nhi aa paati na ki aapne class cancel kr di-"

She stopped realising what she was speaking and looked at him wide eyed with her hands over her mouth. He raised his eyebrows in shock and confusion.

"Huh?"

"Wo...mai...ummm...mujhe aaj ghar jaldi jaana tha. Important assignment hai."

She said and rushed out after thanking him for the lunch while Yuvan sat there still processing what happened.

Nitara prayed that he had forgotten the event. They had another lecture scheduled with him a week later and she was worried about what would she answer if he asked her about that.

Today, unlike last time, she stood in the middle instead of front because she couldn't face him but wanted to admire him from afar.

"Sir we have doubts from the last lecture also. Uss din aapne class cancel kr di thi. Can you please take those doubts today?"

One of the students asked and Nitara cursed the student. She saw Yuvan's eyes turn to her and she quickly looked away pretending she didn't see him look at her.

"Umm...yes I had some important work that day."

He then clarified everyone's doubts one by one. Their lecture got over and everyone started disbursing.

"Nitara! Stay back for 5 minutes."

She gulped and nodded while everyone left.

"Y-yes sir?"

She asked nervously when he stepped right in front of her.

"Why did you lie to everyone that day?"

"W-which day sir?"

"Nitara!"

"P-pata nhi."

She said and he glared at her making her look down.

"Tell me the truth. Kyu jooth bola sabse?"

She looked up. Straight into his eyes and he suddenly wanted to take his question back. Because the emotions in her eyes gave away everything.

"Mai...Yuvan mai..."

"You can leave."

He cut her off but she didn't move. He started turning but she softly held his wrist making him freeze. No! He didn't want it to happen. He didn't want to hurt her fragile heart.

"I love you Yuvan. I've loved you since always. Pehle toh sirf crush tha. But that stage had long been crossed and the feelings that I experience with you, for you, cannot be termed only as crush or liking. I really really lo-"

Seems like the hurting part was inevitable now.

"I don't! And I can't! I've never seen you the way you think Nitara. For me, you've been my best friend's baby sister. Someone he loves and cares about a lot. More than anyone else and this is the reason all of us are protective and caring towards you. Because he has entrusted all his best buddies with this unsaid responsibility. Everyone in the group has a brotherly affection for you. And I have also-"

By this time, she was crying silently already. Before he could continue his sentence she screamed and clutched his wrist.

"No please! Mai...nhi seh paaungi Yuvan...just don't.... don't say that...I understand ... .if you don't feel...the same for me...but not that...please!"

It killed him to listen to that begging and pleading tone from her. She had always been very pampered by all of them and if Nitin ever got to know that he made her cry so much, Yuvan would never see the sun the next day.

She sobbed and looked at him, with tears filled eyes and wet lashes.

"I...I promise I'll never bring up this topic again...please don't hate me."

He nodded and patted her head.

"This is not your age to fall into these distractions, Nitara. You have your whole life ahead of you, a flourishing career if you focus. Padhai par dhyan do. Don't distract yourself with feelings. Ye feelings aaj hai, kal nhi hongi, lekin tumhara career aur success hogi tumhare saath. Focus on your career Nitara."

She sniffed and nodded her head. She wanted to say a lot of things. Her feelings for him were not going to go anywhere. She tried. She tried not to focus on him or her feelings for him but failed every time.

Yuvan felt and saw the change in her after that day. She started distancing herself from him. She used to sit in front but focus only on the lecture. She raised doubts but didn't look at him unnecessarily and focused on making notes.

He was happy that she was taking his words seriously. But something felt amiss. Her usual chirpiness and the glow on her face was lost. Her eyes lost the spark that they earlier had.

Nitara had to submit her assignment to Yuvan. At first, she thought about submitting in the class itself but she wasn't feeling well today and wanted to go back home early so she decided to submit it early.

His cabin door was already open but Nitara stopped short seeing the scene in front of her. Yuvan was in a very cosy position with another fellow doctor. She was in his arms holding his coat tightly and he held her waist securely.

She took a sharp breath and immediately shut the door. Yuvan was helping the doctor up when he heard the door slam shut and saw a figure running out. Shit! Did someone see them like this and misunderstand?

He rushed towards the door and opened it to see Nitara. He closed his eyes cursing his fate and rushed after her.

"Nitara! Wait! Baat suno meri!"

He held her arm and stopped her. She bumped into his chest and he panted heavily due to running. He saw her eyes red and getting teary.

"It's not like you think it is. We were discussing something and..."

"It's your life Dr. Yuvan. Mai bas assignment submit krne aayi thi. Shayad galat time pr aa gyi. Sorry to interrupt."

She said and pushed the assignment against his chest. She ran away and he stood there clutching the assignment to his chest.

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