KEERTHANA (THINKING ABOUT PAST)

After the embarrassing moment with the seniors, I found my class and the first day went off like this. I took software engineering. My roommate Tanya took the same but Misha took electrical engineering.

I was lying on my bed and scrolling my phone and suddenly felt someone looking at me. My bed was near the window so I just peeped outside. It was Krish. He waved a 'hi'.

What the hell? Why did he come? He just helped me today. And how can he come to ladies hostel? Never mind. Seniors are always seniors. They have control in their hands.

But still, I didn't like it. I just went down and saw him. As I went to him, he asked, "Looks like you escaped today because of me."

"Look senior sir, I just don't have time for this. Did I ask you for help? But anyways thanks. But that doesn't mean that you can come and talk to me anytime."

"It's my wish to talk to you whenever I want to. You are my junior and you have to obey me."

"Oh really? I am not scared of you. You will know me soon."

"Even I am waiting for it." He said and winked at me.

Irritating. He was irritating. That's not at all impressive. I am in a new place and a new atmosphere. And a guy coming and trying to impress me... I was scared.

Just then I got a call from my mom. I told her that I will call her in 2 minutes in Tamil.

"Hey, are you Tamil?" He asked me surprisingly.
"Yeah.. so?"
"Even I am a Tamilian." He said extending his hands.

Really? Couldn't believe it. Atlast someone from my state. I felt happy on one side and scared on the other.

"What is your name by the way?" He asked.
"I am not planning to say and why should I?"
"Even after talking to you in Tamil, you won't believe me?"
"That doesn't make sense." I said.
"Fine, my name is Krish Yadav. You can call me Krish." He said.
"Better call you senior." I said and ran away to my room.

I called my mom and told what happen today except that senior. The next few days I was cornered by seniors and they were trying to rag us but Krish always came for me.

He used to stand in the entrance of my class and makes gestures to come out. Oh man, this is getting worse. I told him to stop coming but he always comes there. I did not ask him for any reference book but he gave me on his own.

I was getting annoyed but it was somewhat thrilling. Our senior is attracted to us. Genes. But apart from that nothing. I did not love him. He used to follow me everywhere I go. It was slowly becoming a torture. I shouted at him sometimes but again he came back. I did not say that strong enough. It's because I myself found that I was overjoyed as the college's popular senior is behind me eventhough it was irritating.

I told these things to none other than my cousin Aishu and she told me to be careful and also assured that it happens to everyone in college.

I always maintain a safe distance with him. 'We need someone for supporting us when we are in need.' I thought and everything was going well. Until my first semester end.

There were rumours about me and Krish. When I heard about it, I did not know what to do. This was expected but wherever I go, they gossiped about me. It was irritating me. I just locked the bathroom door one day and cried so much. They talked many things which I was not expecting not to hear. And I first heard it from none other than Tanya.

"You know what? You are the famous figure in our college right now! Why? It's because of Krish. Not only me but the whole college is talking about your superb pair!!!" I was shocked.

Some of the seniors, his enemies was ragging me in his absence to seek revenge on him. That was too harsh.
"Krish will come running for you right? Now where is he? Gone? Where?" They said and laughed at me. One month they targeted me like this.

One week passed after this. Krish was trying to talk with me but I avoided him. I slightly slipped because of my stupid thrills. But I heard one say that Krish bet all these people who targeted me. How can someone be like this? I did not fall in love with him. I was literally getting scared. I did nor know what to do. He bet them for me.

One evening, I was going to my hostel from college alone. Two white Scorpios from nowhere came and stopped in front of me. Those guys looked like goons. There must be nearly 10 of them. They took their knifes and other equipments and one of them held my hand tightly.

"You told your boyfriend to beat our leader's son is it?" He said and was about to kill me with his knife. "It's not me. Please leave me." I was crying. But he got a call and put it in speaker. I was crying mercilessly. "Leave her alone. My target is Krish. She is not worth dying. She should die being alive after hearing that Krish died. After that, if she blames me because of this and tortures me, I will kill her with my own hands. Now leave her." It was one of the seniors who got bet by Krish.

They immediately left the place and I was standing there for a while. I came back to my senses and just sat in a nearby bench and cried for a while.
He bet some big business tycoon or a politician's son for me. I was so scared. I decided to level Banglore immediately but the day after tomorrow this Krish bet them also.

And now the whole college will be... not again. I should get rid of this. I avoided him very badly now. It was Monday. It was the most stupid and horrified day of my college days.

Krish took me to the amphitheatre by force and proposed me. "It was fault for not saying you this but I should. I am seriously in love with you." He just knelt down and proposed me with a bouquet of red roses. The whole college was seeing us. Embarrassment!!

I took the bouquet by force and threw it away. He immediately stood up and I started to shout, "What is it you are thinking? I just thought you as a friend and I just came for clarifying get doubts and borrowing books from you. But you are the one who followed me all along. It's my fault also. And because of this, everyone... everyone are calling me... by.... YOUR NAME!!!" I started to pour so badly.

"And moreover, I just thought you as a good friend who will understand the situation. But you.... you just kept on following me for your stupid love!!! You bet those guys without mercy!! And I got so scared after that. And I received a death threat!! Why can't you understand? I know you like me and you will do anything for me. But please understand my situation. I always didn't want my name to drag in any issue or some things like this one. I am sensitive to these things. I don't want this to happen again. Please!!!!" I said.

You might be thinking I over-reacted. But think of you were in the same situation like me. A guy who is madly in love with you and the whole college knows it!! And beating the once who made you cry for us and proposing in front of all!!

I should have been careful. I should have thought about the new atmosphere and should have played safely. Moreover, I should have thought about the consequences when I was leaving all this to happen.

It was also my fault. No, it was entirely my fault by letting myself to enjoy the thrills. I was not strong enough. But now it is decided. I won't let this happen again.

After all this happened, Krish followed me wherever I go and begged me for pardon. And one day, he just forcibly pulled my wrist in public and he pulled me towards him and it turned out to be a hug. It was because of the force he pulled me but again. The same amphitheatre. Everyone watched it. I just slapped him tightly. How can he behave like this? He told it was an accident. But it was embarrassing. I thought not to see him again.

Again the same thing. Everyone talking about us.

This is what happens when we attract a popular guy in our college. During his farewll day, Krish just said a sorry and good bye. He was 3 years senior to me. After a long time, a sorry atlast.

During my graduation day, my mom, Aishu and Aishu's mom attended the function. I was the topper of my batch and atlast, I graduated. I was talking get to my friends and suddenly I saw Krish's friend. He was giving me signal to come. There was no sign of Krish there.

I went to him and just heard the dreadful news that Krish died. Eventhough I did not love him, I felt really very bad. He loved me so much and was caring too. I wish I didn't hear the news. When the man who loved you one-sided dies, you will feel somewhat bad is it?

I was not able to believe it. And it was a car accident where the doctor's declared him brain dead. I was feeling bad for one month. My mom found my state but I was reluctant to tell her. I told Aishu and she told everything will be alright.

PRESENT

And the dead corpse is sitting beside me??? You might think this is not a powerful reason to hate him. But trust me. You will know when someone tortures you like this during college days for love. Even after these many years of college, I couldn't forget it. I am so sensitive when it comes to matters like this.

Now, as I looked at him, I felt sad. I couldn't forget it but still, now after looking at him I feel like we can stop this. He is alive after all. But how can a person love someone so much?

My thoughts stopped when we reached Srinagar. Atlast!!!
I must immediately say this to Vikram. Why am I even jumping to say this? To let him know that his wife was so beautiful that the most popular senior fell for her? Or for sharing it like one does this to their life partners? My heart was beating faster.

As we got down the plane, my eyes were searching for Vikram's name in my phone.

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Hey my dear readers, this is the past and from now on, Keerthana and Vikram are gonna start another new journey towards their lovely life. Will it be so easy to achieve it?

Read this chapter until then and please do vote for me 😊