"Guys, today is the last day for submission of your seminar — come according to your roll number," announced the professor, her voice echoing through the classroom.

Everyone nodded in agreement — except one.

At the very last bench, a girl looked restless, fidgeting with the hem of her dupatta. Y. Nidhi — the girl whose roll number always came last, and whose patience was running out today.

She bit her lip, glanced at the clock, and then at her phone — a message from home blinked on the screen: "Bava will come to pick you up at 4. Don't be late."

Nidhi sighed, heart pounding. If I wait till my turn... I'll never make it on time.

Gathering courage, she walked up to the professor's desk. "Ma'am, can I please go first? Actually, I need to go home early... my family is waiting," she said softly, her voice polite yet pleading.

The professor raised an eyebrow. "You'll have to ask roll number 1, Nidhi. If he doesn't mind, neither do I."

Nidhi immediately turned toward Akash — the first roll number, and one of the most sincere students in class.

"Akash, can I...?" she began nervously.

He smiled gently, without a second thought. "Of course, Nidhi. Go ahead."

Her eyes sparkled with relief. "Thank you so much!"

Her presentation went smoothly, her voice confident, her gestures poised — and when it was done, only half the students had managed to complete theirs. The professor declared, "The rest will continue tomorrow," and everyone began packing up.

Akash was about to leave when Nidhi suddenly called out, "Akash!"

He turned — and before he could react, she wrapped her arms around him in a quick, grateful hug.

"Thank you so much," she murmured, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

Akash froze, startled but smiling shyly. He nodded, unsure what to say.

But neither of them noticed — a pair of eyes watching from across the parking lot, sharp and burning with something deeper than surprise.

Those eyes belonged to Rahul — her bava, her cousin, and also DCP Rahul, the man whose single glare could silence a room. He stood near his car, in uniform, his jaw tight as he watched Nidhi pull away from Akash.

What the hell was that? his mind screamed, though his face betrayed nothing.

When Nidhi finally stepped out of college, her eyes widened in surprise.
"Bava!" she gasped, half delighted, half nervous.

He simply nodded. His uniform gleamed under the sun, his badge catching the light — tall, composed, every inch the officer he was known to be.

"I thought you'd send the driver..." she began, but he cut her short.

"I was nearby," he said curtly, opening the car door for her.

The drive was silent, except for the low hum of the engine and the thundering rhythm of Nidhi's heart. She kept sneaking glances at him — the way his hand gripped the steering wheel, the seriousness etched on his face, the faint stubble on his jaw.

She'd grown up admiring him, idolizing him... and somewhere along the way, those feelings had quietly turned into something more — something she'd never dared to admit.

When they reached home, he parked the car and finally spoke, his voice low but commanding.

"Be ready within one hour. I'll come to pick you up," he said without looking at her.

She blinked, confused but nodded quickly. "O-okay, bava."

As soon as he drove away, Nidhi pressed a hand to her chest — her heart racing uncontrollably.

Why does he affect me like this? she thought, breath unsteady. Every time he's near, I forget how to breathe.

She ran inside, her cheeks flushed, her mind spinning. She had no idea that the same man who made her heart flutter was silently fighting his own storm — torn between duty, possessiveness, and a feeling he refused to name.

It had been nearly an hour since her bava, Rahul, arrived. Unlike her, he was always calm, composed, a steady presence against the rising tension of any situation. Nidhi, ever the extrovert, had filled the time with chatter—constant, flowing, rapid words meant to stave off worry, meant to fill the silence—but even her energy began to falter in the eerie quiet of the midnight road. Rahul had listened, as he always did, silently absorbing her words, occasionally offering a quiet nod or an occasional hum of agreement. His calmness was a strange comfort in itself.

Suddenly, the car gave a small shudder and stopped completely. Nidhi's heart skipped a beat. She reached for the door, instinctively thinking of stepping out, but Rahul's voice stopped her instantly.

"Don't come out," he said, calm but firm, each word carrying the weight of caution and concern.

She froze, studying his face in the faint light. His eyes, sharp and watchful, scanned the surroundings with a careful precision. Something in the way he moved—alert, protective—made her trust him without a question. She stayed in the car, watching him step out and inspect the engine, flashlight in hand. The quiet of the night amplified every little sound: the wind rustling through trees, the distant call of a nocturnal bird, and the soft click of his flashlight moving over the hood.

Minutes dragged. He returned to the driver's side with a slight shake of his head. "No mechanic nearby. Looks like we'll have to wait for someone to pass by," he said quietly, almost more to himself than to her.

"What... what will we do now, bava?" Nidhi asked softly, stepping closer, curiosity and worry mingling in her tone.

Rahul exhaled slowly, a quiet sigh that seemed to carry both frustration and reassurance. "We'll manage. I've already contacted the station; someone will come to pick up the car. In the meantime... we need to find a lift. The journey is only an hour; it's better than waiting here indefinitely."

The distant gleam of headlights made her chest lift. A single car slowly approached, its dim lights cutting through the night. Relief washed over her, but it was immediately tempered by the sight that only one seat remained available. The driver, a middle-aged man, gestured toward the back with an apologetic glance.

"I don't think any other cars will come by at this hour. This place isn't exactly safe either... You can share the seat if needed," he said.

Rahul didn't hesitate. "Sit on my lap," he told Nidhi gently. "We'll adjust a bit. Don't worry."

A jolt of surprise hit her at his words. Sit... on his lap? The thought was awkward, yes, but the circumstances left no other choice. She hesitated, and he offered a small reassuring smile, patient and calm, and she slowly lowered herself onto him. She sat upright at first, rigid and careful, the formal posture a shield against the tension and her sudden awareness of the closeness.

The car moved, tires crunching against the uneven road, and almost immediately hit a bump. Her head struck the roof with a soft thud, and a hiss of pain escaped her lips.

"Nidhi... what happened?" Rahul's voice was sharp with concern. His hands immediately moved to her head, gentle, protective, his thumbs brushing lightly to soothe the sting.

"I... I'm fine," she muttered, but even as she spoke, the warmth from his hands and the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath her ear sent an unexpected flutter through her.

The car hit another bump, and she flinched slightly. Instantly, his hands adjusted her again, steadying her, pressing her closer to his chest. "Hold on to me," he murmured softly. She obeyed, instinctively wrapping an arm around his shoulder, feeling the safety of his body against hers.

They drove in silence for several minutes, the only sound the steady hum of the tires and the occasional soft click of the seatbelt. And yet, in that silence, a thousand unspoken words passed between them. 

Nidhi slowly gave in to exhaustion, resting her face against Rahul's neck. Her soft, even breaths tickled his skin, a delicate rhythm that made his chest tighten with a mix of protectiveness and warmth. Her small body curled against him, his hand naturally resting on her waist, holding her gently but firmly as if nothing could ever harm her.

In her sleep, she shifted slightly, her lips brushing against his neck, a fleeting, innocent contact that made her look impossibly small and vulnerable—like a child seeking comfort. Rahul stayed still, careful not to disturb her, pressing soft kisses to her hair and tightening his hold just enough to shield her from the world. In that quiet moment, she was entirely his to protect, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

SO GUYS WHICH PAIR DO YOU LIKE THE MOST VEDANSH & ANU OR RAHUL AND NIDHI????