Unwavering Desire

Chapter 11

ATHARV’S POV :-

I am on my way to the rally participants of the Mathematics and Statistics department when my phone starts ringing.

Fishing it out of my pocket I check the caller and it's none other than Atreyi.

Wanting to irk her I said, “Hey neonata !”

But no response came. I could only hear tiny sobbes coming from the other side. Panic surged through me as I tried to listen to her voice. She seemed to be mumbling something which wasn't clear at first but as I focused, I could hear her repeating the same words like a broken record, “please don't do this to me, please don't do this to me.”

Chachu's words ran through my mind, as fear creeped in. He told me to make sure she's is safe nobody does anything to her but listening to her sobs makes me realise that I failed. But now is not the time to drown in guilt.

My Atreyi, my neonata needs me. I have to reach her and rectify my mistake.

As I came close to the room I saw three students entering. I decided to ask them where Atreyi was.

“You three have you seen Professor Atreyi ?”

“No sir she haven't come this way.” one replied and the other two shook their heads in his support.

“Oh okay.” But that shouldn't be the case she should have reached here faster than me. I watch as they hurriedly take their positions in the line.

I don't have enough time to look for her everywhere. If my calculations are correct she should have finished visiting all the troops and should be here with the students.

But she isn't. She can't be with chachu as well because if he was present there then she wouldn't have called me.

Her being a crying mess tells me that she is alone. That means she could be in her cabin and is close to the room where our troop is getting ready, they should have seen her. But those three kids said they haven't seen her.

Where are you Atreyi, where should I look for you? Give me some hint to figure out your location.

Just then a boy came out of the room and starts to make his way towards Atreyi’s cabin. If I am not wrong he is Rohan from Statistics department I have seen him with Atreyi and her students sitting together during lunch break.

“Why are you going towards Atreyi’s cabin ?” I asked him.

Turning towards me, he said, “Because she told us that she's going to get the register to write the name of those who are participating in the rally and give us extra credits but she left quite some time ago and haven't returned yet.”

“Okay you go back to your room I will check up on her.” I told trying to hold on to my composure. I don't want others to know about her condition just yet.

I run towards her cabin and as I open the door the scene in front of me breaks my heart.

I see Atreyi sitting on her chair covered in gulaal, with her hands shaking, tears streaming down her cheeks, shallow breathing, her eyes unfocused. Her phone lying close to her feet still connected to my cell as she never disconnected the call.

I have never seen Atreyi this shaken up. This is not the Atreyi I know, my Atreyi is bold, strong, knows how to show people their place and always comes up with the most ego shattering insults.

But this Atreyi right in front of my eyes is vulnerable, broken and needs someone to hold her.

I make my way towards unsure of how she might react. “Atreyi”, I called out.