Nandini was leaning against the wall outside the HOD's office, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

She had been waiting for fifteen minutes. Her foot tapped a rhythmic, annoyed beat against the floor.

"Ugh! Seriously? Pehle din hi late? My thesis is going to be a disaster if this continues."

(On the first day itself?)

She muttered to Riya.

"Relax, Nandu. Maybe he's just stuck in traffic."

Riya offered, trying to calm her down.

"Traffic is an excuse for losers. Winners hamesha punctual hote hai."

(Winners are always punctual.)

Nandini snapped, checking her watch again.

"Agar ye do minute mai nhi aaya, mai HOD se bol dungi ki mujhe solo project krna hai. I don't have the patience to babysit a grown man."

(If he doesn’t come in two minutes, I will tell the HOD I want to do a solo project.)

Just as the words left her mouth, a shadow fell over her. A tall, broad-shouldered figure sauntered down the hallway. He wasn't rushing.

In fact, he looked like he was taking a leisurely stroll in a park. He had a pair of sunglasses hooked into the neck of his shirt and a look on his face that suggested the world revolved around him.

He stopped in front of her and looked at her.

"Tum hi Nandini ho?"

(You are Nandini?)

Dev asked, his voice low and completely devoid of any apology. Nandini straightened up, her eyes flashing. She didn't like how he didn't even acknowledge his lateness.

"Aur tum Dev hoge? The guy who clearly thinks punctuality is an optional elective. Pandrah minute late ho tum. Time dekhna aata hai ya wo bhi Industrial Psychology ke syllabus se bahar hai?"

(And you must be Dev?....You are fifteen minutes late. You know how to look at the time or is that out of Industrial Psychology’s syllabus as well.)

Dev didn't flinch. He didn't even blink. He just leaned one hand against the wall right next to her head, invading her personal space without a second thought.

"Aata hai. Par tum gusse mai itni achhi lag rahi thi, maine socha do minute aur wait karwa leta hoon. Better view, you know?"

(I know. But you were looking so cute in anger, I thought of making you wait two minutes more.)

Nandini's eyes widened. She had expected him to make an excuse, or maybe get defensive. She hadn't expected a blatant, nonchalant compliment wrapped in a taunt.

"Oh, please. Yeh sasti flirting apne Industrial batch ki ladkiyon pe try karna. Yaha kaam nahi karegi."

(Try this cheap flirting on girls of your Industrial batch. This will not work here.)

She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm here to write a thesis, not to provide you with a view. Tumhara dimag thik toh hai na? Ya graduation tak pahunchte pahunchte saara kharch khatam ho gaya?"

(Is your mind alright? Or is everything spent while reaching graduation?)

Dev tilted his head, a small, lazy smirk playing on his lips.

"Dimaag toh bohot hai. Par lagta hai tumhare paas gussa thoda zyada hai. Itni choti si body mein itna saara nakhra fit kaise ho jata hai?"

(I have a lot of brain. But I think you have anger more. How does so much tantrum fit in such a small body?)

Nandini felt her face heat up, but she wasn't about to back down. This was her territory.

"Listen, Mr. Ice King. I've heard about you. Bold ho, filter nahi hai, blah blah. But I don't care. Mujhe mera A grade chahiye. So, unless you want to be the reason I fail, start acting like a partner and less like a tourist."

(You’re bold, no filter, blah blah….I want my A grade.)

She stepped closer, pointing a finger at his chest.

"Mujhe aise partner chahiye jo kaam kare, meri sunne, aur faltu ki bakwaas na kare. Samjhe? Ya Psychology ki language mein samjhau?"

(I want a partner who works, listens to me, and doesn’t talk rubbish. Got it? Or should I explain in Psychology language?)

Dev looked down at her finger, then back at her eyes. He didn't move away. If anything, he leaned in closer, his face just inches from hers. The scent of his cologne was faint but distracting.

"Sunn toh sab raha hoon. Par meri sunne wala part thoda mushkil hai. I don't take orders, Nandini. Suggestion de sakti ho, par boss banne ki koshish mat karna. Tumhare nakhre handle karne ke liye main hired nahi hoon."

(I heard everything. But the listening part is a little difficult….You can suggest, but don’t try to become the boss. I am not hired to handle your tantrums.)

Nandini let out a dry, sharp laugh.

"Boss toh main hoon, sweetheart. Tumhe bas sign karna hai jaha main bolu. Agar meri speed match nahi kar sakte, toh abhi bol do. Main kisi aur ko dhoond lungi if you're scared of following me."

(I am the boss, sweetheart. You just sign where I ask you to. If you cannot match my speed, just tell me now. I will find someone else if you’re scared of following me.)

"Main darta toh kisi se nahi hoon."

(I am not scared of anyone.)

Dev said, his tone turning dangerously calm.

"Aur tumse toh bilkul nahi. Tumhare paas sirf baatein hain. Sharp tongue, but I bet you're all bark and no bite."

(Especially you. You only have words.)

"Try me."

Nandini challenged, her chin held high.

"Tumhe line par laane mai mujhe do din bhi nhi lagenge. Tumhare jaise cool ladke maine bohot dekhe hain. Ek baar library mein bitha diya na, toh saari coolness nikal jayegi."

(It will not take me even two days to get you in line. I have seen many cool boys like you. Once I make you sit in the library, all the coolness will vanish.)

Nandini felt proud of that one. She saw Dev go quiet for a second and thought she had finally shut him up. She felt a surge of triumph.

'Finally, the Ice King has no comeback.'

She thought. She crossed her arms again, a smug look on her face, waiting for him to admit defeat.

But Dev didn't look defeated. He looked at her face, his gaze lingering on her eyes, then her nose, and then finally her lips. The silence stretched, becoming heavy and uncomfortable.

"Kya dekh rahe ho?"

(What are you looking at?)

She snapped, trying to hide the fact that her heart had started thumping a bit faster. Dev leaned in even closer, whispering right into her ear, his breath warm against her skin.

"Sacch bolu? Library mein tumhare saath baithne ka plan toh mera bhi tha. Par padhne ke liye nahi. Tum jab gussa karti ho na, toh tumhare kaan laal ho jaate hain. It's actually very distracting. How am I supposed to focus on research when my partner looks like a cute little strawberry?"

(Should I tell the truth? Even I had plans of sitting in the library with you. But not for studying. When you get angry, you ears get red.)

Nandini froze. The sarcasm died in her throat. Her brain, usually so quick with a stinging reply, completely short-circuited.

She felt a heat creep from her neck all the way to her cheeks. She was 'The Baddie', the girl who made juniors cry, and here was this guy calling her a strawberry to her face.

"Tum... tum..."

(You…you…)

She stammered, her voice suddenly an octave higher.

"Main?"

(I?)

Dev asked, pulling back just enough to look at her blushing face. His smirk was wider now, full of mischief.

"Tum toh bade bade dialogues maar rahi thi. Ab kya hua? Clinical Psychology mein blushing ka chapter miss kar diya tha kya?"

(You were saying such dialogues. What now? Did you miss the chapter of blushing in Clinical Psychology?)

Nandini turned her head away, staring intensely at a notice on the wall about canteen timings, though she couldn't read a single word.

"Shut up! Bakwaas mat karo. Chalo, HOD ke cabin mein jaana hai."

(Don’t speak rubbish. Come on, we have to go to the HOD’s cabin.)

She mumbled, her usual confidence replaced by a flustered hurry. She practically ran toward the office door, her heels clicking faster than usual.

Dev stayed where he was for a second, watching her go. He realized he had found something much more interesting than a thesis topic.

He caught up to her in two long strides, walking right beside her.

"Waise, Nandini..."

(By the way, Nandini…)

He said, his voice loud enough for a few other students to hear.

"Kya hai ab?"

(What is it?)

She snapped, not looking at him.

"Yellow suits you. Par jab tum blush karti ho na, toh red zyada suit karta hai. Keep it up. I like the contrast."

(But when you blush, red suits you more.)

Nandini's hand slipped on the doorknob. She gripped it hard, taking a deep breath to stabilize herself. She wanted to say something mean, something witty that would put him in his place, but for the first time in three years, she couldn't find the words.

Dev opened the door for her, bowing slightly with a mock-gentlemanly gesture.

"After you, my angry strawberry."

Nandini marched inside, her face practically glowing red. Behind her, Dev followed, his hands in his pockets, looking like he had already won the semester. He had realized one thing, making the campus queen go quiet was his new favourite hobby. And he was very, very good at it.