I have exactly three priorities in life.

Passing MBBS without crying in the washroom.

Coffee strong enough to revive a dead patient.

And… Nishit.

My boyfriend.

Yeah. Mine.

(Still can’t believe that sometimes.)

The order changes depending on how badly exams are attacking me, but today? It is gonna get worse.

(P.S. Nishit is permanently at number one.)

Delhi is being unnecessarily dramatic again.

The sun is literally out here behaving like it owns the sky, and I’m this close to filing a legal complaint against it. I walk into college half-dead, white coat wrinkled, hair in a messy bun that screams “I gave up but I tried”, and coffee in my hand like it’s oxygen.

“Listen,” I say, taking a sip, “if I fail anatomy, I’m suing the human body.”

Riya nearly chokes. “Sue your brain first. It stopped working in first year.”

I gasp. “Excuse me, my brain works perfectly fine.”

“Yeah?” she raises an eyebrow. “Then why did you write Hajmola is the best medicine for stomach ache?”

I pause.

“…Because it is.”

She just stares at me. “I need a new best friend.”

We’re walking through the corridor when I see him.

No dramatic slow turn today.

No hesitation.

Just… instinct.

Because when you love someone, you don’t search for them.

You just… find them.

Nishit.

Leaning against the wall, talking to his friends, looking effortlessly perfect like always. That stupid half-smile that still makes my heart trip over itself like it’s running late.

Riya sighs. “Oh look. The reason your academic downfall is confirmed.”

“Shut up,” I mumble, already fixing my hair.

“You don’t even need to ask…you look decent for once.”

“Wow,” I glare. “Supportive queen.”

I walk up to him, trying to act normal.

Failing, obviously.

He looks up—

And his entire expression softens.

That’s the thing about him.

He doesn’t just look at me.

He sees me.

“Hey,” he says, smiling.

And God.

I don’t care how many times I hear that.

It still does something to me.

“Hey,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.

He steps closer. “You look tired.”

“Wow, thank you,” I deadpan. “That’s exactly what a girl wants to hear.”

He laughs softly, reaching out and tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“I mean it,” he says. “You need sleep.”

I roll my eyes. “I need a new life. Preferably without exams.”

He smirks. “Can’t help with that. But I can get you coffee.”

“I already have one.”

“Then I’ll get you another.”

“Now that,” I nod seriously, “is boyfriend material.”

He grins. “Good thing I already am.”

We walk together, talking about random thing...his classes, my never-ending syllabus, Riya third-wheeling us from a two feet distance and giving us commentary like a live audience.

Everything felt… peaceful.

Like this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.

And then— My phone rings.

I groan. “If this is another spam call, I’m throwing my phone.”

I check.

Bhai Calling.

My smile fades a little.

“Give me a sec,” I tell Nishit, stepping aside.

I pick up. “What happened?”

“Shivika,” my brother’s voice is serious.

Instantly, my chest tightens.

“What? Is everything okay?”

“Pack your bags.”

“…What?”

“You need to come to Home. Today. Dad's Order.”

I blink. “What do you mean today? I have college, I have exam today and—”

“Flight is booked. You have to board at night. It won't affect your today's exam.”

My brain literally crashes.

“Excuse me?!”

“I’ve sent the ticket. Don’t argue, just come.”

I start pacing. “At least tell me WHY?!”

Silence.

And I hate that silence.

“Something important has come up,” he says finally. “You need to be here.”

“Bhai—”

“Shivika.”

That tone.

The one that shuts everything down.

My fingers tighten around the phone. “Is everyone okay?”

“Yes,” he says quickly. “Everyone’s fine. Just come home.”

The call ends.

The call ended, but I kept staring at my phone.

For a second, I wondered if Bhai would call back and say it was all a misunderstanding.

He didn't.

I slipped the phone into my pocket.

Nishit was still standing where I'd left him, watching me with that quiet expression that always made it impossible to lie.

"So?" he asked.

"I have to leave tonight."

"Tonight?"

I nodded. "Flight's already booked."

He frowned slightly. "That fast?"

"I know."

There wasn't much else to say. I didn't know why I was being called home, and repeating that fact wasn't going to make either of us feel better.

He reached for my hand without saying anything.

His fingers were warm.

"Call me after you land."

"I will."

"And don't disappear for three days like last time."

I looked at him. "That happened once."

"It happened."

"I was studying."

"You were sleeping."

"Umm... yea kind of"

That finally earned a laugh.

I smiled.

For a moment, everything felt normal again.

Riya, who had been pretending not to eavesdrop from two feet away, clapped once.

"Beautiful. Amazing. Heartwarming. Now can the future doctors please remember there's an exam in forty minutes?"

Reality returned with full force.

I groaned.

"I hate this college."

"You say that every Monday," Riya reminded me.

"And yet my feelings remain valid."

The exam passed in a blur of nerves, diagrams, and me trying to remember whether my brain still contained any useful information.

By the time we stepped out of the examination hall, my headache had officially earned a medical diagnosis.

"I don't even want to know how I did," I declared.

"You wrote something," Riya said.

"That's already better than expected."

The moment we reached the hostel, I threw my bag onto the bed and opened my suitcase.

Or at least I tried.

Five minutes later, my room looked like a clothing explosion.

"I packed this morning," I muttered.

"Clearly not well," Riya replied, folding one of my kurtis before I managed to wrinkle it further.

"I had other priorities."

"Nishit." We say together.

She sighed. "At least you're self-aware."

I stuffed another pair of jeans into the suitcase before immediately pulling them out because I wasn't sure I wanted them anymore.

"I can't believe I'm leaving like this."

"Don't worry. You'll be back."

"I don't even know when."

Neither of us said anything after that.

The silence lasted exactly twelve seconds.

Then my stomach growled.

Loudly.

Riya looked up.

"There it is."

"What?"

"The real emergency."

I placed a hand dramatically over my stomach.

"I am starving."

"You had breakfast."

"That was six hours ago."

"You've been emotionally supported by coffee ever since."

"My body requires solids."

"It requires self-control."

"I am medically incapable of making good decisions on an empty stomach."

She laughed.

"Fine. We'll grab something nearby. But only something quick."

I pointed at her.

"I knew you loved me."

"I love peace and quiet. Feeding you is the fastest way to achieve both."

Ten minutes later, we were walking down the street in search of the nearest café.

That was the plan.

A café. A sandwich. Maybe coffee.

Instead, life presented us with a wedding.

Not a small gathering.

An enormous one.

Music floated into the street.

Rows of lights covered the entrance.

And somewhere inside, someone had clearly decided that every possible delicious food deserved to exist in one place.

The aroma drifted all the way to the road.

Fresh samosas. Paneer. Desserts.

I stopped walking.

Riya noticed immediately.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Do you smell that?"

"I do. We are still not crashing someone's wedding."

"We're hungry students."

"We're trespassers."

"I prefer 'unexpected guests.'"

She grabbed my arm before I could move.

"Shivika."

"My stomach has rights."

"Your stomach is going to get us arrested one day."

I looked toward the entrance again.

"...Worth considering."

She sighed the sigh of someone questioning every life choice that had led to becoming my best friend.

Unfortunately for her...

I had already started walking.

The entrance was crowded enough that no one spared us a second glance.

People were busy greeting relatives, fixing dupattas, balancing gift boxes, chasing children who had clearly declared war on basic discipline.

Which meant... We blended in.

Music echoing. People laughing. Color everywhere.

And food.

So much food.

Buffet counters lined up like heaven’s entry gate.

My stomach made a sound so emotional I almost felt bad for it.

“I think I’ve been chosen,” I whispered.

Riya hissed, “You’ve been chosen to get caught.”

“Whatever... shut up.”

We moved carefully, trying to look like we belonged.

And honestly?

That was easy.

Because I was wearing my college fest outfit.

A soft pastel kurti with delicate white embroidery, paired with simple pants.

It was something I had packed thinking I’d wear it casually during fest events.

It looked innocent.

Respectable.

Harmless.

And for a moment, I actually thought—okay, maybe I can pass as a guest.

Until I saw a Guy.

He was standing slightly away from the crowd.

Not involved in the chaos.

Just… there.

Tall.

Calm.

Wearing a light-toned kurta that matched the entire aesthetic of the wedding so perfectly it almost felt intentional.

And for a split second, I just stared.

Not romantically.

Not dramatically.

Just… confused.

Because it looked like someone had coordinated us.

Like I had accidentally matched outfits with a stranger at a wedding I was illegally attending that too just for food...

“No,” I whispered. “Focus. Food first.”

We reached the buffet area.

I could SEE it now.

Samosas. Paneer. Rice. Desserts.

My life was literally one plate away from healing.

I reached forward—

“Excuse me?”

I froze.

That voice cut through everything.

Sharp. Authoritative.

A woman stood in front of me, dressed like she was in charge of the entire universe.

Her eyes scanned me slowly.

Not friendly.

Not welcoming.

Suspicious.

“Umm...Who are you?” she asked.

My brain blanked.

My friend subtly stepped back.

TRAITOR.

I smiled instantly. Too fast. Too fake.

“Umm...Hi,” I said.

She didn’t smile back.

Bad sign.

My stomach growled loudly again like it wanted to ruin me personally.

Even louder this time.

Perfect.

Just perfect.

Think, Shivika. Think.

And then my eyes landed on him again.

The guy in the matching outfit.

Still standing there.

Still completely unaware of my downfall.

Still my only exit strategy.

So I did it.

I pointed.

Straight at him.

With full confidence I did NOT actually possess.

“I am with him,” I said.

Silence.

The world paused like someone had pressed mute on reality.

The woman blinked. “With… him?”

I nodded quickly. “Yes. I am his fianceé.”

That sentence left my mouth like it had its own permission.

Like I wasn’t even involved in the decision anymore.

The guy turned.

(WHY DO I TALK SO LOUDLY!?!)

Slowly.

Very slowly.

Like his brain had to restart to process what just happened.

His eyes landed on my finger.

Then me.

Then the crime scene I had created.

“Ye Kab Hua?” he said.

(Translation: When did this happened?)

That was it.

That was my contribution to humanity.

Who is this not so RANDOM... RANDOM GUYY??