A Stranger - Chapter 3

Some female college mates were in ladies room. They saw me and asked the reason, but I was only crying. A classmate called my friends and told to come there.

Iti and Kirtika came in room and asked with worry, "What happened?"

I was only crying. I wanted to kill myself. However, suicide is crime according to IPC so I had to drop that idea.

Iti requested to other girls, "Can all of you give us privacy?"
They nodded and left.

Kirtika asked, "Tell us. What happened for God’s sake?"

I told them what happened.

Iti said with anger, "I will not kill Vinay. He crossed his all limit."

I suggested, "Why are you saying him. It is not his fault. It is my fault. I should understand, yesterday why he was asking me those questions."

Kiritika, "Yeah, Sonali is right. We cannot do anything because it is not correct. We should talk about Kunal directly. Maybe, he will understand."

I said, "No, if he does not want to listen, we will not force him. I don’t want, that my relationship is based on force."

They nodded.

My behavior became to change. My parents asked many times what happened to me. However, every time I lied, it is because of study burden. My friends made me understand but I did not notice what they were saying. I felt that everything became uncolored surrounding me.
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After some days, my mobile rang when I was sitting on my bed and was thinking about Kunal.
I saw name on the screen and pressed the button ‘ON’.

"Hello, what’s up?" I heard the voice of Abhay. He is my cousin. We are very close.
"Hello, nothing is interesting in my life so tell me about you."

"What happened to your voice? You are talking like an old lady."
"Shut up. Why did you call me?"
"Hey, why are you saying this?"

"When you don’t miss me, why are you calling me?"
"Excuse me, if I didn’t call you, you can call me. It’s not my duty to call you every time."

"Yeah, you are right. So I am gonna cut the call."
"Hold for a second. Listen to me why did I call to you? What happened to you? You are changed."
"Then you have called me for saying it."
"No, I mean. I am coming tomorrow in Meerut."

"Then..."
"It means that I will wait for you on the main gate of your college."
"I am not going to college tomorrow."
"Why?"
"My friends will also not come."
"It means you go to college to meet your friends."
"Shut up. Don’t talk to me like a parent."

"It means you are coming to college."
"No."
"Please come on... You know. If I come at home, Buaji will not let me go tomorrow. I am coming Meerut for a meeting and I have to go back."

"It’s ok! But don’t forget my gift."
"Fine. At 11:30 AM."
"Fine, bye." I smiled and threw mobile on bed. I laid on the bed and put pillow on my face.
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As I saw him, a smile came itself on my face. I greeted, "Hi, Abhay."
"Hi, Sonali." We touched our punches and smiled.

We went inside the college and sat under the tree. I recalled last time when Kunal and I sat here. I cleared my mind because I didn’t want to cry in front of him.

He asked, "Now tell me. What happened to you?"
"What?"
"Please, don’t hide from me. We know each other very well from when we don’t know about ourselves. So tell me the truth."

He was right. I can hide my worries from whole world but it’s impossible to hide from him. However, I never told him. I know the result.

I changed the topic, "Where is my present?"
"No, first, tell the reason."
"You know the syllabus of Degree College. Therefore, it’s burden of study. Why are you asking? Can I tell a lie from you?"

"It probability is lesser. But you know the punishment telling a lie in front of the judge."

"You are not judge in front of me. Now, give me my gift."

He took off Tiffin from his bag and gave me. I asked with confusion, "What is in it?"

"Your favorite ladoos. Especially, mom made for you. You like it."
"Yeah, however, it is sent by Mammi ji. Where is your?"

"If you will eat more, you will be fat. Who will marry for you?"
"Shut up."
He smiled and said, "Ok! Let us go in canteen. I am hungry."
"Oh! Really, if you will eat more, any girl will not marry you. Because you are fat enough and your weight will be increased."

"Don’t worry. I already selected her."
"What? You are telling me now."
"Can we go? Otherwise I will die. We can talk there."

I smiled and we went to canteen. I saw Kunal who was sitting with his friends. He saw towards me but as I saw, he ignored. There wasn't any other table so we have to sit next to his table. I wanted to run from there but Abhay was also with me.

"So, what happened to you? Where is your smile?"
"Now, you are not hungry. It’s college canteen so you have to serve yourself."

"Yeah." He said and stood up.
"Excuse me. You are with me so you should ask me what I will take."
"I know what you will take. You are with me so you have to take that I want."

He smiled and went. I looked again towards Kunal. However, he did not look towards me. I lost in my thoughts.

I heard some noise in canteen. When I saw, I was shocked. Kunal and Abhay were arguing. Kunal’s shirt was full with stains of the food.
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Comment Replies:

Thanks to all readers. I hope you like this chapter. Write in case of you have any doubt or problem.

Suhani: Hey, firstly thanks. Vinay has no feelings for Sonali. He is only her classmate. Some classmate does not like us. It has many reasons, as we are more intelligent, personal views, etc. He is like that. Don’t think about him. He is not main part of this story. Yeah! You are right. Name has no play a main role in friendship or any relationship. Sometimes, we don’t know what happened with us. Doubt has no big reasons. Doubt almost creates with normal reasons that we cannot think. I hope you enjoy this chapter. In next chapter, your all doubts will be clear. Please write if you have any doubt. I will clear in the next chapter.

Rehana: Hey, you are a new friend. Thanks for writing and sorry, I could not understand what is the meaning of ‘propes’. So I cannot tell you anything, about what you asked me. Please tell the meaning of this word. Then, I will give answer of your question. Actually, I am weak in English language.