The college campus was always lively, with students hurrying to classes, chatting in groups, and laughing over silly jokes. But Rida Maha Farooq preferred quieter places. While others enjoyed the busy cafeteria or noisy hangouts, she found peace in the library.

Rida walked quickly across the corridor, holding a notebook and an old copy of Pride and Prejudice. Her light pink dupatta slipped off her shoulder, but she didn't notice. Her mind was lost in thoughts of the new story idea she wanted to write. Books were her world, and the library was her favorite place.

The sound of laughter and footsteps echoed through the college corridors as Rihan Shah Ayan strolled with his group of friends. They were teasing each other, laughing loudly, and joking about the upcoming exams. Rihan, the confident and strikingly handsome final-year student, was known for his calm demeanor and sharp brown eyes that seemed to notice everything.

As they passed the library, Rihan's attention was suddenly drawn to a girl walking quickly ahead of them. Her light pink dupatta fluttered in the air as she held a notebook and a book tightly to her chest. She seemed unaware of her surroundings, lost in her thoughts.

For a brief moment, her face wasn't visible, but her blue eyes—clear as the sky—shone brightly. Rihan felt his heart skip a beat.

"Who's that?" he murmured to himself, stopping in his tracks.

"Hey, Rihan, what happened?" one of his friends asked.

"You guys go. I'll catch up later," Rihan replied, trying to sound casual.

His friends exchanged curious looks but shrugged it off and walked away, leaving him behind.

Rihan turned and slowly followed her into the library.

---

The library was silent, filled with the faint rustling of pages and the soft scratching of pens. Rida Maha Farooq moved between the tall bookshelves, running her fingers lightly over the spines of the books. She was searching for her favorites—romance and adventure novels, the kind that transported her to faraway lands and let her dream of stories she could one day write herself.

Rihan stood a few shelves away, pretending to browse. His sharp eyes followed her every movement through the narrow gaps between the shelves. She picked up a book, tilted her head to read the title, and smiled softly before placing it back.

She has such a beautiful smile, Rihan thought, unable to look away. He wasn't sure why, but he wanted to see her face completely.

Every time she moved to a new section, he followed her quietly, staying hidden. His heartbeat quickened whenever he caught a glimpse of her. The way her dupatta fell over her shoulder, the soft movements of her hands as she handled the books, and especially those blue eyes—they had cast a spell on him.

Suddenly, Rida found the book she wanted. Hugging it to her chest, she walked toward the exit.

Rihan hesitated for a second, then decided to approach her. But before he could take a step, she was gone.

He rushed out of the library, scanning the corridor for her, but she had disappeared. His friends were nowhere in sight either, but he didn't care.

"Who is she?" he wondered aloud. Those blue eyes were all he could think about now.

---

In the classroom, Rida sat quietly in the front row, paying close attention to the lecture. Their professor, Sir Zayan Ahmed, was explaining a complex topic of history, and she didn't want to miss a single word. Her best friend, Sarah Asim Malik, sat beside her, sneaking glances at Rida's notebook to catch up.

Meanwhile, in another classroom, Rihan's lecture had just ended. Their professor, Ma'am Hiba Farhan, was one of the most admired teachers on campus. She was young, kind, and beautiful, and nearly every boy in college had a crush on her—except for Rihan. She teaches English subject

Unbeknownst to him, Ma'am Hiba often found excuses to praise his work and ask him questions during lectures. She admired his intelligence and charm, though he remained oblivious to her feelings.

___

During the break, Rihan headed to the cafeteria with his friends, hoping to see the mysterious girl again. He ordered a cup of coffee and sat at their usual spot near the window. His best friend, Saad Aslam, joked about random things, but Rihan wasn't paying attention.

Just then, the door of the cafeteria opened, and Rida entered with Sarah. They were chatting softly, unaware of the stares they attracted.

Rihan froze, his coffee cup halfway to his lips. His eyes locked onto hers again—those same blue eyes that had captivated him earlier. But this time, he saw her full face. She was beautiful. Her features were delicate, her skin glowed in the sunlight streaming through the windows, and her shy smile made his heart race.

Rida and Sarah found a table and sat down, directly in front of Rihan and his friends.

Saad nudged him. "Hey, what are you staring at?"

"Nothing," Rihan replied, tearing his gaze away and pretending to listen to the conversation. But every time she looked away, he couldn't help but steal glances at her.

She tucked her hair behind her ear as she spoke to Ayesha, occasionally laughing softly. Every little thing she did made Rihan fall harder.

Rida's eyes briefly met his again, and this time, he quickly turned to Saad, pretending to be deeply interested in whatever joke he was telling.

But inside, Rihan couldn't stop thinking about her. Those blue eyes… that smile…

----

As the bell rang, signaling the end of break, Rihan reluctantly stood up and made his way to class. His friends, oblivious to his distraction, carried on talking and joking around as they walked. But Rihan's thoughts were still consumed by Rida. Her smile, her eyes… he couldn't shake the image of her from his mind.

Sitting in class, Rihan tried to focus on the lecture, but his thoughts kept wandering back to the girl he had barely spoken to. His friends, on the other hand, were laughing and engaging in their usual banter. Saad glanced over at Rihan, noticing how quiet he was.

"What's up, bro? You're in silent mode today. Any problem?" Saad asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rihan snapped out of his thoughts and smiled faintly, not wanting to admit to his friends that he was completely distracted by a girl he barely knew. "Nothing, bro. Chill," he replied, trying to sound casual. He wasn't ready to talk about Rida yet—he barely understood his own feelings for her.

Just then, the door to the class opened, and Ma'am Hiba walked in. She looked around the room before her gaze landed on Rihan, and a slight smile crossed her face. "Rihan, come with me. I need to talk to you in the staff room," she said, her voice smooth, but there was an underlying eagerness in her tone.

Rihan, still lost in his thoughts, didn't catch her at first. She called his name two more times before he snapped out of his daze, blinking in confusion. "Yes, ma'am?" he asked, his voice a little hoarse.

"I need to speak with you in the staff room," Ma'am Hiba repeated, her tone now more insistent.

As Rihan got up to follow her, Saad, Zain, and Zeeshan exchanged glances. "Oh man, she's not going to let him off easy," Zain whispered with a grin. "She's got it bad for him, looks like."

Fahad chuckled. "A teacher crushing on her student, huh? This is going to be good."

The group started laughing, unable to contain their amusement at the situation. Rihan walked out of the classroom behind Ma'am Hiba, trying his best to ignore the snickers and teasing remarks from his friends. They weren't wrong; there was something about the way she looked at him that made him feel a little uncomfortable.

But just as they were walking down the hallway, the door to the class swung open with a loud bang. Professor Farhad Mirza, the no-nonsense accountancy teacher, strode into the room. He shot a glare at the laughing students, clearly annoyed. "What's so funny, huh?" he barked. "Get out of my class if you think this is a joke. I didn't come here to entertain you!"

In an instant, the students scrambled to leave, their laughter dying down. "When did this Kadoos Akdu show up?" Fahad muttered under his breath as they filed out of the room.

Zain, still grinning, said something funny, and the group couldn't help but laugh again. But the fun was cut short when Farhad Mirza's voice boomed after them. "You want to go to the principal's office, huh? Keep laughing like that!"

The group quickly fell silent and scattered in different directions. Rihan, still following Ma'am Hiba, couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation.

As Rihan followed Ma'am Hiba down the hallway, his mind was still buzzing with the events that had unfolded, especially the teasing from his friends. The hallways of the school were buzzing with students heading to their next class, and as they passed by, Rihan couldn't help but notice the whispers and side glances directed at him. He wasn't sure if they were about him or Ma'am Hiba, but he didn't care. His thoughts kept returning to the unexpected attention from his teacher and, of course, the mysterious girl—Rida.

When they reached the staff room, Ma'am Hiba turned to him and gave him a soft smile. "Have a seat, Rihan. It's not something urgent, I just wanted to talk," she said, her tone casual, but there was an undertone of something more.

Rihan nodded, still unsure of what to expect. As he sat down, Ma'am Hiba took a moment to adjust herself before speaking again. "I've been noticing how hard you've been working lately. You've shown a lot of promise in your subjects. I just wanted to let you know that I'm here if you need any help or support, okay?" Her words seemed kind, but there was a certain softness in her voice that made Rihan feel uncomfortable.

Rihan nodded hesitantly at Ma'am Hiba's kind words, unsure of how to respond. Just as he was about to say something, Zayaan Sir walked in, holding a stack of books.

"Ma'am Hiba," he said with a composed but authoritative tone, "aren't you coming to the principal's chamber? We need to discuss the competition, remember?"

Hiba's eyes widened slightly. "Oh yes, sir. I completely forgot. Let's go then."

Zayaan nodded. "I'll join you in a moment after I put these books away."

Hiba smiled politely. "Alright, I'll head there now," she said before leaving the room.

Rihan, now alone, leaned back in his chair, letting out a small sigh. He sat quietly for a moment, but his thoughts were interrupted when he noticed Mahira outside, trying to catch a glimpse of Zayaan through the window. Being short, she jumped up repeatedly, her movements drawing attention.

Rihan slapped his forehead lightly and muttered, "This girl... Be na! What is she even doing?"

Moments later, Mahira entered the staff room, her face glowing with excitement. "May I come in, sir?" she asked politely.

Zayaan looked up from his books. "Yes, Mahira. What do you need?"

"Sir, you said you would help me with this history chapter," she said with a hint of confusion in her voice. "I'm having a little trouble understanding it."

Zayaan began to respond, but Rihan interjected teasingly, "Sir, aren't you supposed to be in our class right now? It's your period!"

Zayaan gave him a pointed look but replied calmly, "I have a meeting with the principal regarding the competition. You all should revise your subjects in my absence."

Mahira quickly added, "But, sir, can't you come to class for just 15 minutes? Please teach me this chapter."

Rihan laughed under his breath. "Mahira, let sir attend his meeting. We'll manage."

Zayaan shook his head. "Rihan is right, Mahira. I really don't have time today. You both go to class and start revising. There are exams in two weeks."

He turned to Rihan. "Tell Farhad Sir to come to the meeting after I leave."

"Yes, sir," Rihan replied, suppressing another laugh.

Mahira, visibly disappointed, said, "Okay, sir," in a small voice and walked out. As soon as Zayaan left, Rihan burst out laughing and sprinted toward the corridor.

Mahira, fuming, chased after him. "Rihan, I'm going to kill you today!" she shouted, her steps quickening.

As Rihan turned a corner, he suddenly stopped in his tracks when he bumped into Rida. She stumbled slightly but quickly steadied herself.

"I'm so sorry!" Rida said, her voice soft and sweet, her doe-like eyes meeting his briefly. "I didn't see you."

Rihan stood frozen, captivated by her voice. Her voice melted him instantly.

Mahira, watching the scene unfold, smirked mischievously. After Rida placed her books on Ariza Ma'am's desk in the staff room and walked away, Mahira leaned closer to Rihan and said teasingly, "So, the boss is in love, huh?"

Rihan blinked, coming back to reality. "What? Nothing like that. I just saw her for the first time."

Mahira grinned. "So? First time, and you're already smitten? Hmm, I see where this is going."

"Stop it, Mahira!" Rihan said, flustered, walking away to find Farhad Sir. Mahira followed him, still giggling and throwing playful jabs.

Rihan relayed Zayaan Sir's instructions. "Sir, Zayaan Sir asked you to attend the meeting in the principal's office.

Farhad nodded, quickly adjusting his tie. "Alright, I'll head there now." He glanced at Zain, Fahad, and Zeeshan, who stood chatting nearby. "You three, come with me. The principal wants to discuss your participation in the competition."

As Farhad Sir led them away, Rihan called after his friends teasingly, "So, my boys got a punishment! What did you do now?"

Fahad groaned. "All because of you, Rihan!"

Rihan feigned innocence. "Me? What did I do?"

The three of them glared at him playfully but followed Farhad Sir. Laughing to himself, Rihan headed back to class. His mind, however, drifted back to the moment with Rida—the accidental dash, the soft apology, and the way her voice had lingered in his mind.

---

*The Bell Rings*

The day ended, and the bell rang. Everyone started heading home. Rihan walked to his car, where his driver was already waiting. His four friends saad, Zain, Fahad and Zeeshan, joined him since their homes were close to his.Mahira is cousin of Rihan. She lives in rihan's home cause her parents are in abroad.

The car waited outside for Zain's sister, Sarah. When Sarah arrived, she hugged Rida warmly before getting into the car. As Rihan looked through the rearview mirror, he caught sight of Rida's smile during the hug. His heart skipped a beat. She waved to Sarah, then walked to her father's car, where her dad waited to pick her up.

---

*Rida's Home*

Rida's father, Imran Ahmed, smiled warmly as she approached. "How was your day, beta?" he asked.

"It was good, Abbu!" she replied cheerfully.

When they reached home, Rida hugged her mother, Nafisa Imran, and said, "Assalamu alaikum, Ammi."

Nafisa smiled, brushing a hand lovingly over her daughter's hair. "Wa alaikum salaam, my sweet. How was your day?"

Her father teased from the side, "All love for Ammi and none for Abbu?"

Rida laughed, throwing her arms around him. "Abbu, I love you too! Assalamu alaikum."

Her parents both chuckled and replied in unison, "Wa alaikum salaam."

Rida headed to her cozy room. Though not large, it was warm and inviting, like a scene from a fairy tale, with soft pastel colors and twinkling fairy lights. She quickly changed into her comfy pajamas, picked up the book she had borrowed from the library, and settled onto her bed to read.

---

*Rihan's Home*

Rihan, on the other hand, arrived at his sprawling mansion. After saying goodbye to his friends, he went to freshen up. His parents, busy with their business affairs, rarely had time to chat with him. Sighing, he retreated to his room.

Meanwhile, Mahira headed to her own room, still thinking about Zayaan Sir. "He's so handsome," she murmured to herself with a dreamy smile. Though he was a lecturer, his youthful looks made him seem like a fellow student.

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*Rihan's POV*

Lying on his bed, Rihan stared at the ceiling, the day's events replaying in his mind. He let out a small chuckle.

"That girl… what was her name? I didn't even ask. But her voice… it was so soft, so sweet. 'I'm sorry,' she said. It wasn't just an apology; it was… something sweet, like it could make the world stop for a second. And those eyes—why did they feel so familiar yet so mysterious?"

He shifted, his smile fading as curiosity took over. "She was hugging Sarah... Does that mean she's close to Sarah sister of zain? Maybe I can ask him about her? Who is she? How do I find her?"

Rihan sat up abruptly. "What am I even thinking? This is ridiculous! I've never been this way over someone. And all she did was bump into me. I didn't even say anything back. What if she thinks I'm rude?!"

He flopped back onto the bed, groaning. "She probably didn't even notice me."

*Rida's POV*

Rida curled up on her bed, her book open in her lap, but her eyes remained unfocused. Her thoughts kept wandering back to the boy she had bumped into earlier.

"I said sorry, and he just stood there like a statue. No reply, no expression—what kind of expression was that? So rude!"

She frowned, flipping a page without reading a single word. But her frown softened into a small smile as her mind lingered. "Still, there was something about him. He looked so... lost. And those eyes… they seemed deep, like they held a story I didn't know."

She shook her head, scolding herself. "Rida, stop it. He's just some boy. A rude one at that. And I don't even know his name!"

But her heart betrayed her thoughts, her smile lingering as she hugged her book. "Still, he was kind of cute… in a brooding, mysterious way."

*Rihan's POV*

He rolled onto his side, a small grin creeping back onto his face. "I wonder what she's thinking right now… Maybe she remembers me? Probably not."

He laughed softly to himself. "But if she does, she's probably calling me rude for not saying anything. I should've said something! 'Sorry,' maybe, or at least introduced myself. Argh, Rihan, you idiot!"

*Rida's POV*

Rida shook her head, laughing quietly. "Maybe he's one of those awkward types who don't know how to talk. Still, a simple 'It's okay' wouldn't have hurt, right? Ugh, what if he thinks I was being clumsy?!"

She sighed dramatically. "Forget it, Rida. You'll probably never see him again. And even if you do, you won't remember his face."

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