The Mismatch

49.(Denial)

Chapter 49

Manyata stood at the iron gate of the villa, her eyes scanning the quiet street beyond. The neighborhood was still except the occasional rustle of leaves dancing in the early morning breeze. She felt a mix of excitement and trepidation as she waited for her ride to college, a place she hadn't set foot in for months.

The car pulled up, a sleek black sedan that gleamed under the soft glow of morning sun. The engine purred to a halt, and the passenger window rolled down with a smooth electric hum.Manyata recognized the sharp features of the woman sitting behind the wheel.

Elena called out to her, her voice firm but not unkind. "Ready to go?"

Manyata nodded, trying to mask her nervousness. She pulled open the door and slid into the car, the leather seats cool against her skin.

As she entered the car, she found someone else already lounging in the back seat, a pair of oversized black sunglasses perched on her nose.

Jai looked up from her phone and smirked. "Would you mind if I tag along?" she asked casually. "My car's in the shop."

Manyata's heart sank.What's wrong with Jai?She has been acting weird these days.She had always been a thorn in Jai's eyes, her arrogance and sharp tongue a constant source of tension. However, things were changing between them and Manyata was in no position to refuse. She was actually liking it."Of course not Jai," she replied,trying to sound welcoming."The more, the merrier."

Elena eyed Jai in the rearview mirror, assessing the situation.Unknown to Manyata, she knew about the strained relationship between the two women, having read their profiles thoroughly before taking on the job. She had been warned that Jai might try to manipulate the situation for her own amusement. "Seatbelt girls," she said firmly, as she started the engine.

Jai buckled up with a dramatic sigh. "Thanks for the ride." she said.Manyata responded with a smile.

As Elena navigated through the traffic with ease,her eyes scanned the surroundings as if searching for any potential threats. Despite her initial reluctance, Manyata found herself admiring the way Elena handled the car, her confident aura shines her personality.

As they arrived at the college, the sight of the sprawling campus filled Manyata with a bittersweet nostalgia. She had missed the smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of distant lectures echoing through the halls. Jai, on the other hand, remained uncharacteristically quiet, her eyes glued to her phone ,probably scrolling through the new scandals of other socialites .

They parked in the visitor's lot and Elena escorted them through the main entrance.

The moment they stepped into the long corridor, Manyata felt the weight of the stares. Students and faculty alike gawked at her, whispering behind their hands. It was as if she had become an exhibit in a zoo, a creature they had only heard about and were now witnessing in the flesh. She tried to ignore the stares, focusing instead on the familiar layout of the corridor, the lockers that hadn't changed in years,and the posters for events long past.

Her heart skipped a beat as she spotted her old friend group,Abhi, Veeni, and... her best friend Rashmi huddled together in a corner.Manyata quickened her pace,a smile breaking across her face, eager to reconnect. But as she approached, their conversation abruptly stopped.They exchanged awkward glances before turning away, pretending not to see her.The coldness of their reception was like a slap in the face.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. She had hoped that things would be different, that her friends would have missed her, that they would understand what she had been through. But their cold shoulder was a harsh reminder of the reality she had returned to. She felt her throat tighten as she tried to call out to Rashmi, but the words caught in her throat.They continued walking, leaving her standing there, feeling more alone than ever.