The classroom buzzed with restless noise. Students shuffled in their seats, exchanging worried glances as the teacher entered with a thick stack of papers pressed to her chest. The moment everyone noticed the red marks on the top sheet, silence fell like a heavy curtain.
Everyone straightened up, some out of fear, some out of pure anxiety. Thabal sat in her usual second row seat, Meera on her left and Shreya next to her. She tapped her pen lightly against her notebook, calm but slightly nervous. After all, she had been sick for days. Somehow she had still studied, but doubt always found its way inside.
The professor adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat.
"Roll number 54, Shruti" One by one, papers were handed out. Groans filled the air. A few gasped. Someone whispered.
"Yaar fail hogayi mein" under their breath. When the teacher reached Thabal's pause, he paused. His brows lifted. Then he smiled, genuinely.
"Thabal. Come here" The class turned instantly, whispers flew.
"Again lecture shuru hoga ab. Shit!" Someone muttered, frustrated.
"Teacher ki chamchi" someone else whispered. Thabal heard it all. She exhaled softly and stood up. She walked toward the front, adjusting her dress. The teacher placed the paper in her hands.
"Excellent. Brilliant work. Even after being sick for days, she has scored the highest marks" He announced. Heavy silence surrounded the class. Some jealous eyes burned. Everyone was quiet and speechless. Expect for the two.
Meera and Shreya grinned and clapped. Encouraging their friend.
"She is consistent, attentive and clearly serious about her future. Good work, Thabal" the teacher smiled, patting her head gently. Thabal bowed her head in a nod.
"Thank you sir" she said politely. Then the teacher's expression snapped into something sharp.
"Now the rest of you. If she can do it while being sick, then what excuse do YOU all have?" His voice dropped. The classroom stiffened. Meera and Shreya shrunk in their seats slightly.
"Half of you failed. FAILED! And yet you dream of becoming DOCTORS? Kaha se doctor banoge tum log? Khak doctor banoge?" the teacher scolded, slamming the papers onto the desk. A girl from the last bench muttered something under her breath. The teacher's eyes snapped toward her.
“Say it loudly! I dare you. Say it" he shouted in anger. There was complete silence. Pins could drop and it would create a loud noise at this point.
"You don't focus, you don't revise, half of you attend class like you are doing charity. And then you glare at the students who score better" he scolded harshly, clearly frustrated.
Several girls turned toward Thabal with burning, hateful eyes. Thabal saw them. She felt it, but chose to ignore it. The teacher noticed too and scoffed. They would never change. Never. Their glares only intensified.
Thabal simply went back to her seat and placed her paper gently on the desk. She didn't need to prove anything. She was proud of her efforts. That was enough.
The class continued for an hour and finally the bell rang. Chairs screeched, students stood, gathered their bags, and rushed outside. Meera yawned loudly.
"Shit man! My brain is cooked" she groaned.
"Tum log jao. Mein Vikram ke saath aajawungi" Thabal told them.
"Jyada der mat kar. Jaldi aa jana" Shreya nudged her before going with Meera.
Thabal texted him quickly, before slinging her bag over her shoulder and exited the classroom.
As soon as she stepped into the corridor, someone stepped in front of her. Ransh. A smooth smile on his face, hands shoved in his pockets.
"Hey, Thabal" he smiled at her, a warm smile. Thabal blinked, slightly sterned.
"Umm, hello" she meekly smiled back.
"You weren't well right? I am so sorry, i couldn't visit you to ask about you. Are you okay now?" He stepped closer, a bit too confidently. Thabal forced a polite smile.
"It's okay. Mein theek hoon ab" Ransh tilted his head.
"You know, I have been trying to talk to you for so long. Why do you keep avoiding me?" He asked with a light frown. Her fingers tightened around her bag strap.
"There's nothing to avoid Ransh. I am just busy. So please, understand that. We are medical students. Aere gere nahi hai. We can't waste our time in shit" she respectfully shut him up. He stepped even closer.
"You know I like you. Everyone knows. You know too. So why-"
"Ransh, please. Mein tumhe yeh baat bohot baar bol chuki hoon. I don't feel that way about you" she interrupted gently and explained him as softly as possible. His jaw ticked at it.
"Thabal please. I really like you. Mein bohot khush rakhunga tumhe. Aajtak jitna tumhe chaha, utna kisiko nahi chaha. I swear. Please just give it a try. Mujhe tum bohot pasand ho" he tried again, pleading gently.
"You can't force someone to feel for you Ransh. Don't forget that. I see you just as a mere classmate. My view won't change ever. Please stop pursuing me. It's really disturbing me. Aache se bol rahi hoon. Don't challenge me to use harsh words" she said calmly and was about to go away when he thundered.
"Kon hai woh. The one who picks you up everyday. That policeman" Thabal stopped mid steps. She froze for a second before looking back at him. Ransh was staring at her intently, as if waiting for her answer.
"He is my everything. I hope you got your answer. So please. Stop running behind me" she said sharply, trying not to snap. Ransh clenched his jaw in anger. But didn't say anything.
Thabal walked away, leaving him frozen in his place. He stared at her leaving figure like she had stabbed him. He felt an ache in his heart. Fury, disbelief and betrayal clouding his mind.
His friend appeared behind him. Clutching on his shoulder in an assuring manner. He patted him.
"Chor na yaar usko. Jane de. Ek hi ladki thodi hai. Bohot hai. Tere pass kya hi kami hai. Bohot ladki mil jayegi tujhe. Chor usse. Usmein kya hi hai waise bhi-" and that's it, Ransh turned back abruptly and landed a punch on his friend's cheekbone.
The boy stumbled backwards, stunned. Ransh glared at him with blazing eyes.
"Uske baare mein ek bhi shabdh nahi. Samjha? Dost hai iska matlab yeh nahi ki kuch bhi bolega. Pyaar karta hoon usse. Koi chiz nahi hai jo bhul jawo ya jane doon. Bohot chaha hai meine usse" he seethed angrily. The friend held his cheek, terrified.
"Pagal ho gaya hai kya tu?!" he asked in disbelief
"Jaa yaha se!" Ransh shouted. The friend ran off. Ransh stood there, chest heaving, eyes burning with helpless anger.
🦋🦋🦋-------------
Thabal walked out of the campus. As she looked around her eyes stopped on a familiar figure. Her eyes softened instantly. There he was.
Leaning against his jeep, sleeves folded up, sunglasses on, talking on his phone. His presence commanded the whole area. The moment he spotted her, the faint tension on his face vanished. A small, soft smile, one he gave no one else, tugged at the corner of his lips.
She walked toward him, her earlier frustration melting away. The door was opened for her. She slipped inside, settling into the seat as Vikram circled around and sat beside her.
"Chale?" he asked, scanning her face.
"Haan" she smiled faintly. He nodded and started the jeep. And the moment they hit the main road, they were trapped.
Loud dhol beats. People dancing. Colors everywhere. Ganesh visarjan celebrations were still going on. A huge murti blocked the street as devotees swayed around, shouting.
"Ganpati Bappa Morya!" They chanted. Traffic was jammed entirely. Vikram sighed, tapping the steering wheel lightly.
"Unki excitement dekh rahe ho? Pure dil se celebrate kar rahe hai" Thabal smiled a little looking towards the crowd.
He glanced at her smile. Looking at her intently, as if thinking something.
"Jana hai?" He asked making her confused.
"Huh?" She frowned, not understanding his incomplete words.
"Darshan karna hai jake?" He asked properly this time. She looked shocked for a moment.
"Lekin kaise hoga. I mean bheed dekho. Bohot problem hoga" she shook her head in no.
"Uski chinta mat karo. Jana hai ki nahi?" He assured. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly, almost shyly.
"Haan… karna hai" and that was his cue. Without a second thought, Vikram switched off the engine.
"Chalo" he said, already opening the door.
"Abhi??" she squeaked, eyes widening.
"Aur kab?" he smirked. Before she could argue, he stepped out, came to her side, and opened the door like always. She stepped down carefully, the loud dhol and chants vibrating through the air.
But the moment she stood beside him, Vikram placed a hand on the small of her back, protective, gentle, yet firm and leaned closer.
"Bas mere paas rehna. Baki chiz ki chinta mat karo" he instructed softly. Her cheeks warmed, but she nodded in return.
They walked forward. The crowd was loud, energetic, fully absorbed in celebration. They were hooting and shouting. Throwing colours and flower petals to each other. Some people danced aggressively, whereas some just enjoyed the crowd.
A small group recognized him and instantly stepped aside.
"Aare raasta de. SP saab hai" they immediately made his way towards the idol. Thabal looked up at him, amused. And proud too.
"Dekha? Bhagwan khud raasta bana rahe hai" Vikram whispered near her ear. She bit back a smile. It wasn't bhagwan. But him.
They stood near the murti, hands folded. The chants, the colors, the energy, everything felt divine. The cool breeze from the river touched her face, and for a moment she forgot the world.
Beside her, Vikram bowed his head in prayer. She looked at him sideways, that calm expression, that strength, that sincerity.
Her heart tugged painfully.
She closed her eyes and bowed her head down in prayer. Murmuring requests.
'please God. Mase eigi nak ta sum leihan bew. Attei kaim pamde. Ma se eigi oina pibiro' she begged internally. Squeezing her eyes shut.
(Please God. Let him be next to me forever. I don't want anything else. Please let him be mine, let me have him)
After a minute, Vikram opened his eyes and glanced at her. Thabal opened her eyes too and turned to look at him. The priest brought a copper tray infront of them and dabbed a finger on the vermilion. And then applied a small tilak on their forehead.
"Chale?" Vikram turned to her. She nodded, holding his hand. He smiled and clutched her hand tighter.
He pulled her through the crowd, shielding her from any intentional or unintentional touches. With slight difficulty, they reached the jeep. The traffic was almost near to clearing.
They sat inside again, doors closed. The city noise muffled into a distant hum. For a moment neither spoke. After a minute or two, the vehicles started moving slowly. Vikram drove through it smoothly, trying to just escape the heavy traffic anyhow.
"Bhagwan se kya manga?" He asked her, a small smile tugging on his lips. Thabal smiled and looked at him.
"Mannat bola nahi jata. Warna pura nahi hota" she shrugged simply with an innocent smile.
"Mujhe boldo. Mein pura kardunga tumhari har mannat" he smirked, his voice heavy and rough. Thabal laughed softly at it.
"Aap ki bas ki baat nahi hai. Yeh sirf bhagwan kar sakte hai" she sighed dramatically. Placing her palm on her heart.
Vikram chuckled at it.
He stopped near the hostel. The jeep halted outside her hostel gate. She unbuckled her seatbelt and picked up her bag. But before she could open the door, Vikram spoke.
"Chand" she stopped hearing him. She turned to him and looked at her expectingly.
"Haan?" She asked. He stared at her for a moment. As if thinking where to start from. He took a deep breath in, trying to compose himself.
"Kuch baat karni thi" he said looking at her, eyes steady, voice softer than usual. Thabal looked at him as if waiting for him to continue.
"Bolo Vikram. Kya huwa" she asked softly. And her gentle voice calmed his soul. He breathed normally and steadily now. A bit relaxed.
He looked away for a second before looking at her again. This time with more calmness. He slowly held her hand, intertwining their fingers together. He slowly moved his fingers against hers, as if trying to seek some peace from her touch.
"Meine yeh 1 hafte pehle se socha tha. Pehle utna nahi par jab tum bimar huwi. Toh aur yeh urge huwa" he started. Thabal looked at him, nodding him to continue more.
"Mein chahata hoon ki, tum-tum mere saath shift karlo. Mere ghar pe" he finally said. For a second, the world seemed to pause. Thabal blinked, certain she had misheard him.
"Kya?" She asked again, frowning.
"Mere ghar. Mere saath" he repeated, just as calmly. Her heart skipped, from the sheer weight of the moment.
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked down at their intertwined hands, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts all at once. Vikram noticed the hesitation instantly.
"Dekho, mein tumpe pressure nahi daal raha hoon. Yeh bas ek thought hai. Tumhe safe rakhna chahta hoon. Tumhe roz dekhna chahta hoon. Agar tum ready nahi ho, toh koi baat nahi" he said gently, softening his tone.
"And i swear. I will keep my distance. I will obey whatever you say. You can do whatever you want. I will not cross any boundaries unless you don't agree. Sab kuch baad pe hoga. I will-" he blabled but was cut off when Thabal inched near him and placed her palm on his lips.
"Asa kuch nahi hai. Uski baat nahi hai. Meine toh woh socha bhi nahi. I was just thinking about my friends and family. It's not like i don't want to. Bas thoda time chahiye sochne ka" she said quickly, cheeks warming. He nodded without hesitation.
Thabal took out her palm and leaned back.
"Mujhe pehle undono se baat karni hogi. Woh kya bolte hai. Tab hi i can say something" she said slowly and that made him smile faintly.
"Jaisa tumhe thik lage. I just want you to be comfortable" he smiled. Thabal looked at him for a moment before leaning a little closer towards him. She slowly rested her head briefly against his shoulder.
Vikram held her waist and pulled her closer, placing a comforting kiss on her hair.
________🌸__________
Hope you enjoyed it
Anyways, stay safe sweeties🎀🍓
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