• Arjun •

Diwali celebrations had taken over the entire college campus.

The corridors were decorated with fairy lights, marigold garlands and colourful paper lanterns. Students rushed around carrying boxes of sweets, flower baskets and decoration supplies, while the sound of laughter and music filled the campus.

Your class had been assigned the responsibility of decorating one particular section of the college. Everyone had their own task. You were in charge of making the flower rangoli, while Arjun had somehow managed to get himself assigned photography duty.

Not that either of you had complained.

You and Arjun were practically college celebrities in your own right. Both popular, both surrounded by friends, and both possessing an almost supernatural ability to get on each other's nerves.

Your relationship was a never-ending cycle of sarcastic remarks, competitive arguments, shameless teasing and deliberately getting under each other's skin. Calling each other enemies was perhaps a little dramatic, but neither of you would ever admit to enjoying the other's company.

Arjun, especially, seemed to consider irritating you one of his favourite extracurricular activities.

He was hard to miss. Standing about eight inches taller than you, he had a lean but athletic build, expressive eyes and peach-toned skin. His long, wavy black hair reached the nape of his neck, styled in a slightly messy wolf cut, with side bangs framing either side of his face. His wardrobe usually consisted of black, white and grey streetwear, paired with his favourite sneakers. A football enthusiast, he was often spotted discussing matches or carrying on about his favourite team. Even his hands were annoyingly noticeable, long-fingered and veiny, especially when holding his camera.

That afternoon, he was wandering around the decorated campus with his DSLR hanging from his neck, capturing photographs and short videos of the celebrations.

He photographed everything: the colourful decorations, the groups of students laughing, the sweets being arranged on tables, and the various rangolis taking shape across the courtyard.

Until he came across you.

You were sitting cross-legged on the floor alongside a few other girls, carefully working on your section of the flower rangoli. Your attention was entirely occupied by the arrangement in front of you. Every now and then, you quietly sprinkled rose petals into one of its sections, adjusted a few flowers with your fingertips, or turned towards your friends to exchange a comment.

Occasionally, you would ask someone to pass you more flowers, or playfully tease one of the girls for ruining a perfectly arranged section.

Arjun slowed down.

Then stopped altogether.

He raised his DSLR, initially intending to take an ordinary photograph. But something made him pause.

Instead, he switched the camera from photo to video mode.

He slowly approached and lowered himself into a kneeling position on the floor, a few feet away from you, careful not to disturb the rangoli.

Through the camera's viewfinder, he watched you.

The way you concentrated on arranging the petals. The little movements of your fingers. The way your expression changed whenever one of your friends said something amusing. The occasional smile that appeared on your face without you even noticing.

He kept recording.

And recording.

He didn't quite realise how long he had been doing it.

There was something strangely captivating about seeing you like this. Away from your usual arguments with him, away from the constant teasing and competitive remarks. Just you, quietly occupied with something you genuinely seemed to enjoy.

A small, almost unconscious smile tugged at his lips.

His expressive eyes softened as he continued looking through the viewfinder, following your movements with the camera.

Then, as if sensing someone's gaze, you instinctively looked up.

Your eyes landed on the DSLR pointed in your direction.

You frowned slightly at the camera.

Arjun noticed immediately.

But instead of lowering it, he simply adjusted his grip, his veiny fingers resting against the camera body.

Still looking through the viewfinder, he finally spoke.

"Don't stop."

His voice was unexpectedly soft. Almost amused, but with an unfamiliar hint of genuine admiration.

A brief pause.

"You look video-worthy."

For once, there was no teasing edge to his words.

And for once, Arjun seemed perfectly content to let the camera do the talking.