The gates of the city college felt like a fortress to Ranveer. After a year of being apart, his heart was a mess of anxiety and excitement. He didn't want to just sneak around; he wanted to see her with dignity.
Summoning all his courage, he walked straight to the Principal's office.
"Sir, may I have permission to meet a student? Her name is Sweety," Ranveer asked, his voice steady despite his trembling hands.
The Principal looked at the earnest young man and nodded. "Yes, you may. It's the lunch break now."
Ranveer stepped into the hallway, his eyes scanning the sea of students. He felt like a stranger in a new world. "Excuse me," he asked a group of boys, "do you know where I can find Sweety?"
"Room 115," one of them replied, pointing down the corridor.
Ranveer's feet moved on their own. When he reached the door of Room 115, he stopped. There she was. Sitting on a bench, looking at a notebook, she looked exactly as he remembered—focused, beautiful, and slightly out of reach.
"Sweety!" he called out softly.
She looked up, and for a moment, time stopped. Her eyes widened, and a radiant smile broke across her face. She dropped her pen and ran toward him. "Ranveer?
You're here? How did you... how are you here?"
"I couldn't stay away any longer," Ranveer said, his voice thick with emotion as he handed her the bouquet of lilies. "I missed you every single second of this past year."
They spoke in hushed, hurried whispers, trying to bridge a year's gap in mere minutes. But the harsh sound of the college bell cut their reunion short.
"The teachers will be here soon," Sweety whispered urgently. "Wait for me outside the gates after college. I'll meet you there."
The Near Miss
Ranveer waited outside the gate for hours, the afternoon sun beating down on him, but he didn't care. He was finally going to spend time with her. As the final bell rang and students began to pour out, he stood tall, looking for that one familiar face.
He saw her. She was walking toward him, her eyes bright with joy. But suddenly, a black car pulled up right behind her.
Ranveer's heart dropped. It was her father.
Sweety froze. She looked at her father, then at Ranveer. With a subtle, desperate motion, she shook her head and signaled for him to leave. Ranveer understood instantly. He turned and disappeared into the crowd, his heart heavy with the realization that even after a year, they were still living in the shadows.
One Month of Silence
A month passed. Ranveer tried calling her every day, but her phone was always switched off. The silence was agonizing.
Was she in trouble? Had her father taken the phone away? He couldn't take it anymore.
He went back to the college, but this time, he didn't go inside. He waited outside the gates, determined to see her. When the college finally ended, he saw her walking out. She looked tired, her shoulders slumped, until she saw him standing by a tree.
She ran to him, her eyes filling with tears.
"Ranveer! You're back!"
"How are you, Sweety?" Ranveer asked, his heart aching at her exhausted expression.
Sweety suddenly pouted, crossing her arms.
"How am I? I'm angry! You didn't come for a whole month! I waited every day!"
"I was scared, Sweety," Ranveer admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "After seeing your dad that day, I didn't want to make things worse for you. I was terrified he saw me."
Sweety softened, but then she looked at her watch. "He'll be here any minute, Ranveer. You have to go."
"No," Ranveer said, his eyes gleaming with a newfound determination. "Today, we aren't running. You need to make an excuse to your father."
"An excuse? Like what?"
"Tell him it's your friend's birthday party. Tell him you'll be coming home late tonight," Ranveer suggested.
Sweety looked hesitant. "But... why? Where are we going?"
Ranveer leaned in, a soft smile playing on his lips. "I'm taking you to a place where there are no ranks, no parents, and no one to tell us we can't be together. A place that will make you forget all the pain of this last year. Trust me?"
Sweety looked into his eyes and saw the boy who had carried her through the fire. She took a deep breath. "Okay. I trust you."
She walked toward her father's car, her heart racing, while Ranveer waited in the shadows, ready to take her on the most important journey of their lives.
❣️💐🌟💖 Authors note ❣️💐🌟💖
> The Great Escape! 🚗✨
> Sweety is finally taking a stand, but where is Ranveer taking her? Is it a romantic dinner, or something even more special that relates to their past? The next chapter is going to be pure magic!
If you want to see their secret date, make sure to save the book! 📚