Author's POV
"Good morning, class," Ansh said in a firm voice as he placed his books on the table.
"Good morning, sir..." everyone replied together, and then, like always, the gossip started in the back rows.
Students leaned close to their friends, whispering behind their hands, thinking he could not hear, even though he always did.
"He is so handsome," one girl whispered with a dreamy sigh.
"Yes, and whoever marries him will be so lucky," another girl added, smiling like she was imagining it.
Ansh lifted his head slightly, his expression flat and unreadable.
"Class, I want silence during my lecture. If you want to talk, then please leave."
His tone was sharp but calm, and instantly the whole room fell quiet. No one even dared to clear their throat.
Preeti sat frozen in her seat, her eyes fixed on him. She still couldn't believe he was standing there in front of her... not as her guardian... not as the man who kissed her neck that morning... but as her professor.
Her heartbeat kept jumping inside her chest, and her stomach felt tight and nervous.
Alia leaned closer and whispered so quietly that only Preeti could hear, "Hey, Preeti... he is your guardian, right? What is he doing here? Why didn't you tell me that he is the professor?"
Preeti shook her head quickly, whispering back, "I didn't know, Alia... I really didn't know he was coming."
Before Alia could whisper anything else, Ansh looked up and pointed at them directly.
"Those two girls. Keep silence."
Their hearts almost stopped.
They immediately sat straight.
Preeti lowered her eyes, scared he would somehow understand what she had whispered.
Ansh continued the lecture like nothing had happened, but she knew he noticed.
He always noticed everything.
By the end of the lecture, the tension in Preeti's body was so much that she felt tired even though she had only been sitting in one place.
Her mind kept replaying the moment he walked in, the coldness in his eyes, and the shock she felt when she realized he was not just Ansh... he was Professor Ansh Raj.
----------------------------
After class, Preeti, Alia, and Rocky walked together toward the café. They were only halfway there when Alia's phone rang.
"Oh no, it's an emergency call from home," Alia said quickly.
"I have to go. I will come back before the next class."
Before anyone could stop her or ask what happened, she ran off in a hurry.
Preeti and Rocky went ahead to the café together.
Rocky ordered coffee and biscuits, and Preeti took an orange juice. They found a small table near the window. Rocky started talking casually about his old school and his annoying cousin brother, and for a moment, Preeti forgot her tension. She smiled and even laughed a little. She felt lighter.
After some time, they came out of the café.
Rocky told her a silly joke, and Preeti laughed softly, shaking her head.
And that exact moment...
Ansh stepped out of his office.
He stopped walking.
His eyes landed on them.
On her smile.
On the way Rocky stood close.
On how comfortable she seemed.
A cold anger rose inside him.
His jaw tightened.
His eyes turned dark in a way Preeti knew too well.
"Oh wait, Preeti... there is something in your hair," Rocky said, leaning close to remove the tiny piece of confetti stuck in her hair.
Preeti stood still, unaware of what was happening behind her.
Ansh walked toward them, every step slow and controlled.
"What are you both doing?" Ansh asked in a low, cold voice.
Preeti's laughter died instantly.
Her body stiffened.
She turned to look at him, and for a second, she felt like she couldn't breathe.
Rocky, however, didn't sense the danger.
He answered casually, "Nothing sir, we are just going to class."
Just then Alia returned, unaware of what was happening.
"What happened guys?" she asked, confused.
Before anyone could say another word,
Ansh grabbed Preeti's wrist.
His hand wrapped around her small wrist firmly, and he pulled her to his side.
Then, in front of all of them, he placed his arm around her waist, holding her close to him in a clear, bold way.
Preeti's breath hitched.
Her heart raced wildly.
She couldn't understand whether it was fear or something else that made her feel so weak in her knees.
"Come with me, Preeti," Ansh said in a deep voice and turned to leave with her.
Rocky stepped forward, shocked and angry.
"What are you doing, sir? We know you are her guardian, but you cannot pull her like this. You cannot tou..."
He couldn't finish.
Ansh stopped, turned back slowly, and looked straight at him.
"She is Preeti Ansh Raj," Ansh said in a clear, strong voice. "I am her husband."
Alia's mouth fell open.
Rocky froze completely.
Preeti's heart dropped, hearing her relationship exposed like this.
Without waiting for anyone's reaction,
Ansh walked away with her.
------------------------------
Inside his office, he closed the door and locked it.
The click of the lock echoed in the small room.
His grip on her wrist was still tight, not hurting her, but enough that she felt his anger clearly.
Preeti looked up nervously.
"A-Ansh..."
Ansh stepped closer, his face inches from hers.
"Laughing with him like that," he said slowly, brushing his thumb over her wrist.
"Letting him touch your hair, hmm?"
His voice was calm, but there was something dangerous under it.
Something that made Preeti's stomach twist.
"A-Ansh... it was just a piece of paper stuck in my hair... I didn't know you would feel bad..." she whispered shakily.
Ansh didn't move away.
Instead, his other hand slid to her waist and pulled her close until their bodies touched.
"You think I didn't see how he looked at you?" he whispered in a rough, possessive tone, his breath warm against her cheek.
Preeti shivered visibly.
For the first time in her life, she saw him like this
not just strict, not just protective,
but intense... jealous... dangerous...
and completely focused on her.
A slow smirk curved his lips.
"I guess I needed to remind you who you belong to."
He lifted her chin gently with his fingers, making her look up at him.
"I'm sorry..." Preeti said softly, her voice trembling.
"I didn't know you would not like Rocky. I will be careful next time..."
Ansh inhaled sharply.
His grip tightened for a moment, then slowly softened.
"Good girl," he murmured in a deep, low voice that sent a strange warmth through her body.
His thumb traced her jawline slowly, gently, almost lovingly.
"C-can I go now?" Preeti whispered, unable to hold his gaze.
Ansh's eyes narrowed.
"Go? After I announced to the entire university that you're mine?" he asked, stepping closer again.
Preeti backed up until she felt the edge of his desk behind her.
Ansh placed his hands on the desk on either side of her, trapping her between his arms.
He leaned down, lips brushing her ear lightly.
"No, Mrs. Raj... you will not go anywhere until I say so."
His warm breath touched her skin, making her heart jump and her knees weaken.
He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes.
A teasing smirk played on his lips.
"Unless," he said slowly, "you want to negotiate."
Preeti blinked nervously.
"W-what do you mean... negotiate?"
"Oh?" he whispered, amused.
"'What', hmm?"
He leaned closer, lips almost touching hers.
A small laugh escaped him.
"Do you want to know what I want, Preeti?"
Preeti didn't move, even though her whole body was shaking.
"...What do you want?" she whispered.
Ansh smiled slowly, wickedly.
He lifted his hand and traced a soft line from her chin to her lower lip.
"I want a kiss."
Preeti gasped.
"A... a kiss?"
"Yes," he said simply.
"If you want to leave... kiss me."
Her heart was beating so fast she felt dizzy.
She looked up at him... then closed her eyes for a moment... then stood on her toes...
and kissed his cheek softly.
Ansh froze.
He truly didn't expect it.
Before he could react,
Preeti pushed his chest lightly and ran out of the room, her face red and her heart wild.
————————-
Preeti's POV
My heartbeat has still not slowed down.
I feel like I am floating and falling at the same time.
I don't know what happened inside that office...
I don't know what came over him...
and I don't know what came over me.
When Ansh looked at Rocky...
I saw something dangerous in his eyes.
Not anger... something deeper.
Something I never thought he would feel for me.
When he touched my waist...
my whole body froze.
I couldn't think.
I couldn't speak.
I just felt everything at once.
And when he asked for a kiss...
my heart almost stopped.
I don't know why I kissed his cheek.
I didn't plan it.
I just... did it.
Now as I walk down the hallway alone,
my lips are still warm,
my hands are shaking,
and all I can think is—
Why does Ansh make me feel like this?
Write a comment ...