I had just completed the painting. Every stroke, every detail was a silent confession of everything I couldn't say out loud. When I finally stepped back and let Nikhil see the finished piece, his reaction left me stunned. His eyes sparkled with something more than admiration—maybe pride, maybe something deeper. A soft smile played on his lips, and for a moment, I thought it was over. That I had done enough.
But Nikhil… he wasn't done.
"It's amazing," he said gently, still looking at the painting. "But… I want more."
Before I could respond, he took my hand again and led me out of the room. My heart skipped a beat, unsure of where we were going now. We moved through the corridor until we reached a different part of the college building—one I hadn't entered before. It was the girls' session area. As we stepped in, eyes turned toward us. I saw familiar faces—seniors, juniors, and most notably, her.
Ruchika.
She stood at the center of the room, surrounded by her group like a queen among her court. Her eyes narrowed when she saw me by Nikhil's side. Before I could figure out what was happening, Nikhil turned to her.
"I want you to give him a task," he said calmly, in his usual confident tone. "Something that won't hurt him. Nothing dangerous, nothing cruel. But… it should leave everyone in this room stunned. It should feel impossible. Something that makes him—and all of you—realize just how far he's willing to go."
Ruchika raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. She walked slowly toward Nikhil, her heels clicking against the floor like the ticking of a countdown clock.
"Oh?" she smirked, tilting her head. "You want to put me in charge of his next task?"
Nikhil didn't flinch. "Yes."
Ruchika stepped even closer, her voice now low, taunting. "Interesting. So you humiliated me in front of my juniors earlier… now it's your turn."
Nikhil blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
But she didn't answer him. Instead, she turned to me, flashing a smile that sent a chill down my spine.
"You there," she said, pointing at me, her tone playful but laced with something venomous. "I have a very simple task for you."
Then she leaned in, brushing past me slightly, her voice barely a whisper in my ear.
"I want you to kiss Nikhil," she said. "Anywhere you want. In front of everyone."
I froze.
For a second, I couldn't breathe. My heart pounded in my chest like a drumbeat of panic. I turned toward her, my mouth half open, but the words refused to come out. My mind raced. Had I heard her right?
She stepped back with a wicked grin, watching me with predator-like amusement, knowing exactly what she had done.
Everyone's eyes were on me.
On us.
And suddenly, the room felt smaller, heavier. My skin burned with anxiety and a thousand unsaid thoughts.
But I had no choice.
She was a senior—and this was part of the fresher's ritual. I had to comply.
I turned slowly to face Nikhil.
He looked at me—his expression unreadable. Calm… but curious. He didn't step back. He didn't protest. He just stood there, waiting to see what I would do.
I took a shaky breath and stepped closer.
My fingers trembled slightly as I reached out, brushing against his arm—softly, hesitantly. I looked up at him, my heart in my throat. Then, gathering every last shred of courage I had left, I leaned in.
My lips touched his cheek.
Just for a second.
A kiss—not wild, not dramatic—but enough to send a collective gasp through the entire room.
I could feel the silence ripple like a shockwave. The whispers started instantly. Some in disbelief. Some in amusement. Some in awe. The seniors stared. The juniors looked stunned. And Nikhil… just smiled. That same quiet, mysterious smile.
But me?
My breath caught in my chest, my face burning with the weight of what I had just done. Before I could even see anyone's reaction, before I could face what came next—I turned and ran.
I burst out of the room, my heartbeat roaring in my ears, my chest tight, like I had crossed a line I didn't know existed.
I didn't stop running until I was alone again.
And when I finally did, I stood there—torn between panic, confusion… and something else I couldn't name.
Something that made me wonder…
Was it really just a task?
Or had something in me changed forever?
I had barely made it out of the room, my breath uneven, my heart pounding louder than ever, when I heard footsteps following me—firm, unhurried. I didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.
Nikhil.
He called out to me, and when I finally stopped, he stepped in front of me, his eyes locked onto mine—not with anger, but something fiercer, more intense.
"Did Ruchika really tell you to do that?" he asked, his voice low, controlled—but there was a storm just beneath the surface.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what he meant exactly. Then I nodded slowly. "Yes… she told me to do it."
He narrowed his eyes and suddenly raised his voice, not out of rage but frustration. "You're lying!"
I flinched.
"She told you to kiss me wherever you wanted," he snapped. "And all you could think of… was my cheek?"
His words struck me like a lightning bolt. I stared at him, stunned, unsure of what he was trying to imply. My voice came out weak, almost trembling, "W-What are you trying to say?"
He didn't answer with words at first.
He just stepped closer, the distance between us vanishing in an instant. Then, before I could even blink, he grabbed my hand—firm, not hurting, but assertive—and said, his voice husky with unspoken meaning:
"I'm saying… if it's a kiss, then let it be real. If you're going to do it—do it right."
And then…
He kissed me.
Right on the lips.
Soft, yet confident. Surprising, yet not forced. It wasn't a joke. It wasn't play. It was like a secret slipping out without permission.
The world stood still for a second.
When he finally pulled back, I could barely breathe. My thoughts were spinning. I touched my lips, still warm from the contact. He looked at me with a small smirk and added calmly, "Don't take it seriously. It was just a kiss. But for the record… soft and milky-skinned boys like you… they're my weakness."
I blinked at him, completely caught off guard.
I barely had the courage to ask, "Wait… are you… gay?"
Nikhil chuckled lightly, as if I'd asked something innocent.
"No," he said, clearly, "I'm not gay. I'm bisexual."
He said it so confidently, like it was just another part of who he was—no shame, no hesitation.
"That means," he continued, "sometimes I'm attracted to guys too. But I still like girls more. I don't fall for every guy… but once in a while, someone just pulls me in."
His words left me speechless.
Somewhere deep inside, I felt something shift. I wasn't sure if it was hope… or confusion. All I knew was that my heart was racing. Was there… a chance?
And then that voice inside me, the one I had ignored for so long, finally spoke up.
What's happening to me? Why am I reacting like this? I'm not gay. I like girls… don't I?
But the warmth in my chest, the butterflies I couldn't control, told me a different story.
Nikhil gently took my hand again, as if nothing unusual had just happened, and walked me back toward the seminar hall.
As we stepped back inside, all the boys turned to look at us. Some were curious. Some were amused. But no one dared to speak.
And then Nikhil addressed them, his voice sharp and powerful, carrying across the entire hall.
"From this moment on," he declared, "if anyone touches this junior, bothers him, or tries to bully him in any way… they'll have to answer to me."
The silence that followed was heavy. No one dared to challenge him.
One guy mumbled under his breath, loud enough for others to hear, "Honestly, who would dare lay a finger on him now? He's practically got a bodyguard."
Another followed with a nervous chuckle, "Yeah, Nikhil's made it clear… this one's untouchable."
I stood there, still holding his hand, stunned, confused… protected.
And maybe for the first time since I entered college…
I didn't feel alone.
To be continue....