Nandini stood in front of the mirror, expertly applying her eyeliner, while her mother, Meena, hovered at the door like a buzzing notification, Nandini couldn't swipe away.

Nandini loved her mother, she really did. But right now, she was irritating Nandini.

"Nandu, ek baar dekh toh le. Software engineer hai ladka Canada mai. Bade decent log hai."

(Nandu, at least look at it once. The boy is a software engineer in Canada. They are very decent.)

Her mother pleaded, holding her phone screen inches away from Nandini's face. Nandini didn't spare a glance. 

"Canada mai hai na? Toh wahi rehne do. Wese bhi waha thand bohot hoti hai, meri hotness se kahi waha ki baraf na pighal jaaye."

(He is in Canada right? Let him be there. Anyway it is very cold there, the ice will melt there due to my hotness.)

"Tu har baar ka mazaak kyu banati hai? Final year hai tera. Career ke saath saath ghar ka bhi sochna hota hai na."

(Why do you make a joke out of everything? This is your final year. You have to think about career and home together.)

Meena sighed, exasperated. Nandini finally turned around, tossing her hair over her shoulder. She grabbed her bag and gave her mother a quick side-hug.

"Ghar ka main soch lungi, Ma. Pehle mujhe Psychology ki degree lene do taaki main samajh saku ki aap itni tension kyun leti ho."

(I will think about home, Ma. Let me get the Psychology degree so that I can understand why you worry so much.)

Before her mother could say anything else, Nandini was out the door.

The moment Nandini stepped onto the college campus, the atmosphere seemed to shift. 

By the time she reached the canteen, her besties, Riya and Sneha, were already waiting with cold coffees in their hands.

"Tune final year thesis ki group list dekhi?"

(Did you see the final year thesis group?)

Riya asked, her voice filled with excitement. Nandini slid into the chair, taking a sip of her coffee and sighing in bliss.

"Nope! Kyu? Kisi kamchor ke saath pair up kia hai kya mujhe? Because I'm not doing two people's worth of research while someone else naps."

(Why? Did they pair me up for some slacker?)

"Worse. Or better, depending on how you look at it."

Sneha smirked.

"You got paired with someone from the Industrial Psychology batch."

"I don't care who it is. Bas mera dimaag kharab na kare."

(I just don’t want him to bother me.)

Nandini shrugged, her tone dripping with her signature nonchalance.

A junior walked past their table, accidentally bumping into Nandini's chair and spilling a few drops of water on her bag. The poor boy froze, looking like he had just stepped on a landmine.

"Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to-"

Nandini looked at the wet spot, then up at him, her eyes narrowing.

"It's okay. Galti toh tumhare parents se bhi hui thi, par kya kr skte hai? Just watch where you're going next time."

(Your parents also made a mistake, but what can we do?)

The boy scurried away while Riya and Sneha burst out laughing. That was Nandini, sharp-tongued, untouchable, and always ready with a comeback that could leave a scar.

She was the baddie of the department, the girl who could destroy a person's confidence before they even finished saying Hello.

As the trio walked toward the HOD's office to confirm their topics, Nandini felt a rare flicker of curiosity.

She had spent three years being the smartest person in every room. Her wit was her shield, it kept people at a distance where they could admire her but never touch her.

"By the way, who is this guy?"

Nandini asked, trying to sound bored.

"Dev, right?"

"Yeah, Dev."

Riya said.

"From what I've heard...he's quiet. Not the nerdy quiet though. It's more like 'I don't care about anything' quiet."

Nandini adjusted her bag strap, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Achha? Dekhte hai ye 'don't care' attitude kab tak tikega."

(Really? Let’s see for how ling this ‘don’t care’ attitude stays.)

"Don't be too mean to him. Waise suna hai dikhne mai toh hot hai banda."

(I have heard he is hot.)

Sneha teased. Nandini rolled her eyes, pushing open the heavy wooden door of the department office.

"I need a partner, not a model, Sneha. Chalo ab, let's get this over with."

She stepped into the office, her heels clicking sharply against the floor, unaware that for the first time in her life, her words were about to meet a match that didn't care about her sting. She was about to face her biggest challenge.

On the other hand, Dev was sprawled on the sofa as if he had nowhere to be in the world. His legs were crossed at the ankles on the dining table. 

His father, Mr. Khanna, walked into the room and stopped, staring at Dev's feet on the table. He cleared his throat. Dev didn't move. He cleared it again, louder.

"Dev, table paer rakhne ke liye hai ya khaana rakhne ke liye?"

(Dev, is the table for keeping legs or food?)

His father asked, raising an eyebrow. Dev finally looked up, a small, lazy smirk playing on his lips.

"Papa, table multitasker hai. Aap ispe chai rakho, main pair rakh raha hoon. Simple."

(Papa, table is a multitasker. You keep your tea, I will keep my feet.)

His mother walked in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. She swatted at his feet with a dish towel, and Dev finally swung them down, laughing.

"Uth ja ab! Final year hai tera, thodi toh seriousness dikha."

(Get up now! It’s your final year, be serious.)

She scolded, though she was already handing him a glass of fresh juice.

"Log kehte hain bade hoke bache samajhdaar ho jaate hain, tu toh ulta chal raha hai."

(People say that kids get smart when they grow up, you are going opposite.)

Dev took the juice and finished it in one go. He stood up and gave his mom a quick, one-armed squeeze that made her grumble and smile at the same time.

"Samajhdaar ho gaya toh aapko tang kaun karega, Mummy? Waise bhi, Psychology padh raha hoon, thoda abnormal hona toh banta hai na."

(If I get smart, how will I trouble you, Mummy? Anyway, I am studying Psychology, I have to be a little abnormal.)

He grabbed his car keys and an apple, heading for the door before his father could start a lecture on discipline.

"Shaam ko jaldi aana!"

(Come home early in the evening!)

His dad called out.

"Koshish karunga, no promises!"

(I will try, no promises!)

Dev yelled back, already halfway to his car.

At the college parking lot, a black SUV pulled in with a screech. Dev stepped out, his eyes hidden behind dark aviators. 

His group of friends, mostly guys who treated him like a mix between a leader and a loose cannon, were huddled near the stairs.

"Bhai, late ho gaya aaj toh."

(Bhai, you are late today.)

Kabir, his closest friend, said as Dev approached.

"Attendance ka scene ho jayega."

(Attendance will be a problem.)

Dev shrugged, leaning against a pillar.

"Honey mam ki class hai na? Unhe toh khud time ki samajh nahi hai. Do minute chill kar."

(It’s Honey mam’s class right? She isn’t punctual herself. Chill for some time.)

They moved toward the notice board where the final thesis pairings had been pinned. A crowd of stressed students was buzzing around it, but as Dev approached, they seemed to part. 

He scanned the list with a bored expression until he found his name.

Dev – Industrial Psychology

Partner: Nandini – Clinical Psychology

"Oho! Nandini!"

Kabir whistled.

"Bhai, teri toh lag gayi. Woh pure batch ki sabse khatarnaak ladki hai."

(Bhai, you are gone. She is the most dangerous girl of the entire batch.)

Dev stared at the name for a second. He had seen Nandini around. He knew her reputation, the girl with the sharp tongue. He knew people were scared of her wit.

"Khatarnaak?"

(Dangerous?)

Dev repeated, a slow, predatory smirk finally breaking his mask.

"Interesting."

"Seriously, Dev. Woh tujhe kacha chaba jayegi agar tune usse badtameezi ki."

(She will eat you alive if you try to misbehave.)

Another friend warned. Dev tossed the half-eaten apple into a nearby bin with perfect aim. He adjusted his collar and started walking toward the department office, his stride confident and bold.

"Usko bolo taiyaar rahe. I don't like boring partners. Aur rahi baat chabane ki... toh dekhte hain pehle kaun hatiyar daalta hai."

(Ask her to get ready…And about eating alive…let’s see who gives up first.)

He didn't care about her baddie status, or her sting. In his mind, she was just another person who needed to hear the truth. And Dev was more than happy to deliver it, completely unfiltered.