Make Me Your Villain | ✓

Chapter Three

Hayat Azhar

"We're here, madam."

A man's voice pulled me into the present and I blinked, returning to my senses.

My heartbeats gradually relaxed as I stepped down from the rickshaw and paid the driver his fare, mumbling a 'thank you'.

The large gates of the university greeted me with its name written across the huge board above. Central University of Pakistan.

I readjusted my brown chaddar, smoothing out the warm fabric as my stomach tightened in anticipation.

"Oye! You're finally here."

My eyes snapped to the side of the gate where a young girl wearing sea green shalwar kameez and a gray scarf which was loosely wrapped around her head, stood up from the bench.

She threw her arms around my shoulders and swayed me in her tight embrace.

"Welcome to the university, Hayat Azhar. Let's make the most of these four years!"

I casted her a small smile when she released me.

"Now that you're finally here," she began while guiding me through the university gates. "Let's take a little tour around the campus. There's still some time before the administration office opens. You'll love the place, it's great!"

Rabail Farook was as energetic as she was in fourth grade - the year we became friends.

After going to the same school and college, we decided to join the same university as well. Despite not seeming like the studious type, Rabail had gotten into C.U.P through a scholarship like me.

She was studying B.S English and I chose BBA. My plans for the future were uncertain but I knew for the time being, I wanted to study BBA - the field my father had approved of when I suggested it to him.

The new semester's classes were about to commence soon and hence, the campus was filled to the brim.

The diversity amongst the youth was at peak. There were students of every kind - girls in simple shalwar kameez, those in fancier ones, some wearing kurta and jeans while the others adorned western outfits.

And then there was me; wearing my off-white shalwar kameez with my dupatta draped over my head, concealing my hair and my chaddar concealing my figure.

"So what are your thoughts, Miss Hayat? How do you like C.U.P?" Rabail asked after showing me around the campus. My feet ached from walking so much yet a buzz of excitement ran through me.

"It's nice. I like it," I replied truthfully. Zohaib had also graduated from here and maybe because of that, I liked the place a little bit more.

"It would've been nicer if those seniors were kept in check," She scrunched her nose, appearing annoyed. "This whole ordeal of ragging the freshies is so stupid."

My eyebrows furrowed together.

Some universities were known for their seniors welcoming their juniors by their traditional custom of ragging. But because of multiple casualties in the past, it was in much control now than it was about some 10 years ago.

Although some jerks were too stubborn to worry about the rules.

Ragging was not fun. Maybe harmless pranks were okay but when things got abusive and physical, that was where I drew the line.

"You missed the newcomers get-together last week. Some seniors crashed the party after the teachers were gone and started ordering us around. It sucked. Nobody had the guts to say anything." Rabail threw her hands up and groaned.