She sent it and instantly regretted it. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. What if he misunderstood? What if he thought she was overstepping?
Nayan's eyes narrowed as he read the message. He closed them briefly, as though shutting out a wave of emotions. Then, with measured calm, he replied:
"Why? Don't I look happy to you? Everything's fine. Don't worry about me."
And then, silently to himself, he thought: Though you're the first one to ever ask me that. To everyone else, I always appear happy.
He had always kept a certain distance between himself and his students, never mixing personal matters with professional life. There was only one person, his closest friend Mithil, who truly knew him. Perhaps that guarded mystery was what made Nayan's personality even more intriguing.
Vedanshi read his words, then slowly lifted her gaze toward him. He was already looking back at her. With a faint, gentle smile, she wished him good night, not aloud, but only through her eyes. Nayan understood. He smiled back the same way, and then, almost at the same time, both closed their eyes.
When the bus finally halted, most of the passengers stirred awake. Vedanshi stretched, still groggy, and glanced outside. It seemed they had reached the hotel. This was where all of them were to stay for the night. The actual site was still about 30 kilometers away, but there was no accommodation available any closer.
She turned again toward Nayan. He was still asleep. But Sanjana was wide awake and staring directly at Vedanshi.
"Good morning, Vedanshi," Sanjana said, her tone calm but deliberate.
The greeting woke Nayan as well. Vedanshi quickly returned Sanjana's smile with a polite "Good morning."
Soon everyone was stepping off the bus and filing into the hotel. A short while later, after freshening up, the group gathered in the dining hall for breakfast. There were nearly thirty of them, students buzzing with excitement. Today was not just about seeing Rakhigarhi; it was about living history, experiencing something rare and profound. Opportunities like this did not come often.
After breakfast, it took them nearly an hour to reach the site. The moment they arrived, every student stood frozen in awe. Their eyes widened, as if they had forgotten how to blink.
The site stretched so vast that even if one wandered there for a month without pause, it would still remain uncharted. And they weren't the only ones present. Students from several other renowned universities had gathered as well, their professors equally animated. That was the magic of archaeological sites, stepping into one was like stepping into another world. At that moment, they stood before a civilization nearly twenty-five centuries old. The very thought sent shivers of excitement through them.
Groups were quickly divided. Nayan and Sanjana ended up together, though, truthfully, it was Sanjana's subtle maneuvering that had placed him in her team. She had convinced the organizers that his expertise was indispensable to her work.
Mithil's group included Nikhil, Sagar, Parthavi, Seema, Pranay, Nikita, and several other history students. Professor Mishra's team held Vedanshi, Akshay, Parth, Ayansh, along with Ranjit and others from history. The anthropology students were given their own assignments, sent farther away to conduct specialized work.
Vedanshi's gaze drifted toward Nayan and Sanjana. The two of them were engaged in what seemed to be a serious discussion, likely related to the site itself. Sanjana, tall and striking, stood almost at Nayan's height, and together they looked, undeniably, a fitting pair. Sir is such a good man, Vedanshi thought with a sigh. He respects everyone.
That was what set Nayan apart. No matter what Sanjana had done to him in the past, he still addressed her formally, never letting bitterness creep into his tone. His respect extended to everyone, whether it was a colleague, a student, or even the janitor or the scrap dealer on the street. He listened with patience, never imposing his own will. Perhaps that was why everyone adored him.
Catching a glimpse of Vedanshi, Nayan felt a pang of regret. He wished he had been placed in her group. He wanted to guide her, to ensure she performed well. But fate or Sanjana, had kept them apart.
The students were to learn everything, from identifying archaeological features to excavation techniques, from preservation methods to the handling of fragile antiquities.
Meanwhile, Mithil was in his element. Known for his easy humor, he was often surrounded by girls, his body language shifting effortlessly when he spoke to them. Handsome and confident, he was the kind of man who could rival any student on campus.
Professor Mishra, in contrast, was past fifty. Brilliant yet stern, his sharp eyes missed nothing. He demanded perfection, and his presence made students tread carefully. Vedanshi and Akshay, especially, stayed on their guard—warnings from both Nayan and Mithil about Mishra's exacting standards echoing in their minds.
By noon, the sun blazed overhead, and exhaustion weighed heavily on everyone. But the students were too absorbed in their work to notice anything beyond the site itself.
When the lunch break was finally announced, relief swept through the groups. They gathered at a shaded area where food and drinks had been arranged. Most swarmed eagerly toward the chilled soft drinks. Vedanshi, however, quietly placed an order for tea.
"What? Tea, in this blazing heat?" Sagar exclaimed, looking at Vedanshi in disbelief.
Vedanshi calmly sipped her tea. Akshay grinned and added, "Well, Vedanshi isn't the only one who prefers tea. There's someone else who likes it too."
Everyone turned to him with questioning eyes. Akshay raised his brows and gestured toward Nayan.
"Oh! I see," Nikhil and Sagar chorused, smirking. Vedanshi shot them a deadly glare.
"Don't you two think it's in your best interest to return home safely? Otherwise, I might just bury you under one of these mounds and let the anthropology students research your bones," she snapped.
"Whose bones are being buried here? Violence isn't permitted on site," Mithil interrupted as he walked over.
"See, Sir!" Sagar immediately complained. "Your group's students are threatening us, and you're just watching."
"Well, if you keep acting foolish, bones are bound to break," Nayan said as he approached. "I'm sure you two must have provoked her. That's the only reason Vedanshi would lose her temper."
Mithil shot him a sideways glance. "Oh, really? Don't you think you trust Vedanshi a bit too much, Mr. Perfect? Don't say anything to my students," he retorted in a teasing tone.
"Oh, come on," Nayan muttered.
"What was that? If it weren't for the students around, I'd make you eat dust right here," Mithil fired back.
"I'm keeping quiet only because of the students. Otherwise, I'd show you what I can do," Nayan replied firmly.
"Then go on, show me. What exactly do you plan on showing?" Mithil folded his arms, a mischievous grin on his face.
Nayan froze, caught off guard, and gave him a wide-eyed glare. With a subtle gesture, he signaled Mithil to keep quiet. Nearby, Vedanshi and her friends flushed with embarrassment, while Mithil burst out laughing. That was his nature, he spoke without thinking, letting words slip unfiltered.
After a brief silence, everyone returned to discussing the site. But not far away, Sanjana and Parthavi were watching. Sanjana's anger was burning, barely restrained.
"I told you, Di. That girl is just like this. I don't understand what on earth both Parth and Jiju see in her. Why did you even let Jiju go near her?" Parthavi hissed through clenched teeth.
A crooked smile curved on Sanjana's lips. "Haven't you heard the saying? When ghee won't come out with a straight finger, you have to bend it."
Parthavi didn't fully understand her words, but nodded anyway.
Elsewhere, Parth was watching too, his fists clenched tightly, face flushed red with rage. Ranjit approached him quietly. "Angry, aren't you? I can help you win her back."
Did I ask for your help?" Parth snapped.
"No, but I still want to," Ranjit replied smoothly.
"And why would you?" Parth turned sharply, staring into his eyes.
"Because… I like you," Ranjit said with a smile.
Parth said nothing. He turned his eyes back to the scene in front of him, jaw tight.