---
The basketball court was quiet now. The boys had finished their game, the echoes of bouncing balls and sneakers scraping the ground long faded. Niki sat alone on the stands, staring blankly at the court. Her fists clenched and unclenched as her mind raced.
"Ignore him," she muttered to herself, voice sharp and shaky. "I decided to ignore him at the restaurant. That was supposed to be it!"
She buried her face in her hands, groaning. "But now he's in my college too? What the hell is happening?"
She shot to her feet, pacing back and forth. "I worked so hard to keep things separate! Restaurant life, college life — two different worlds. I could deal with seeing him once in a while at the café. Pretend he doesn't exist, focus on the orders, serve the customers, and leave. Simple. Easy."
Her breathing grew heavier. "But now? Now he's in my class, staring at me like…" She clenched her fists, kicking a stray bottle cap across the court. "Why me, God? Why do I have to deal with him everywhere I go?!"
The sky burned orange as the sun dipped lower. Niki sighed, rubbing her face. "Ignore him. Just… ignore him. It worked before. It can work again."
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her out of her spiral. She pulled it out and glanced at the screen — Mom.
"Shit." She checked the time. She was late. Again.
---
Shopping Spree — Or Not
The market was alive with color and sound. Shops glittered with sequined sarees, vibrant lehengas, and jewelry that sparkled under the shop lights. Women moved from one stall to another, bargaining loudly, their laughter mixing with the shopkeepers' calls.
Niki trailed behind her mother and sister, her eyes distant, her mind still stuck in the classroom.
Her mother held up a bright red lehenga. "Look at this! Perfect for the sangeet, right?"
Didi squealed with excitement. "It's so pretty! Ma, let's get it." She twirled in front of the mirror, imagining herself in the outfit.
Niki barely glanced at the lehenga. Her fingers brushed the fabric, but she saw Aditya's face in her mind — cold eyes boring into hers, the tension in the air thick enough to choke her.
"Niki?" Her mother's sharp voice snapped her back to reality.
"Huh?"
Her mother frowned. "Where are you lost? Try this suit. Let's see if it fits."
Niki sighed, taking the suit from her mother. She walked into the trial room, staring at her reflection. The suit hung lifelessly from her shoulders, but she barely noticed. Her mind kept playing that moment over and over — Aditya's hard gaze, the silence, the weight of unspoken words.
"Ignore him," she whispered to herself. "Just ignore him."
She stepped out of the trial room and handed the suit back without saying a word.
Her sister looked at her, confused. "You didn't like it?"
"It's fine," Niki muttered. "Get whatever you want."
As the shopping dragged on, her mother and sister fussed over dupattas and jewelry, but Niki felt like a ghost — present, yet invisible. The world around her buzzed with life, but she was stuck somewhere else, her thoughts spiraling back to the past she had tried so hard to bury.
Her phone buzzed again. She pulled it out, relieved for the distraction. Biki flashed on the screen.
She stepped away from the crowd and answered. "Hello?"
"Niki! Where are you?" Biki's voice was its usual cheerful self. "It's past your shift. Customers are asking for you. Your fan club is getting impatient!"
Niki squeezed her eyes shut, leaning against a wall. "Biki… I can't make it today. Something came up."
"Everything okay?" His tone softened.
"Yeah. Family stuff. I'll make up for it tomorrow, okay?"
A pause. "Alright. Just don't overwork yourself. See you tomorrow."
She hung up, guilt twisting inside her. She rarely skipped work, but today… today, she just couldn't.
---
Café Shift — Overdrive
The next evening, the familiar chime of the café door rang as Niki walked in. The scent of coffee and fresh pastries filled the air, warm and comforting. She tied her apron around her waist, rolled up her sleeves, and got straight to work.
Biki watched her from behind the counter, raising an eyebrow. "You're early."
"Making up for yesterday." Niki's voice was clipped, her focus already on clearing the tables.
The café bustled with its usual rhythm — the hiss of the coffee machine, the clinking of cups, quiet conversations floating through the air. Niki moved like a machine, taking orders, serving food, wiping tables. Her hands worked on autopilot while her mind refused to quiet down.
Every time she tried to focus, her thoughts dragged her back. Aditya. That stare. The tension. The way the whole room had gone silent when their eyes met.
"Earth to Niki!"
She blinked, realizing Biki was waving a hand in front of her face. "What?"
"You've been wiping that table for five minutes." He gestured toward the spotless surface. "Care to tell me what's going on?"
She sighed, leaning against the counter. "It's nothing. Just… tired."
Biki didn't push. "Alright. But don't overdo it." He handed her a tray with two cappuccinos. "Table six."
Niki grabbed the tray and walked toward the table, her thoughts still clouded. The world around her felt distant — the laughter, the conversations, the smell of coffee — everything blurred into the background.
She glanced out the window. The streetlights glowed softly against the dark sky, and for a moment, she wished she could disappear into the night. Far away from college. Far away from the café. Far away from Aditya.
But no matter how much she tried, some things just wouldn't let go.