The classroom buzzed with nervous chatter as Ananya Sharma slid into a seat near the middle, her notebook clutched tightly in her hands. It was her first class with the infamous Professor Aarav Kapoor, and her heart raced with anticipation and dread. Stories of his strictness, his sharp tongue, and his ability to reduce even the most confident students to silence had circulated widely.

She adjusted her glasses nervously, glancing at the clock. The room fell silent as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the hallway.