4

Prem pov:

The hospital corridors were too quiet.

No music. No laughter. No chaos.

Annoying.

White walls, the sharp smell of antiseptic, nurses whispering like I had committed some crime.

As if I was the one who jumped into the pool.

People stared at me like I was some villain.

I hated that.

I wasn't the villain.

I was just someone who didn't care.

Avantika was sitting beside me, her fingers shaking as she scrolled through her phone. Her perfect nails were ruined. Her makeup slightly smudged. Her confidence cracked.

"She's not dying, right?"

I sighed, leaning back in the chair.

"Stop acting dramatic. People drown every day. She'll survive. Or she won't. Either way, life goes on."

She glared at me.

"Don't say that."

"Why?" I smirked. "Truth hurts?"

She bit her lip and looked at the OT door again.

Red light still on.

Honestly, I was bored.

Rumors

My phone buzzed nonstop.

College groups were exploding.

"Girl almost died at Prem Agnihotri's party."

"Avantika pushed her???"

"Agnihotri family will cover it."

"Rich kids are monsters."

I rolled my eyes.

Monsters?

Please.

People love blaming the rich.

Jealousy is the real disease.

I typed a message in the main group.

"Accident. Ambulance called. Stop spreading nonsense."

And just like that-half the people believed me.

The other half didn't matter.

They never do.

Her face underwater flashed in my mind again.

Her eyes wide.

Her body still.

No screaming. No begging.

Pathetic.

Avantika stood up suddenly and started pacing.

"This wasn't supposed to happen. It was just a prank. She's such a weak girl. Who can't even swim?"

I chuckled.

"Exactly. Natural selection."

She stared at me, shocked.

"Prem!"

"What?" I shrugged. "If you can't handle a pool, don't attend rich people's parties."

She grabbed my arm.

"Stop talking like that. If she dies-"

"She won't," I interrupted coldly. "And even if she does, my dad's lawyers will erase this in a day."

She went silent.

Money talks.

Everyone knows that.

Avantika looked terrified, but I wasn't.

She reacted.

I calculated.

Doctor Comes Out

Finally, the doctor walked out.

"She's out of danger. Near-drowning case. She inhaled water, but we managed to stabilize her. She'll be under observation."

Avantika exhaled in relief.

I just nodded.

"So dramatic," I muttered.

I didn't know why I walked to her room.

Maybe boredom.

Maybe curiosity.

She was lying there-pale, still, fragile. Oxygen mask on her face, bandage on her hand.

She looked nothing like the girl at the party.

She looked breakable.

And honestly?

I hated weak people.

Weak people make problems.

I stood beside her bed, hands in my pockets, looking at her like she was some experiment.

"You really shouldn't have come."

Her chest rose and fell slowly.

She looked peaceful.

Like she had no idea what kind of world she just stepped into.

Why did she come if she couldn't handle it?

Why did she trust strangers?

Why did she look at Avantika like she expected kindness?

College is not a fairy tale.

And I am definitely not a prince.

She should have known better.

I leaned forward, resting my hand on the railing of her bed.

"You look like the type who believes in dreams."

I looked at her face carefully.

"Bangalore fashion college, right? Cute dream."

Her lips parted slightly as she breathed.

"Dreams break people, Ishika. Especially girls like you."

I bent closer so only she could hear.

"You walked into my world today."

"My world doesn't play nice."

Her eyelashes fluttered.

I smirked.

"Don't worry. You're not dying. Dying would've been boring."

"You surviving? That's interesting."

I adjusted her blanket slightly.

"You'll wake up and hate Avantika. Maybe me too."

"I like that."

"Angry girls do stupid things. Emotional girls make mistakes."

I tilted my head, studying her face.

"And mistakes... are fun to control."

Avantika Comes In

Avantika walked in quietly and stood beside me.

"She looks so innocent."

"Innocent people die first."

She looked at me like I was crazy.

"Prem, what if she hates us? What if she complains?"

I laughed.

"She's a nobody. Complaints don't work on people like me."

I leaned closer to Ishika again.

"You wanted college life, right?"

"Welcome to reality.

I leaned closer to her ear.

"You'll wake up thinking the world is cruel."

"You'll think Avantika is the villain and I'm just her boyfriend."

A faint smile formed on my lips.

"You have no idea who you just met."

I brushed a strand of hair from her face.

"People like you come to college to study, make friends, fall in love."

"People like me come to own the place."

"And now, you're part of my story."

Her fingers twitched.

She was alive.

I imagined her waking up.

Blaming me.

Hating me.

And I liked that thought.

Anger suits girls like her.

Hatred creates interesting stories.

I straightened up and walked out.

Avantika followed me.

"She won't forget this."

"I don't want her to forget."

She frowned.

"What do you mean?"

I looked back at her room through the glass.

"She wanted a dream college life."

"Now she has a reason to stay connected to me."

Avantika's eyes widened.

"Prem, you're scary."

"That's the point."

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Later that night, Avantika left.

I stayed.

Not because I cared.

Because I was curious.

The hospital was silent.

I went back to her room.

She was still sleeping.

"You know, most girls would be grateful to be invited to my party."

"You walked in like you didn't belong.

That annoyed me."

I leaned closer.

"You shouldn't have looked scared. Fear makes people targets."

"College is a jungle, Ishika."

"And you walked in like a deer."

A slow smirk curved my lips.

"And I like hunting."

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Enjoyed ,the next chapter is also great or greater or the greatest guess it 🥴💓.