What happened Snigdha? You don't get up so early, my mom asked for the fifth time, concern etched in her voice.

"Oh nothing, just couldn't sleep last night." I said.
"We told you a hundred times dear. You are a fourth year med student. You don't have to teach tutions to school students. You have achieved so much even through all these problems. I am proud of you. Don't pressurize yourself so much." my mom starts to lecture me.
"Ma, I am not pressurising myself. I like to teach. The smiles of those students can make the most gloomy days lively for me. I'm ok. Missing one night's sleep won't kill me", I reassured my mom.
"But your schedule-"my mom started.
"Mom! Do I not have the right to feel down once in a while!!"I snapped loudly. I had enough. I drained my glass of water and forcefully took my bag and left the house. I didn't even see her face before leaving.

As I got on the metro, I silently sat on a seat right beside the door. No emotion palable on my face but a frown of confusion of which one to express. Frustration with my life, regret for screaming at my mom who just wanted to make sure I was ok, pain because of my affair with my boyfriend, and helplessness because I can't help myself, to top it off I had earned myself a stalker who wants to kill me, no one to reach out for help.

When I got that threat letter, my views towards this case changed, and I don't know in a good or bad way.
I completed my usual journey and reached my college, the world around making me feel invisible. I went to the corridor where my classroom was.

I saw that the corridor which led to my classroom was crowded, so I took a shortcut.
I had taken this way multiple times but the only problem was that it was a very isolated place.

While I was there, I felt someone following me. I looked behind multiple times but found no one.
Suddenly someone wraped their hand on my mouth. I tried my best to free myself. I couldn't recognise the man because he was masked and his body was covered.
"Where is that journal, little girl?!!" he demanded.
I didn't answer. After sometime he hit my head. A sharp pain and a blurred vision was what I experienced before everything went black.

I woke up to an arm wrapping around my shoulder and looked up. Abhik was sitting beside me and my head was on his lap. "What are you doing here Snigdha?" he asked me. "I was going for my classes but something happened and now I don't remember" I replied weakly. "In the morgue ?? We are supposed to have physiology right now." I looked around and to my horror, I was lying in the middle of the morgue surrounded by dead bodies with Abhik holding me." I don- I don't kn-know" I stammered. I was still processing how I got here.
I was brought out of my thoughts when Abhik finally spoke up. "Moumita said that she saw you pass right by the classroom, and go to the shortcut, she called you but you didn't answer her. Class ended while I was looking for you. Moumita will give us the notes. You haven't been acting like yourself lately." I couldn't say anything, I just nodded lightly.
Just when he helped me get up, I winced in pain, " Ouch!".
"Snigdha, you have a small cut at the back of your head. I'll take you and get it stitched."

"No..no just tell the nurse to rub some medicine that will be fine."
"No. A stitch is needed otherwise it won't heal."
"Please Abhik no." I said with a miserable look.
" Looks like I found your weakness. Don't worry. I'll be gentle."
He said and kissed my forehead.
I felt a wierd feeling in my stomach. Somehow, I liked spending time with Abhik more than Manoj.

When we reached the infirmary. Moumita saw us. She hugged me and said , "I'm glad nothing happened to you both."
" Not me but Snigdha hurt her head a little bit."
" Oh, I'll tell the nurse she went that way." said Moumita
"No need, I'll do it"
"Oh. Ok." replied Moumita.

Abhik made me sit down on a chair and started stitching. I winced and tears gathered in my eyes. He saw this and stopped for a while and held my hand. We looked at each other.
Then suddenly both of us broke out of the trance. Abhik resumed the painful process. While I tried my best to endure it.

When he was done he said
"Something is going on, you have to tell me."
" I am."
"When? You know let's go to your place. I don't think aunty will mind."
"She would not be upset but she would be very worried."
" Call her I will talk to her."
" You don't need to really"
"Call her."

I called my mom and gave him the phone.
He went outside for a few minutes and came back.
"Your mom told to bring you home immediately."
"ok"

I went towards the main gate and saw Manoj making out with some girl. She was more beautiful and more maintained than me. They noticed me. The girl laughed. Manoj said,
"Did you get the message weirdo, cause there is no way to sugarcoat this. We're breaking up.
There is no one as ugly as you. Just because you are intelligent does not mean you are enough."

Abhik got his bag and was coming this way when he saw this. Anger boiled in his blood. Blinded by rage he went and punched Manoj square in the face. Still shocked Manoj did not respond. " Do that and you will see daylight for the last time." Abhik threatened.

He caught Snigdha by the hand and left the campus.
They walked silently to the metro station and boarded a metro.
Through the ride Snigdha fell asleep, her head landed on Abhik's shoulder. Abhik who was scrolling through his phone kept it in his pocket and wrapped his arm around Snigdha to secure her.

"Snigdha...I don't know what we are. Best friends or more... but I'll be with you always. You will dance through life and who ever tries to break that rhythm, will be destroyed. I promise." Abhik whispered to Snigdha who was asleep and did not hear.


© Aishi Dey Talukdar