The next morning around 8:00 a.m., Kiaan was the first to wake up. Kavi was still fast asleep, curled up under the sheets like a baby.
It was the last lecture before the Diwali break, but clearly Kavi didn't care. Maybe it really was true, sleep hits different when you're next to someone you love.
Kiaan leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the forehead before getting out of bed. He had already arranged for private cleaners to tidy up the whole house, with strict instructions to leave the master bedroom untouched.
Walking downstairs shirtless, Kiaan headed to the kitchen with little Kiki following him closely. He made a simple breakfast, toast, scrambled eggs, and coffee. Once it was all set, he brought the tray back upstairs and placed it on the side table.
"Baby, wake up and come eat," he whispered, sitting beside him.
Kavi groaned and slowly opened his eyes, blinking up at the man who had somehow become his whole world.
He felt so lucky, like what kind of good karma had he built up to deserve this kind of soft love?
Kiaan didn't even let him feed himself. He spooned the eggs gently into Kavi's mouth, watching him chew with sleepy eyes.
After breakfast, they showered together. Kiaan picked out something from his closet that he thought might fit Kavi and it did. As he buttoned up his own shirt, he looked over at Kavi.
"Come, I'll drop you at your department," he offered.
Kavi hesitated. "People might start talking."
Kiaan smirked. "They'll just think we're close friends. Don't overthink it."
Kavi finally agreed, even deciding to bring Kiki along mostly to flex on his friends with the kitten.
They got into Kiaan's car. Kavi sat in the passenger seat like a true passenger princess, Kiaan driving with one hand while the other rested on Kavi's thigh. Kavi didn't seem to mind at all.
When they pulled up to the arts department, heads turned. The car was tinted, so no one could see inside, but the look of it drew plenty of attention. Kiaan parked carefully, then leaned in to kiss Kavi goodbye.
"Have fun in class today, baby. I love you."
Kavi grinned. "Go write some code and fix your bugs, tech bro."
With Kiki in his arms, Kavi stepped out of the car confident, glowing, and unbothered.
But then came her, Idina Fomos. Tall, pretty, and clearly bold. She spotted Kavi and immediately went in for a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Kavi barely had time to react.
"Kavi darling, I am also heading to class, let go together" she giggled in a flirty tone.
Inside the car, Kiaan's eyes narrowed.
If looks could kill, Idina would've dropped right there. Instead of stepping out, Kiaan started the car and drove forward just enough to scare her. She shrieked and ran, stumbling away from Kavi.
Kavi just turned and walked to class smiling, his boyfriend is sure an obsessed type.
Inside the car, Kiaan muttered to himself, "The audacity of that girl to touch my baby. I'll get her kicked out if she tries that again. I don't care who her daddy is, she better stay away from my man."
And with that, he drove off toward the engineering department, still fuming
Kavi entered the lecture room with Kiki snuggled in his arms. His favorite art lecturer, Mrs. Kapoor, was already teaching.
"Good morning, Mrs. Kapoor," he greeted with a warm smile.
Mrs. Kapoor paused mid-sentence and smiled back through the mic. "Welcome, Kavi. You're late."
The class was full, and all eyes turned to him, through the mic, Mrs. Kapoor added playfully, "You glow differently today."
Kavi blushed as he scanned the lecture room, quickly spotting his friends. They had saved him a seat, as usual.
He joined them in the back row, Kiki still in his arms.
"Wow, is this the stray cat?" Roy asked, admiring her.
"Doesn't look stray to me," Pinky scoffed, eyeing the luxurious-looking kitten.
Alina, however, said nothing. She just stared. Mrs. Kapoor wasn't wrong, Kavi really was glowing.
And the faint glimpse of a hickey peeking out from the collar of his shirt made Alina's stomach turn. Was he really taken?
Pinky and Roy were busy playing with Kiki, who was enjoying their affection. But Kavi noticed how quiet Alina was. Concerned, he asked softly, "You good, Lina?"
Alina leaned her head on his shoulder and murmured, "I'll be okay, Kavi."
Kavi gently petted her head, offering silent comfort. She closed her eyes for a moment.
This boy has to be mine, she thought. I'll do whatever it takes even if it means getting rid of someone. I love him, and I need him. Being with an Oberoi isn't just love, it's a lifetime jackpot. And I'm not letting anyone take that away from me.
"So guys," Kavi whispered, shifting the mood. "How much did y'all end up spending at the jewelry store? How was the experience?"
This group always chose the back seats for a reason, back-row gossip was their specialty, second only to art.
Pinky and Roy quickly launched into the story of their shopping adventure, describing every detail with dramatic expressions. Alina stayed quiet, clinging a little closer to Kavi, who didn't seem to mind. To him, she was just like a little sister.
Kavi was smiling to himself when Pinky suddenly noticed something.
"Wait—Kavi, you don't even like jewelry. Where'd you get that necklace? It looks mad expensive."
Kavi glanced down at the elegant piece hanging around his neck. He smiled softly, not even trying to deny it.
"It was placed on me by hands that know me too well," he said, his voice calm, almost like a secret carried on the breeze.
The lecture went on, Alina still rested against Kavi's shoulder, her eyes half-closed, pretending to be at ease. But her jaw was clenched ever so slightly, her fingers curling into her lap like she was holding something in.
Kavi, blissfully unaware, was doodling little stars in the corner of his notebook with one hand while petting Kiki with the other.
Mrs. Kapoor paused the slide deck to ask a question.
"Can anyone tell me what emotion this piece is trying to convey?" she asked, pointing to an abstract expressionist painting on the projector.
Kavi raised his hand. "Longing," he said. "It's messy but precise. The brush strokes are scattered but deliberate. It's like someone missing something they can't quite admit."
The class went quiet. Mrs. Kapoor blinked slowly. "Beautifully said."
Pinky whispered, "Okay, poetic prince."
Roy grinned. "He's different today. What's in that boy's morning coffee?"
Before Kavi could respond, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He peeked at it under the desk. A message from Kiaan.
"Missing you already. Tell your kitten I said hi. And don't forget dinner. Just us."
Alina's eyes caught the screen at the perfect or rather, the worst moment. Her breath hitched. Soulmate? That name… it was the final piece of confirmation she didn't want but needed.
Her eyes didn't blink, her hands clenched. A storm swirled beneath her calm expression.
He hadn't just moved on, he had chosen.Chosen someone that wasn't her.
Still smiling just enough to keep up appearances, she followed the group out the lecture hall. But in her mind, she was planning something.
After Diwali break, she was going to dig. Deep.
Who exactly was this Soulmate? And how could she pull Kavi back before it was too late?
She adjusted her tote bag on her shoulder, her gaze hardening.