Location: Girls’ Hostel Lounge | 7:30 PM
Ira was cornered.
Not in the literal sense—she was seated quite comfortably on the large brown beanbag in the lounge, sipping her black coffee, hoodie slightly sliding off one shoulder. Her laptop was open, displaying lines of code she had half-written. Her earphones dangled uselessly around her neck.
But mentally?
She was under siege.
Aditi was across from her, arms crossed, biting back laughter. Sneha sat beside Ira, practically bouncing in place.
“Okay, say it again, please,” Sneha said, trying to keep a straight face.
Ira frowned, confused. “Say what?”
“‘It’s easier to speak when someone in the room makes your brain want to focus,’” Aditi recited dramatically. “That. Say that again.”
“I don’t get why this is a thing,” Ira muttered, brows pulling together. “I meant… like sometimes the presence of someone sharp helps you cut the noise and focus. Not weird.”
“Not weird? Bro. That’s literally the most accidentally hot thing anyone’s said on this campus,” Sneha said, clutching her heart.
“Do you even hear yourself when you talk? You flirt like a walking poem and don’t even know it.”
“I don’t flirt,” Ira replied blankly.
The girls laughed.
“You basically handed that CEO a confession wrapped in silk and fire,” Aditi said.
“Vanya’s soul left her body, dude,” Sneha added. “Dev was literally seen laughing into his sleeve. We got insider info!”
Ira paused. “Wait… Dev told someone?”
Aditi grinned. “Oh, sweet clueless child. Dev sent screenshots of her reaction to Vanya’s siblings.”
Ira’s eyes widened. “That’s… a little much, no?”
“No, that’s exactly how romcoms start.”
“You are the romcom.”
“And apparently a bisexual awakening for half the department.”
Ira sighed deeply, leaning her head back on the beanbag, closing her eyes. “I just said something nice.”
“You said something hot,” Sneha corrected. “And now we’re waiting to see how long Vanya survives without writing you poetry.”
Location: Vanya’s Home – Penthouse Apartment | 9:15 PM
Vanya walked in after a long, silent drive home. Her jaw was tight, her blazer still on, and her soul. Absolutely shaken by that one damn sentence.
“Sister dearest,” called a singsong voice.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAi6W0NNMT
“It’s easier to speak when someone in the room makes your brain want to focus.”
Just as she stepped in, she heard the sharp crack of soda cans opening.
“Oh, ho hoooooo!” came a yell from the couch.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbIb5ETpz6
“The ice queen returns! Everyone hides your hearts, she might accidentally flirt back!”That was Arav, her 20-year-old younger brother, half-lounged across the couch, phone in one hand, the other dramatically clutching his chest like a theatre kid on Red Bull.
On the beanbag beside him, her younger sister Tisha, eyes glowing with unholy delight, was holding Dev’s phone—the traitor himself was sitting beside her like a proud gossip god.
“You didn’t tell us she was hot,” Tisha said, eyes wide.
“Excuse me?” Vanya snapped, walking in but already regretting it.
“Ira.” Tisha grinned, pausing the video Dev had sneakily recorded from earlier—just a few seconds of Ira stepping onto the stage in that maroon vest, no tie, black slacks. Calm. Focused. Effortlessly attractive. The kind of clip people loop online with slow jazz in the background.
“You have a type, di,” Rishi smirked. “Apparently that type is ‘cool girl who makes you forget your own name.’”
Vanya sighed, yanked off her heels, and threw her bag on the sideboard.
“Dev, you snake.”
“Guilty,” he said cheerfully. “Also, they would’ve found out anyway. Your face was national-level drama. You literally stared at her like she was the last mango popsicle in a desert.”
“She didn’t even realize what she said!” Vanya defended, throwing her hands up.
“Exactly,” Tisha said. “Which makes it hotter.”
Rishi nodded solemnly. “Imagine being that smooth by accident.”
Flashback Recap – Dev Narrating to the Siblings Earlier
“She just sipped her coffee, looked her dead in the eyes, and said— ‘It’s easier to speak when someone in the room makes your brain want to focus.’ And then walked away.”
“She—what?” Tisha had screamed.
“Yup,” Dev nodded. “Left Vanya standing there like a broken Siri. I had to reboot her with sarcasm.”
Back to Present
Vanya sat on the edge of the couch, head in her hands. “I’m the CEO of OrionTech. I do not get flustered. I am not flustered.”
Tisha raised an eyebrow. “Then why did you smile at the walls the entire ride home?”
“I was thinking.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Professionally.”
“Sure.”
Dev leaned back, sipping his drink. “Ira has no idea she did anything. She just exists and takes out people’s sanity like a sniper with no scope.”
Rishi grinned and pulled out his phone.
“I’m putting her on the list.”
“What list?” Vanya narrowed her eyes.
“The list of people who could potentially make our cold, emotionally constipated sister fall in love. We’ve been adding names since 2017. You're picky.”
“Delete it.”
“She’s number one now. Sorry. List is locked.”
“Oh my god, Trisha,” Vanya hissed, laughing despite herself.
“Also,” Arav added, scrolling dramatically, “here’s the fanart someone posted in the student meme group—caption: ‘Ira Rathore: She speaks. We fall.’”
Vanya stared at the sketch: it was a stylized comic of Ira at the podium, maroon waistcoat and all, with heart-eyed silhouettes fainting in the background.
She placed her forehead against the wine glass.
“I am never going to live this down.”
“Nope,” Trisha smirked. “But... if you ever want us to stage an accidental grocery run and bump into her casually…”
“Or fake a sponsorship deal with her project group?” Arav added.
“Or invite her for chai at home.”
Vanya turned to them slowly. “If either of you contact her directly—ever—I will personally ruin your dating lives for the next five years.”
They both raised their hands in surrender. “Noted.”
Vanya paused.
“…But if she ever calls back, just… let me know.”
They looked at each other and grinned.
“She’s doomed,” Trisha whispered to Arav.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbNrfB0N12
