An Unspoken War

August 8, 2009 – 12:15 PMJadavpur University, Kolkata – Basic Electrical Engineering Class

The lecture hall buzzed with low murmurs as students wrapped up their notes, the faint screech of chalk against the blackboard marking the professor's final words. Aritra remained still, his forearm resting lazily against the wooden desk, his face impassive as he stared at the notes he hadn't written. Beside him, Katherine shifted slightly, gripping her pen a little too tightly, still recovering from his earlier teasing.

She hadn't expected him to call her out. Hadn't expected him to notice her reactions so effortlessly.

Her mind was still buzzing from the heat that had rushed to her face moments ago.

Aritra, for his part, seemed completely unfazed. If anything, he looked amused.

The professor clapped his hands lightly. "That's all for today. We'll continue with mesh analysis in the next class. Make sure to solve the problems I assigned."

Chairs scraped against the floor as students began to gather their things. But something felt different in the air.

The usual post-class chatter wasn't light or random. It was calculated. Whispered.

Because all sixty students in the class had just witnessed something unprecedented.

Katherine Blackwood—the cold, untouchable, brilliant Katherine Blackwood—had spent the entire class sitting beside Aritra Naskar.

And worse?

She had actually talked to him.

For the first time, people weren't just stealing glances. They were outright staring.

The Silent Resentment

Sayan Banerjee clenched his fists as he shoved his books into his bag, his face twisted in disbelief.

"What the hell does she see in him?"

His friend, Ravi, exhaled sharply, adjusting his glasses. "It doesn't make sense. Aritra isn't even that good in academics. He's barely involved in anything."

"Exactly!" Sayan hissed. "He doesn't participate in competitions. He doesn't speak in debates. Hell, he barely talks to the professors. And yet… she sits beside him?"

Ravi shook his head. "Maybe it's a mistake. Maybe it was random."

Sayan wasn't convinced.

Because when he had tried to talk to Katherine last day, she had barely spared him a glance. And yet, with Aritra, she had leaned in to whisper.

She had smiled.

Something burned inside him—jealousy, frustration, the feeling of losing before he had even been given a chance.

And as he watched Katherine turn to Aritra with a question, something in him snapped.

The Struggle Between Duty and Choice

Katherine had spent years mastering the art of control.

But right now, sitting beside Aritra, she felt anything but in control.

Her mind was at war with itself.

Her father's voice echoed in her head.

"Understand him. Observe him. Report everything. He is an obstacle that must be tamed."

But then—was he really?

The Aritra sitting beside her wasn't an enemy.

He wasn't a threat.

He had never once tried to intimidate her. Never once tried to claim control over her choices.

If anything, he had given her space.

And now, as he stretched slightly, his fingers idly tapping against his notebook, she found herself wondering—was he truly the man her father wanted to destroy?

She turned to him before she could stop herself.

"Aritra."

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable.

She hesitated, unsure why she had even called his name.

Her fingers toyed with the edge of her notebook. "I just… I just wanted to say that I—"

She stopped.

Because he was watching her too closely now.

The way his gaze met hers, deep and unwavering, made her heartbeat stutter.

Her throat went dry.

Her pulse thundered.

For a brief moment, the noise of the classroom faded, and all she could hear was the unsteady rhythm of her own breath.

Aritra noticed.

His lips curled slightly, just enough to send her into complete panic.

"Are you nervous?" he asked, voice low and teasing.

Katherine's back straightened. "No."

"You sure?"

She hated how much he enjoyed this.

She hated how her face betrayed her by burning up again.

Aritra smirked, shaking his head slightly as he looked away. "Interesting."

Katherine clenched her fists. She hated this.

She hated him.

But more than anything…

She hated how much she didn't hate him.

A Small Gesture, A Larger Meaning

As the classroom emptied, Aritra reached for his bag.

But as he adjusted it over his shoulder, his fingers accidentally brushed against Katherine's hand.

She froze.

The touch was light, barely there. But it was enough.

A sharp, electric current shot through her veins, and she sucked in a breath before jerking her hand away.

Aritra's eyes flickered with amusement.

"You're acting like you've never been touched before."

Katherine opened her mouth to retort, but nothing came out.

Because he wasn't wrong.

Not in the way he thought, but in a deeper, more complicated way.

She had spent her entire life surrounded by men who viewed her as a tool. A piece on a chessboard.

But Aritra?

He treated her like a person.

And that realization terrified her more than anything.

An Unwanted Confrontation

Just as they reached the exit, Sayan stepped in front of them, blocking their path.

Katherine raised an eyebrow. "Can I help you?"

Sayan's jaw tightened. "Actually, yeah. I just have one question."

His eyes flickered toward Aritra, filled with resentment.

"Why him?"

Katherine frowned. "Excuse me?"

Sayan exhaled sharply, his frustration spilling over.

"You're one of the best students here. You're brilliant, Katherine. Everyone knows it."

He shot Aritra a sharp glare.

"But him? He barely tries. He barely even talks. He's not… he's not even—"

Aritra tilted his head slightly, unimpressed.

Sayan's voice faltered, but he pressed on. "You could sit with anyone. Literally anyone. Why him?"

The room fell silent.

Katherine blinked.

Then, without breaking eye contact, she did something that left everyone stunned.

She reached out—

—and casually grabbed Aritra's wrist.

Aritra stiffened slightly.

Sayan's expression twisted in disbelief.

Katherine's grip was light, but her meaning was clear. She had chosen.

The realization sent a chill down Aritra's spine.

Not because of what she had done.

But because it didn't feel fake.

It didn't feel like a game.

Katherine lifted her chin slightly, her voice calm but firm.

"I don't owe you an explanation."

Sayan's face turned red, his fists clenching. But before he could speak, Katherine smoothly added—

"Now move."

Sayan hesitated.

Then, with gritted teeth and reluctant fury, he stepped aside.

Aritra and Katherine walked past him without looking back.

But the moment they were out of earshot, Katherine immediately released his wrist, exhaling as if she had just committed a crime.

Aritra chuckled.

Katherine shot him a glare. "Don't say a word."

His smirk widened. "I wasn't going to."

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "That was stupid. Now they'll think—"

"They'll think exactly what you wanted them to think."

Katherine hesitated.

Because maybe…

Just maybe…

That's what she wanted too.

To Be Continued…