LOVE BATTLE

Chapter 02 - Vicky

The first week of college was thrilling. It was fun filled and was all about settling in. Tharun and I were in the same class and he was an outgoing kind of guy. I really liked him and we were almost best friends by the end of the week. The college had a majestic campus with diverse courses and around twenty thousand students. The library was enormous with wide range of books from all fields. Though none of my friends were pleased, I was deeply satisfied spending time there. The hostel was average. There weren't any issues so far.

Bangalore was wonderful at any time of the day though the water was insufferable. Every day after college hours, the four of us wandered the jammed streets of the city, eating street food and smoking. We were done visiting every place near our campus by the weekend.

The next week had a small inauguration function for which the parents were also invited. Arjun and Jay left to their hometowns for the weekend and would be back with their parents on the inauguration day. The campus was almost vacated. Only a few like Tharun and myself were staying behind. Tharun's parents were in Delhi and I simply didn't want to travel so long just for 2 days. Hence the both of us decided to stay back in campus.

"Let's get some coffee man" said Tharun, talking to somebody on the phone. It was late in the morning but the grey sky seemed like it was going to rain at any moment.

I grabbed my copy of Outlander and we walked down to the café in the south wing of the college. It was weird to see the campus so bare after a week filled with bustling students.

The café was also empty. We ordered two coffees and sat down at the table under the shade of a tree. Tharun was in some deep argument with somebody over the phone. I sighed and opened my book. The grey sky seemed to get darker by the second and the wind swirled in my ears. I drank the coffee and tried to focus on the book, but Tharun's heated conversation split my focus. He was almost screaming into the phone, his face turning red in anger.

I kept my book on the table and went to pay for the coffees.

"Let's go Vicky" Tharun said, his voice rough from all the shouting.

"Dude, what's wrong? Who was that on the phone?" I asked as I kept the balance in my wallet.

"My brother, long story" he said and we strolled back to the hostel.

Tharun explained everything while we walked back and it was a small family issue. Just as we stepped into our room, it stated pouring. Tharun slumped into his bed and at that moment I realized I've left my book at the café.

"Shit" I said and look out of the window. There was possible no way I can go out in this rain. I didn't even have an umbrella.

I punched the wall lightly and stood there looking out of the window as the drizzle splashed on my face softly.

* * * *

The next day was just as boring. I woke up late in the afternoon and did some preparation for Monday's classes. Tharun just slept through the whole day. Last afternoon, as the rain stopped, I went to the café to look for my book. It was nowhere to be found. It was a collector's copy and I had almost finished it. There were just few more chapters left. I cursed myself and came back to my room.

Monday was fresh as the sun showed up after two days. We had our classes till afternoon and my mom was coming around three in the afternoon for the inauguration. Tharun's parents couldn't come and Jay came only after lunch with his parents.

Around 1.00 I went to the station to pick up my mom. Seeing her after a week had brought some light in me. I hugged her and as she stepped down from the train.

"How are you? You look so thin already!" she chided.

"Ma I'm fine, it's been ONE WEEK! I haven't lost any weight. Come on" I said and took her bag. The cab took 40 minutes to reach campus.

"How's Appa?" I asked

"Oh, he's good. He misses you." She said.

"Funny" I said and rolled my eyes.

"Don't be so dramatic" she said as her lips made a thin line.

"Fine, Fine" I said and laughed. She shoved my arm and we talked as we walked towards the hostel.

Tharun was waiting outside our room. I introduced them and we went inside our room. Jay's parents had left to take a look at the campus. I put my mom's bag on my table and gave her a bottle of water.

"Look at this mess of a room. Nobody will be able to tell the difference between a trash box and your room." She complained as she started folding my clothes.

I laughed as Tharun starting cleaning his bed.

After an hour of cleaning, we walked down to the café. The college was as usual packed with students and parents of freshers. The café was also crammed and Tharun went to get tea for the three of us.

My mom sat on a chair and I stood by her under a shed. The evening sun was warm and the breeze from the trees felt ecstatic.

"So, when is this inauguration starting?" Ma asked

"Around fi-" I started when someone tapped on my shoulder.

"Hey, um... you're Vicky right?" asked this girl

"Um... Yeah?" I looked at her quizzically

She smiled and pulled out a copy of Outlander from her bag. MY copy.

"You left this here. I wanted to give it back to you but I didn't know where to find you" she said once again shining with that smile.

"Th- Thanks" I stammered. I thought I'd lost it.

"Hello" my mom said standing up. "I'm Vicky's Mom" she introduced herself.

"Hi Aunty" she said, still smiling, as she shook my mom's hand.

"Are you a fresher as well?" my mom asked.

"Yes aunty. B.com" she said.

"And here's our chai after 15 minutes of struggle" said Tharun coming back with a tray of 3 cups.

"Oh who's this?" he asked as he saw the girl.

"Um..." I began and realized I didn't know her name.

"Riya" she said looking at me.

"Have a cup of chai Riya. Vicky and Tharun here are doing B.E" my mom said as she offered a cup to her.

"Oh, good aunty. Thanks, but I really have to go. Bye Aunty. Bye Vicky" she said and handed me the book. Her smile never wavered the whole time.

We watched as she walked and disappeared through the crowd.