Vriti’s heart raced with excitement as she stood in front of her mirror, her hands carefully adjusting the delicate fabric of her outfit. Today was the day. After a whole week of having her parents hovering around during her sessions with Dev, she was finally going to have him all to herself.

For the past week, her mother and father had conveniently returned home just in time to “check on her progress,” their presence lingering like a silent wall between her and Dev. She understood their concerns; she truly did. But what they didn’t understand was how deeply she was drawn to him, yeah she is willing to study hard but can't she make him want and like her too?  It wasn’t just his looks—though he was undeniably handsome—it was the way he carried himself. The calm confidence in his posture, the way his voice never wavered, how he spoke with such certainty and wisdom. Dev was only five years older than her, a gap that felt small enough to be bridgeable but large enough to make him seem untouchable, at least for now.

Vriti sighed, smoothing down the soft lavender dress she had picked out. It was elegant yet slightly revealing, hugging her figure in a way that was flattering but not overtly suggestive. She wanted him to notice her, to see her as more than just his student. More than anything, she wanted to be loved, to be cherished. Was that too much to ask for?

She bit her lip as she reached for her favorite perfume, a soft floral scent that she hoped would linger in the air long as she sits beside him. As she sprayed a light mist onto her wrists, she wondered if Dev had noticed her subtle attempts to catch his attention over the past week. She wasn’t obvious, but she wasn’t invisible either. She would brush her hair more often, take extra care in her appearance, and find excuses to hold eye contact with him longer than necessary, even if she felt shy. And when their gazes met, she swore she saw something in his eyes—a flicker of something unspoken.

Her heart skipped a beat at the thought. Maybe he wasn’t completely indifferent to her. He is just professional and she will do anything for him to think of her as more than just a student.

With one final look in the mirror, she grabbed her phone and made her way downstairs, her excitement bubbling beneath her composed exterior, she waited for him and as soon as he arrived they moved towards her room . He settled down and started setting up the materials for their session, his sharp features softened under the warm glow of the evening light.