School Use

Krisha and Karthik had known each other for almost ten years. From school classrooms and late-night phone calls to inside jokes no one else understood, they had grown up side by side. So when both of them got accepted into Uri College, it felt natural that they decided to share an apartment near campus.

Their friends always teased them about acting like a married couple. Karthik would bring Krisha coffee before her morning lectures, and she would stay awake helping him finish assignments at midnight. Neither of them admitted what everyone else already knew — they were hopelessly in love.

One rainy evening after classes, the power went out in their apartment building. The only light came from the candles Krisha had found in a kitchen drawer. She sat on the couch wrapped in a blanket while Karthik leaned against the window, listening to the rain hit the glass.

“You know,” he said softly, “I think I’ve been in love with you for a really long time.”

Krisha looked up at him, surprised but smiling. “Took you long enough to say it.”

Karthik laughed quietly and walked toward her. The room suddenly felt smaller, warmer. He brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his fingers lingering against her cheek. Then he kissed her.

At first it was gentle and nervous, years of friendship turning into something deeper. But the more they kissed, the harder it became to hold back the feelings they had hidden for so long. Karthik pulled her closer, and Krisha wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling between kisses.

He guided her carefully toward the wall, his hand resting softly at her waist before kissing her again, deeper this time. Her heart raced as she laughed breathlessly. Everything about the moment felt exciting and new, yet completely right.

That night, they finally stopped pretending they were “just friends.” They spent hours talking, kissing, holding each other close, and sharing the kind of intimacy that came from years of trust and love.

The next morning, sunlight spilled through the apartment windows. Krisha woke up to find Karthik already awake, watching her with a sleepy smile.

“What?” she asked, hiding her face in the pillow.

“Nothing,” he said. “I’m just happy.”

From then on, college life changed for them. They still argued over stupid things like whose turn it was to cook dinner or who forgot to pay the Wi-Fi bill, but now there was something stronger between them.

They studied together in the library, snuck out for midnight drives when assignments became overwhelming, and danced in the kitchen whenever their favorite songs played. Some nights were passionate, some quiet and comforting, but every moment brought them closer.

One evening during the college festival, Karthik pulled Krisha away from the crowd and onto the empty basketball court behind the campus building. Fairy lights from the event glowed faintly in the distance.

“I have a question,” he said nervously.

Krisha raised an eyebrow. “Why do you sound so serious?”

“Because,” he replied, taking her hands, “you’re my best friend… and the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Before she could answer, he kissed her again under the soft night sky, and for the first time in years, both of them felt like they were exactly where they belonged.

As the semester continued, Krisha and Karthik became inseparable around campus. Everyone at Uri College knew them as the couple who were always together — studying in the library, sharing headphones while walking between classes, or arguing playfully over the smallest things.

But their favorite moments were always the quiet nights back at their apartment.

One cold evening, Krisha was curled up on the couch wearing one of Karthik’s oversized hoodies while he cooked instant noodles in the kitchen.

“You know you’ve officially stolen half my clothes,” he said.

Krisha grinned. “Correction — our clothes.”

Karthik walked over and handed her a bowl before sitting beside her. She rested her head on his shoulder, and for a moment neither of them spoke. The apartment felt warm and peaceful compared to the noisy world outside.

“I still can’t believe we wasted years pretending we were just friends,” Karthik murmured.

Krisha looked up at him with a soft smile. “Maybe we needed time to realize this.”

He leaned down and kissed her slowly, his hand gently holding her face. Their kisses had become familiar now — comfortable, affectionate, full of love instead of nervousness. Krisha moved closer to him, smiling against his lips while he wrapped an arm around her waist.

Later that night, they ended up tangled together under the blankets, talking quietly in the dark about their future, their dreams, and the life they wanted after college. Between conversations, they kissed lazily, unable to stop touching each other even for a second.

Karthik pulled her closer against his chest. “Promise me something.”

“What?”

“No matter where life takes us after Uri College… don’t leave me.”

Krisha’s expression softened immediately. She brushed her fingers through his hair before kissing him again.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

They fell asleep together like that, wrapped in each other’s arms while rain tapped softly against the apartment windows. For both of

The summer heat around Uri College made their apartment feel warmer than usual. Most evenings, Krisha walked around in comfortable crop tops and soft shorts while music played quietly in the background. Karthik always pretended not to stare, but she caught him every single time.

“What?” she teased one evening while leaning against the kitchen counter.

“You do this on purpose.”

“Do what?”

“Distract me.”

Krisha laughed as he walked toward her, slipping his hands around her waist and pulling her closer. The playful tension between them had become part of their relationship now — small touches, lingering hugs, stolen kisses whenever they passed each other in the apartment.

Karthik brushed his fingers gently along her side before kissing her forehead. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”

Krisha’s cheeks warmed instantly. Even after months together, hearing him say things like that still made her heart race.

She tugged lightly on his shirt. “Come here.”

The kiss started softly but quickly deepened, familiar and full of affection. Karthik’s hands rested carefully against her waist as she wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling between kisses. They moved slowly through the apartment together, bumping into furniture and laughing quietly the entire time.

Later, they curled up on the couch with Krisha half-lying across his chest while he absentmindedly traced circles on her arm. Physical closeness had become natural between them — holding hands during movies, cuddling while studying, falling asleep tangled together every night.

Sometimes it wasn’t even about passion. It was the comfort of always reaching for each other without thinking.

That night, Karthik looked down at her resting against him and smiled softly. “You know what my favorite part of the day is?”

Krisha looked up. “What?”

“Coming home to you.”

Her expression melted immediately. She leaned up to kiss him slowly, her fingers brushing through his hair while he held her close like he never wanted to let go.

Outside, the campus lights glowed in the distance, but inside their little apartment, it felt like the rest of the world disappeared whenever they were together.

Krisha had never imagined that moving into the URI dorms would change her life so completely. The first week was chaos—boxes stacked in corners, late-night orientation meetings, and the constant buzz of students filling the hallways. She was standing outside the shared kitchen one evening, struggling with a stubborn vending machine, when she first met Karthik.

“You have to kick the side lightly,” he said with a grin.

Krisha raised an eyebrow. “That sounds illegal.”

“It’s engineering,” he replied confidently before tapping the machine with his sneaker. A packet of chips immediately fell down.

She laughed despite herself. “Okay, maybe you’re a genius.”

From that night on, they kept finding reasons to be around each other. They studied together in the library until midnight, shared ramen cups during rainy evenings, and walked across campus while talking about everything from music to childhood dreams.

By winter semester, they were inseparable.

Karthik’s dorm room slowly became their room. Krisha’s hoodie hung on the back of his chair, her books covered half his desk, and her favorite jasmine perfume lingered faintly in the air. Nobody questioned it anymore—not their friends, not their roommates. They simply fit together naturally.

One cold Friday night, snow pressed softly against the dorm windows while fairy lights glowed around the room. Krisha sat curled beside Karthik on his narrow bed, wrapped in one oversized blanket.

“You know,” she murmured, tracing circles on his hand, “this dorm bed is way too small for two people.”

Karthik smirked. “And yet you keep stealing my side.”

“There is no your side.”

He laughed quietly and pulled her closer until her head rested against his chest. She could hear his heartbeat—steady, warm, comforting. Outside, students shouted in the courtyard, but inside the room everything felt calm.

They stayed like that for a long time, tangled together beneath the blanket. Sometimes they talked softly; sometimes silence said enough. Karthik brushed strands of hair away from her face and kissed her forehead gently.

Krisha looked up at him. “You make this place feel like home.”

His expression softened instantly. “You are home.”

She leaned in first this time, kissing him slowly while his hand rested at her waist. It wasn’t rushed or dramatic. It was the kind of kiss built from months of trust, laughter, and quiet affection.

Later that night, they fell asleep side by side, her fingers intertwined with his, his arm around her protectively. The tiny dorm room—with its messy desk, glowing lights, and muffled campus noises—felt warmer than anywhere else in the world.

And for the first time since coming to college, neither of them felt alone anymore.

The next morning, soft golden light slipped through the dorm curtains, warming the small room. Krisha slowly opened her eyes first. For a moment she stayed still, listening to the quiet hum of the heater and the faint sounds of students walking down the hallway outside.

Karthik was still asleep beside her, one arm lazily draped across her waist. His hair was messy, and his face looked calmer than usual without his constant teasing grin.

Krisha smiled to herself.

Carefully, she lifted his arm and slipped out of bed, trying not to wake him. The cold floor made her shiver instantly, so she pulled on Karthik’s oversized hoodie before tying her hair into a loose bun.

The dorm room was a mess from the night before—open notebooks, snack wrappers, tangled charging cables, and clothes scattered across the chair. Krisha sighed dramatically.

“How do two people create this much chaos in one room?”

Still smiling, she started cleaning quietly. She folded blankets, stacked textbooks neatly, wiped down the desk, and opened the window slightly to let fresh morning air in. Every few minutes she glanced back toward the bed to make sure Karthik was still sleeping peacefully.

He looked impossibly comfortable.

After cleaning, she headed to the shared kitchen down the hall. Most students were still asleep, so the place was unusually quiet. Krisha tied an apron around herself and began making breakfast using whatever ingredients they had left—eggs, bread, instant coffee, and the vegetables she had secretly bought because she knew Karthik survived almost entirely on ramen.

A little while later, the smell of butter and toasted bread drifted into the dorm room.

Back inside, Karthik stirred awake slowly. He blinked in confusion when he realized the room looked… clean.

“What happened here?” he muttered sleepily.

Krisha walked in carrying two plates. “A miracle.”

Karthik pushed himself up against the headboard, staring at her in disbelief. “You cleaned everything?”

“You’re welcome.”

“And you made breakfast?”

“You’re really welcome.”

He watched her set the plates down before pulling her gently closer by the wrist. Krisha let out a surprised laugh as he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his forehead against her stomach.

“You spoil me too much,” he mumbled.

She ran her fingers through his messy hair affectionately. “Somebody has to make sure you survive college.”

Karthik looked up at her with sleepy eyes. “Marry me already.”

Krisha nearly choked laughing. “You haven’t even brushed your teeth yet.”

“Still serious.”

Her cheeks warmed instantly. To hide her smile, she leaned down and kissed his forehead softly.

“Eat your breakfast first,” she whispered.

He finally let her go, but not before stealing a quick kiss from her lips. Krisha rolled her eyes playfully while sitting beside him on the bed.

The two of them shared breakfast cross-legged under the blankets, occasionally feeding each other bites and laughing whenever Karthik complained that her cooking was “too good” because now cafeteria food tasted terrible.

When they finished eating, Karthik dropped back dramatically onto the pillow and opened his arms toward her.

“Come here.”

Krisha smiled and curled beside him immediately, resting her head against his chest while he held her close beneath the warm blankets.

Outside, campus life was beginning again.

The semester was almost over when everything between Krisha and Karthik began to change.

At first, it was small things.

Karthik started replying to messages late. He spent more time outside the dorm, claiming he had “group projects” or meetings for internships. Some nights he came back exhausted and distracted, barely noticing when Krisha rested her head on his shoulder.

She tried not to overthink it.

But overthinking became impossible the night she saw him laughing with another girl outside the engineering building.

The girl was beautiful—long dark hair, confident smile, one hand resting casually on Karthik’s arm while they talked.

Krisha froze across the courtyard.

Something painful twisted in her chest.

She told herself it meant nothing. Karthik was friendly with everyone. But when he finally returned to the dorm that night, almost an hour later than usual, she couldn’t stop herself.

“Who was she?”

Karthik looked up from taking off his jacket. “Who?”

“The girl outside engineering.”

For a split second, his expression changed. Just enough for Krisha to notice.

“Nobody,” he said too quickly.

That hurt more than the truth probably would have.

Krisha crossed her arms. “You’ve been acting weird for weeks.”

“I’m just busy.”

“You barely even look at me anymore.”

Karthik sighed tiredly, rubbing his forehead. “Krisha, not tonight.”

The words hit like ice water.

Not tonight.

Not baby. Not come here. Not the soft voice he always used with her.

Just distance.

Krisha swallowed hard. “Fine.”

That night was the first time in months they slept facing opposite sides of the bed.

The silence between them felt unbearable.

For the next few days, things only got worse. Their friends noticed the tension immediately. Krisha stopped waiting for him after class. Karthik buried himself in work. Even when they sat together, it felt like there was an invisible wall between them.

Then came the twist neither of them expected.

One evening, Krisha returned to the dorm early after her lecture got canceled. The room was empty except for Karthik’s laptop sitting open on the desk.

She wasn’t trying to snoop.

But then she saw her own name on the screen.

Curious, she stepped closer.

It was an email draft.

Her heart pounded as she read the first line.

“Offer Letter — Internship Program, California.”

California.

Three thousand miles away.

The starting date was right after graduation.

Krisha’s stomach dropped.

Suddenly everything made sense—his distance, the late nights, the secretiveness.

He was leaving.

And he hadn’t told her.

The dorm door opened before she could process it.

Karthik froze when he saw her standing by the laptop.

Silence.

Then Krisha looked at him with tears already forming in her eyes.

“You were just going to leave?”

“Krisha—”

“You applied to jobs across the country and didn’t even tell me?”

“It wasn’t confirmed yet.”

“That’s not the point!”

Her voice cracked, and Karthik immediately stepped toward her, but she moved back.

“I thought we told each other everything.”

“We do.”

“No, apparently you decide what I deserve to know.”

Karthik’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t tell you because I was scared, okay?”

She blinked.

He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I didn’t know if I should take it. I didn’t know what it would mean for us.”

“So instead you just shut me out?”

“I was trying to protect us!”

“By lying to me?”

The room fell silent again except for their uneven breathing.

Finally, Karthik spoke quietly.

“The girl you saw?” he admitted. “She works for the internship program. She was helping me prepare.”

Krisha looked away instantly, embarrassed by the jealousy she had carried for days.

But the hurt still remained.

Karthik stepped closer this time, more carefully.

“I love you,” he said softly. “That’s exactly why I got scared.”

Krisha’s eyes filled again.

“You idiot,” she whispered shakily.

A tiny laugh escaped him despite everything. “Yeah. Probably.”

For a moment neither moved.

Then Krisha suddenly hit his chest lightly. “You made me think you didn’t want me anymore.”

Karthik caught her wrist gently before pulling her against him. “Never.”

She tried to stay angry, but the second his arms wrapped around her, weeks of tension broke apart completely. Krisha buried her face against his chest while he held her tightly like he was terrified she might disappear.

“I don’t care about California,” she murmured. “I care that you stopped letting me in.”

Karthik closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

And for the first time in weeks, he kissed her the way he used to—slow, emotional, desperate enough to say everything words couldn’t.

Later that night, they sat together on the dorm floor surrounded by scattered papers and cold takeout containers, talking honestly until nearly sunrise.

About fear.

About the future.

About whether love could survive change.

By morning, neither of them had all the answers.

But when Krisha fell asleep against his shoulder while the early sunlight filled the room, Karthik looked down at her and realized something important:

No future felt right if she wasn’t in it.