As the door to the lecture hall swung open, a heavy silence fell upon the students. The tall man walked in with an air of quiet dominance, his sharp eyes scanning the room with a gaze so intense that it sent a ripple of anticipation through the class. His dark demeanor, coupled with his unwavering posture, commanded attention without uttering a single word.

The students sat up straighter, some exchanging curious glances. His black suit fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders, and the way he carried himself suggested authority—someone who didn’t tolerate nonsense.

But then, his piercing gaze landed on something—or rather, someone.

Seated in the middle rows, amidst a sea of students, was the girl. The same girl he had encountered just moments ago in the corridor. The girl with deep brown eyes, an innocent face, and a presence so soft yet so inexplicably captivating. She sat there, unaware at first, flipping through her notebook, her long hair falling effortlessly over her shoulders.

For the briefest moment, something flickered in his usually unreadable eyes. Admiration? Intrigue? Even he wasn’t sure. But there was something about her, something that made him look twice.

Just then, his thoughts were abruptly interrupted.

“Sir, it’s not your lecture!” a student blurted out, pulling the entire class’s attention back to reality. A murmur of agreement followed as another added, “This is supposed to be our psychology class. Where is our faculty?”

A beat of silence.

The tall man straightened, his expression hardening back into the unreadable mask he always wore. Then, in a voice sharp yet rich with authority, he spoke.

“I am your new psychology lecturer.” His deep, bold voice carried through the room effortlessly, silencing the whispers in an instant. His gaze swept over the students, who now sat frozen, stunned by the revelation. “From today onwards, I will be taking all your lectures.”

A heavy pause followed, the air thick with tension. Then, stepping forward, he spoke again.

“My name is Professor Ishaan Singh Sooryavanshi.” His name rolled off his tongue with effortless power, as though it carried a legacy of its own. He let the words settle in before continuing, “I hold a doctorate in psychology and have spent the last few years specializing in behavioral analysis and cognitive sciences. My teaching methods will be strict but fair. If you pay attention, you will learn more than just what’s in the textbooks.”

He took a deliberate pause, letting his words sink in.

“And one more thing,” he added, his sharp gaze meeting theirs. “In my class, discipline is non-negotiable.”

The students exchanged looks, some intimidated, some intrigued. But one pair of brown eyes remained locked on him, studying him just as he had studied her.

Without breaking the eye contact, he turned slightly, picked up the chalk, and wrote his name on the board in bold strokes.

“Let’s begin.”

And just like that, the first chapter of an unforgettable story had begun.

👀🌼✨

As Professor Ishaan Singh Sooryavanshi stepped out of the lecture hall, his sharp eyes instinctively scanned the corridor. His mind was still focused on the class, but just as he turned towards the staff room, something unusual caught his attention.

Two girls were sneaking out of the classroom, their movements careful yet unmistakably guilty. His sharp gaze narrowed slightly as he recognized one of them. The girl with the brown eyes.

His footsteps came to a halt.

“Aaravi Rajput,” he thought to himself, recalling the intense yet unspoken moment they had shared earlier in the lecture hall.

Without hesitation, his deep voice echoed through the corridor, laced with quiet authority.

“You two. Stop.”

The girls froze in their tracks, startled by the sudden call. They turned around hesitantly, their expressions a mix of nervousness and guilt. Aaravi clutched her bag tightly, her heartbeat quickening as those piercing dark eyes bore into her. Beside her, the other girl—her friend—was already murmuring something under her breath, struggling to find the right words.

Professor Ishaan took a step forward, his imposing presence making them feel even smaller. His sharp gaze flickered between the two.

“Where are you both going?” he asked, his deep voice calm yet firm.

The girl beside Aaravi—who looked just as nervous—quickly replied, her voice barely above a whisper, “S-Sir… actually… she is having a stomachache.”

Professor Ishaan arched an eyebrow, his expression unreadable as he studied them. His gaze then settled on Aaravi, who was now looking down, almost as if trying to avoid his piercing stare.

He folded his arms across his chest. “Name?”

The nervous girl hesitated for a moment before replying, “Myself Anvi Raghuvanshi, from LLB.”

His eyes then moved to Aaravi. She hesitated for a split second before softly saying, “Myself Aaravi Rajput.”

The silence stretched between them. He didn’t speak immediately, simply observing them with a look that made it clear he wasn’t easy to fool. Anvi shuffled uncomfortably, while Aaravi just held onto her friend’s hand tighter.

After a long pause, Ishaan finally exhaled, his gaze softening just slightly.

“Fine. You can go.” His deep voice was measured, yet firm. “But after that, go directly to your class and focus on your studies. No more wandering around.”

Both girls nodded quickly, their relief evident. He didn’t say anything more, simply giving them one last look before turning away and continuing towards the staff room.

But as he walked away, something made him stop.

A strange, lingering feeling.

He turned his head slightly—only to catch Aaravi staring at him.

She wasn’t looking away, her brown eyes fixed on his retreating figure. There was something in her gaze—curiosity, intrigue, or perhaps something even deeper—that made him pause for just a moment.

A small smirk played at the corner of his lips.

Then, in a way so subtle yet captivating, he gave her a slight, knowing smile. A smile that lasted only a second but left a lasting impact.

Aaravi’s breath hitched slightly as she quickly looked away, her cheeks warming, her heart beating just a little faster.

Professor Ishaan turned back and continued his walk, a faint amusement lingering in his dark eyes.

And just like that, an unspoken connection had begun to weave itself between them—one that neither of them yet understood.

👀🌼✨

As Aaravi and Anvi walked towards the sick room, their steps were slow and measured, trying to make their act look as convincing as possible. The corridor was quiet, lined with the soft glow of the afternoon sun filtering in through the large windows. Aaravi played her part well, her hand lightly resting on her stomach, her face feigning discomfort, while Anvi whispered hurriedly, “Just act normal. We’ll stay for a while and then head back to class.”

But even as she moved effortlessly, Aaravi felt something—a shift in the air, a weight in the silence. It was the unmistakable feeling of being watched.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Trying not to make it obvious, she lifted her eyes and scanned her surroundings. Her gaze drifted towards the staffroom, where the glass doors allowed a clear view of the inside. And then—her breath caught in her throat.

It was him.

Professor Ishaan Singh Sooryavanshi.

He was seated inside, one hand resting on the desk, his long fingers tapping idly against a file, but his eyes—those deep, unreadable eyes—were fixed on her.

Aaravi felt a sudden rush of heat creep up her neck.

For the third time that day, their eyes locked.

A strange turmoil erupted inside her. What was this? Why did she keep making eye contact with him? Was it just a coincidence? Or was she actually drawing his attention somehow?

Her mind raced. Does he think I’m staring at him? Admiring him? Or worse—does he think I’m purposely trying to seek his attention?

She swallowed hard, breaking the eye contact abruptly, but the feeling of his gaze lingered. She had seen something in those eyes—something unreadable, something almost knowing. It wasn’t just a casual glance. It was as if he had been observing her, noticing her movements, trying to figure her out.

Anvi nudged her lightly. “Hey, what happened? Why are you suddenly so silent?”

Aaravi shook her head quickly. “Nothing,” she whispered, forcing herself to focus. But her mind was far from at ease.

Because, no matter how hard she tried to ignore it, one thought refused to leave her mind—

Why does it feel like this isn’t the last time I’ll find him looking at me?

👀🌼✨