Anidita: one soul, two bodies.

10: Marely Garden 🏘️🏞️

"Do you think everyone has a personal file" I asked as I closed the door of our room and she was sitting at her desk.

" I know , they do, my brother told me", she said staring at the ceiling.

"Even dead people?"

" Maybe! They wouldn't just throw them away"

" I didn't see a filing cabinet in the office it should be there. We just need to get into the office."

Checking the clock, I put on my cardigan and grabbed my bag.

" Where are you going?"

"The library"

When I got to the library, Anirudh was waiting for me at the entrance, standing against the stone pillar.

" It's nice to meeting you here" I said.

He smiled and together we went inside. He led me up stairs to the third floor which was empty. We set on a wooden table by the window. I told him about the principal and how she had to ask me about him.

" The principal didn't mention you at all" he murmured. " She asked me about how I was feeling and about how my classes were going and then let me go".

I thought fast , should I tell him about seance, about how chetna might be dead ? What if I was wrong?.

"Do you still talk to chetna?" I asked.

Anirudh paused and hesitated. " Not much" he said.

" But you have talked to her since she left?"

He asked "Why do you ask?"

" I thought you were best friends with her"

" I was "

" So, you still talk to her?"

" No, not really "

" Not really or no?" I asked, frustrated.

" No, he finally said. " I told you, things fell apart last summer. None of us keep in touch anymore. Would it be a problem if I did? You seem disturbed by the idea."

" I am not jealous" I said defensively." If that's what you are implying".

" Right" He said.

There was a long silence.

" So what do we do now?" I asked

He gave me a confused smile. " Study ofcourse. What else does a person do in the library?"

I blushed. "Oh, I..... I don't know". I said.

What did it feel like to be dating Anirudh? Every time he looked at me it was like he was seeing me first time, every time I got close to him, he inhaled deeply as if he was trying to absorb as much of me as possible. Everyone stared when we were together on campus, pointing when our hands placed against each others in class, " They are looking at us" I muttered to him, as we walked through the library together. " I don't blame them" he said, pushing the hair away from my face. Every night Anirudh waited for me during study hall outside the dorm and every night I met him. He always took me somewhere different --- a walk around campus, The library, Halmens hall ,The lake . Every night , every time he touched me I felt all of the warmth ,all of sensation being pulled towards him. It no longer mattered that I didn't understand the way I felt around him,or he felt around me. one touch of him and everything inside of me blossomed with emotions , excitement , anxiety, desire. I had never been in love before. Was this what it feels like?

By the second week of November, almost all of the leaves had dropped off and floating on the surface of the lake like a carpet. Alina and I were still trying to find a way to get into the office to get Rahul's and Chetna's file. What do you call a secret society? somewhere they called illuminati, Somewhere pythagoreans. and at scofflish they were called the board of monitors.