Hey cuties.

I hope you enjoy this chapter <3. Don't forget to drop a comment.

Tanya's eyes narrow slightly but she ignores him. "Well, just thought I'd say hi. Didn't know you were into flower girls now," she says to Ivansh, her lips curling.

I stiffen slightly. Wait. What the hell?

Ivansh just leans back and replies, "Didn't know I had to report my choices to you."

Ouch.

Tanya's perfectly lined eyes flick to me again, this time sharper, like she's about to say something that'll sting. I beat her to it.

"Don't worry, Miss Tanya," I say, tone light but slicing. "I'm not into him. I prefer my men emotionally available and not haunted by clingy ghosts in lip gloss."

Hira almost chokes on her juice.

Simran actually claps under the table, whispering, "Daamn."

Ivansh looks at me, but says nothing.

Tanya, however, recovers fast. Her smile turns stiff. "How cute. You're already getting comfortable."

I smile sweetly. "Just matching the energy of the place, super welcoming you know. Especially you."

She's silent for a beat-lip twitching like she's trying to hold back a retort-but then she flips her hair and turns away with a huff. "Anyway. Nice meeting you, Maya," she throws over her shoulder like a knife disguised as a compliment.

"Likewise," I reply, waving mock-cheerfully as she struts off, heels clicking like she's auditioning for Mean Girls 2.

As soon as she's out of sight, Aryan leans across the table and whispers, "Please tell me you were sent by the universe to destroy her."

"But I didn't even do anything," I say innocently, popping a chip into my mouth.

"Come on," Hira says, digging her spoon into a cup of melting ice cream, "nobody talks to her like that. Except for Ivansh. And that's only because she's the self-declared queen bee of our college. But damn, you did great."

"Does she always disturb you guys over this annoying Captain Kapoor?" I ask, glancing at Ivansh, who is conveniently chewing like he didn't hear that.

"Yes, unfortunately," Aryan answers with a sigh. "Not just her. A lot of girls are head over heels for our dear Ivansh. We get interrupted by his fangirls all the time."

"Ohh," I say, pretending to be surprised but mostly unimpressed.

"Are you jealous, Daisy?" Ivansh asks, smirking at me from across the table.

"Are you dumb? I just met you," I shoot back without missing a beat.

"Oh-right. You just met me," he repeats, but there's a flicker in his expression. The smirk fades, just a little.

Before I can analyze it, Hira sets her ice cream down and stands up. "Um, guys, I'm done. Maya, why don't you come with me? I'll give you a quick tour of the college. I'm sure you'll love it," she says, her voice light and full of enthusiasm.

"Sure," I say, standing up and brushing crumbs off my jeans. I follow her, excited to see every part of this place.

The hallway outside the canteen is bright with natural light filtering through the wide glass windows. The walls are lined with student-made posters-some about upcoming fests, others just random doodles with motivational quotes scribbled across them. A few students pass by, laughing, waving at Hira like she's everyone's favorite person.

"So, this is the main corridor," Hira begins, her voice chipper. "That way leads to the science labs. We don't go there unless we want to smell like chemicals and regret."

I grin as we pass a classroom with glass panels. A student inside waves dramatically, and Hira waves back with equal enthusiasm. "That's Arnav. He's a theater kid. You'll see him in every play, every skit, and probably in your nightmares too."

She leads me up a flight of stairs, talking all the way. "This floor is mostly for the arts students. Music room, dance studio, AV room... that sort of vibe."

We peek into the music room, where someone is playing the guitar absentmindedly. The soft strumming echoes, giving the corridor a calm, almost movie-like feel. Then she tugs me along.

Outside the dance studio, a bunch of girls are rehearsing something synchronized. Hira slows down and whispers, "We avoid walking past here after someone gets dumped. Too much heartbreak energy floating in the air."

Then we pass by the sports block. She points out the football field in the distance. "That's where your Captain Kapoor rules like he owns the turf. Aryan and Aman basically live there too."

I roll my eyes, muttering, "Of course he does."

Finally, she stops in front of a tall wooden door tucked between two newer buildings.

"And this is my favorite place," she says, her tone softening. "The library of this college."

She pushes the door open slowly, and I step inside, and for a moment, I just stand there.

The air shifts. It's quiet, like stepping into another world entirely. Warm golden light pours in through arched windows, bouncing off rows and rows of towering bookshelves. There's a faint scent of old pages and fresh ink. Wooden desks are scattered throughout, some occupied by students buried in notes. There's a spiral staircase that leads to a loft-like upper level, and I swear, it feels more magical than any place in the entire building.

"Okay, wow," I whisper, completely taken in.

"I know," Hira says, smiling knowingly. "It's peaceful. When everything else feels too loud, this place is just safe."

I walk slowly between the shelves, running my fingers along the spines of books, my footsteps muffled on the polished floor. It's the kind of place that makes you want to stay, even if you aren't a book person.

"You'll find many books here. Wait, do you read books?" Hira asks.

"I do," I reply.

"Great. I'm not a reader though," she admits with a small laugh. "Simran and Yashika are the bookworms of the group. They even argue over fictional characters sometimes."

I smile at that. "They sound fun."

"They are. You're gonna love them," she says warmly, then tilts her head.

"This college is..." I begin, searching for the right word.

"Different?" Hira offers.

I nod. "Yeah. Different. In a good way."

She links her arm with mine. "Welcome to Saint Xavier's, Maya. You're gonna fit right in, trust me."

I smile-this time, without hesitation.

We sit down on a bench near a glass window in the corner of the library. Sunlight spills through it-warm and soft, casting golden streaks across the floor. It feels peaceful here. Still.

"So," Hira says, turning slightly to face me, "tell me about yourself. Like, properly. Not the boring intro kind."

I smile a little. "Umm... what do you wanna know?"

"Okay, basics first. Birthday?"

"22nd July."

[that's author's real birthdate- nvm]

She grins. "Cancer girl."

"How old are you turning this year?"

"Twenty."

"Ooooh. I'm already twenty. You're officially younger than me now."

"Does that mean I'm supposed to start calling you didi?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Never," she snorts.

"What about you? When's your birthday?"

"June-born. Gemini. Mera birthday toh aakar chala bhi gaya," she replies.

"How was it?"

"Ugh, I hated it," she says.

There's a pause-but not an awkward one. Just calm.

"So, are you dating anyone?" she asks, leaning in like she's sharing a secret.

I shake my head. "Nope. You?"

"Nope. I don't even talk to guys."

"What about Ivansh, Aryan, and Aman?"

"Ivansh is my cousin. Like an older brother. And Aryan and Aman? They've known me since we were in diapers. They treat me like I'm twelve."

"Damn," I say, chuckling.

"Okay next-who's your best friend?" she asks.

I go quiet for a second, biting the inside of my cheek. "I don't really have one."

She frowns slightly. "Why?"

I shrug, my eyes drifting to a tree swaying gently outside the window. "I mean, I had friends... but not the real kind. They were just there. Because of what I had, not who I was."

Hira doesn't interrupt. She just listens. So I keep going.

"My dad's rich. Like, really rich. He owns businesses and all that. So back in college, people clung to me. Smiled fake, laughed fake, made promises. But deep down, I always knew-it wasn't about me. It was about the lifestyle. The name."

Still, she says nothing. Just stays present.

"I guess I played along too," I continue, quieter now. "I acted like I didn't care. Treated them like they didn't matter. Maybe I didn't deserve real friends either."

Hira exhales softly and turns to me. "That sucks. But you know what? You're not there anymore. You're here. And now, you've already got one real friend."

I glance at her. She's wearing that same soft smile she had when I first sat beside her in class.

I smile back. "You're kinda amazing, you know that?"

She grins. "Kinda? That's rude."

We laugh. The library feels even more peaceful now.

Maybe this place really is different.

And maybe, just maybe, I'm finally going to find the people I was always looking for.

-----

So finally, the classes are over. Hira and I went straight back to our classroom after the library talk, and we had three classes in a row. Tiring, I know.

The sky turns pink, and of course, my driver isn't here yet. I take out my phone to call him, only to see a text:

"Ma'am, I won't be there today. Apologies. I was called by boss."

Ugh. Dad.

I sigh and call a cab for myself. After about ten minutes, it arrives.

The house is silent when I enter-cold, too, like it doesn't know anyone's lived in it for years. I hate this house.

I kick off my shoes and walk into the hallway, the echo of my own steps reminding me that nothing's changed here. Not the lighting. Not the silence.

"Dad?" I call out, already knowing there's no answer.

He's never home. Always away on some business trip or another. Sometimes I wonder if he even knows I changed colleges. Probably just signed a cheque, made a few calls, and forgot. That's how he is.

"Mom?" I call, even though I know where she is.

No reply.

I pass the living room-empty. The TV is off, and the expensive cream-colored sofas look like no one's sat on them in years. Magazines lie perfectly aligned on the table like it's some lifeless hotel lounge.

I walk further in and push open a familiar door.

There she is.

My mother, seated at her massive desk. Glasses resting on her nose, hair blow-dried to perfection, fingers tapping away at her laptop while she scrolls on her phone with the other hand.

I knock gently on the wooden panel.

She doesn't even glance up.

"Hi, Mom. I'm home."

A two-second pause. Then finally, she looks up for exactly one second. "How was your first day?"

"Good," I say, even though she's already turned back to the screen.

"That's nice, sweetheart," she says absently. "Dinner's in the fridge. I'm on a call."

Her headphones are in. Of course.

I nod, though she doesn't see it, and quietly shut the door.

My feet drag upstairs. The place feels more like a luxury coffin than a home.

I stop at the door beside mine.

That stupid glittery sticky note still clings to it.

"DO NOT ENTER unless your name is Queen Maya or you're bringing food."

I roll my eyes and push the door open anyway.

"Ugh!" Meera groans from inside. "I put up a sign!"

"And I ignored it," I say flatly.

"Fix your manners," she says.

"Fix your face," I shoot back.

Meera says dramatically, "Excuse you? This face is designer."

"Yeah, designed by stress and overconfidence."

She throws a pillow at me. I dodge. Barely.

"You're so annoying," she mutters, flopping back onto her bed.

"And you're obsessed with me."

"No, I'm just deeply offended you exist."

I snort and drop down on the edge of her bed. "You could at least pretend you missed me."

"I saw you literally this morning."

"Still."

A pause. Then she sighs, pulling the hoodie down. "So, how was your first day of college?"

I exhale. "Better than expected. Met a few people. Hira, she's nice. She might be my first actual friend who doesn't want a Chanel bag out of me. Simran and Yashika, they seem like an inseparable duo. Extremely sweet. Aman and Aryan are nice. Aryan is flirty but funny and Aman is chill."

Meera gives me a side glance. "Wow. That's new."

"I know, right?" I smile, but it fades quickly. "And then there's this guy."

"Ohh. this guy seems special, you're talking about him separately. Damn," she teases.

"Ew no. This guy is annoying. His name is Ivansh. He's the football team captain," I say, rolling my eyes.

Meera gasps like I just confessed to murdering someone.

"Ivansh?" she repeats dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. "Wow, even that name sounds hot. I can already tell he's the hottest guy in the college."

"He's not hot," I lie. Instantly. Unconvincingly.

Her eyes narrow. "You didn't even blink before saying that. Definitely hot."

I groan. "He's annoying, okay? The type who smirks like he knows the whole world wants him. The type who calls you some ridiculous nickname and somehow makes it stick."

"Wait, a nickname? What nickname?" she asks, now fully intrigued, leaning closer like she's about to spill the tea herself.

I glare at her. "Daisy."

Meera pauses. Then bursts out laughing.

"Daisy? Oh my god! That is so weirdly adorable I just want to throw something."

I bury my face in my hands. "It's not adorable. It's infuriating. He started calling me within, like, two minutes of meeting me. And he won't stop. He literally brought me chips in the canteen. Like-what the hell!?"

She goes on, "Oh no, this seems like classic love story material. And you love daisies, don't you?"

"Shut up," I mutter.

Meera shifts into full rom-com narrator mode, throwing her arms wide. "Maya Oberoi, the emotionally troubled girl with a trauma, meets Ivansh, the irritatingly hot football captain who calls her Daisy. Rom-com book. Coming soon."

"I swear I will throw you out the window."

She giggles, flopping back onto the bed again. "You know you're doomed, right? First it's 'ugh he's annoying,' then it's 'ugh why does he make my heart beat faster.' Next thing you know, you'll be writing Mrs. Maya Ivansh Kapoor on the back of your notebook."

"I'd rather marry a tree," I grumble.

She smirks. "Trees don't smirk and call you Daisy."

I toss a pillow at her face. "You're the worst."

"And yet, your favourite," she says smugly, hugging the pillow like a trophy.

We fall into a comfortable silence for a moment, both of us staring at the ceiling like we're waiting for the next plot twist in our lives.

Then Meera says, voice suddenly serious, "But seriously. I'm glad your first day went well."

I glance at her. "Me too. Kinda surprised it did."

"You needed a good day," she says quietly. "After everything."

I nod, eyes fixed on the ceiling. "Yeah. I really did."

Meera smirks again. "Still gonna stalk this Ivansh guy, though."

"Don't you dare."

"I definitely will. Um wait, he's the captain of the football team, you said? That means he's definitely somewhere on Instagram. Let's stalk him."

"Oh my God, Meera, no." I try to snatch the phone from her, but she moves away, laughing as she taps away furiously.

"Too late. I'm in full FBI mode now."

She types "Saint Xavier's Football Club" in the search bar and within seconds, she gasps dramatically.

"Girl. Girl. Girl," she says, shoving the screen in my face.

And there he is.

Ivansh Kapoor.

Front and center on the college team's page. Wearing the school jersey, messy hair stuck to his forehead, and that cocky half-smile like he's well aware he looks good.

"I hate him," I mumble.

Meera zooms into one picture. "You do not. You hate that you don't hate him."

She stares at the screen again and groans. "Ugh, why is he so hot? This is unfair to the rest of humanity."

"Stop it," I warn, narrowing my eyes.

"He's hot-hot. I mean look at his jawline, Maya. Girl this man knows he's hot."

That's it.

I snatch the phone and yeet it to the other side of the bed like it personally offended me.

"HEY!" Meera shrieks. "When I said I wanted to throw something, I didn't mean my phone!"

"Well, I threw it. You're welcome."

"And for the record, I was the one who wanted to throw something, not you. You threw my phone for my feelings!"

I stand up, dragging the blanket off her legs just to annoy her more. "If you want to keep obsessing over Captain Kapoor, do it by yourself. I'm gonna sleep."

She huffs and grabs her pillow like she's been personally betrayed. "Rude."

"Deliberately," I mutter, already halfway to the door.

"And tomorrow," she calls after me, "we're making a fake account and stalking who he follows."

"Absolutely not," I say, not turning back.

"Too bad! I already named it @StalkingForDaisy."

I slam the door shut behind me before she can say anything else.