Professor KHAN [DISCONTINED]

Chapter 9: A Secret Only We Know

Kajol stirred in her sleep from the unwelcome sound of birds chirping outside. Restlessly she tossed and turned before placing her pillow over her head to block out the noise and the sun. Unfortunately, she couldn't drown out the sound. Slowly she opened her eyes to the light of day and immediately she almost fell out of the bed in shock.

"Oh my God." Kajol whispered to herself. Now with a sober mindset, everything was clear. Last night she didn't know if she was truly dreaming or not. No way would she manage to come back to her professor's home. Let alone did she think she'd find out it was some undercover rich man of high society.

Kajol currently felt humiliated. She recollected everything now. Kajol sighed letting her eyes wander around the room she slept in last night. It was gigantic, bigger than any place she had ever laid her head in before. The bed felt as if it were a mile long in each direction. The bedroom was sophisticated and masculine. Dark colors of black and grey came together for the theme of the space. It was stoic and serious just like....

"Professor Khan." Kajol gasped his name out loud. Had she slept in his bed last night? Her eyes fell to his side of the bed. The sheets were pulled back as if he slept next to her. Did he sleep next to her? 'Maybe I don't remember everything.' Kajol thought to herself. She wouldn't intentionally forget something as important as sleeping with her professor.

In deep thought, Kajol smiled sadly at the side where he had to have previously laid. She had quickly drawn her own conclusion of why he wasn't there when she woke up. 'Maybe he does this all the time with women. He probably left to save me from more embarrassment.' Kajol thought. Last night was enough to scar her for a lifetime alone.

She may have never had a romance of her own, but she had seen enough television and films to know that when a guy isn't there when you wake up it's because he wants you to leave before he gets back. Kajol was disappointed he couldn't just tell her to go like a real man. Instead, he took the cowardly route and disappeared.

Kajol sighed as she removed herself from the soft mattress. Her mouth was dry from dehydration and her head throbbed lightly in pain. She had really overdone it last night. This was when she finally noticed the clothes she had on weren't her own. She felt like an astronaut wearing what she assumed to be her professor's clothing. A black T-shirt that fell past her thighs and some shorts that sank past her knees. Her hair was braided tightly in a long braid against her back. She was happy to feel comfortable but wanted her dress and especially her undergarments back.

Leaving Khan's bedroom Kajol was hit by the scent of cooked breakfast that flooded her nostrils. As if on cue her stomach growled viciously begging her to follow the aroma. Finding the kitchen Kajol was greeted by an unfamiliar face. Not her professor's face like she hoped for.

"Good Morning, Ms. Kajol!" An older woman greeted her cheerfully. She looked to be in her late 50s to early 60s. Her smiled radiation brightly causing Kajol to smile back. Wait? Was this woman his mother?!

"Good Morning Mrs. Khan Ma'am." Kajol greeted with a nervous smile before reaching to touch her feet with shaking hands. The woman quickly held each of her arms stopping Kajol in the process. A disheartened Kajol's eyes sunk to the ground. She was ashamed of herself to say the least.

"No, No. I'm not Shahru's mother!" The woman expressed defensively. This news should have eased her some but it didn't. Kajol didn't care. The older woman was still an auntie who she wanted to show her respect to. Still, Kajol tried to lay her hands against her feet but again the woman stopped her.

"Kajol, why don't you sit? Breakfast is almost done." The woman insisted with a warm smile. Kajol deeply frowned at this. How was she supposed to just sit and be waited on hand and foot by this older woman? It didn't feel right with her. 'I'm supposed to be leaving anyway.' Kajol said to herself; getting her mind back on track. It was time to get back to reality. She didn't fit into this fantasy world. She never would.