Chapter 7: The Confession That Changed Everything

The morning after the fest was too quiet.

Krisha lay in bed, staring at the ceiling of Dorm 7C. Her yellow saree was still draped over her chair like a memory she hadn't folded away yet. She could still hear the music, feel the way Abhishek had looked at her under the fairy lights, hand half-outstretched like a question she hadn't answered.

She didn't sleep much. How could she?

Abhishek had gotten too close.

And now, so was Anish.

"Hey," Anish messaged her just after breakfast.

Anish: "Can we talk? Alone?"

Krisha: "Sure. Where?"

Anish: "Behind the library. 10 minutes?"

Krisha sighed. Her heart already knew what was coming — and it was the kind of conversation she wished she could delay forever.

The sun was warm behind the library, the ground littered with fallen bougainvillea petals.

Krisha found Anish waiting, hands in his pockets, pacing slightly. He looked more nervous than she'd ever seen him — which was saying something, considering he once had to present in front of a robotic ethics panel without a single slide working.

"Hey," she said softly.

He looked up, smiled — that familiar, lopsided smile that always made her feel safe.

"Hi," he said. "Thanks for coming."

"What's up?"

He was quiet for a moment. Then — "I've been meaning to say this for a while. And if I don't say it now, I'll regret it."

Krisha swallowed. "Okay."

"I like you," Anish said, voice barely above a whisper. "I have, for a long time."

She blinked.

"I know you're close with Abhishek," he went on quickly, "but I didn't want to assume anything. You never said you liked him, and honestly... you're always smiling around me. We get each other. We've always been... in sync."

"Anish..." she whispered.

He stepped forward. "You don't have to say anything right now. I just needed you to know. Because being around you without telling you — it's been killing me."

Krisha's throat tightened. "I care about you. So much. You're one of the best people I know."

"But you don't feel the same way," he said quietly.

She looked down. "I don't want to lie to you."

Anish nodded slowly, backing up a step. "It's Abhishek, isn't it?"

Krisha didn't answer.

And that was answer enough.

Across campus, Abhishek sat in the law block, scrolling through his texts with zero focus. He hadn't seen Krisha all day. Not since the fest. Not since she didn't take his hand.

His phone buzzed.

Shaurya:

"He did it."

"Anish confessed to Krisha."

"She's with him. Behind the library."

Abhishek's stomach dropped.

For a moment, he just sat there, fists clenched.

Then he stood up and walked — fast.

Krisha and Anish stood in awkward silence. She was about to say something — anything — when footsteps echoed on the gravel.

Abhishek.

He looked like he hadn't slept. His expression unreadable.

"I didn't mean to interrupt," he said tightly.

"You're not interrupting," Anish said stiffly. "I was just leaving."

He walked past Abhishek without another word.

Krisha stood frozen.

"You okay?" Abhishek asked.

She nodded. "He... told me."

"I figured."

They stood there, the wind rustling the leaves around them.

"What did you say?" he asked.

"I told him I care about him. But not that way."

Abhishek's jaw loosened slightly. "So... you don't like him."

"I don't," she said. "But it doesn't make this any easier."

He stepped closer. "What about me?"

She looked up at him.

"You said I scare you," he said gently. "Because you might like me back."

"I still do."

"Do you?"

Krisha hesitated. "I don't know what to do with it yet."

Abhishek looked at her for a long, long moment.

"That's okay," he said quietly. "I'll wait."

Later that evening, Preesha found Krisha sitting in the dorm balcony, blanket wrapped around her, lost in thought.

"Anish?" she asked softly.

Krisha nodded.

"Abhishek?"

Another nod.

Preesha sat beside her. "Do you know what you want?"

"I think I do," Krisha whispered. "But I'm scared I'll hurt someone no matter what I choose."

Preesha put her head on her friend's shoulder. "That's how you know it's real."