Just This Once

Chapter 1

Arushi

I woke up with a loud sound of cracking crokery. Looking at my mobile screen after grabbing it in a sudden hush, I realised it was 1 a.m. in the morning.

I snapped my eyes to release myself from sleepyness, it was just when I heard another crokery crackling sound. I covered my ears with my palms when I heard yelling and breaking. And suddenly I heard a thud sound.

It starled me as hell. I stayed with my ears closed untill it was all quiet to hear. I breathed slowly inhaling with my nose and exhaling with my mouth. It always relieved me a little bit.

These sounds being common to me, but still I can not act normally to it.

Struggling to my thoughts, I heard my door knob being opened and with the speed of light, I was into my sheets, covering myself from head to toe.

I heard someone walk over to me, and take a seat on the edge on my bed besides me, I felt someone's hand on my head, caressing it, and then caressing my arm, no sooner than that, I heard sounds of sobbing and I knew the voice.

My mother.

I don't know why she let the man wreck her whole life when she could have left him far earlier. Maybe she's still in the mindset of non acceptance of the society and she doesn't wants me to hear any taunts from the society.

I really don't understand what's wrong with people here in India. They can see a women's life destroyed in front of their eyes but cannot accept a divorcee?

How's that even right?

Will my life also be like this?

No. Fucking hell no.

I won't let my life be full of suffering and getting torched by the man who says he loves me.

Thinking of all of these, I drifted to sleep.

__________

I woke up early the next day, even before my mom does. I did my morning freshen-up routine and left for college.

I'd soon have a degree as it's my final year.

My plan after that is to find a job which pays me enough for a rented apartment and food. I don't beleive in getting married any sooner.

I took a bus and driving into thoughts I didn't realized when I reached my college. I entered my classroom just before the professor.

Unfortunately, had to take a seat in the front row. Unfortunately it was a cold morning and I didn't had a sweater.

The cold breeze was making me shiver. Goosebumps covered me all over my skin.

I was seated in this condition for around 20 minutes and then I felt somone tapping my shoulder from behind, I turned to look behind and found the guy holding a sweater for me.

Before I could refuse him, he threw the sweater on my shoulder and focused on the professor. He was wearing a black leather jacket so this surely wasn't his sweater.

I scanned the room with my eyes and found a handful of people having being shivering.

I didn't think much and wore the sweater. It made my goosebumps settle and warmed by body.

I could smell the calming mascular scent from the sweater but I didn't focus much on that because I didn't want to shiver again.

As soon the lecture ended, I got up from me seat after the professor left the room.