The college canteen buzzed with its usual chaos.

Students occupied almost every table. Someone was laughing loudly, someone was arguing over assignments, while others stood in long queues waiting for samosas and cold coffee.

At the corner table sat Arnav Singh Rajvansh and his gang.

Half-empty bottles of soft drinks, packets of chips, and untouched notebooks were scattered across the table.

Arnav rested his chin on his palm, absentmindedly stirring the straw in his drink.

"I still don't understand," he groaned. "How exactly am I supposed to score good marks in six months? This isn't studying anymore... it's magic."

His friends laughed.

Aman took another sip of his drink.

"Try opening a book."

"I did."

"And?"

"I slept."

The entire table burst into laughter.

"I'm serious," Arnav continued dramatically. "The moment I open a textbook, my eyes automatically close. It's a medical condition."

"You're impossible," another friend chuckled.

"I'm finished, yaar."

"The Dean has officially ruined my peace."

"I don't even know half the syllabus."

Just then, Rohan, who was sitting opposite him, looked past Arnav and suddenly grinned.

"Buddy..."

"Hmm?"

"I think I just found the solution to all your problems."

Arnav frowned.

"What?"

"There."

Rohan pointed towards another corner of the canteen.

Arnav turned, confused.

"Where?"

"There... near the window."

His eyes landed on a girl sitting alone.

Khushi Garg.

She had opened a thick accounting book beside her lunch box. A neatly packed sandwich rested in one hand while the other continued highlighting lines in the textbook.

Even while eating...

She was studying.

Arnav stared for a second before recognition dawned.

"Hey... she's our class topper, right?"

"Exactly."

He watched Khushi take another small bite of her sandwich without once looking away from the page.

"Duniya mein itni padhai hoti bhi hai?" he muttered in disbelief. "Yeh ladki toh canteen mein bhi padh rahi hai."

His friends laughed.

"But..." Arnav looked back at Rohan. "How is she the solution to my problem?"

Rohan raised an eyebrow.

"Because she's the topper."

"So?"

"So she'll tutor you."

Arnav blinked.

"...Why would she help me?"

Rohan shrugged dramatically.

"That's your problem."

"I just showed you the path."

The table erupted in laughter again.

Arnav pointed a finger at him.

"Waah, Baba Rohan."

"When did you open your Ashram of Path Pradarshan?"

Rohan folded his hands with fake wisdom.

"My child... enlightenment comes from experience."

"Oh, please."

"I can already see your future."

"And what's that?"

"You... sitting with books."

The entire group laughed so loudly that students at nearby tables turned to look.

Arnav shuddered dramatically.

"Don't curse me."

"I'm serious."

"I'd rather ride my bike nonstop from Delhi to Leh than spend six hours studying."

"Unfortunately," Aman smirked, "your bike won't write your exams."

Everyone laughed again.

Arnav glanced once more toward Khushi.

She hadn't looked up even once.

The noise.

The laughter.

The crowded canteen.

Nothing seemed capable of distracting her.

She simply turned another page, adjusted the loose strand of hair that had escaped from her side braid behind her ear, and continued reading as if the rest of the world didn't exist.

Arnav shook his head.

"She's... different."

Rohan grinned mischievously.

"And she's your only hope."

Arnav sighed dramatically before taking another sip of his drink.

"Let's first figure out how to talk to her."