My annoying flat-mate exclaimed early in the morning, “Come on, Khushi. Wake up!!”

I groaned and pulled a pillow over my ears, “Go away, Kripa.” It had only been a month since university started. At first, I had no intentions of making new friends. I had decided Riddhima and I would be enough. Then, it was impossible to not be friends with Kripa. She was just so friendly and outgoing. She reminded me of myself before everything.

“Now what kind of a friend would I be if I didn’t wake you up knowing you have an exam to give in fifteen minutes?”

Once the time registered in my head, I sprung up in bed. Shit. Had I slept past my alarm that long? I pushed the covers aside at once and ran off to the bathroom only to walk back on realizing I hadn’t grabbed my towel. She was standing there already holding it out for me with a smug look on her face.

I scowled, “I hate you,” instead of thanking her. Why? Because! She knew that once I turned off my alarm and went back to sleep, I didn’t remember to wake back up. I’m in the habit of having Armaan wake me up always for this sole reason. Today, Kripa purposely didn’t wake me up and let me sleep in this late.

She yelled back, “You know you love me!”

Ignoring her, I jumped into the shower. Ugh. I hate cold baths. I had no time to waste waiting for the water to warm up a little. The building where my class is was already a ten minute walking distance. There was no way I was going to make it on time. It was a good thing that professor followed a rule whereby he allowed stray students like me to enter as long as another student hadn’t already turned in their exam.

I didn’t even realize that I hadn’t tied my hair up in all the rush. I’m off to a wonderful start of the day. Now… my clothes. Good job, Khushi. I had forgotten that as well. This is why I don’t like to be rushed. I forget absolutely everything and then I am running around frantically looking like a mad woman. Wrapped in a towel, I stepped out to walk to my room.

Only to see a guy I did not know.

Shock.

Fear.

Terror.

Without my permission, my body decided to react with a yelp causing him to turn around and face me. Why did I do that? I should have just slipped back in the bathroom since his back was facing me and he hadn’t known I was standing behind him.

My own voice sounded strange to me as I ordered, “What the hell are you doing here? Get out.”

I didn’t even know him but something about him was just off. I was simply getting that vibe off him, especially the way he looked amused and his lips tugged up in a playful smirk. Instantly, I hate him. A college boy sees a college girl in only a towel. Ofcourse!

But… his eyes. There was something about those deep brown eyes that wouldn’t let me blink away. Even though they were amused at the second, there was a distant look. A haunted look that I should recognize.

Once he cleared his throat, eyes still locked with mines, he said with his voice barely a whisper. I could still hear it loud and clear with him standing only two feet away. “Uh… I’m looking for Kripa.”

And I’m looking for my clothes.

“I see that.”

My eyes widened as I opened my mouth to ask but shit it instantly. I had said my thought out loud. God, where can I hide? Oh yes, bathroom. Only, it was too late. If only I had kept my mouth shut earlier.

I knew I was getting late. I should just walk around him and enter my room. But, I stayed rooted to my spot. There was no way I was going to go anywhere near him even if it was to get to my room and then to exam on time. Well… we did already establish that I wasn’t going to make it on time but I would like to make it there before I would to be too late and fail my very first exam of the first semester of university. That would be embarrassing.

“Kripa!” I yelled slightly irritated. She can’t just invite guys over whenever she feels like it. It’s too early in the morning for this.

He cringed at my yell but I didn’t care. She rushed out of her room at once, “What happened? Is the kitchen on fire again?”

Well… that might have almost happened once because of me.

For now, I glared at her, “Get your friend out of here.” On second thought, I added. “Who even let him in?” I figure Riddhima had already left for her early morning lab and the only other person who could have opened the door was Kripa. Then why would he be looking for her?”

Her eyes widened noticing me in a towel and she knew how I was around guys. She held back a curse. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know he’d come here so soon.” She went on to mumble as she walked up him and grabbing his hand, pulled him towards her door clearing my way.

I stiffened when he walked by me. the hallway was too narrow for three people to be in one line. It caused a light brush of his free hand over my wrist. It should be nothing for normal people but I am not normal.

I held back a gasp and clenched my teeth trying to control my body’s natural reaction. Not now, Khushi.

I faintly heard her scold him, “Didn’t I tell you to text me before you came? And how did you get in?”

Walking to my room, I lean back against the door trying to get my heart to relax. For blood to stop pumping in excess. For the screams and sobs to stop haunting my ears.

I hope I never have to see him ever in my life again. Even as I closed my eyes, I could remember the emptiness in his eyes. I couldn’t shake off the feeling.

He had seen me too exposed then I would have liked. It was surprising I had managed to stay ‘calm’ as I had been. It might not sound calm but compared to other drastic reactions I’ve had in the past year, I would label this level one.

I tell myself it was probably because I was too distanced by the fact that I was getting late.

Late.

I change quickly into a lose shirt and yoga pants before grabbing my bag and darting out the room. Boy, was I glad the coast was clear this time.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

In the evening, Kripa knocked on my door before peeking her head in. “Still mad?” I didn’t answer and she took that as invitation to walk inside. “I’m so very sorry, Khushi. I can’t tell you how much. You know that, right? I swear, I didn’t know my brother would just walk in like that.”

I break my silence, “You don’t have a brother.” I know, from everything she said to apologize, that is what I decided to pick on. How very nice of me to sideline her sincere apology.

She quickly clarified, “Right, I don’t. I just forget. He’s my cousin. He’s just lived with us for as long as I can remember. So, he’s that brother I don’t have, you know?”

I nodded and only for a second, I wondered why he’d live with her family. Didn’t he have his own?

“Like I was saying, I didn’t know Arnie would walk in like that.”

Arnie? Sounded like Barnie. That stupid purpose dinosaur from that children cartoon. Atleast, he was stupid and annoying in my opinion. I figure his name wasn’t Arnie and it was just a nick name given my Kripa. “He said he found the door open so he walked in. I guess that’s my fault too. I might have forgotten to lock the door after Riddhima left. And that boy too. He should have just called me instead of walking in like that. I promise, nothing like this will ever happen again.”

I sighed and eased her guilt written all over her face. “It’s okay, Kripa.” My ability to forgive always won out regardless of how much of a close call it had been in the morning. “I’d very much like it though if I never have to see him again,” I mumbled the later part under my breath.

She didn’t hear exactly what I said. “What’s that?”

“Nothing,” I quickly answer knowing it wasn’t possible. If this is the same cousin she has mentioned a couple of times before in conversations, I already knew he’d be around more often than I would like for him to.

She questioned getting on my bed now that the tension was cut, “Oh, how was your test then? I hope I didn’t make you that late.”

I chuckled shaking my head. It was hard to stay mad at this girl. I had thought I wouldn’t need another friend after having Riddhima and Armaan. She was, however, quick to get into my good graces no matter how many times she did stupid things to irritate me. “It was great, I think. And you’re not all at fault. I went back to sleep instead of just waking up even though I know ‘five minutes more’ is never just that.”

She laughed along, “Happens to the best of us. But hey, atleast you made it on time. Arnie missed his midterm once. Boy, was he pissed off at me. though, I tell you, it wasn’t even my fault. I did go to wake him up half hour after his alarm. It was his fault for putting his alarm for five minutes before his class started.”

I forced a smile in response and nodded. I truly was not interested in hearing stories about her cousin. 

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

A/N: Tapas has a restriction of characters per chapter; hence each chapter will be broken down to parts. Part 2 will be up in a few days!