Quiet Arrival.

Every day in college felt the same.

Muskan woke up at the same time, ate the same simple breakfast, and walked the same path to the main building with her bag hanging off one shoulder. The same friends waited near the stairs. The same group of boys argued about cricket near the canteen. The same professor walked in five minutes late and started the lecture without looking at anyone properly.

Nothing ever changed.

That morning was no different at first. She took her usual seat near the middle of the classroom, opened her notebook, and waited. Students talked in low voices. Someone laughed too loudly at the back. The ceiling fan made its usual soft rattling sound. Outside the window, the sky was a dull grey.

Then the professor walked in, dropped his bag on the desk, and cleared his throat.

“Alright, settle down. Before we start today, I have an announcement.”

The talking slowly stopped. A few students looked up with mild interest. Muskan closed her pen and listened the way she always did.

“Today we have a new transfer student joining this class,” the professor said. “He comes from another college in the city. Treat him properly. Don’t make it difficult for him.”

A small wave of curiosity moved through the room. New students were rare in the middle of the semester. Most people leaned forward a little, waiting to see who it would be.

The door opened.

Abhimanyu walked in.

For a second, the entire classroom went quiet.

He was tall, easily standing out among the other boys. His shoulders were broad under a simple black shirt that fit him perfectly. Dark hair fell slightly over his forehead in a way that looked effortless. His face was sharp and strikingly handsome—high cheekbones, a straight nose, and deep-set eyes that seemed almost too intense for a regular college student. Even the way he stood, calm and still near the door, made him look different from everyone else.

Several girls openly stared. One girl in the front row forgot to close her mouth. Another quickly fixed her hair. A few boys exchanged glances, already measuring him.

The professor checked his list.

“Introduce yourself.”

“Abhimanyu,” he said. His voice was low and clear.

That was all.

No smile. No extra words. No nervous laugh.

The professor pointed to the last empty seat at the back near the window. Abhimanyu walked there without looking at anyone. Every step he took seemed to pull more eyes toward him. When he sat down, he placed his bag on the floor, leaned back slightly, and turned his face toward the window as if the rest of the class no longer existed.

Whispers started almost immediately.

“He’s so handsome…”

“Where did he transfer from?”

“Did you see his eyes?”

Muskan heard the comments around her but didn’t join them. She simply watched him for a moment longer than the others. There was something quiet about him, something that made him seem a little distant even while sitting in a full classroom.

During the break, most students left the room. A few girls lingered near the back, clearly hoping he would notice them. He didn’t. He stayed in his seat, looking out the window, completely uninterested.

Muskan hesitated, then stood up. She had always been the type to talk to new students so they wouldn’t feel left out. She walked over with her usual soft smile.

“Hi,” she said politely. “I’m Muskan. You’re new, right? If you need help with anything—notes, the timetable, or finding places on campus—just tell me.”

Abhimanyu didn’t turn his head at first. When he finally looked at her, his expression stayed completely blank. His eyes moved over her face for less than a second, then shifted away again, as if she wasn’t worth the effort.

He didn’t reply.

Not a word. Not even a nod.

Muskan stood there for a moment, feeling a little awkward. She tried once more, keeping her voice friendly.

“The professors here can be strict with attendance. If you want, I can show you which ones mark it strictly.”

Still nothing.

Abhimanyu turned his face fully toward the window and remained silent, as if she had never spoken at all.

A couple of girls nearby noticed and exchanged glances. One of them smirked slightly. Muskan felt heat rise to her cheeks. She gave a small, polite smile even though he wasn’t looking, then quietly walked back to her seat.

She told herself it was fine. Some people were just like that on their first day—nervous, closed off, or simply not interested in talking. She had met quiet students before. It didn’t mean anything.

The rest of the lecture continued. Girls kept sneaking looks at Abhimanyu. A few tried to catch his attention by asking the professor unnecessary questions in a louder voice. He never responded to any of it. He didn’t take notes. He barely looked at the board. He simply sat there, distant and unreadable, while half the class already seemed fascinated by him.

When the class ended, several girls gathered near the door, clearly waiting to see if he would walk out with anyone. He didn’t. He picked up his bag and left alone, without acknowledging a single person.

Muskan watched him go for a second, then shook her head and joined her own friends.

“He completely ignored you,” one of them said, half laughing.

“It’s his first day,” Muskan replied simply. “Maybe he’s just not the talking type.”

Her friend shrugged. “Still. He’s really handsome though. Half the girls are already done for.”

Muskan didn’t say anything more. She packed her things and left with the group, already pushing the short, one-sided conversation out of her mind.

She had no idea that the boy who had ignored her so completely would one day refuse to let her out of his sight.

But that was still far away.

For now, Abhimanyu was just the new transfer student—handsome, silent, and completely uninterested in anyone, including her.