An-EXIT

CHAPTER 10 (CHALLENGE DAY)

AHAANA

I slowly opened my eyes. It was dark and silent. My hand brushed against a hard something, actually, it was under my arms as I accidentally slept over it. Suddenly, the display of my laptop lit up, making me look away. The screen showed me the password page. Huh? I forgot to shut down my laptop? Wait, what was I doing before falling asleep?

My eyes became wide open when I realized... the moment I logged in, An-EXIT appeared on the screen.

'Crap, It's gone!' I almost screamed. 'No-No, I can't, it's not possible.' I moved my head downwards in regret, placing my palm over my forehead.

It's not like I wasn't going to send it, but I was not prepared. I didn't even proof-read it.

I tightened the grip around my forehead to support it from falling in the pool of frustration. Ugh, stupid letter....software..... crap An-EXIT. After a stretch of 5 long minutes of blaming the universe, I accepted my sadness and then carefully stored it within me.

.

It's been half a month since I sent the letter. Two weeks passed like raindrops touching the ground. And, I still didn't receive any sort of reply. Maybe it was useless, there's no such thing which can reduce stress by using an application. But, after so long, I slept without having to plead myself to sleep. I had given up on this a long time ago, and would just read about science and technology all night, but after sending the letter, it all...... changed.

Changed in the sense..... Actually I can't keep a finger.

I feel.... relaxed! Though the letter does not hold any type of personal information, BUT.....after so long, after so damn long, I wrote a poem.

I felt like crying. I missed it so much. That feeling, that expression, I missed it all. As per Arushi, college was supposed to be a new phase, but after spending a month here, I could finally experience this feeling. The new phase.

I opened my cell phone and it showed 5:30am. Like always, I woke up at the exact same time and as per the next step, I needed to walk towards the window to watch the birds wake others. Honestly, my bird watching session was just a source to suppress the unwanted silence within me. Yeah, I know, what a depressing start.

Moorna was pretty stunned when she got to know about my daily routine. My fucked up daily routine. But why can't they appreciate it? The person who rarely sleeps is now getting 3-4 hours of sleep, that's good, right? I mean better than before.

As the national exhibition got postponed, I didn't have any other excuse than telling Moorna that I was not getting the train tickets because of Independence day. Out of concern, she asked me if everything's alright with my family. Yes, I know it's not good to lie, but I have no other option. I can't simply tell her about the exhibition, about postponement, about AJ-T!

"Ahaana, that means you're staying for the Challenge Day?" Moorna's excitement frightened me like an allergy.

"Yes, if you're not going to force me to participate...."

"C'mon Ahaana, it's such a nice way to know people. Also, if we win, then we could become popular in our batch." Moorna chirped. Like, being popular is my first priority!

"Still.... It doesn't concern me being part of this challenge." I took a sip from my water bottle and Arushi walked to sit by my side.

"Please don't say it!" Moorna pleaded. "Ahaana, I know that you're more smart, talented, intelligent, practical than us!"

"Won't deny." I closed the lid of the bottle and kept it under my study table, which was almost attached to my bed.

"Moorna leave. If Ahaana doesn't feel like supporting us, then it's cool. Fine by me. Moreover, she is not interested in Fresher's Part. So what that are winning chances are lower than Moorna's standard in boys..."