Pyaar Ka Tropefest - My Series Of 5 Crossover Couple One-Shots

Hello everyone! I will be posting my 5 one-shots over here which I sent in for the Pyaar Ka Trope-fest contest. They are all standalones and have no connection to each other. I hope you enjoy them, and please leave your feedback if you do read them!!

Second Time's a Charm

Theme: Mistaken Identity // Setting: Neighbors // Characters: Arnav from IPKKND (with Zoya from QH) // Wordcount: 1080

Book cover created by sevenstreaks

Zoya had moved into her new apartment just two days ago. It was a small but cozy space with one bedroom, a sitting room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. She was almost done unpacking her boxes when the doorbell rang. Frowning, she wiped her hands on a towel and opened the door.

As soon as she saw the man standing in front of her, she gasped and took a step back. She couldn't believe her eyes.

“You,” she hissed, her fingers curling into fists.

“Uh… hi?” The man blinked in confusion.

“Why are you here, Haider? You know I moved to a new city so I wouldn’t have to see you again. Stop following me.”

“Haider? What the—?” He frowned. “I’m Arnav, your new neighbor. I saw you move in and thought I’d introduce myself.” He extended his hand, but when Zoya only glared at him, he pulled it back.

“Oh, stop pretending!”

“I’m not pretending, dammit!” Arnav sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I have no idea who this Haider guy is, but trust me, I’m not him.”

Zoya narrowed her eyes, scanning his face. He definitely looked like Haider. The same sharp jawline, same eyes, same skin tone—heck, even his hairstyle was nearly identical. How could he not be Haider? The only difference was the way he spoke—his voice was softer, calmer. Haider had never sounded like that.

“Are you sure you’re not Haider?”

Arnav exhaled sharply. “Look, I can tell you have some bad history with that guy, but I’m Arnav, dammit—your new neighbor. I don’t even know you.” He took out his ID card and waved it in front of her. “See? Arnav Singh Raizada.”

When Zoya didn’t respond, Arnav shook his head and turned to leave. “I was just trying to be friendly. Have a nice day.”

“Wait,” she called before he could walk away. As he paused, she pulled out her phone and searched for a picture of Haider. “Explain this.”

Arnav turned back and stared at the screen. His eyes widened. “Wow… he looks exactly like me. But I swear, I don’t know him.”

Zoya studied his face carefully. He did seem genuinely surprised. “Okay, maybe I jumped to conclusions.”

“Maybe?!” Arnav raised an eyebrow.

“Fine. I’m sorry.”

“That’s better.” He smiled slightly. “Let’s try again. I’m Arnav Singh Raizada.”

“I’m Zoya Farooqui.” This time, she shook his hand.

“Nice to meet you. Well, I hope we can have a better friendship than whatever you had with Haider.”

“I really hope so,” Zoya chuckled.

Haider had been Zoya’s best friend for two years before they started dating. He was charming, adventurous, and always knew the right words to say. For a while, she believed he was her forever.

But forever shattered in a single moment.

She remembered that evening vividly. She had planned to surprise him at his apartment with his favorite coffee. As she approached the door, she heard voices—his voice, and another woman’s laughter.

Curiosity turned to shock when she pushed open the slightly ajar door. Haider was there, his arms around someone else, his lips brushing against hers as he whispered words Zoya once believed were meant only for her.

The coffee cup slipped from her hands, crashing to the floor.

He turned, startled, but not guilty. He didn’t even look ashamed.

“Zoya, you weren’t supposed to see this.” His voice was calm, almost indifferent.

“Are you serious right now?” Her voice trembled. “How long?”

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair, just like Arnav had done earlier. But on Haider, it was different—it was a habit of someone caught in a lie.

“Since the beginning,” he admitted, shrugging. “You were fun, but did you really think I was serious about you?”

Those words cut deeper than any knife.

She had walked out that night, vowing never to look back. And she hadn’t—until Arnav’s face had forced her to.

---

That betrayal shattered her trust, and she knew she had to leave. Moving to a new city was her way of starting fresh. But of all the people she could have met, how did she end up with a neighbor who looked exactly like him?

Still, something in her gut told her Arnav was different. Two men could share a face, but that didn’t mean they shared a heart. Maybe it was time to find out for herself.

“So, how about dinner someday?” Zoya offered. “Hopefully, I can give you a better second impression than this disastrous first one.”

“Sure, here’s my number.”

As their fingers brushed for the second time, Zoya had a feeling that this misunderstanding might be the best thing that had ever happened to her. Maybe second impressions were her thing.

Two Months Later

Zoya couldn’t stop smiling as she sat across from Arnav in the candlelit café. Ever since that first meeting, she had caught herself thinking about him and their ridiculous misunderstanding more times than she cared to admit.

The evening air was warm, filled with the scent of jasmine and freshly brewed coffee. She no longer felt awkward around him—just an undeniable comfort.

“So, tell me…” Arnav said, resting his chin on his hand. “When did you finally believe I wasn’t like Haider?”

Zoya laughed, stirring her coffee. “Second meeting.”

“Ah, so you were charmed by my second impression?”

She smirked. “You’re forgetting that you look exactly like someone I used to know. So… third impression.”

Arnav leaned in slightly, his voice soft. “He doesn’t count between us anymore. At least I proved that I’m worth a second chance.”

Zoya felt butterflies in her chest. He was so different from Haider—full of kindness, warmth, and wit. So different from anyone she had ever met.

As they walked home from the café, Arnav slowed his pace. “I wasn’t planning to fall for my neighbor, you know.”

Zoya’s breath hitched.

He turned to her, gently taking her hand and intertwining their fingers. Then he whispered, “But I think I already have.”

Her heart pounded. This was too soon. Everything was happening so fast. But somehow, this didn’t feel like a mistake—it felt perfect.

She smiled, leaning into him, inhaling his scent. “I think I might be falling too.”

Arnav chuckled before closing the remaining distance between them. Wrapping his arms around her, he sealed the moment with a soft kiss on her forehead.

And just like that, what had started as a misunderstanding turned into something much more—something that felt a lot like love.

***

That's the end of Arnav and Zoya's story...Scroll down for next story...

Theme: Enemies to lovers // Setting: Road Trip // Characters: Geet from GHSP (with Yash from Punar Vivah) // Wordcount: 1170

Cover by ssttuuttii

Ae Mere Humsafar

As the bus drove past the bustling streets of India, neither Yash nor Geet were thrilled about the six remaining hours until they reached Jaipur. So far their journey had been uneventful, with both of them facing away from each other pretending to sleep.

Both of them were top contenders for being promoted to a senior position as wedding planners in the Harmony Hues company, and their infamous rivalry had become the talk of the office. They tended to compete over everything–whether it was presentations, punctuality, or even getting the best seat at meetings.

Now, they were being forced to travel together by bus, thanks to their flight being cancelled at the last minute due to bad weather conditions.

Yash had reached the bus first and grabbed the window seat; while Geet was forced to take the seat next to him, seeing as no other seat was available.

“This doesn’t mean I like sitting next to you,” she made it clear while Yash merely smirked in response.

As they reached the highway, cool winter breeze filtered in through the window which Yash had left slightly open.

About an hour later, Yash pulled out his laptop to prepare for the presentation.

“My wedding presentation is completely flawless.” He talked aloud, making sure Geet could hear him.

Geet scoffed and pulled out her own laptop. “Hmph. Yeah right. There is no such thing as flawless. I believe in romance and fairytale weddings.”

Yash crossed his arms and turned toward her challengingly. “You think your presentation is better than mine?”

“I know it is!”

Both of them pretended to focus on their work while secretly looking at each other’s screens.

Yash chuckled. “You’re spying, aren’t you?”

Geet rolled her eyes. “And why would I need to do that? My presentation is way better than yours.”

“Wanna bet?” Yash raised an eyebrow.

“Fine. Whoever’s presentation wins gets free coffee from the loser everyday for a month.”

“Done.” Yash grinned.

Another hour passed in silence, then the bus stopped at a service station for a fifteen minute break.

Yash and Geet got down. Geet started shivering as soon as the cold night air hit her face. As she headed to the tea stall, Yash came behind her and wrapped his jacket around her. This action surpised Geet.

“What’s this?”

“Don’t make a big deal out of it. I’m a gentleman who can’t see women suffering.” He casually said and put his hands in his pockets.

Geet felt a warmth spread through her–not from the jacket but something else.

They sipped their tea while walking in the moonlight. The air smelled of tea, roasted peanuts, and damp earth. It was rare for them to share such a peaceful moment like this.

Alas! It didn’t last long, as Yash spoke again. “I may be a gentleman, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you win.”

Geet laughed. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

Geet smiled as they walked back to the bus. This trip was turning out to be different than she expected.

Yash dozed off again as the bus continued its journey. Geet glanced at him, noticing how attractive he looked when he wasn’t arguing with her.

Most of the passengers had fallen asleep as the bus continued to speed down the quiet highway.

The road ahead was dark, and only the faint glow coming from the streetlights far away could be seen.

Suddenly, a loud honk shattered the silence.

The driver swerved violently, and before anyone could react, the bus went out of control. Passengers were forcefully thrown across the seats, their screams echoing in the air. Before they knew it, the bus had tumbled down a rocky slope, metal screeching and glass shattering.

Yash was flung sideways before he had the chance to process what was happening. His head slammed into the seat and his vision blurred.

Everything went silent for just a few seconds, then he heard a distant crackle of an exposed wire and smelled gasoline in the air.

He groaned as he forced himself upright. His whole body ached. The bus was half crushed, fallen on its side.

Where was Geet? He thought panic-stricken, scanning the wreckage around him.

Then he finally saw her.

She had fallen unconscious, trapped under a seat. Blood was oozing out of her forehead. Something inside him snapped.

“Geet!” He crawled towards her, frantically trying to reach her as soon as he could. His arms trembled as he touched her face, ignoring his own pain. “Geet, utho! Utho!”

When she didn’t respond, he began to grow more agitated as he saw her lying there in front of him, lifeless.

“You can’t leave me like this!”

The seat she was trapped under was too heavy. It wouldn’t budge no matter how hard Yash tried. The smell of gasoline was growing stronger. He heard another crackling spark. The bus was going to explode any minute. But he had to get her out–he could not leave without her.

He ignored his paining muscles as he pushed one last time, in a desperate attempt to free her. “Come on! Please!”

The seat finally gave way as he grabbed a limp Geet and carried her out of the broken exit door.

A few minutes later, a loud explosion was heard. The bus was in flames as Yash and Geet crashed to the ground.

Yash didn't let go of her, shielding her body with his own to protect her from the debris surrounding them.

“Please, Geet, wake up…I can’t lose you.”

Then she stirred–a soft movement.

Yash’s breath hitched. “Geet? Can you hear me?”

“Yash?” Her eyes opened in confusion.

“Thank God,” he cupped her face in his hands gently, the relief evident on his face. “You scared the hell out of me.”

Her fingers gripped his sleeve for support as she blinked at him. “You saved me?”

“Of course I did. You really think I would let anything happen to you?” He looked into her eyes. She could see the emotion in them. “If something happened to you…If I lost you…I wouldn’t have anyone to compete with.”

Geet laughed. “I too can't imagine a life where I'm not fighting with you, Yash.”

Before he could stop himself, he whispered. “I don’t think I can live without you, Geet.” His eyes were raw and vulnerable. “I don’t know when it happened, Geet, but between all those fights and arguments…I fell for you…I just never realised it until I almost lost you.”

Geet stared at him. Her heart was pounding.

“You’re an idiot, Yash.” She smiled.

“Excuse me?”

She traced his jaw with trembling fingers. “It took you so long to figure it out.”

He looked into her eyes, and then he realised–she loved him too.

“Now what?” Geet smirked. “We still have that wedding event to attend.”

“Still thinking about that promotion?” Yash chuckled.

“I’m still going to win!”

“We’ll see about that. But first, let’s get you treated.”

Their rivalry wasn't over, but this time it came with love.

***

That's the end of Yash and Geet's prem kahani...scroll down for next one...

Cover made by oh_nakhrewaali

Theme: Childhood friends // Setting: Historical / Time Travel // Characters: Major Vihaan Shergill from Uri and Sehmat Khan from Raazi // Wordcount: 1096

War of Hearts

The summer heat of Amritsar in 1947 was relentless, and under the shade of an old banyan tree sat two children–Vihaan and Sehmat. It was the usual place for the two best friends to sit and share all their secrets with each other. They had been doing so since they had learnt how to talk, as their famillies knew each other since they were born.

“I’ll join the Army one day.” Vihaan had proudly announced.

Sehmat smirked. “And I’ll be a spy.”

“You? A spy?” Vihaan laughed. “You can’t even lie without blushing!”

“Just wait and see.”

They were two halves of the same heart. No one could separate them. They didn’t know that fate had already written their love story in the cruelest way.

However, when the Partition happened, Sehmat was forced to move to Lahore with her family. She was forced to begin a new life, in a new place. As the train left, Vihaan handed her a wooden whistle as a symbol of their friendship.

“When I’m older, I will come to find you,” he had promised.

—

Eighteen years passed and the wounds of the Partition and their separation had turned into scars. Their innocent friendship had turned into a deep love that couldn’t be described in words. It was so deep that despite having no contact for years, they were never able to commit to anyone else.

Vihaan was now Major Vihaan Shergill, fulfilling his childhood dream and joining the Indian Army. His loyalty was to his country, but he still had memories of the little girl who used to sit next to him under the tree.

Sehmat had also become a spy, swearing loyalty to her own country. She was now an ISI Agent who lived in the shadows, away from everyone’s sight, gathering information from across the border.

For the last eighteen years, she had been trying to erase her past, trying to accept that India was her enemy, but one thing she was never able to get over was Vihaan–her best friend and childhood sweetheart. She yearned to meet him every moment.

Everything changed again in 1965, when the Pakistan and India war began. Sehmat was sent on a mission to India to gather intelligence on India’s military strategies.

Her target was India’s most trusted officer–Major Vihaan Shergill.

Hearing his name gave her butterflies. Could it be the same Vihaan or was it just a coincidence?

---

She arrived in Delhi in the disguise of a journalist: Nehmat Kapoor. She had memorized Vihaan’s files and studied his every move. But the moment she saw him, she forgot everything. He was the same Vihaan from eighteen years ago, except he had completely changed.

His boyish grin had now been replaced with a soldier’s hardened gaze, his shoulders were broader, he had grown into a commanding and dominating personality.

“You look familiar. Have we met before?” He asked, stepping forward.

She forced a smile as she braced herself to put on the perfect act. “I don’t think we’ve met before, Major.”

Vihaan nodded his head, but he wasn’t convinced.

—

Over the next few weeks, Sehmat tried to gather all the information she could and perform her duty well without getting caught. Vihaan was always drawn to her and tried to figure her out. The more time they spent together, the harder it became for Sehmat to concentrate on her mission.

One evening, he walked up to her. “There’s something about you that I just can’t shake off.”

Her heart ached to tell him the truth, but her duty chained her to stay silent.

“If you found out someone close to you was betraying your country, what would you do?” She asked instead.

His expression hardened. “I would stop them.”

Sehmat swallowed the lump in her throat and walked away. He was the boy who held her hand, who she had made promises with, but now she had to accept that he was with her enemies.

—

Sehmat had gathered all the information that she needed, and it was now time to complete her mission and return to her country. Just as she was ready to leave, she received shocking news: Vihaan was going to lead an operation that could expose Pakistan’s defenses. Sehmat didn’t know what to do–complete her mission and put Vihaan in trouble or protect Vihaan and betray her country?

It was a tough choice to make and she was awake all night wondering what to do. Then, in the early hours of sunrise, she made her decision and decided to protect Vihaan. So she exposed herself by sending an anonymous tip to the Indian intelligence warning them of an impending attack that could cost Vihaan his life.

Before she was able to escape, she was caught by the Indian intelligence. She was shocked to see the man who was assigned to interrogate her: Major Vihaan Shergill.

He stared at her, his eyes clouded in disbelief and pain, because he finally knew who she was. “Sehmat Khan? You were the spy?”

“I had no choice…” Her eyes were filled with tears.

He clenched his fists. “You always had a choice, Sehmat.”

There was an awkward silence between them for a few moments, and then Vihaan sighed. “They will execute you.”

She looked away. “Let them. At least you will be safe.”

“No, I can’t let that happen.”

And that night, he did the unthinkable, he helped her escape back to Pakistan secretly.

Sehmat vanished after that, and the last he heard of her was that she was dead. She had been killed for betraying her country.

—

Five more years passed, and Vihaan was still devastated about losing his best friend Sehmat before he could even share his feelings with her.

Vihaan was wandering around the streets of Dubai one evening, he had come for a week long trip. He entered a small local bookstore and wasn’t looking for anything particular…until he saw the woman standing behind the counter.

Sehmat’s hair was tied back, her eyes widened as she saw him approaching.

“Sehmat! I thought you…”

“I’m alive, Major,” she smiled at him. “I was too exposed. I knew they wouldn’t take me back, so I had to fake my death and create a new identity here.”

She reached into her purse and placed the old wooden whistle on the counter in front of her.

Vihaan smiled, “I told you I would find you. Nothing could keep us apart.”

Tears slipped down her cheeks as Vihaan picked up the whistle and blew softly into it, signaling a new start for their relationship.

***

That concludes Vihaan and Sehmat's war of hearts...scroll down for the next couple's story...

Cover made by Quantum-Dot

Story: Second chance romance // Setting: Medical or STEM // Characters: Naina from YJHD (with Kabir from Kabir Singh) // Wordcount: 1139

Unarranged Match

Dr Naina Talwar was someone who always believed in second chances–not only for her patients but everyone around her. But she wasn’t so sure about love after the heartbreak she endured a few years ago.

Her parents had been at her neck as long as she could remember, trying to convince her to get married, but she just wasn’t ready for another attachment or heartbreak. Finally at the age of twenty nine, she had given in and agreed to meet a potential suitor and see how it would go.

When she arrived at the cafe, dressed in an elegant blue saree, her heart almost stopped beating.

Sitting at the table and waiting for her, was Dr Kabir Singh, looking just as handsome as he did five years ago…before he ghosted her and left her wondering what she had done wrong.

And now he was her unarranged match. What a small world!

When he laid his eyes on her, he stood up in hesitation. “Hi, Naina…”

She stared at him in anger. “This has to be a joke,” she muttered.

Kabir exhaled deeply. “I didn’t know it was you. Otherwise, I–”

“You would have run again, obviously. That’s what you do best,” she rolled her eyes.

His jaw tightened. “No. Not this time.”

—

Kabir and Naina had been deeply and madly in love. He had been her adventure, her passion, an escape from the exhausting life of a medical student. She had always wanted to be a surgeon and worked days and nights tirelessly for it.

Kabir, on the other hand, was a reckless medical student. He was always content with being an average doctor while Naina always focused on reaching the top.

After dating for a year, things between them had started getting serious. Just when Naina started talking about the future, Kabir disappeared from her life. He stopped answering her calls, stopped replying to her messages, just…gone.

Naina was shattered. She spent several sleepless nights crying. It took her a long time to put herself back together and concentrate on her career again.

And now Kabir was back.

—

“I understand your anger and resentment towards me,” Kabir took a long pause. “I know I deserve it.”

“You don’t deserve anything from me, Dr Kabir!” She shot back at him.

“I know. But please hear me out and then make your decision whether I deserve a second chance or not.”

She folded her arms while rolling her eyes, “I’m listening.”

He ran a hand through his hair, feeling remorseful. “I was a coward, Naina. I was afraid of marriage. You were leagues ahead of me and I was afraid of holding you back. I knew I wasn’t good enough for you.”

“How did you decide that on your own? That was my choice to make. You didn’t even give me the chance to fight for us. To make it work.”

His eyes were filled with sincere regret. “I regret it every single day. Please, Naina, please give me a chance to make it up to you. Give me a chance to earn back your trust, I won’t break it this time.”

She didn’t know what to feel. The heartbreak still felt fresh, but so did the love she had for him.

—

Kabir didn’t give up. He kept trying.

Sometimes he would send her gifts, sometimes coffee or home-cooked food, and sometimes love notes. Her heart had already started melting.

He started spending time at her hospital with sick patients just to bring a smile on her face.

He started pursuing his career again.Working harder than ever, trying to be the man she deserved.

–

They were sitting at the beach one evening, Naina was relaxing with her feet dipped in the sea, while Kabir was continuously gazing at her. “Please give me a chance, Naina. Let me love you like I should have before. Please marry me.”

Her heart ached, but this time less from pain and more from hope.

“Just one chance,” she whispered. “Don’t break my heart again.”

He took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “Never.”

The following day, he bought her favourite sapphire ring and fitted it in her finger as a promise of forever love.

–

After three more months of dating and making unforgettable memories together, Kabir and Naina sat at the mandap surrounded by their loved ones. Naina knew she had made the right choice because she never felt this happy and content before.

Kabir had changed. He was no longer the carefree, irresponsible guy. Instead, he had turned into a mature and hard working man. He had fought for her, and her heart knew he would continue fighting for her and never break her trust again.

“Thank you for believing in us,” he said as he tied the nuptial chain around her neck.

She smiled with love shining in her eyes. “Thank you for making me believe in love again.”

And as they stepped into their new home together, hand in hand, they knew this time nothing could separate them.

---

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky different hues of pink and golden, while Naina stood at the balcony of their new home gazing at the beautiful sunset. She felt a cool breeze across her skin with the promise of a new beginning.

A strong embrace wrapped around her from behind. Kabir gently pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “Kya soch rahi ho, Mrs. Kabir Singh?” He murmured romantically against her ear.

A soft smile played onto her lips as she turned around and leaned into him. “Life is full of surprises na. I never believed in arranged matches. Ab dekho, I married one.” She laughed and then stared intently into his eyes with a serious expression. “Except fate had it’s own plans. We were an unarranged match.”

Kabir chuckled too, while brushing a strand of hair from her face. “And this time I wasn’t foolish enough to run. I’m so grateful that I got a second chance with you.”

She studied his face, her heart full of love. “You fought for me this time. For us,” she whispered. “Love isn’t about being perfect. It’s about choosing each other everyday–despite all the fights, all the differences, all the imperfections–it’s all a test of love. And this time we will pass that test with flying colors. I just need you by my side.”

“I will stay by your side, Naina. Always and forever. No matter what hurdle comes in our way. Losing you once was enough to open my eyes.” He cupped her face with devotion.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but this time not of pain, they were tears of joy to see his love for her.

As they stood together under the sunset, they knew this wasn’t just a second chance, it was their unarranged forever.

***

Kabir and Naina's journey ends here...but don't forget to scroll down and read the last story...

Cover made by SweetButSpicy (Prii)

Story: Opposites attract // Setting: School/College // Characters Sujal from KTH and Monica from Friends // Wordcount: 1154

Love Beyond Logic

Sujal Garewal was a man of principles. He didn’t believe in love. He believed in logic, discipline, and hard work. As a thirty-two-year-old engineering professor at Columbia University in New York, he was known for his sharp intellect, unwavering dedication, and strict demeanor. Love, relationships, and marriage were distractions he had no interest in entertaining.

Monica, however, was his complete opposite. A twenty-two-year-old final-year literature student at Columbia, she was a die-hard romantic who believed love was the most beautiful feeling in the world. She dreamed of grand gestures and happily-ever-afters. While Sujal lived in a structured world of equations and theories, Monica found poetry in the simplest moments of life.

Their worlds should never have collided. There was an age gap, a professional boundary, and a cultural divide that made them fundamentally different. But fate had other plans.

---

They first met when Monica accidentally walked into Sujal’s lecture instead of her literature class.

“This is not your class, Miss…?” Sujal’s voice was cool, his gaze sharp.

“Monica,” she completed for him, flashing a mischievous grin. “You’re Professor Garewal, right? The infamous grumpy engineering professor?”

The room fell into stunned silence. No one had ever dared to address Sujal that way before.

From that day on, Monica made it her personal mission to irritate him. She would wave at him every time she passed by his classroom, leave anonymous love quotes on his desk, and challenge his no-nonsense attitude at every opportunity.

Sujal tried to ignore her, but Monica had a way of slipping through the cracks of his well-built walls. Her laughter lingered in his mind long after she had left, her presence turning into an inexplicable force that disrupted his carefully constructed life.

An unspoken tension began to grow between them. What started as playful teasing had turned into something deeper. Monica found herself drawn to his quiet intensity, while Sujal couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly she lit up every room she walked into.

Yet, every time he found himself drawn to her, he reminded himself of their differences. She was young, carefree, and American-born, while he had been raised in India in a strict, traditional household before moving to New York for his doctorate. She believed in whirlwind romances, while he was shaped by a culture that valued stability over passion.

It could never work.

---

One evening, Monica found him in Columbia’s vast Butler Library, sitting at a table with an open book in front of him, though he wasn’t reading a single word.

“You’re overthinking something,” she observed, settling into the chair across from him.

Sujal let out a slow breath. “I am your professor, Monica. Whatever you think is happening… it’s wrong.”

She tilted her head, smirking. “And what exactly do I think is happening, Professor?”

His jaw tightened. “You know it very well.”

She leaned in closer, her voice softer now. “You’re afraid of love, aren’t you?”

Sujal looked away. “Love is not real, Monica. It’s an illusion. A distraction. It never lasts.”

A flicker of pain crossed Monica’s face. “Why do you believe that?”

Sujal didn’t answer right away. Instead, a memory flooded his mind—a flashback to a time he had long buried.

He was sixteen when his parents’ marriage fell apart. He had grown up in a brownstone apartment in Brooklyn, watching them fight, their love slowly crumbling under the weight of resentment and broken promises. Their home had been filled with silence, then with shouting, and finally, with the sound of a door slamming shut as his father walked away.

That was the day Sujal decided love was nothing more than a fleeting emotion. A temporary high that always ended in heartbreak.

But it wasn’t just his parents’ divorce that shaped his cynicism—it was his own culture’s rigid expectations. In his world, marriages weren’t based on love; they were arranged, logical unions built on compatibility, family status, and duty. He had been conditioned to believe that passion was temporary, that emotions could never outweigh responsibility.

Snapping back to the present, he sighed. “Love is just an idea people romanticize, Monica. But in reality, it’s unpredictable and unreliable.”

Her heart clenched at his words, but she refused to give up on him so easily. “Not everything in life has to be logical, Sujal,” she said softly. “Sometimes, you just have to take a chance.”

And his heart stopped as he heard her say his name for the first time instead of Professor.

---

Columbia’s annual cultural fest arrived, and Sujal found himself watching Monica dance in the rain with her friends on the main yard, completely lost in the moment.

She caught him staring and walked up to him, her eyes filled with mischief. “Care to dance, Professor?”

For a fleeting second, he almost said yes. But then reality hit him. She was a student. He was a professor. He was an immigrant balancing two cultures, while she had never had to question hers.

There was no future for them.

So he did what was expected of him. He walked away.

Monica stood in the rain, her heart sinking. Maybe some people weren’t meant for love after all.

---

The semester came to an end, and Sujal felt more restless than ever. His perfectly structured life suddenly felt empty. It wasn’t the absence of lectures or students that unsettled him—it was the absence of Monica.

She had brought color into his monochrome world. And now that she was gone, everything felt dull.

---

One rainy night, unable to fight his feelings any longer, he found himself standing outside the women’s dormitory on Columbia’s campus.

Rachel, Monica’s friend, stepped outside and froze at the sight of him. “Professor Garewal?”

“Where is Monica?” he asked, his voice uncharacteristically urgent.

Rachel hesitated before finally giving him Monica’s home address. She had always rooted for them, and she wasn’t about to stand in the way of what she knew was meant to be.

---

Some time later, Sujal stood outside Monica’s family home in an upscale Manhattan neighborhood, drenched from the rain as he rang the doorbell.

Monica opened the door, her eyes widening in shock. “Sujal?”

He ran a hand through his wet hair, exhaling sharply. “You were right. Love isn’t logical. But neither is my life without you.”

Her lips parted in disbelief. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying,” he took a step closer, his voice firm, “that maybe fairytales aren’t real, but I want to believe in our story. In us.”

A slow, radiant smile spread across her face before she flung herself into his arms. “Took you long enough to figure that out, Professor.”

“Please just call me Sujal outside of college,” he murmured against her hair. “I like how my name sounds when you say it.”

Monica laughed. “I think I’ll stick with Professor—it annoys you more.”

For the first time in his life, Sujal Garewal didn’t care about logic anymore. He only cared about love... and her.

***

THE END!

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reserved for my comments

Reserved for my comments

Probably will need another post.

Zoya mistaking arnav for haider was hilarious.It was cute too.Shocking that Haider cheated on zoya.arnav zoya confession of love was sweet.loved the cover page.

I was longing to read your ffs.I am glad that finally I found one.I am waiting for hulchul.

Yash geet as rivalries was cool.Their constant arguments are funny.Still yash wrapping the jacket around her and caring for her was surprising. The accident was shocking.But I am relieved that they are safe.I am surprised that they were loving each other silently in the midst of fights.yash confessing love was lovely.Geet too hinted that she loves him.but their nok jhok continues.Ha ha.

The cover page is so beautiful.