सजन मेरी आंखें तरसदी
हर ईमान मेरा टूट गया
हो, मैनु लुट ले गया...........

It's been a month since Buaji's encounter and their deal. In eyes of her father and his bua , it was just an agreement but for Yatra and Mantavya , it was a way to find their freedom and protect each other.

The whispers kept spreading but this time it wasn't of hatred but a cute shipping of professor and student. It was the start of the college the next day. Mantavya had reached the college on his car and parked it. He saw Yatra walking towards the class when they both , sorry , the whole campus heard someone calling "Yatra , my princess".

The whole campus stopped including Yatra and Mantavya. Mantavya looked at Yatra to see her expression changing from coldness to a small feeling of warmth in her. Yatra broke into a smile which made the whole campus shocked and everyone looked at Mantavya. Yatra turned and ran to the person who had called and hugged him tightly while tears streaming down her cheek.

The guy hugged her back and said " meri princess ne mujhe itna miss kiya?". Meanwhile Mantavya was shocked but there something else in his eyes. Not confusion but jealousy. Mantavya entered the class or you can say he stormed into the class and that's when Yatra broke the hug and looked at the direction Mantavya went. "Ho gaya siyapa" said while facepalming.

Mantavya stood on the podium , but this wasn't the sweet professor , it was a jealous lover who has just seen his love smiling at another guy. All the students entered including Yatra and the guy. Yatra quickly looked at Mantavya who was trying to control his anger but his eyes already showed jealousy.

She quickly ran to her seat and sat there , this time looking at the podium. The guy started speaking , " Hello , Myself Shresth Jaiswal , I'm from Hyderabad and before you start bombarding me with questions , I would say that..." He looked at Mantavya and said , " I'm her mother's side cousin and I'm here for for completing my graduation."

This didn't made his jealousy go down. He was still jealous on how easily he made Yatra smile and might have known all her secrets and everything. " Mr. Jaiswal , please take a seat we still have a class to start"

With that Shresth walked towards the last row and sat beside me. Yatra whispered him " Tumhe aag mein ghee daalne ki kya zaroorat thi?" Then Shresth whispers back " I'm testing him. Aur haan I'm still going to test him and don't worry he will be your Mantavya only." To which Yatra felt off guard and looked at him and then at Mantavya who was actually staring at her soul.

Everytime Mantavya was explaining the topic , his eyes drifted back to the last row where he found Shresth trying to talk but Yatra just glaring at him.

Mantavya’s chalk screeching against the board was the only sound in the room besides his own voice. He was explaining the duality of human nature in Victorian literature, but his own nature was currently split in two: the professional Professor and the territorial Rajput.

Every time he turned around, his eyes reflexively drifted to the last row.

Shresth was leaning in, his lips moving as he whispered something clearly meant to provoke a reaction. But Yatra wasn't giggling. She was sitting rigid, her eyes fixed on Shresth in a sharp, warning glare. She looked like she wanted to duct-tape his mouth shut.

"Is there a secondary lecture happening in the back, Mr. Jaiswal?" Mantavya’s voice cut through the room like a blade.

Shresth looked up, totally unfazed. "Just clarifying a few... historical points with Yatra, Sir. Carry on."

Yatra’s glare deepened, her face flushing with embarrassment. She looked at Mantavya, her eyes pleading: Don't listen to him, he’s just being an idiot. But Mantavya only saw the proximity, the shared history, and the way Shresth didn't seem to fear him at all.

By the time the bell rang, Mantavya felt like he had run a marathon. He didn't wait for the usual student questions. He packed his bag and walked out, his stride long and hurried.

He didn't see Yatra smack Shresth’s arm the moment he left. "Tumhe shanti nahi hai?" she hissed.

"I told you, Yatra," Shresth laughed, dodging her hand. "I’m just checking if the Prince has a heart or just a royal pedigree. Relax, I’ve got work to do."