12."I’ll Be Your Personal Bodyguard—Though I Might Charge You In Coffee And Pastries.”

As Leela pulled me away, Chitra followed closely behind, her curiosity evident. We walked until we found a quieter spot, away from the prying eyes and murmurs of our classmates. Once we were a good distance from the previous scene, Leela stopped abruptly, letting go of my hand. She turned to face me, her expression a mix of frustration and something else I couldn't quite place.

"Why did you have to interfere?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of anger.

I offered her a sheepish smile, trying to lighten the mood. "I thought you might need my help," I replied, genuinely thinking I had done the right thing.

Leela's eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms, her attitude unmistakable. "Who needs your help? I can handle Bhaskar myself! Didn't you see everyone was watching?"

Before I could respond, I gently took her hand in mine, pulling her a little closer. I looked into her eyes, trying to convey my sincerity. "Sorry, don't be angry," I said softly, hoping to calm her down.

Leela's expression didn't soften as much as I'd hoped. Instead, she sighed and looked at me with a mix of exasperation and something like affection. "I'm not angry about what happened earlier," she said, her voice still carrying that edge. "I'm angry because you cut your hair! And what's with this new look? Who told you to do that?"

Before I could answer, she grabbed my collar, pulling me closer, her eyes searching mine as if trying to understand my motives.

Hearing what Leela said, I blinked, genuinely confused. "Wait, you're angry because I cut my hair? But I did it for you! You always said I looked like a nerd, so I thought a new look might make you happy."

Leela crossed her arms and glared at me, her frustration evident. "Who said that would make me happy? Don't you see how those girls in the classroom were looking at you? They were like hungry beasts, asking your name, telling you that you look cute, and even asking if you have a girlfriend! Do you think seeing all those girls around you makes me happy?"

I couldn't help but smile at her jealousy, finding it endearing. "Well, how was I supposed to know this would happen? If I knew I was this popular with the girls, I would've changed my look a long time ago," I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Leela's eyes narrowed, and before I could react, she grabbed my face tightly with both hands, pulling me close until our noses almost touched. Her intense gaze held mine as she spoke, her voice low and serious. "Listen to me, Mr. Shivaay. If I ever catch you flirting with any girl, I'll deal with her first and then come after you. Do you understand?"

My eyes widened in shock. "Wait, what?" I stammered, not sure if she was joking or being serious.

Leela's grip on my face tightened slightly as she nodded, her expression dead serious. "Yes, so you better be careful."

Hearing Leela's words, I couldn't help but smile. She noticed and immediately questioned me, "Why are you smiling?"

Instead of answering right away, I pulled her into a hug, gazing into her eyes as I spoke softly, "You look gorgeous when you're angry. And don't worry, you're the only girl in my life—now and in the future."

Leela's expression softened for a moment before she asked, "Really?" There was a hint of vulnerability in her voice, a side she didn't show often.

With a playful grin, I shook my head and teased, "No."

Leela's eyes widened, and she pulled back slightly, her voice rising with frustration. "What do you mean, 'no'?"

I chuckled at her reaction, then quickly added, "Of course, if we have a daughter in the future, she'll be the second girl in my life."

Leela's anger melted away, replaced by a radiant smile. She looked up at me, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. "You and your sweet words," she murmured, her voice filled with affection.

I returned her smile, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. Just as I was about to say something else, Chitra's voice cut through our moment. We had completely forgotten she was standing nearby.

"If you two are done with your lovey-dovey stuff, can we go to the cafeteria? I'm starving," Chitra said, her tone laced with a mix of amusement and impatience.

I let go of Leela, feeling slightly embarrassed. Leela, however, took it in stride, turning to Chitra with a playful glint in her eyes. "Don't be jealous," she teased.

Chitra rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her grin. "I'm not jealous. Let's just go, before I pass out from hunger," she replied, already heading toward the cafeteria.

Leela and I shared a smile, the tension between us fully dissolved. We fell into step behind Chitra, our fingers brushing as we walked side by side. The air was filled with the easy banter that had always come naturally between us.

As we followed Chitra, I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. The small disagreements, the teasing, the shared laughter—it all made our relationship richer, more meaningful. Leela's jealousy, her possessiveness, they were all signs of how much she cared, and that was something I treasured deeply.

We reached the cafeteria, the familiar buzz of students chatting and the smell of food welcoming us. Chitra made a beeline for the counter, and Leela followed close behind, her earlier anger completely forgotten.

As we settled into our seats in the cafeteria, I noticed Anand making his way toward us. A smile crept onto my face as I raised a hand in greeting. "Take a seat, bro," I called out, gesturing to the empty chair next to me.

Anand returned the smile and slid into the chair beside me. "Thanks, Shivaay," he said, his tone warm and friendly.

Leela and Chitra, who had been chatting about something, turned their attention toward Anand, their expressions curious. I caught their glances and decided to break the ice.

"Girls, this is Anand," I began, turning to Leela and Chitra with a grin. "I met him this morning. He's from Mumbai and came to Hyderabad as part of the university exchange program. He's in the Environmental Science department."

Anand nodded politely as I spoke, and I could see the interest flicker in Leela and Chitra's eyes. It wasn't every day they got to meet someone from a different city, let alone someone as laid-back and easygoing as Anand.

"And Anand," I continued, turning back to him, "this is Sreeleela, my girlfriend, and our friend Chitra."

Leela and Chitra both smiled warmly at Anand, and the three of them exchanged greetings. "Hi, nice to meet you," Leela said, her voice friendly but with that hint of curiosity she often had when meeting someone new.

"Hi, welcome to Hyderabad!" Chitra added, her usual cheerful tone making Anand feel right at home.

"Thanks, nice to meet you both," Anand replied, giving them a friendly nod. There was a moment of comfortable silence, the kind that comes when new people are trying to find common ground.

Leela was the first to break it. "So, how are you finding Hyderabad so far?" she asked, genuinely interested.

"It's been great so far," Anand replied, his enthusiasm evident. "The people are friendly, the food is amazing, and the campus… well, it's way bigger than I expected!"

Chitra chuckled. "Yeah, it can be a bit overwhelming at first, but you'll get used to it. Just wait until you try the local street food. It's the best."

Anand's eyes lit up at the mention of food. "I've heard that! I'm definitely looking forward to it."

As the conversation flowed, I leaned back in my chair, watching them interact. Suddenly, I felt a gentle tug on my sleeve. Turning my head, I saw Leela giving me a knowing smile. Her eyes darted toward Chitra, who was sitting across from us. Following Leela's gaze, I noticed that Chitra was staring at Anand with a curious expression, as if trying to figure something out.

"Chitra," I said, my tone playful, "don't think about it. Anand already has a girlfriend."

Anand and Leela both burst into laughter, the sound light and teasing. But Chitra shot me an irritated look. "Shivaay, I'm not thinking that!" she retorted, crossing her arms defensively. "I'm just trying to remember where I've seen Anand before. I swear I saw him on the news, but I can't quite recall."

Hearing this, I looked at Anand. "News, Anand? What happened?" I asked, sensing there was more to the story.

Anand sighed, the weight of the situation evident in his expression. "That's one of the reasons I came to Hyderabad," he began, his voice tinged with frustration. "The MLA of Bandra wants to start a construction project."

Leela, ever the pragmatist, tilted her head slightly. "So, what's the problem with that?"

Anand's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and disbelief. "It's not the construction project itself. The problem is that for this project, they want to cut down 213 trees in Chockus Park. Can you imagine? Cutting down 213 trees, the main source of oxygen for that entire area, all for the sake of a construction site! The MLA is an idiot if he thinks that's a good idea."

He paused, clearly upset by the memory, before continuing. "I tried to explain this to their lawyer, who was pressuring me to withdraw the police case I filed against the project. I explained how vital those trees are, not just to the environment, but to the people living there. But instead of listening, the lawyer threatened me, saying that the MLA is a dangerous man."

Chitra, who had been listening intently, leaned forward. "And what did you do then?"

Anand's lips curled into a slight, defiant smile. "What do you think? I told them that the MLA's brain wasn't working if he thought I'd back down. I refused to withdraw the case, no matter what threats they made. And instead of trying to reason with me, the MLA sent his men to beat me up."

Leela's eyes widened in shock, while Chitra's mouth fell open slightly. "Then what happened?" Chitra asked, her voice almost a whisper.

Anand shrugged as if it were no big deal, though his eyes betrayed the intensity of the situation. "Then I beat them up instead," he said matter-of-factly. "But after that, my university principal got involved and called my uncle. My uncle said I can go to Hyderabad to stay safe from that MLA's wrath and for my environmental case study."

Leela looked at Anand with admiration. "That's a crazy story, Anand. But what you did was right. You stood up for what you believe in."

I nodded in agreement, feeling a surge of respect for Anand. "Yeah, that was brave, man. I think what you did was the right thing. It's not easy standing up to people like that, especially when they have power and connections."

Anand smiled. "Thanks. I couldn't just stand by and let them destroy those trees. They're more than just trees; they're a lifeline for that community."

Chitra, who had been quiet for a moment, finally spoke up. "It's crazy how people in power can be so short-sighted, thinking only about profits and not about the long-term impact on the environment and the people who live there."

Leela nodded. "It's sad, really."

The conversation shifted from playful banter to something more profound as we all reflected on what Anand had been through. As the cafeteria buzzed with the noise of other students, we continued talking, our voices a little softer now.

As we continued talking, Anand leaned back in his chair, a curious expression crossing his face. "Forget about me," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "But I heard something happened near your classroom earlier. What was that all about?"

I chuckled, glancing over at Leela, who was busy sipping her coffee. "Oh, that? Nothing much. Just some idiot trying to impress Leela with his weird antics."

Before I could say more, Leela's eyes narrowed playfully, and she gave me a light punch on the shoulder. "Impress me? Seriously, Shivaay?" She rolled her eyes, but there was a teasing smile on her lips. "He wasn't trying to impress me; he was trying to irritate me with all his nonsense."

I couldn't help but grin at the memory of that encounter. "He sure did a good job of irritating you, though. The way he was talking, you'd think he was trying to audition for a drama club, not talk to you."

Anand raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of weird things was he saying?"

Leela sighed, clearly still annoyed by the memory. "He was claiming to be the Chief Minister's son-in-law, of all things! Can you believe that? And he was saying it with such confidence too, as if that would somehow impress or intimidate me."

Anand chuckled, shaking his head. "Man, what a character. Some people just don't know when to quit, do they?"

Leela nodded, still looking a bit frustrated. "I can handle guys like him, but it's annoying when they start making ridiculous claims just to get a reaction. And in front of everyone too! It's like he wanted to make a scene."

I grinned, leaning back in my chair. "I might have… I just asked him a few questions, made him sweat a little."

Leela rolled her eyes again, but this time there was a hint of amusement. "You were totally showing off, don't lie. You just wanted to put on a little display, didn't you?"

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Maybe a little. But hey, it worked, didn't it? He backed off."

Anand laughed, clearly enjoying the story. "Sounds like you handled it pretty well. But you know, you've got to be careful. Guys like that might just try something else if they feel embarrassed."

Leela sighed, leaning back in her chair. "I just wish they wouldn't bother at all. I'm here to study, not deal with drama."

I reached over and gently squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, Leela. I'll make sure to keep any more wannabe sons-in-law away from you."

She smiled playfully at that, her earlier frustration melting away. " I can take care of myself. I just don't want to be dealing with unnecessary drama every day."

Chitra nodded in agreement. "We've got enough going on without people like that making things more complicated."

Anand's expression turned thoughtful. "I guess that's just part of being in the spotlight, though. People see something they want and they think they can just reach out and grab it, no matter what."

Leela sighed, her fingers tracing patterns on the table. "Yeah, I know. But it still gets on my nerves."

I could see that she was still a little tense from the encounter, so I decided to lighten the mood. "Well, if it happens again, just let me know. I'll be your personal bodyguard—though I might charge you in coffee and pastries."

She laughed. "Deal. But no more scaring off random guys just for fun, okay?"

I held up my hands in mock surrender. "Scout's honor."

The tension around the table eased, and soon we were back to our usual banter, the earlier incident already fading into the background.

-----------------------

"3RD PERSON POV"

Inside Leela's luxurious home, the atmosphere was calm and serene, with the warm glow of the late evening sun filtering through the sheer curtains. Leela was comfortably seated on the plush, cream-colored sofa in the living room, enjoying her favorite chocolates. The soft rustling of the chocolate wrapper was the only sound that disturbed the quiet, and Leela was content, savoring the sweet taste.

However, her peaceful moment was interrupted as her older brother, Raghav, soon-to-be sister-in-law, Meera, and their mother walked into the room. Their expressions were serious, and it was clear they had something on their minds. Leela noticed this and immediately stopped mid-bite, her curiosity piqued as she looked up at them, wondering what was going on.

Raghav was the first to speak. He looked at Leela with a frown, his voice laced with concern. "Leela, what happened at college today?" he asked.

Leela raised an eyebrow at his tone, then shrugged nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal. "Nothing much," she replied casually, popping another piece of chocolate into her mouth. "Just some idiot claiming to be the son-in-law of the Chief Minister and trying to irritate me."

Leela's mother took a seat beside her daughter on the sofa. She placed a gentle hand on Leela's shoulder, her voice soothing as she spoke. "Leela, you know these kinds of things are common in college. Boys say all sorts of things to get attention. Don't let it bother you."

Leela nodded, her expression calm as she finished the last of her chocolate. "I know, ma. I didn't take him seriously. He was just talking nonsense. It was annoying, but that's all."

The room's atmosphere shifted as Raghav dropped his question. "What about that comment you made about having a boyfriend? Who is this other guy?"

(A/N: WHY AM I WRITING THIS? IT'S TOO MUCH DRAMA. 🤣)

Leela's face flushed with a mix of nervousness and irritation. "I said that just to get him to back off. Who are you even talking about? I don't know what you mean by 'other guy.'"

Raghav gaze sharpened. "Leela, don't play dumb. Who is this guy named Shivaay?"

Anger flared in Leela's eyes. "How do you know about him? Are you spying on me?"

Raghav raised a calming hand. "I'm not spying on you. I have some friends at your college who keep me updated. But let's not get sidetracked. Tell me who Shivaay is."

Before Leela could respond, her mother's voice cut through the tension, her tone serious and demanding. "Wait a minute. What's going on? Who is this Shivaay you're talking about?"

Leela's frustration reached a boiling point as she shot back, her voice trembling with anger. "He's my boyfriend, so what?"

Her mother sighed deeply, the lines of worry etched into her face becoming more pronounced. "Leela, you know what would happen if your Daddy found out about this."

The weight of her mother's words settled heavily on Leela's shoulders. Desperation flickered in her eyes as she hugged her mother tightly, seeking comfort and understanding. "Why do I have to face all these restrictions? It's fine if Bhaiyya has a girlfriend and plans to marry her, but I'm not allowed to have someone in my life?"

Raghav expression remained stern, though concern lingered behind his eyes. "Leela, it's not the same thing. My situation is different. I've looked into Shivaay, and he doesn't seem to be of the same standing as us. Papa wouldn't accept this, and you should forgot about him. If you don't want anything bad happening to him."

Leela's face flushed with anger and desperation as she shouted, "What do you mean, 'if something happens to him'? If any of you do something to him, I swear I'll kill myself!"

Her mother's eyes widened in shock as she cried out, "Leela, what are you saying? You can't talk like that."

Leela's voice broke with emotion as tears streamed down her face. "I really love him! I'm planning to introduce him to Father at Bhaiyya's engagement. Please, you have to understand."

Seeing her daughter's distress, her mother's demeanor softened. "Don't worry, Leela. I'll try to talk to your father."

Leela's sobs quieted as she clung to her mother, whispering through her tears, "Thank you, Ma."

Raghav watched the emotional exchange with a mix of regret and understanding. After a moment, he approached Leela, his tone gentle but firm. "Hey, Leela, I'm sorry for causing you so much distress. How about we go to the pub, and you can invite Shivaay? This way, I can meet him and get to know him better. What do you think?"

Leela looked up at her brother, her eyes still moist but filled with a glimmer of hope. "Okay. That sounds good."

nodded, offering a reassuring smile. "Great. Let's plan something soon."

Leela gave a small, appreciative smile as she wiped her tears. "Thanks, Bhaiyya. I really appreciate it."

(A/N:If you want to support me, please use this UPI:-omgadekar29@oksbi "Om Gadekar")

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