My Teacher

Chapter 16

After the whole "prostitute" incident I hadn't spoken a word to Abhay. He deserved it.

When he ignored me I used to try converse with him but I either received a little response or was continued to be ignored.

Now it was my turn.

Yes after he called me a prostitute I cried my eyes out for hours but then I built up some courage and decided to give Abhay a taste of his own medicine.

It's been two days and we still haven't spoken. I wasn't going to lie, I missed Abhay's touch. And the worst part was that I didn't even know why. It just...sparked somewthing within me. As if someone ignited a fire in my dark, dull life.

I acted as if everything was normal but inside...I was slowly but surely losing all hope. I no longer ate full meals. Just a Lunch Bar every now and then but otherwise I didn't eat. Sleep barely consumed me, and when it did I'd awake from a nigtmare.

My studies was the only thing which kept me going. I was not living...I was trying to stay alive.

I realised I was alone, I was a burden to others. Nobody needed me in their life. I had no one to go to, no one to look after me and no one to look after. I was completely alone in the world.

~~~~~~~~

"Where're ya goin', princess?" Said a sadistic voice.

I ran further into the empty street, trying to escape the being which followed me.

"Don't run away now, I ain' g'na hurt ya." It said again. "Me 'n my mates here wanna have a bit o' fun with ya."

I ran faster but came to an abrupt stop when a solid brick wall blocked my path. "N-No." I whispered.

"Ah there ya are! I founda boys. C'mon over, she's trapped." He laughed darkly and I frantically tried to run past the four men walking towards me but failed when they cornered me like they were the hunters and I was the prey.

"Too late, princess," his voice laced with venom, "nobody's g'na hear ya, you're all alone now."

I woke up in a screaming mess. Hot tears poured from my eyes and I sat up and held my head in my hands. My body shook as I cried into them and goosebumps formed onto my skin due to the lack of my blanket which was sprawled across the floor. My sobs filled the silent room and I shivered. As scary as that dream was, it was also true...because I was really all alone. Just then, two warm arms wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me to warm, firm chest.

Perplexed, I looked up with my tear-filled eyes and saw Abhay.

Without a second thought I wrapped my arms around his neck and sobbed into the crook of it. He seemed caught off guard at first but then adjusted himself so that I was sitting on his lap with his arms wrapped around my waist and mine around his neck.

I welcomed his embrace as I continued to sob and I didn't care that our position was rather intimate, I just needed someone to hold me.

"Shh. It's okay," He soothed and started stroking my hair, "don't cry, it's only just a dream."

"But it felt so real." My voice came out like a muffled whisper because of my crying and the fact tha my head was tucked into the crook of his neck.

"I know, sweety, I know it does. Just breathe in and out, can you do that for me, sweety?" His nickname for me calmed me a bit and then I acknowldeged his advice and started to control my rapid breathing.

"That's my girl." He stroked my hair again.

I calmed down rather quickly after that but I didn't want Abhay to leave me. His touch once again ignited a flame within me but this time, there was also a sense of security in it. I didn't make any movements after that and neither did he.

After a couple of minutes I yawned. "You tired?" He asked and I nodded.

"Alright, I'll let you sleep." He said and we untangled our limbs and laid me down onto my pillow. He got off the bed and stood beside me. "You gonna be alright?" He asked.

"I hope so." I whispered.

"You want me to stay?" He asked.

"You don't have to."

He shrugged and said "I don't mind." He picked the blanket off of the floor and placed it gently over me.

He slid under the covers on the opposite side of me. I couldn't find a reason as to why I felt so safe in his presence.

Not even a minute later, I fell into a deep slumber.

~~~~~~~~

I woke up an empty bed.

Was last night a dream? Did Abhay really sleep next to me?

I was alone yet again, but it felt different. Because I wasn't alone anymore, I had Abhay, my friend.

After last night's events we surely would be closer afterwards. I jumped out of bed and freshened up.

I saw Abhay sipping on a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper.

I sat down opposite him. "Hey." I smiled. Without looking at me he nodded.

I frowned at his response. "What you reading?" No answer.

"Are you hungry? No? Ok." I said awkwardly. He flipped the page of the newspaper.

"About last night-" I started.

"Don't." He warned and my eyes widened. "Whatever happened last night wasn't a big deal."

"Yeah I just-"

"No. We don't have to discuss it. You had a nightmare and I comforted you. End of story." He got irritated. "Don't bring it up again."

Tears already swelled in my eyes. "I just wanted to th-"

"What did I just fucking say?" I flinched at his volume. He stared at me angrily and I slowly backed away from him and entered my room. I was about to burst into tears again but then my phone started ringing. It was Mihika. I cleared my voice and laced my voice the happiest tone I could muster.

"Hey Mika."

"Tina, did you forget? Today's my cousin's wedding, are you ready?"

I mentally slapped my forehead. "Oh shit! I completely forgot. Oh no-"

I heard laughter on the other side of the call. "Teens, I got you covered. Come to my salon, I'll do your hair and make-up and I got you a dress." Gosh I owe Mihika my life.

"Thank you thank you thank you!" I said and put my shoes on.

"See you in a few minutes."

"Alright, bye."

Abhay looked up from his newspaper as I walked into the room. Anger stirred within me, nothing had changed with him. He still treated me terribly.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

Without glancing in his direction I stated. "Out."

~~~~~~~~

The ride there was short and once I reached the salon Mihika immediately started styling my hair and then doing my make-up.

"Tina, you're gonna love Romi. He's so funny and he and Yuvani are so cute together!" She said, lining my eyelid with eyeliner.

Romi.

The name felt so familiar. I ignored the thought.

"I haven't seen Yuvs in ages, remember those highschool days when- How much make-up are you putting on me?" I asked as she pulled out a gigantic box filled with make-up.

"Oh c'mon, I need you to look hot tonight. You never know, you could meet your husband there." She winked and I rolled my eyes.

"I'll only search for my husband when I start working and complete my degree." I stated.

"God, you're so mature. If you want to marry someone with the same mentality as you...he's probably going to be forty years old." She teased.

I chuckled at her and she continued to doll me up.