"Okay guys let's discuss our task. Me, Varun and Roy are in the same team. You research people can go somewhere else to discuss how to distribute your tasks. Don't disturb us." Bhumit said and before Serene could stop him he looked away and started discussing the assignment topic with the other two.
Roy turned to her twice in worry for being with Soham but Serene assured him with smile and asked him to focus on his task, she will be fine. Even though she isn't sure either.
When Serene turned her head towards Soham, he already packed all his stuffs and was ready to go.
"Where are you going?" Serene stopped him, they still needed to discuss things. She didn't need to pack because she already did with Roy earlier.
Without looking at her and either without stopping his action while taking his headset, he asked "Are you free to go?"
"Huh?" She got surprised. Earlier she thought, she might be hallucinating, but now she was sure. His gaze and voice both are more gentler than ever before.
"Free?" He asked again breaking her continuous gaze on him.
She is free but where does he wanna take her? "Well Senior-"
He stopped her in mid "Soham" he corrected.
When Serene looked at him confusingly he explained calmly. "Call me Soham, I don't like seniors..." from you. Last words were in his heart strangely.
Her eyes almost widened by his soft behaviour but got controlled on time. She smiled politely and nodded. "Soham where are you taking me?"
"My office in college." He said and went out of the desk with his backpack on his shoulder.
"Ohh okay." She murmured softly.
Soham looked back at her "Come fast I don't have time."
She followed him right after that to his office.
***
"Okay we have 8 topics. Which one would you like? First four or last four." Serene said while making herself comfortable around his office which looked quite exclusive to get someone even calm.
Soham looked at her and knew what she was trying to do but he wouldn't let that happen. "I want 1, 3, 5 and 7." Separate work, will separate them. But what now!
She frowned by his reply "But that will make things messier between us."
If they transfer work this way then they have to meet each other, a lot of time to discuss every next topic which will be related to the last one. That can't do.
He doesn't like her presence. They can't meet this often. She doesn't hate him but the article incident won't let her like his presence either.
He already knew that she isn't like others who go around taking revenge and all but she isn't like ones either who forgets who they should hate and keeps a distance from them.
He can clearly see the discontentment in her eyes with his answer, but he isn't a type of person who explains himself ever before.
But will this make him back off? No way.
He bent forward to his desk while sitting on a head chair "No it won't. It doesn't look good if our work has two different writing styles after half of the presentation totally. We should mix up."
She said understandingly nodded. "Okay" Yeah it's not good to show this disparity clearly.
He smirked internally to see the fish getting to his hook. But was this enough for him to approach her? No he needs more.
"You can do your research work in this office. No one's come here except me, Varun and Bhumit. You can take their help if you want."
"Ohhh actually-" she looked at him with complicated eyes to let him know that she isn't comfortable with this idea.
Soham didn't give any heed to her expression and showed his confusion look "Any problem? You don't want us to share common ideas for presentation?"
Serene sighed with defeat and shook. Of course she can't let the group down because of her personal reasons. She isn't uncomfortable around him, it just she doesn't want to have any connection with him.
Soham expressionlessly said immediately after her shook "Come after by the end of the last class of yours, for two hours or three here."
Two or three!! "But-"
"Hmm?"
"Nothing..." She said and put forward her initial ideas for now in front of him.