ALIA-THE BURDEN

Radhe Radhe ✨

10k words

No Targets

But I want a lot of comments ❤️❤️

Enjoy

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Shivansh’s POV:

The corridor was alive with noise — footsteps echoing, laughter bouncing off the walls, seniors calling out to one another. Shivansh walked through it calmly, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a half-filled bottle of water. His tie hung loose, his shirt sleeves rolled up, that usual air of quiet authority following him wherever he went.

He wasn’t paying much attention — just scrolling through his phone when it happened.

A sudden collision.

A startled gasp.

And then— splash.

Cold water burst across his face, trickling down his jaw, soaking his collar. His bottle hit the ground and rolled away. The impact sent both of them stumbling back, landing in a tangled mess of limbs on the polished floor.

He exhaled sharply, more surprised than angry, blinking water out of his lashes. And then he looked up—

—and froze.

Time just… stopped.

A girl sat before him, breath caught in her throat, her hands trembling slightly as if afraid to move. The morning light filtering through the corridor window framed her face, catching the droplets of water clinging to her hair. Her uniform was slightly rumpled, her tie undone, and yet… she looked almost unreal.

Her wide brown eyes met his — uncertain, guilty, and beautiful in a way that made something in his chest twist.

Shivansh forgot how to breathe.

Forgot where he was.

Her hair clung to her cheeks, one strand brushing against her lips as she tried to speak — but no words came. And he couldn’t look away. It was like something straight out of those old songs he’d never admit he liked — Pehla Nasha kind of slow motion — where everything around just blurs until only she remains in focus.

He felt the faint scent of her shampoo — jasmine and something faintly sweet — and it did something strange to his heartbeat.

He should’ve been annoyed. Should’ve said something sarcastic or cold like he always did. But all that came was silence.

Because in that one clumsy fall, in that single look — she had completely disarmed him.

He didn’t even realize he was still staring until someone in the background whispered his name — “Shivansh…” — pulling him back to reality.

But even then, he didn’t move.

His heartbeat was still echoing in his ears, steady and wild, as his mind quietly repeated the name that, somehow, already felt unforgettable.

Alia.

Alia Oberoi.

-

The corridor had gone completely silent after the crash. A few students peeked from their classrooms, others stopped midway, whispering and exchanging curious looks. Water trickled across the polished floor, glinting under the light.