A PRETENSE...

Chapter 27

*Swapnil Pov*

"What are you doing here? I didn't ask you to come today, right?" I asked her frowning while she just sat at the table I am sitting at before opening the books and started reading.

I opened my mouth to scold her for not replying but those words stopped after looking at her expression.

"You cried?" I asked which she again ignored and I remember what I did yesterday to show my pettiness as she accused me of.

I am her lecturer but still fighting with her like this. I shook my head before taking out a note pad and note down the ones she needs to check next.

"Check whether these books are there in the library otherwise I will get them from somewhere else." I said passing the note which she took before standing up and walked away towards the side where the books could be.

After some time she returned with just one book and mumbled, "I couldn't find the others, Sir."

"Finally using words? Why were you silent before?" I asked looking at her but she calmly sat down.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Sir. If there is anything else, please let me know." She mumbled before noting down from the book she was reading earlier.

"I know I shouldn't have told him about that matter. You are angry about that?" I asked and she finally turned to look at me.

"You are my lecturer and I am your student. We are not friends, Sir. So, how could I get angry at you?" she asked with a polite smile before returning back to the book.

I sighed leaning back on my chair while observing her eyes which are exactly the ones that look after crying and with her reaction it must be after-effects of how I spilled the matter near her friend.

After sending a message to a contact, I continued to do my work and after a few minutes, I found her reaching our table.

"Maam!" Mihira called when she saw her standing near our table.

"Go and get the details of the research paper I placed on my table." I said gesturing Mihira to leave which she did immediately and I glanced at Haritha who is frowning at me.

"Sit down!" I mumbled gesturing the chair and she calmly sat down but continued to stare at me.

"I got angry at her words but she is kind of right too. We both are not behaving like how lecturers should behave and let's stop involving her like this. If you have a problem with directly contacting me just let me know." I asked folding my arms.

"I don't have any problem, Sir. I thought you will feel awkward and that's why I passed the notes to her in the beginning and you did the same and that's how all this started." She explained clearing her throat.

"Okay! Let's be professionals and forget about our past things." Saying that I looked around.

"Where is she? She doesn't need to take this much time to return." I mumbled frowning while she chuckled at those words.

"Sir! Why are you working her too much like this? You are a workaholic but not her." She commented standing up.

"I will be emailing you the details you asked for instead of her." She added giving me a polite nod before walking away.

I followed her out thinking Mihira is purposefully staying away even though she should have returned long back.

However, when I turned a corner I found her kneeling on the floor while Haritha is patting her shoulder by kneeling beside her.

"She is not feeling well. Let's send her back." Haritha said looking at me and I nodded at her before returning to the library to get her bag along with my stuff.