The Stalker

28#Two(True) Faces

Finally the day came,
My train is in next 1 hour..
Simple luggage of dress but big luggage of books and papers were packed.

As usual my sweet family is giving me a confident smile;
even my in-laws are having a proud smile…
My Athaan is still on the way to Railway station.

My eyes are getting glittered with excitement towards the new start for my career,
My Brain is already assigning works to be started once I reach Bangalore,
But This Heart,
It is not getting aligned with Brain…
My heart is thinking something randomly,
How much fear I was handling,
How much Pain I was carrying,
How much I ran from past,

How much this family supported,
How much their love helped me,
How much care they showed,

All the above,
How he entered my life,
How my life changed along with him…
Complete random thoughts….
like a golden timeline….

But a tap on my shoulders, made me realize my present…

“What wifey, dreaming about black days which you gonna spend without me?” his voice held bunch of emotions though his face was carrying full playfulness

“No Ram, she will be thinking about her research titles” came my dear Akka mama’s voice.
Whole family gang burst into laughter…

When everyone was concentrating on train’s arrival time,
my fingers found warmth,
“Athaan”, my lips spelled..
His cologne filled my breath,
“Will miss you,” his low tone fell deep into my heart…
I am out of words,
suddenly all my excitement dried and the missing came on top…

He pressed my hand little more tight,
“Don’t worry, I will be in your mind disturbing you 24*7”
His words produced a small smile on my lips

Train sound, alerted us…
Dad helped with luggage,
in next 15 minutes, Train started..

All got down and waved their hands…

“Journey started towards one love and same Journey taking me away from another love”…..

Reaching Bangalore, I got settled in the hostel arranged by my research institute..

I called dad as I know, everyone is there in our home…including him…
I already sort of am missing them…

I informed them my arrival,and call got ended with some advice…
I got refreshed and started getting ready for my first day!
My to-do list and check list is ready…
Moon raised to top, and I got his call

“Ammu,” his voice held excitement..
His excitements even joined mine,
“Yes Athaan, How was your day?”
I asked my usual question.

“Day is worse “he changed his voice like a lost puppy
“What happened to dear positive Athaan?”
“My lady love left me today, how I can be positive?”

“Achooooo!!!!”
“Its fine, matter of 3 months and I can manage!,
Ok, is your to-do list ready for tomorrow?”
“Yaya, its ready, waiting for the moon to fall, and sun to raise”
“All the best dear wife,
I trust your skills to rock your professors”
“Thank you dear husband,
Will keep up your trust”
With few more talks we ended the call…
First day class, from whole India 20 people got this chance,
even in that 20,I found to be the only Tamizh girl in the whole batch,
most are from North India and few from Kerala and Andhra.

Our POC guided us to our class and laboratory…
such a facilitated lab, and a big class room.
We got settled and introduced among ourselves.

We were already made as 4 groups, 5 in each..
I got up with my new team,
Yamini from Andhra,
Mishara, Jason, Jordan 3 from same university and same home town.
Though we had different backgrounds, we shared same interest on material science..
We chose the same as our projects and were discussing few things.

There entered 4 mentors, who were allotted for us.
Everything was planned before,
but there was surprise for me,
Mr. Varun Bhattacharya who has a separate place in material field.
His journals are always the place of reference for me and Rakshita all the times.

We started to introduce us,
He asked some basic questions on materials to everyone,
when my turn came,
I just gave a general intro of mine,
instead of question on materials he asked me about my university.
I just said its name,
He threw a silly smile, which irritated me.

Lab sessions were planned and timetables are shared,
First two days we were instructed by Varun sir, to submit a separate observation paper on specific topics.
Once the formal things are done, we planned to have a small meeting in cafeteria.
As it was already afternoon, we started to have our lunch.

After lunch, we decided to start our assignment works.
Also we had a point as early we complete the assignment, we can start with the direct research.
We decreased the timeline of 3 allotted days to 2 days,
while returning, I received a call from Ram,
First time I ignored the call with a message,
“ Anything important?”
Came an instant reply “Yes”
I called him back, excusing the gang to move forward..
“Tell me Athaan”

“Had your lunch?”
“Yes, had my lunch with my team, now tell me what that important thing is?”
“I already got the important information!!!”
Uffff, this man called me for my lunch and also stated that as important…

“You will never behave as a normal person” I asked in curiosity.

“How am I seem to behave now”
“A complete crazy fellow”
I laughed saying this,

My smile dropped, when I found Varun sir throwing angry looks on me standing few feet away from me.
I tried to smile on him, but his looks drained my tries,
I disconnected my call, he started to walk towards me
He straight away came to me,
“If you want to romance with your boyfriend, why do you waste time being here,
I know these Tamil nadu students knows only to mug up and score marks.
They will never have a dream or discipline,”
His last words hurt me deep,
“Sir, I was just going to the conference room.
Received call from my home”

“If you are having that much priority to your family, you would have stayed with them right
useless fellows, always ?”
His words on family, triggered my anger.
“Are you trying to say that, if we are having family we should not have passion?” I sounded little harsh.
He stood there losing his voice,

“Family will always be our strength, First understand that,” before I finish the sentence he started to leave..
What sort of person he is, I thought he is a inspirational person, but never thought he will be this heartless.
Everyone has two faces, I calmed my mind and joined my team for completing my assignment.

Yazhini Sundaram

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