Chapter 10
I stared at the assignment that Mr. Khadoos had graciously cursed me with.
Fifty algebra problems. It was 12 AM.
And here I was, sitting like a tragic heroine, drowning in numbers and regrets.
I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "This is criminal. This man needs to be jailed. Or at least banned from touching calculators."
As I squinted at question 17, contemplating if I could fake my own death and avoid submitting it altogether, a thought struck me.
Raj.
Of course.
Why suffer alone when I had a lazy, good-for-nothing, occasionally-useful brother under the same roof?
I grinned. "Raj, my sweet, idiot brother... it's your time to shine."
I burst through the door like a woman on a mission.
Raj yelped, nearly falling off his chair. "Have you lost it?! It's midnight!"
I held up the math sheet like it was a holy relic." Bhratashree , Mujhe apki Jarurat hai."
("Brother, dearest. I need you.")
He eyed the paper suspiciously. "No."
"You don't even know what I want!"
"You only ever need me for food or favors that end in my suffering. I choose life."
I sighed dramatically, flopping onto his bed. "Raj. If you help me solve this, I'll... I'll let you borrow my headphones for a week."
His eyes lit up. "And your Netflix password?"
"Done."
He snatched the paper from my hands. "Let's crush this Khadoos."
"Wait, is x supposed to be 12 or... the square root of regret?" I groaned, staring at the mess on my notebook.
Raj looked equally miserable. "I think he gave you unsolvable math as revenge for the yelling"
I gasped. "Do you think he knows?"
Raj smirked. "You tripped in broad daylight and splashed yourself. The entire college knows."
I grabbed a pillow and screamed into it.
Raj chuckled. "Admit it. You like him."
I peeked from the pillow, eyes narrowed. "I like silence. And revenge."
He grinned. "So what's the next move?"
I smirked, a plan forming. "Let's just say... Mr. Khadoos won't see it coming."
Because if he thought he could torture me with math and walk away smirking...
He had no idea who he was dealing with.
"Ouch!"I muttered under my breath, wincing as I bit my tongue.
Perfect. Just perfect.
I leaned back in my chair, running a hand along my jaw. My mother used to say-"When someone's cursing you, you end up biting your tongue."
Normally, I'd write it off as superstition.
But tonight?
I know exactly who's throwing daggers at me in her head.
None other than my little Furball.
A smirk pulled at my lips as I imagined her face right now-eyes narrowed, hair a mess, probably mumbling, "Khadoos," every five seconds while battling those math problems.
She's probably throwing her pen at the wall or threatening to burn the assignment I gave her.
Good.
Let her curse me. Let her struggle.
I want her to think about me. Even if it's in anger.
The best part? She has no idea she's dancing right into my hands. I exhaled slowly, staring at the clock-12:07 AM. Still awake, I bet.
Still fighting me in her head.
Still losing.
I pulled out my phone, fingers tapping her name in my contacts. For a moment, I debated sending a message-maybe something to push her over the edge.
Then I stopped.
No. Let her burn a little longer.
Let her stew in frustration, knowing she'll have to face me tomorrow-unfinished assignment or not.
And when she does? I'll be waiting.
With a new game. A new challenge.
Because this little war between us? It's just getting started.
And the more she fights... the more I want to pull her closer.
She just doesn't know it yet.
As I walked around the campus, my gaze moved on its own-searching.
For her.
But she was nowhere to be seen.
I didn't have any lectures this morning, which meant no excuses to catch a glimpse of her.
And that... bothered me more than I cared to admit.
Without thinking, my steps led me toward the library.
Quiet. Still. The air was thick with silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of pages.
And then- My eyes found her.
Tucked into the farthest corner, head resting on the desk, her hair spilling around her face like a curtain. Chest rising and falling softly.
She was sleeping.
I froze for a second, just watching her. Then, before I could stop myself, a small smile curved my lips-one that came uninvited and uncontrolled.
I glanced around-barely any students.
Good.
Without a sound, I walked toward her and took the seat beside her, my eyes fixed on her face.
Her expression was calm, lips parted slightly, lashes brushing against her cheeks.
All the fire, the fight, the constant comebacks-gone.
Just peace. For a moment, everything else faded-noise, time, the world itself.
It was just me and her. In this still, fragile moment.
I didn't want to move. Didn't want to break it.
But then, my eyes shifted... To her notebook.
Lying just inches from her hand.
Curious, I leaned in, gently sliding it toward me, careful not to wake her.
And the moment I saw the page-my shoulders shook with silent laughter.
There it was-my assignment.
Half-finished, scribbled answers, messy handwriting, and a small note in the corner:
"I hate you, Khadoos."
I bit my lip to stop from laughing out loud.
Stubborn little Furball. She'd worked through the night just to beat me-and cursed me while doing it.
I reached into my coat pocket, pulled out a blue pen, and without hesitation, began solving the remaining problems. Clean, precise answers. Efficient.
As I wrote the last solution, I paused, then smirked-and added something at the bottom of the page:
"Try harder, Furball. - Mr. Khadoos"
Sliding the notebook back exactly where it was, I looked at her one last time.
Still asleep. Still peaceful.
I stood quietly, straightening my coat, and before I walked away, I whispered-barely audible-
"You'll never escape me."
And I meant every word.
I stirred slightly as the bell rang, groggily lifting my head from the table. My eyes fluttered open-and panic hit me like a truck.
Shit.
I blinked at the clock on the wall.
I MISSED HISTORY.
Well... okay, technically I was about to skip history on purpose to finish my math assignment-but still!
"Dammit!" I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "I fell asleep again?"
I muttered to myself, dragging the notebook closer.
"Kumbhkaran bhi fail ho jaayega mujhse..."
(Even Kumbhkaran would fail compared to me.)
With a resigned sigh, I flipped open the notebook, ready to cry over the half-solved mess I left last night.
But then- My eyes widened.
What. The. Actual. Hell.
Every single question... was SOLVED.
Perfectly. Neatly. In blue ink.
For two seconds, I genuinely thought-Wow, maybe God took pity on me.
Until my eyes landed on the bottom corner of the page.
A note.
Written in that same annoying, infuriatingly neat handwriting:
"Try harder, Furball. - Mr. Khadoos."
I froze.
"What the-HOW?!" I almost shrieked in the silent library.
How the hell does he know I call him that?!
I've only ever said it in my head-or to Raj!
My heart was thumping, a mix of shock, confusion, and betrayal. Okay, maybe not betrayal-but like, seriously?! He gave me this torture assignment and then solved it himself?
WHY?
I slammed the notebook shut, eyes darting around like I was about to be arrested for thought crimes.
Was he here? Watching? Is he a mind-reader?
Do I have a hidden mic on me?
I groaned, burying my face in my hands.
Rudra Singhania is not just Khadoos-he's a psycho magician with way too much time on his hands and an obsession with breaking my brain.
One thing was clear ,He messed with the wrong girl.
Time for revenge.
And this time-I'm not holding back.
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