Her Angel

ONE......

I woke up early this morning. It was hard to sleep. So I decided to leave the bed.

I went into the bathroom, put the shower on, and let the hot water ease my tensed muscles, but failed. I washed my body and hair with various products available on the shelf that I had never used before. I was in the shower longer than needed.

I took out my yellow dress which I have planned to wear and ironed it again just for the time to pass. I put my dress on. I tried making my hair look presentable. After torturing myself, I decided to go for the ponytail. I never bothered being fancy and looking beautiful. It's not me.

There were two bags full of my stuff. They were already half-packed since I didn't unpack anything when I arrived here. No use when you are not a long stay. Still, I unpacked them and put them properly, packing my other things with them. I was trying to take my time in everything.

I was so nervous to go to college. It's my nightmare coming into the existence. It would be better to say that I was afraid than nervous. I hate this place. I hate it the moment I arrived here. I hated this house and the people in it, including my mother.

My mother lives with her husband and her 14-year-old son. My father died when I was six months old. There are no memories of him with me, just a photo of when I was two months old. He was a soldier. He was a fighter who died fighting the enemies at the border.

After two years, my mother got married to Rajeev Singhania. He was a successful businessman and highly reputed. His wife left him for another man. He met my mother in a coffee house where she was working and asked straight after their two meetings in her workplace to marry him, nothing romantic.

They got married. The only relation they have is husband and wife. He needed a wife to be just wife and my mom needed the security of money. When I was twelve, I was sent to my maternal grandparents. I completed high school there.

Now that I was going to be a college girl, my mom wanted me to study here.

"Nandini?" My mother yelled from downstairs.

I put my bags aside and went downstairs. She was in the kitchen making breakfast. I pulled out one of the chairs of the dining table and sat.

"Good morning. How are you feeling? Excited about the college?" She asked setting the bowl of pasta in front of me.

I nodded. She is the excited one, not me.

"Okay, we will leave in half an hour. Rajeev has already gone to the office. So it's just you, me, and Raghav." She said cheerfully.

"Okay." I smiled. I was glad I don't have to face him so often.

We drive through the gates of the college and onto campus. It looks good, but I care less. When you have so much in store on the name of teaching, you have to at least show people that they are worth, it someplace.

There were hundreds of people, all rich, not to be mentioned. They were hugging their kids goodbye and all I could see was their faking emotions.

My mother was excited and I was just criticizing and seeing fault in everything. I'm not even sure what she was talking about, but I know she was trying to be excited for me, sensing my disapproval.

"Let's take your things to your hostel room. I would like to see it and make sure you have everything." my mother says.

"Sure."

Leading, she made her way to the front desk. The woman behind the desk greeted us and gave the key to my room. Raghav follows behind us, carrying my things as we navigate through the corridors.

The room was on the third floor at the end of the hallway. I unlocked the door and stepped in. The room was fancy too and well air-conditioned. There was a bed at the far side of the room, a study table by the window, and a cupboard.

The only thing I liked so far is the view outside the window. As my room was on the backside, I have a clear view of the woods. The calmness of the greenery was welcoming.

An hour later, my mother finally makes her moves to leave. She hugs and kisses me. I went down to say goodbye to her and Raghav. She made her way to the woman at the desk. She was saying something to her to which the woman only nodded.

Raghav stood there, seeing her. I felt awkward standing here alone with him.

He sensed me staring at him, and turned. He smiled a little and said, "If you need anything or something's troubling you, just call me. I left my number on the table."

I was dumbstruck and felt stupid for behaving like this with him. We once were so happy together. I was sure he must have thought me insane after my odd behavior. Now I think I was wrong.

"Sure. Thank you." I returned his smile. I wanted to say more but was overwhelmed.

Once the car was out of sight, I turned to leave toward my room. A boy was staring at me.

Tall, black-haired, and leanly muscular boy, leaning against the car. His muscles were prominent under his T-shirt. He looks hot and something about him was appealing.

The girl beside him kissed him on his lips. I didn't notice her till then. He shoved her aside and looked at me. The girl followed his gaze. I can feel her glaring at me, but I was captured by the vicious brown eyes.

He raised his eyebrow and I frowned. I looked away, suddenly conscious that I was staring at him. I walked the little distance to my hostel. Just as I was about to enter the building, I cut a glance at him and his eyes were still on me.

This time he frowned. He looked rather annoyed. Turning on his heels, he headed away with the girl. I let out a long breath which I was holding back.

It's bad, real bad. I know it was coming. Is he one of them?