5

Mishti hummed against Ronobir 's lips as his hands explored up and down her body. She opened her lips for his tongue, moaning quietly into his mouth. Ronobir pulled her more to the edge of his desk pressing her body closer to his.

It's been two weeks since the sports banquet and their passionate encounter with the bathroom sink. They have barely been able to control themselves around each other since, trying to be as subtle as possible. But between Ronobir whispering sweet nothings in her ear during class while "helping" her and Mishti sending him naughty text messages during lectures was not helping. This was torture for them but erotic at the same time, being each other's dirty little secret had its perks though like hot lustful reunions on his desk or in closets.

They'd been enjoying each other thoroughly for two weeks now and didn't take any moment together for granted, especially during their free period which resulted in Mishti sitting on his desk, Ronobir between her legs and their hands memorizing each other's bodies all over again.

Ronobir 's hands caressed her bare thighs loving the feel of her smooth skin underneath his fingertips. Mishti moaned wrapping her arms around his neck, rocking her hips up into his seeking the friction she's been craving. He groaned at her desperation kissing her deeper and then kissing down to her neck. She whimpered when he sucked a particularly sensitive spot, that will leave a mark. Her sneaky hands wandered down his body palming him through his jeans and making him groan. Mishti immediately went for his belt, unbuckling it quickly as their moans connected through a heated kiss.

"Go on a date with me." He murmured lowly against her lips but Mishti heard it loud and clear as her eyes widened in shock. She let go of him and pushed him off of her lightly.

"What?" She asked breathlessly.

He swallowed. " I said-"

"I heard what you said. I'm just surprised and confused that you said it."

Ronobir nervously licked his lips. He still doesn't know how to define whatever it is that he and Mishti are but what Ronobir now realizes is that there's something more he feels. From the beginning he's found himself intrigued by the seductive girl past the physical parts, he's always wanted to get to know her. Mishti was never just a good lay to him.

His hands were still on her thighs rubbing over them tenderly. "I'm not an idiot, Mishti. I know we'll have to be discreet about it but I still mean what I said. I want to take you out somewhere."

Ronobir had no hesitation in his tone but hesitation was written all over Mishti's face.

She nervously bit her lip. "Wh-what do you even mean by that?"

"Dinner, a movie or both. Maybe attend an intimate concert in the park or tour the embarrassingly small number of art galleries in this town." He smirked leaving a lingering kiss on her neck.

Mishti briefly grinned at his suggestions before dropping the expression. In theory, that all sounded amazing but they both had to know it couldn't happen.

"Ronobir ..."

"You don't want to."

"It's not that..." She sighed wondering how this afternoon went from being so great to be awkward and uncomfortable because Ronobir had to open his mouth for the wrong purposes.

Mishti pulled one of her blonde curls behind her ear. "We can't. Fooling around behind closed doors is one thing but you're talking about going out in public. This town is small and people talk."

"Then we can go out of town or...have a nice dinner at my place," Ronobir suggested with soft eyes that Mishti just wanted to melt in.

-Now he's talking about taking me to his apartment? What just happened?

Mishti thought to herself as the nerves started getting the best of her. She rarely got nervous but since being with Ronobir he's made her feel a lot of emotions she almost forgot were there.

He brought one hand to her face, stroking her cheek gently then placing a strand of hair behind her ear. Her face is fully exposed to him now.

Mishti's breath hitched at the way he was looking at her. Like she was the most beautiful girl in the world, the only girl in his world. She didn't recall him ever looking at her like that since they'd met and it made her stomach oddly flutter.

She turned away from him looking down at the floor and clearing her throat. "I can't, we can't."

"Can't or won't?" He asked coldly, dropping both his hands from touching her, making Mishti look up.

"Why are you acting like my refusal is unreasonable?" She spat back. "I'm sorry I don't want the whole town to know I'm fucking my teacher."

"Wow, now the shoe's on the other foot hm? If I remember correctly, sweety I was the reluctant one about this whole thing but you told me to take a chance so I did and I'm glad I did."

Damnit.

She growled. "Why's this so important to you?"

"Because I want to get to know you, Mishti." Ronobir stepped up to her again, cuffing her face in his hands. "You are by far the most intriguing person I've ever met and I know there's so much about you you lock away from everyone else. I want to know you outside of the physical aspects, I want to understand the real Mishti Khanna."

His tone was so gentle and calming but Mishti couldn't help pushing it away.

"This is the real Mishti Khanna, okay? There's nothing to analyze or anything interesting."

"I find that very hard to believe."

She scoffed. "Well believe it. Ugh, why are you trying to ruin this, what we have?"

"What we have is sex."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"Of course, it's not but I know and you know we're capable of having more than that." He softly stated.

"We just...work, Mishti. I don't know how to explain it but of all the women I've been with I've tried to find whatever this is with them but I couldn't. You can't tell me you don't feel the same because I've seen it."

Mishti couldn't look at him anymore. This was too overwhelming for her to handle right now.

She pushed his hands off of her and stood up off the desk. "I should go. Ms Malhotra will probably start wondering where I am." She lied, fluffing her curls and tugging down her bunched-up shorts. She avoided his gaze, sensing whatever expression was on his face, she wouldn't like it.

"Sure." He responded, doing up his pants again before taking a seat in his chair as she began walking away from him. Mishti let herself out unlocking the classroom door.

"I'll see you next period, Miss Khanna."

-We're back to Miss Khanna now?

He didn't even look up at her when he said it, staring down at his notes trying to busy his mind to focus on anything that wasn't her.

It was already the end of the day and Mishti just finished up at badminton practice. She was way off her game, missing her marks in the game, failing to give perfect serves but she could barely concentrate through it. How could she when Ronobir clouded her mind for the remainder of the day?

During his class, he avoided looking at her even when she raised her hand to answer questions. She understood why he was being cold towards her but she didn't understand why getting to know her was so important to him. They had fun together and indulged in each other's pleasure, a pleasure neither have experienced with anyone else.

Why was that not enough for him anymore?

Why was getting to know her so important to him now?

He was fine in the beginning with just sneaking around and keeping their interactions strictly at college but now he wants to take her out on a date? Show her where he lives.

Ronobir seemed like he wanted something more serious but Mishti wasn't sure she was ready for that step yet, especially when that someone is her teacher.

Her growing feelings for him were not planned though. She was only 18 and looking for fun and good sex and luckily Ronobir filled that void, no pun intended. Mishti wasn't counting on him wanting more or even caring to get more out of her; now he was the one surprising her.

She threw her bag onto her seat and then gathered her textbooks.

"Mish!" She looked to the side at one of her 'used to be' best friends Ragini Senugupta calling her name.

"I'm glad I caught you before you left."

"Is everything alright?" Mishti asked.

"That's kinda what I wanted to ask you...you just seemed off during practice today."

Mishti sighed. "I'm fine."

Ragini crossed her arms non defensively. "Are you sure? You were acting weird in class too? You know you can talk to me about anything right?"

-Not anything.

"Of course. But I'm fine Ragini, really I've just barely eaten today so that's finally taking its toll I guess." She lied putting a book in her bag.

The brunette girl eyed her curiously.

"I'm okay! I promise." Mishti reassured her, desperately needing her to leave especially when she noticed Ronobir walking into the copy room.

"I'm going to stop somewhere to eat before I head off home."

She exhaled. "Good. Well, then I guess I'll see you tomorrow but text me when you get home, okay?"

"For sure." Mishti hurriedly answered so Ragini could walk off, which she finally did. When Ragini was finally gone she slammed her locker shut walking towards the copy room.

Thankfully the room was empty besides him..and now her. He sensed her presence when he caught her eye with his. She grinned at him from her spot at the doorway, oddly happy to see him.

"Hi." Mishti shyly spoke, stepping into the room.

Ronobir nervously gulped looking away from her and back at the machine printing out his papers.

"Are those handouts for the next class discussion?" She asked.

"They are." He finally spoke to her, for the first time since the confrontation. Mishti felt a little bit of relief, at least he was speaking to her.

"Anything I should study ahead of time?"

He sighed. "Mishti..."

"What? You're always telling us to come to class prepared, right?" She smirked.

She noticed the corner of his lips twitch, wanting to smile but it dropped the moment it rose.

"Look, I'm sorry for earlier."

"Don't be."

"I didn't mean to be rude...you just caught me off guard."

He sighed, still looking down at the machine. "It's fine."

"Well, it's still bothering you."

Ronobir turned towards her. "Fine you're right, I am bothered. I'm bothered because I'm seeing the most fascinating girl I've ever met but I can't tell anyone about her. My brother thinks I'm incapable of finding someone for myself when in actuality I'm with one of his students right under his nose. His student drives me mad in all the right ways and awakens feelings within me that I chose to stash away." His tone was alarmingly calm, she could tell he was trying not to be too expressive for they were still at the college.

"I'm bothered because I want you, all of you but you don't want me back. Not physically obviously but emotionally, mentally..."

Mishti's mouth went dry at his words.

He continued. "I know we're in a difficult situation okay, I get that but your excuse of not wanting more because it's 'risky' is invalid and you know it. We risk it every day by being together here at college but you never complain. We're risking it at this very moment so why the sudden hesitation now?" He stepped towards her, looking down at her.

"Ronobir ..." She nervously avoided his gaze till he tilted her chin up forcing her to look at him. Their lips were inches from each other, and the smallest movement would connect them. Mishti wanted nothing more than to kiss his full red lips and get lost in his bliss forgetting about this whole situation, but unfortunately, that wasn't happening.

"Tell me you don't feel the same." He softly demanded, his lips ghosting over hers.

Mishti pressed her lips together, not sure of what to say at this point. It amazed her how much has changed between them in just two weeks. She felt so torn. It wasn't that she didn't want to be with Ronobir but everything seemed to be happening all at once too fast. Mishti knew deep down this had nothing to do with getting caught but she couldn't mutter the truth to him let alone herself. She's never been in this situation before with any of her past boyfriends or dates, why was this man so different?

It was scary.

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

He dropped his hand from her chin. "So am I." Ronobir stared at her with a clenched jaw. He walked over to the machine to turn it off after all his copies were complete.

Mishti could feel a slight lump in her throat from the coldness of the loss of his touch.

"So what now? Where does that leave us?"

He wiped his hand over his face, harshly sighing. "I don't know, Mishti."

She attempted to speak again until the door opened, walking Ms Singhaniya who looked stunned to see Mishti in the room.

-Can this bitch get a life?

"Oh, Mishti. I didn't know you were in here too?"

"Why would you?" Mishti muttered under her breath.

Kusum decided to avoid the comment, facing Ronobir with her frightening doe eyes. "Ronobir, I'm done packing up my things so whenever you're ready to go-"

"I'll be out in a minute, Kusum." He spoke over her quickly, already noticing the disgust on Mishti's face.

She nodded walking out of the room. "Okay, I'll meet you out by your car."

Mishti placed her hands on her hips facing him when Kusum was finally out of sight.

"Seriously? I'm feeling bad all day about shutting down your date proposal yet here you are shacking up with her?!"

"Nobody is shacking up with anyone. I'm just giving her a ride home."

"I thought her car got out of the shop a week ago?" She pointed out with a raised eyebrow. Ronobir stayed silent.

"She likes you, she makes it embarrassingly obvious," Mishti said, rolling her eyes. "You can't honestly pretend you haven't noticed this whole time."

"I'm very much aware but I've never acted on it, you know that."

"Well, maybe you should." Their eyes met intensely.

Ronobir 's eyebrows furrowed. "Mish-"

"You should go out with her." She pressed her lips together. He stared at her in confusion, not sure why she was saying this.

"We're not boyfriend and girlfriend, Ronobir. We're not in a relationship, you can go out with whoever you want." She couldn't even say it with a straight face as she choked the words out, knowing the person he wanted to go out with is her.

"At least you can be seen in public with her." A faint hysterical giggle escaped her lips.

"That's not funny," Ronobir said sternly.

"No, it's not. Umm..." She tucked a stead of hair behind her ear, smoothing out her ponytail.

"It was fun...what we had but, c'mon we both knew it couldn't last. It was just casual sex and you want a relationship now..."

"And you don't?"

-Of course, I do!

Mishti screamed at herself. His piercing brown eyes captivated every fibre in her being. She wanted to try an actual relationship with him but fear of that overpowered anything else. She cared about Ronobir, she didn't want to hold him back anymore.

She picked up her books and threw her bag over her shoulder. "I have to go. I'll see you in class tomorrow, Prof. Chatterjee." Dodging his question she was out the door before he could process what just happened.

They didn't break up but they broke up?

Mishti doesn't want to be with him, or so she claims.

In any kind of way.

Ronobir feared catching feelings for her and he felt it happening during their first time together but he brushed it off as just lust.

If only he knew how wrong he was.

He hated how she never wasted a moment to point out that they weren't anything more than fuck buddies especially with her now knowing how he feels. Why was she so fixated on downplaying them and how he feels about her?

Ronobir sighed, picking up the printed handouts from the copy machine and putting them in his bag, preparing to leave the room.

He tried not to dwell on what just happened as he walked to his car where (he forgot) Kusum was waiting. Her face brightened when she saw him coming towards her. Kusum was a nice woman, charming, pretty and a great teacher.

But she wasn't Mishti.

God, he had to stop thinking about her!

"So sorry again for this, I appreciate it." She sympathetically smiled. "I hate being a burden."

"It's fine." He said unlocking his car and opening the passenger door for her.

"Such a gentleman." She teased stepping into the car. He faintly grinned, closing her door for her before throwing his bag in the back seat and walking over to the driver's seat.

"My brother is driving my sorry excuse for a car to my house tonight. I promise this is the last time."

"Kusum, I already said it's fine. You're not a burden I assure you." He smirked starting the engine.

She shyly smiled. "Do you want to, I don't know, possibly want to go out for coffee or dinner sometime?" Ronobir froze, her question surprised him. "I hope I'm not being too forward about this, I've just wanted to ask you for a while and Ratan told me you weren't seeing anyone...oh god don't tell him I told you that." She embarrassingly covered her face with her hands

He lightly chuckled. "It's quite alright, your secret is safe with me."

"So..."

Ronobir was already missing Mishti, knowing he wouldn't be able to touch her smooth skin, weave his fingers through her black tresses and kiss her soft lips was nagging him. Not being able to talk to her was even worse. He doesn't believe what she said, she can't possibly believe it either.

He wants her but he already made it clear he was done with her games. Mishti doesn't want a relationship with him, as she loved to mention but he does. They want different things. She was right, they couldn't last anyways. He was the naive one for falling for an 18-year-old student in the first place and believing they could be something more. Maybe this was for the best, he could get what he wants while she could get whatever it is that she wants as well.

"You choose the date and time and I'll be there." Ronobir smiled which she reciprocated while putting on her seat belt.