The Flower You Didn't See | Mystery

Chapter 14

Lee rummaged his hands inside his pockets before he pulled out a cigarette and a lighter. "Have you started smoking again?" She asked. 

"No, this is candy," Lee said sarcastically, "I needed something to keep me going while I was trying to be perfect, didn't I?" Lee answered, his sarcasm unhidden.

Following Lee's outburst and them making up by the evening, Ruby had been MIA for almost two weeks. In just a week, final exams were to begin and the semester was to come to an end. Laksh spent her maximum time in the library, while Lee had been relieving stress in his own ways. Sara could not care less what the other two did. She let them mind their own business. She felt that some time away from those three, including Ruby, would certainly give her some mental peace.

And then one day, unexpectedly Sara got a call.

"Sara, I need your help. Are you in college right now? If not, can you come?"

Sara checked the name on the screen and found that it was Ruby. She rolled her eyes. "What is it Ruby?" Sara asked, almost bored, flipping through her magazine, over a pile of books she had to study.

She sat on her study table, facing the garden. Her long brown hair was as always beautifully swept to the back. She took in the comfort of her silk pajamas as classical music played in the background in a low volume. It helped her relax. And now it had been disrupted by this stupid girl.

"It seems Prof. Thompson talked to Prof. Sloan, and Prof. Sloan is furious. He says he won't pass me under any condition, now that I requested Prof. Thompson's help," Ruby sounded almost tearful. Always with the drama, Sara felt a bit annoyed.

"You'll find Laksh in the library. Go to her. I'll try to get there in a few minutes," Sara said before she cut the call. She flipped two more pages before she shut it close and walked to the adjacent room, that was her enormous closet.

Within an hour, Sara walked into the library and found all of Laksh's things, except her phone, on her usual spot. But neither laksh, nor Ruby were there. She took a wild guess, walked to the teacher's lounge and she wasn't disappointed.

There was a mini crowd outside the teacher's lounge. Tom, Sloan, Ruby and Laksh were standing in a circle. Sloan clearly looked red with temper, shouting at the top of his voice, while Ruby was almost in tears.

"Do you think it's appropriate to ask a professor to request me to pass you? Are you incapable of working hard and passing the subject on your own? Did you possibly think that I would listen to another professor and pass you?" he asked Ruby.

"Sir, that was not my intention. I just..."

It was obvious that Ruby had given up. And Sara knew that clearly that was the intention, even if Ruby tries to deny it.

"She is a good student. It is just this subject that she finds difficult. She shouldn't be unable to pursue a career she wants because of just one subject," said Prof. Thompson.

"If she can't pass this one subject, then I'm sorry she is incapable of passing the whole curriculum. What is the point of trying to get a job in this field if she cannot handle such a basic subject?," said Prof. Sloan.

"Study something else Ms. Rose. This field is not meant for you," said Prof. Sloan as he turned. Laksh and Sara made space between them allowing Prof. Sloan to storm off the scene.

Ruby stood still, controlling her tears. Tom looked at her, with much pity in his eyes. He said, "I'm sorry Ruby. I did not think in my wildest dreams that it would turn out this way."

Ruby nodded, still trying to hold in tears though her mouth was trembling. "Walk with me. Come on," Tom urged her to keep walking. Sara and Laksh followed.

"He didn't say he'll fail you. He only said that I shouldn't have approached him on behalf of you," Tom said and Ruby nodded. "So, keep studying. You just need to somehow pass his subject. If you pass, he cannot refuse your entry into his class next semester. Okay?" He asked. Ruby nodded again as a tear escaped her eye.

She said, "It's just... my Pa had been so proud of me getting into this college. He has spent so much energy, not to mention the money. I can't help but feel like I'll disappoint him. On top of that, if I fail..."

Tom placed his hand on top of her head and said, "Don't worry. You have your friends. They'll help you. And if you feel like the stress is too much, just escape to my vacation home any time you desire," he turned to Sara and Laksh, and smiled. Laksh nodded with a smile.

Ruby followed Sara and Laksh to the parking lot. It was fairly empty except for another student who was leaving. Laksh leaned against the car and faced Ruby.

"You okay now?" she asked. Ruby nodded. "Where are you these days? I hope you are studying. We don't want to put Tom in any more trouble," said Sara.

"I am studying. I'm trying my best," said Ruby, not quite meeting Sara's eyes. "Have you guys planned anything these days?" Ruby asked further.

"Exams are this close, Ruby," Sara said, putting up her thumb and forefinger with barely any space between them.

"That reminds me, I have to go," said Laksh and she left in a hurry to the library. At a distance, Ruby saw two familiar faces carrying a bunch of books in their hand. Maya and Hannah looked rather cheerful, like they had no worries in the world.

Watching Ruby stare at her old friends for a while, Sara said, "Do you perhaps miss them? I can't see why you should at all, but do you?"

"Of course not!" Ruby denied far too quickly. Sara didn't say anything. She felt like the girl in front of her was lying.

Ruby added, "I see them now and I feel they were quite immature."

"So were you when we met you first," said Sara, "Do you think you would have scored better if you were hanging out with them than with us? Those are the kind of girls your dad approves of, I'm guessing."

Ruby laughed. "I think so. Especially when I was at school, he had an opinion about whom I should be friends with."

"Well then it's a good thing you aren't at school anymore, isn't it?" Said Sara. Ruby fell quiet. She knew she had offended Sara in some way.

"I don't know how you see us Ruby, but we take our studies very seriously. You should too. You heard Sloan."

Ruby nodded and looked down. Sloan was a name she obviously detested hearing at the moment.

"I'll call you later Ruby," Sara said before she got into the car and drove away, though she knew that she probably won't.

The exam week went by in a jiffy. Laksh had caught the first flight for her house in London immediately after the exam. Lee went on a holiday to Dubai.

Sara just stayed at home. Her parents had quite a few plans for her for these three weeks. As far as Sara knew, Ruby packed her stuff, moved out of her hostel room and left for home. Staying with those girls was obviously unbearable for her.

Sara's parents, running their successful business, held dinner parties for their work friends every week. It was beneficial for him to make and maintain new connections to survive in the business world. Since her childhood, Sara had dressed up and portrayed her classy self in front of the guests.

Before she had joined college, her dad had arranged such a gathering for the well known professors in the state, and dean of May Flower University. It would have been foolish to refuse such an invitation, hence everyone had shown up. Years of attending these parties, had given Sara the experience of how to be, what to say and what to do.

She could now easily identify what was needed, what was lacking, what should be done to fill the need and what should be done to eliminate the waste.