2-Public Humiliation

Kritika’s PoV

I hated Love Malhotra.

Okay, maybe hate was a strong word.

But I definitely didn't like him.

And the fact that I woke up thinking about him made me want to bang my head against a wall.

I groaned and pulled my blanket over my face.

Why was I even thinking about him?

The guy had ignored me.

Twice.

Nobody ignored me.

Not because I was obsessed with attention or anything.

But because people usually reacted to me.

Love didn't.

And somehow that annoyed me more than it should have.

"Kritika!"

My bedroom door flew open.

Without even looking, I threw a pillow.

"Get out."I yelled in irritation.

Yashvant caught it and grinned.

"Mom's calling you."

"Tell her I'm dead."

"You've died six times this month."He said shrugging his shoulders and making weird face.

"Medical student hoon. It happens."

He laughed.

"Mom said if you don't come downstairs, she's deleting your shopping cart."

I sat up immediately.

"That woman has no heart."

⸻

An hour later, I was walking through the college corridor with Anisha and Jyoti.

The campus was already crowded.

Students everywhere.

Some running to lectures.

Some pretending to study.

Some regretting their decision to join MBBS.

Normal day.

"Emergency," Anisha announced dramatically.

I sighed.

"Who died?"I spoke with shock.

"The new topper."

I stopped walking.

"What?"

"He smiled today."

Jyoti gasped.

"Seriously?"

I stared at both of them.

"You two need hobbies."I said as if I wasn't interested.

Actually I'm not interested.

⸻

We entered the lecture hall and immediately noticed a crowd around the notice board.

I already knew this wasn't going to end well.

Nothing good ever came from notice boards.

I pushed through the crowd and scanned the list.

Then froze.

No.

Absolutely not.

I checked again.

Still there.

Kritika Sharma & Love Malhotra

Partner Assignment.

I closed my eyes.

"God really hates me."

Anisha looked over my shoulder and screamed.

"Oh my God!"She said trying to hold back her laughter.

"Stop screaming."

"This is fate."

"This is punishment."

⸻

When I entered the classroom, he was already there.

Of course he was.

Love sat near the window, reading a textbook like the absolute psychopath he was.

Who voluntarily studied before class?

I dropped into the seat beside him.

Loudly.

He didn't even look up.

Rude.

"Good morning," I said.

"Morning," he replied calmly.

I blinked.

That was it?

No smile? No conversation? Nothing?

"You know, normal people usually continue the conversation after that."

Love finally looked up from his book.

"Normal people usually don't disturb others while they're studying."

The audacity.

I folded my arms.

"You're boring."

A tiny smile appeared on his face.

"No," he said. "I'm focused."

I rolled my eyes.

Same thing.

⸻

The lecture started.

For the next hour, Professor Mehta tortured us with anatomy.

Or maybe everyone else understood it.

Either way, I was suffering.

Every few minutes my eyes drifted toward Love.

And every single time—

He was taking notes.

Actually taking notes.

What kind of monster enjoyed studying this much?

Halfway through class, Professor Mehta suddenly turned around.

"Miss Kritika Sharma."

My soul left my body.

"Yes, sir?"

"What did I just explain?"He said,folding his heads.

I stared at him ,Then at the board,Then at my notebook.

Then back at him.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

The class started laughing.

"I was listening," I lied.

Professor Mehta sighed.

"You were staring out the window."

I immediately pointed toward Love.

"Him too."

The entire class turned toward him.

Love looked up slowly.

Professor Mehta folded his arms.

"Mr. Malhotra, explain the topic."

Without even looking at his notes, Love answered perfectly.

Every point,Every detail,Every diagram.

Show off.

The professor nodded approvingly.

"Excellent."

I wanted to disappear.

⸻

After the lecture came practicals.

And unfortunately, I was still partnered with him.

Love picked up our patient file.

"We should start."He said while looking on files.

I leaned back in my chair.

"We?" I said narrowing my eyes.

He looked at me.

"Yes. That's usually how partnerships work."

His sarcasm was becoming a problem.

⸻

We began the assessment.

Well.

He began.

I mostly watched.

And occasionally annoyed him.

For entertainment.

"How many girlfriends have you had?" I asked casually.

Love didn't even look up.

"Why?"He said and still looking at his files.

"Research."

"Research?"

"Scientific purposes."

He sighed.

"Zero."He said casually.

I blinked.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

I stared at him suspiciously.

"That's concerning."

Love finally looked at me.

"Why?"

"You're attractive."

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

For a second, both of us froze.

Great,Wonderful,Amazing.Wait what I just said?..

I wanted the ground to swallow me.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Thanks."

I immediately looked away.

Why was I blushing?

This was embarrassing.

⸻

A few minutes later, Professor Mehta announced a surprise practical test.

The class erupted into chaos.

"No!"

"Sir please!"

"We have families!"

Professor Mehta ignored everyone.

As expected.

One by one, students were called.

Then came Love.

The idiot walked to the front like he was attending a wedding.

No fear,No stress,Nothing.

Within five minutes he'd answered everything perfectly.

The professors looked impressed.

The students looked offended.

And I looked annoyed.

⸻

Then my name was called.

Wonderful,Absolutely wonderful.

I stood up confidently.

Confidence was important.

Even when you had no idea what you were doing.

The first question came.

I guessed....Wrong.

The second question came...I guessed again....Wrong.

The third question came..Even worse.

The class burst out laughing.

I wanted to fake my own death.

Professor Mehta pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Kritika."

"Yes, sir?"I said..hiding my shyness and giving a fake smile.

"How did you pass first year?"

The room exploded with laughter.

Even I laughed.

Because honestly?

Valid question.

Then I glanced toward Love.

Big mistake.

He was laughing too.

Not loudly,Not dramatically,Just enough.

And somehow that was worse.

⸻

The second class ended, and students flooded into the hallway.

I spotted him near the staircase and marched straight toward him.

"You laughed."

Love looked genuinely confused.

"When?"

"In class."I said.

"You answered almost every question wrong."

I pointed at him.

"That doesn't justify happiness."

"It was slightly funny."I said while nodding my head.

"Slightly?"He says casually.

"Very."

The audacity.

I stared at him.

He stared back.

And suddenly—

He smiled.

A real smile.

Not the tiny annoying ones he'd been giving before.

A proper smile.

For one embarrassing second, my brain completely stopped working.

Damn.

That smile should honestly come with a warning label.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.

I immediately looked away.

"I wasn't."I spoke as if I hadn't really done anything.

"You were."He said with narrowing his eyes.

"I wasn't."

A quiet chuckle escaped him.

And for some reason, hearing him laugh felt strangely... nice.

Which was a problem....

A very serious problem.

⸻

Before either of us could say anything else, Anisha appeared out of nowhere.

Her eyes moved between us.

Then she grinned.

"Oh my God."

I already hated that look.

"What?"I said in irritated voice.

"You two are definitely going to ruin each other's lives."

I opened my mouth to argue.

But before I could—

Love picked up his bag.

"Study tonight," he said.

I frowned.

"Why?"

He started walking away.

Didn't stop.

Didn't turn around.

Didn't even look back.

"Because tomorrow," he said calmly, "I don't plan on saving you again."

Then he disappeared into the crowd.

I stood there staring after him.

A smile slowly appeared on my face.

Challenge accepted, Mr. Topper.

Challenge accepted.

That's it for the chapter guys🫶🏻

And again I want to say that it's my first story..so manage a bit pleaseee....

And vote it and comment about your favourite part.