you, me and what a pity

chapter 8

When her shift ended, she took out her bag from the locker and stuffed her uniform inside. Her eye caught the black blazer which was inside her bag for so long. And she was only waiting for the right moment to return him. She closed her bag again and headed to hostel. It was already getting late.

She took the bus and reached the hostel. Although the hostel was a little far from the bus stand so she had to walk a few minutes to reach.

She was walking on the silent, barren road when she found a car busting with full music on the side of the road. Some drunk boys stood by it, swaying in the air and holding the half empty bottles in their hand.

As she was moving in their direction, she caught their eye. And they started making dirty signs to her.

She started walking faster as if almost running. She knew what they were upto and she was very weak to protect herself. But they didn't choose to let go and started running towards her as if they were trying to catch their prey.

She was startled and jumped back in fear. She started running maniacally for her life. The drunk men chased her as if she was some human less doll whom they desperately wanted to fulfill their needs.

She came a long way, almost near to the hostel when she heared their screams from a long distance. She turned around and their was no one. There was not a single man to be seen, not even their loud music which could be heard from afar in that lonely night.

She wondered, where did they disappear into thin air?

It's not like she was some athlete who actually ran faster than them and has escaped. And what was that scream?

Everything seemed illogical and out of place. Rather than standing there and overthinking until she worries herself more, she decided to enter the hostel. The guard opened the door for her and she moved inside.

*

"Veronica! We've been waiting for you. Why does it feel like you're avoiding us?" Mina started complaining as soon she stepped in the room and placed her bag on the table.

"What? Why would I do that?" She turned around to face her, deeply touched by the way they reacted.

"It seems so actually, you leave early when we're sleeping before breakfast and arrive after we are sleeping. What should we take it then?" Rachel seemed to be angry with her.

"No! No! You've got it wrong. You people are so dear to me. I cannot do that. You know what I only have you girls in my life, there's no one else with whom I feel alive" Veronica felt she needed to give them a explanation, and she was already caught in the emotions.

"Oh dear! Don't take us wrong but we're worried about you. Tell us what's wrong? You seem to be lost and worried since a while." This was the sweet voice of Amelia this time.

"I'm just going through some bad days. I know once they'll be over, I'll become happy again. Please don't worry about me, I'm alright! See? All good and in front of you. Tough days are part of life?" She almost spilled tears from her eyes while saying that and the girls couldn't help but hug her at once, realizing how fragile she was from inside.

All the while, weird thoughts had been rusting up inside their heads that whether she is being arrogant or showing attitude to them. But they were so wrong, she was just going through some tough days. Now the misunderstandings were clear, they all felt stronger and together again.

*

The next morning, she woke up late and took a warm shower, thanks to the proper water system in hostel or she would have been freeze to death.

She was drying her freshly washed hair when Rachel came forward and held a bag towards her.

"What's that?" Veronica asked out if curiosity and surprise.

"It's for you, we went to shopping yesterday and found this really beautiful locket with a cute pendant. It reminded me of you, so I bought it" Rachel told her with a heartwarming smile.

"Rachel, you didn't have to do this. It must be so expensive" she had no intention of accepting such an expensive gift.

"Shut up and wear it! It will look so pretty with your black turtle neck and beige pants" Rachel took out the box herself from the bag and started unboxing it.

Holding the locket, she asked her to lift her hair up so she can wear it around her neck.

The white stone pendant, swirling in a white gold chain was extremely precious and awestruck. It shone perfectly on her upper chest, making her neck look more beautiful.

"Rachel, I'm going to return you after I'll come back" Veronica couldn't help but state her intentions.

"Then I'll ask you treat us to a dinner instead if you feel this is so heavy to be accepted" Rachel made fun of her but she was confident of her compensation.

"Sure, why not! Let's do like, I can take you all to dinner tomorrow after I'll get off from work" she really liked the idea. After all they never had the opportunity for outgoings together with Veronica and she felt like she needed some time for herself and let her stress go.

After breakfast, she was off to university. Although it was a weekend and she could enjoy her day before work but she remembered that she had to attend that seminar with Nancy. And she also had to made up to her because of her dry behavior yesterday.

She went inside and sat on a bench near the building, where she was certain that Nancy will pass. Just in case, she also left a message for her so she can join her as soon she arrives.

After an hour she saw her waving hand from a distance as she just crossed the gate.

"Why are you so late?" Veronica spoke first as the seminar was going to start in 10 minutes.

"Ahh, I'm so sorry! It's just my brother, he woke up late because it's weekend" Nancy told her with a pouted face.

"Okay then should we be going then?" She asked her, picking her bag from the bench.

"Ofcourse, ofcourse" They both headed in the direction of auditorium when Veronica stopped in middle.

"I think I forgot something! You go first and save seat for me!" Veronica said in rush, making Nancy panic.

"Oh my god! What? But where are you going?" She said everything in a breath but Veronica was already two feet away from her.

"I'm going to join you in 5 minutes! Save seat! Hurry!" Veronica called out while running towards the cafeteria.

She went to the counter and asked the waiter to give her the box which she made them reserve in refrigerator a while ago. The waiter nodded and brought her the box of brownies she bought for Nancy on her way to university. Nancy got late and she didn't know if she was going to come or not. And it was difficult to carry the brownie box everywhere, so she asked the waiter in canteen to reserve it in refrigerator for a while. The waiter was very nice and he didn't created any hustle and lent her the favour.

She grabbed the brownie box and ran in the direction of auditorium.

There were barely any students now and the door was about to close now. She was about go inside when the guard stopped her.

"I'm already late, please let me go" Veronica looked at him with a pleading eye.

"I need to check your I'd miss, did you register for this seminar?" The guard questioned her and she felt like punching it into his face. Who wants to sit in a seat, continuously for 3 hours and ache their ass, listening to their bragging? Ofcourse, she wanted credit hours and that's why she must have registered it before coming. It's not like she was fool.

She took out the I'd and pass from her pocket aggressively, and held close to his eye so he can be satisfied and let her go inside.

The man coughed in hesitation and lead her the way.

She entered the auditorium from the back door, which was right in front of the stage and at the back of all the chairs. The seminar was already started and it was dark inside with just a projector on. She stood there in the back for a while, scanning the auditorium for Nancy.

Few students turned their necks to see her which she found extremely annoying.

She looked at the stage and found few men in suits, sitting there. Most of them looked like elderly professors from foreign universities, judging by their looks. And the her gaze landed on the man who had his eyes on her all this time, digging holes in her existence. She almost lost her balance when she recognized his face in the projector light.

And just then she was shook out of her trance when a student called out to her.

"Excuse me? Someone is calling you over there! Please go and sit" the student with large black sunglasses told her and she looked in the direction where she was pointing.

Nancy was constantly waving and she hadn't noticed all this time. She made her way and went to her, taking her place at the empty seat beside her.