The Ladies Hostel

chapter 24:Wind that changes Life

Titir's POV:
In that never imagined moment what I could heard for the maximum was the Azan from the nearby mosque. My heart probably stopped that moment in utter anxiety and so did the rest of the world. It was felt that I could no longer keep my nerve on. I was dying for inhaling some oxygen as I could really not breath. Still I was knocking so hard on our door which was locked from inside and screamed after Preeya's name. It was strange that not only Preeya but also the other residents of the hostel did not response or come to see why I was screaming breathlessly like a burnt cow !

I was thinking inside what wrong could happen suddenly with Preeya that she was unusually behaving like this!

"Probably she has got any bad news about her parents "- I thought and instantly prayed so that my thought did not turn into a reality.

I was struggling with the Saree under the yellow reflection from the cheap light of our stairs and almost made a promise to myself about never doing the same misdeed. Wise, right?

I kept on calling and put my hand in my bag to bring out the water bottle from that and got it luckily.

But there was not even a drop of water. Waterless water bottle. Ridiculously useless!

"Preeya, Preeya. Open the door girl. I am thirsty" - I tried to blackmail her with my honest want!

It did not work obviously. Being extremely hopeless I put off my earrings first and threw it on the floor! I was too exhausted caring to keep it in my bag even. I sat down in front of our door.

Nipa di returned from her duty that moment. I felt that god send her to rescue me, rescue US from the unbearable uncertainty.

" Nipa di, Preeya is not responding. I have been trying for an hour"- I unintentionally exaggerated.

If anyone could check the clock, it would have been near about half an hour. But you know, in that kind of situation, every moment seemed like a year!

Nipa di started knocking on the door without wasting single second and keep screaming. Though it did not make Preeya open the door still, some of the girls being kind enough came out of their
royal rooms!

"What happened again? "- Momi apu asked us reflecting clear disgust on her eyes and a closed the job preparation book which was in her hand.

" The door is locked from inside. Preeya is not responding. Even her phone is switched off" - I replied after dialling her number for 17 times!

" What if she suicides "- Sneha expressed her valid concern!

" shut your mouth up, Sneha. We should pray so that nothing bad happens" - Farin rebuked.

" Titir. Go call the gatekeeper uncle. I think we have to break the door" - Nipa di knocked hard on our door and instructed me.

My whole throat was screaming for some drops of water. I tried to run down fast, but my body declined.

We got our new gatekeeper some days ago. He was younger and consequently stronger than our previous gatekeeper uncle. I hoped he could break the door easily, if needed. I found him lying lazily on his bed and unwashed dishes on his old wooden table. It was barely 8 PM.

"Uncle, please go with me. Possibly you have to break the door" - I informed.

" tomorrow" - he replied with sleepy tone.

" uncle, its urgent. My roommate is not opening the door. We have been trying for an hour" - I stepped closer to his bed so that he could get me right this time.