Inside the HOD's office, Nandini sat rigidly in the guest chair, her fingers twisting the strap of her bag. Dev, on the other hand, looked like he was auditioning for a furniture advertisement, leaning back with one arm draped over the empty chair beside him.

"So, it's settled."

The HOD said, looking over his spectacles.

"The topic is 'The Psychological Impact of Workplace Hierarchy.' You two need to submit the first three chapters within the next three months."

Nandini stood up the second the professor finished his sentence. She needed air. More importantly, she needed to get away from the boy who was currently looking at her like she was a puzzle he'd already solved.

She marched out of the office and into the empty corridor of the third floor. She could hear his footsteps behind her, heavy, slow, and infuriating.

"Nandini, ruko toh. Itni jaldi mein kyun ho?"

(Nandini, wait. Why are you in such a hurry?)

Dev called out. She spun around, her ponytail whipping through the air.

"Listen, Dev. Maine tumhari badtameezi office ke andar tolerate kar li kyunki waha Sir baithe the. Par bahar, mere rules chalte hain. If you think calling me names like strawberry is going to make me soft, you're delusional."

(I tolerated your misbehaviour inside the office because sir was there. But here, my rules work.)

Dev stopped a few feet away, his hands sliding into his pockets. He looked at her with a tilted head, a look of pure, unfiltered amusement on his face.

"Soft? Maine kab kaha tum soft ho?"

(When did I say you’re soft?)

"Just stay away from me, and focus on the work. I will see you tomorrow in the library at 10. Don't be late!"

She turned to leave, feeling like she had regained her baddie status. She had set the boundary. She had been the one to give the order.

But she didn't get more than three steps before she felt a hand catch her elbow, just for a second, before letting go.

"Log sochenge hum date pe ja rahe hain."

(People will think we’re going on a date.)

Dev said, his voice dropping to that low, bold tone that made the hair on her arms stand up. Nandini wheeled around, her eyes wide.

"Date? Tumhara dimaag ghum gaya hai? It's a thesis meeting, Dev! Aur library mai kaunsi date hoti hai, idiot! Bhut bache honge. Koi kuch nahi sochega."

(Have you lost your mind?....What date takes place in library, idiot! There would be a lot of kids. Nobody will think anything.)

Dev stepped closer, forcing her to look up at him. He didn't have a shred of hesitation in his eyes. He looked at her with a gaze so direct it felt like a physical touch.

"Bhut bachhe honge, par unhe kya pata ki hum waha kya discuss kar rahe hain? Mere liye toh tumhara mujhe aise bulana ek sign hai."

(There will be a lot of kids, but nobody will know what we’re discussing there? For me, you calling me like this, is a sign.)

Nandini's wit, her greatest weapon, felt like it was rusting in real-time.

"Sign? Kaisa sign? Dimaag thik hai tumhara? It's a sign that I want to finish this degree and never see your face again!"

(What sign? Are you out of your mind?)

Dev leaned down, bringing his face level with hers. He was so close she could see the golden flecks in his eyes. He didn't look away, not even for a second.

"Really? Toh phir tumhari heartbeat itni tez kyu ho rahi hai? I can literally see it in your neck, Nandini."

(Then why is your heartbeat getting so fast?)

Nandini's mouth opened, then closed. She felt the blood rushing to her face again, that traitorous, hot flush that she couldn't control. She tried to think of something sharp, something that would cut through his boldness, but her mind was a blank slate.

"Woh... woh isliye kyunki mujhe gussa aa raha hai! Adrenaline gusse se bhi badhta hai, Mr. Expert!"

(That…that is because I am angry! Adrenaline increases due to anger too, Mr. Expert!)

She finally managed to say, though her voice lacked its usual sting. Dev smiled. It wasn't the lazy smirk from before. It was a genuine, bold grin that made him look dangerously handsome.

He reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers grazing her skin for a fraction of a second.

"Gusse aur attraction mein bohot thin line hoti hai, Nandini. Aur abhi tum uss line pe balance kar rahi ho."

(There is a very thin line between anger and attraction, Nandini. And you are balancing at that right now.)

Nandini felt like she was drowning in the heat of her own blush. She took a frantic step back, nearly tripping over her own feet.

"Tum... tum bohot badtameez ho! Shameless! Main ja rahi hoon!"

(You…you are very shameless!....I am leaving!)

She turned and practically bolted down the stairs, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. She didn't look back, but she could hear his laugh echoing through the corridor, a deep, confident sound that told her he knew exactly what he was doing.

Dev leaned against the railing, watching her head disappear around the corner of the staircase. He pulled out his phone and made a small note in his calendar for 10:00 AM the next day.

"Strawberry toh sach mein gusse mein laal ho gayi."

(Strawberry really got red in anger.)

He murmured to himself, the nonchalant mask settling back onto his face. He didn't care about the thesis anymore. The next six months were going to be the most entertaining months of his life.

He had found a queen who thought she was untouchable, and he was more than ready to show her that his Ice King heart was actually quite warm, and very, very bold.