The Moment His Heart Began to Doubt
Author Pov : ??????
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The final days of the examination period passed more quickly than Meera had expected.
For weeks, her world had been nothing but textbooks, notes, assignments, sleepless nights.
But finally...One examination was left just.
After finishing another exhausting exam, Meera walked out of the college building with Veer and Ruchika.
All three looked completely drained.
Veer dropped his bag over his shoulder and sighed dramatically.
"One more exam, and I swear I'm going to forget how to write my own name." Veer said.
Ruchika laughed as she adjusted her bag.
"That's because you spend half your exam staring at the clock instead of answering the questions." Ruchika teased him.
Veer immediately looked offended.
"Excuse me? I was calculating how much time I had left. That's called strategic planning." Veer said and corrected her.
Meera laughed.
"Strategic planning? Veer, you spent fifteen minutes sharpening your pencil." Meera said while laughing at him.
Ruchika burst out laughing and said,
"She's right! And then you asked me for an extra pen because apparently your pencil suddenly became your enemy."
Veer shook his head dramatically.
"You two are supposed to support me." He said while annoyed by them.
Meera smiled and said,"We support you emotionally. Academically, you're on your own, Veer."
The three laughed together.
For the first time in weeks, the pressure seemed a little lighter.
They eventually stopped at a small café near the college.
After ordering drinks and some snacks, they settled around a table near the window.
Veer leaned back in his chair.
"So, honestly... how was today's exam?" Veer asked both of them.
Meera sighed.
"Not terrible. The first section was easy, but the last part was annoying. I wasn't expecting that question."
Ruchika nodded.
"I know! I looked at it and thought, 'Who exactly decided students deserved this kind of suffering?'" Ruchika also said.
Veer pointed toward her.
"Exactly! Finally, someone understands me." Veer said dramatically.
"You both are so dramatic."Meera said while laughing.
Ruchika smiled at her and teased her.
"Coming from the girl who almost cried over missing her three calculator last week?" Ruchika teased Meera.
Meera immediately covered her face.
"Please don't remind me." Meera said.
Veer started laughing.
"How could we forget? You searched your entire bag three times, blamed me and ruchi , blamed your desk, and then discovered it was in your house." Veer said while teasing her more.
"I was stressed!"Meera said and stared at him.
Ruchika laughed.
"You should admit that it is your fault not ours. And you blame us and also shout at us when we do nothing ." Ruchika said while pointing her finger at Meera.
"Fine. Fine. I admit it." Meera groaned.
Veer grinned at this point.
"And let's not forget my legendary moment when I walked into the wrong examination room." Veer said it.
Ruchika nearly choked on her drink.
"You still haven't explained how you managed that."
"It was a misunderstanding. You don't understand."Veer placed a hand over his heart.
"You sat there for ten minutes."Meera raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly. I was giving them a chance to tell me I was in the wrong room." Veer explained himself.
"You're impossible, Veer . You should join in acting classes. Not with us."Ruchika shook her head.
" I also think that. Don't you think guys iam handsome enough to be a hero?" Veer said.
The three laughed again.
For a while, they simply enjoyed being together without worrying about exams.
Then Veer looked toward Meera.
"Meera, when are you going to your village?" Veer asked her.
"Why? Is there something else?"Meera looked at him curiously.
Veer exchanged a glance with Ruchika before smiling.
"Actually, Ruchi and I were thinking... maybe we could go with you this time." Veer answered her.
"Both of you?"Meera blinked.
Ruchika nodded excitedly.
"Why not? We can finally meet your grandmother. And after the exams, we'll have vacation anyway." Ruchika said.
Meera smiled softly.
"My grandmother actually told me that she hasn't been feeling well lately. I think I should go there and take her to a doctor." Meera said.
Ruchika's expression immediately became concerned.
"Then that's even more reason to go. Call us when you're ready. We'll go together." Ruchika said.
"Exactly. It's our last exam. We deserve a proper vacation after all this torture." Veer nodded.
Meera smiled at them and said ,"Yeah. We can go together."
Then she pointed toward both of them.
"But first, finish the last exam. We still have one left." Meera said to both of them.
"Don't remind me. I'm already tired just thinking about it. I genuinely cannot sit through another exam."Veer groaned dramatically and drink his coffee.
"Don't say that. Just one more. Then we'll go to my village."Meera laughed.
Ruchika raised her cup.
"You better keep your promise." Ruchika said to them.
"I will , Ruchi . Don't worry. "Meera smiled.
They continued talking for another hour.Eventually, Veer checked the time.
"I think I should go now." Veer said to them.
"Yeah. Let's go together. It's already late ."Meera nodded.
The three friends left the cafe and eventually went their separate ways.
For Meera, the walk home felt strangely peaceful.
For the first time in a long while, she had something to look forward to.
Her grandmother.And a little time away from everything. Who never agreed to live here with Meera. She loves her place too much to the left her place.
But Meera . She needed to independent. So they just meet on some vacations. Or even not. But There village is not that much develop. It's actually on hills. So there was no good interest.
Later That Night : ??????
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Meera sat at her study desk with her books spread around her.
The room was quiet.Her phone rested beside her notebook.
She was halfway through reading a chapter when...
Buzz.
She glanced at the screen.A message from Aarav.
'Come to my study room now.'
Meera stared at the message.Her eyebrows immediately pulled together.
"Why is he so annoying?I need to study now and here he believes i have free time for him."
She dropped the phone beside her notebook.
She tried to ignore it.
Thirty seconds passed.Then two minutes left.
"But if I don't go, he'll probably come here himself."She sighed.
She closed her book with an irritated expression.
"Idiot. Why do I need to always listen to him." She said to herself felt annoyed.
She stood up and walked toward Aarav's study room.After knocking twice, she heard his voice.
"Come in." The voice came out of his study room.
Meera opened the door.
"Are you busy?" Meera asked him.
"No. Come inside."Aarav looked up from his laptop.
She entered and closed the door behind her.Aarav pointed toward the table.
"I've prepared some ideas for the project. You need to analyse it ." Aarav said without looking at her.
Meera walked closer.
"Okay. What exactly do you want me to develop it now?" Meera asked him.
Aarav turned the laptop toward her and began explaining the project.
"This section needs financial analysis. The basic data is already here. I want you to develop the structure and compare these figures." Aarav answered her.
Meera leaned closer to him and examined the information.
" It's not enough. What about the projected expenses?And the market analysis? " Meera said.
"I'll give you those separately." Aarav answered it.
"Then I need the raw data."Meera said and nodded slowly.
Aarav looked at her.
"You'll get it.Go through everything carefully. Don't rush." He said and handed her another file.
"I won't . I am not like you."Meera nodded.
Aarav picked up his phone.
" Listen don't talk with me like that. You know i lose my control when i get angry. And I also have a business call. You can work here while I'm on it." Aarav said.
Meera sat down on the couch and placed the laptop on her lap.
Aarav moved toward the other side of the room.
Soon, his voice filled the study.He spoke professionally, discussing numbers, deadlines, and an upcoming meeting.
Meera tried to focus on the project.
But occasionally...
Her eyes wandered toward him.She watched the way he concentrated during the conversation.
The calm expression.The confidence in his voice.The way he immediately noticed every detail being discussed.
Meera noticed she was just looking at him . So she quickly looked back at the laptop.
"Focus, Meera. He is just destruction."
She whispered to herself.
A few minutes later, Aarav ended the call.He walked toward her and sat down nearby.
"Where did you finish?" Aarav asked Meera.
Meera turned the laptop slightly toward him.
"I've finished the initial analysis, but I need some additional information before I can complete this section." Meera answered.
"Which information?" Aarav asked her.
"This." Meera pointed toward the screen. Aarav leaned closer to her for the screen.
"That data comes from the previous quarter. But I need the updated version." Meera said to him.
"I'll send it to you." Aarav said.
"And I also need the meeting report too." Meera said to Aarav.
"You've already thought that far ahead?"Aarav looked at her.
Meera shrugged.
"If I'm doing something, I want to do it properly. But it's work or not ." Meera said while looking at his eyes.
Aarav remained silent for a moment.
There was something different about her.
She wasn't distracted anymore.
She wasn't arguing.She was simply focused on her work.
He liked this version.
They continued discussing the project.
At one point, Aarav leaned closer to the screen to point something out.
Meera immediately shifted slightly away.
Aarav noticed that. His eyes moved toward her.
"Now you're feeling uncomfortable sitting near me?" Aarav asked.
"It's not like that, Aarav. "Meera hesitated.
"Then what is it , Meera?" Aarav asked her.