(PS - Words or sentences in "italics" represents Kavya's thoughts and feelings at that moment.)

"It's dinner time, Miss."

I literally jumped with Sam's voice.

"What?"

I didn't hear a single word. I looked back at the window and was shocked. No negativity, nothing was coming, no nothing. Everything was normal as if nothing happened. It only influenced me or was only for me. God knows the answers but I kept looking out, trying to find them myself.

"What happened, Miss?"

"Nothing."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." I gave a quick glance at the window and returned. "It's just me. I'm feeling a little tired." I fibbed.

"Okay, then its fine." He gave a relieving smile. "If you wanna freshen-up I'll take you back to your room. If not then we can proceed straight in the dining area." He added.

"Dinner...?" I looked at the antique-clock hanged on the front-facing-wall and realized that he was actually right. Drowning in him and sensing weird environments made time run so quickly.

"I'll freshen-up first."

"Okay come, Miss."

I got up, grabbed my book and followed him. I had to enter the book details in that register, as I hardly read even a single page.

It is following.

Stop it!

Even though I was walking with him, still my heart was clouded with my previous fear and mind was as-usual dismissing the fact. I couldn't stop myself from thinking about 'that thing' which was coming towards me. Maybe that's why I was having that horrific-feeling again. I slightly turned but saw nothing. I continued stepping ahead and it started following me again. I knew it'd disappear again, so instead of attempting to discover the source I buckled-up to reach my room as fast as possible.

"Is anything wrong, Miss?"
Oh he might have noticed my panicked feet.

"No, no. I just wanna get inside my room soon." I lied.

"Okay." But he didn't sound much convinced.

I went straight into the bathroom to throw some cold water on my face. I placed both my hands on the wash-basin and glared into the mirror. Something smokey was behind me, I turned and it was poof again. What the Hell is happening!

I was panting, then suddenly something else caught my attention. It was my pendant of 'Om' on the corner. It was the last gift by my father which I always wear, without fail. It makes me feel as if a part of him is still with me. But how the heck I forgot it today, under the reputation of this place I needed it more than ever. I keep it aside only on those 5 bleeding days of the month. As 'Om' is the symbol of Lord Shiva, the God I worship and in this tradition, women on their period-days, aren't allowed to come near God or touch anything related to them during that time.

May be under the magic of this enchanting room I forget my routine, so I wore it then. I washed my face and moved out. He took me downstairs in the dining area but no one was there. He mentioned that only I was left for dinner so, I ate it.

While heading back to my room I heard some bawling-voices coming out of a room. I stopped and peeped inside, from that little opening of the door. It was him. Advik was shouting on his parents. I placed my ear over the door and my eyes dampened hearing his problem. I can't believe it's about 'me'. He was quarreling with them because they invited me here.

He said, "Why is she here? I don't need friends and I don't want anyone here." He was burning in temper and I knew anger brings out the truth, hidden inside.

I stood straight and quietly dragged by legs towards my room, I didn't wish to hear further. It was just enough that he didn't want me here. I almost fell in love with him and he wanted to get rid of me. It was like I felt my heartbeats for the first time and got scattered into pieces at the same moment.

Tears rolled down my cheeks and I just fell on the bed, hugging my teddy. It was night and I was alone but nothing scared me anymore. Thus I discovered the fact that sadness is way stronger than fear. I fear darkness because I feel something will come and harm me, but now I could easily kill myself in this piercing-emotion. So nothing bothered me. I wetted my pillow until I fell asleep.

I got up with swollen eyes. I took a bath and put on a clean full-sleeves salwar-suit and tied my waist-length hair into a braid then folded it upwards to add the ribbon. Usual hairstyle! I usually wore specs to cover-up this bursting–out of sentiments during the night but here I didn't need them, no one would notice, as no one cared.

I'd read somewhere 'A strong woman is one who is able to smile this morning like she wasn't crying the last night.' And being strong was the only option left for me if, I wanted to achieve something. I collected all the pieces of my broken heart and held myself together to get downstairs.

And there he is!

I'm not going to look at you. 

I had my breakfast with Mrs. Agnivanshi and Advik, as his father had already left for something. I sat with Riana after bowing and greeting her, obviously she was a Queen and of course genuinely nice too. I swallowed the food as soon as possible, under his musing yet penetrating gaze, steadily staring from the opposite seat. Though I never looked up at him but I was flustered by his exasperation.

"Kavya, the driver will drop you." She told me. I forced a smile and reciprocated with a nod.

"No need of that, she's coming with me." He announced getting up, as he'd eaten, so he moved out.

What does he think of himself? Firstly, he hates me and now he is offering lift.

No thank you, I can manage alone, OK.

Do I know the way to the college?

Shit.

"From now on, you'll go with him in his car." She tapped on my shoulders.

"Okay." If I hadn't heard his opinion earlier, I'd have done a hip-hop over there, for sure.

I grabbed my things and came out. There he was standing, gripping the car gate of his side. I headed near the car exploring the ground, tucking my loosened-strand of hair behind my ear with my vibrating hand, as his gaze had caught me again. The driver opened the car gate and I slid in. I panted inwardly the moment he sat with me. Well, he doesn't want to be with me so I'll make sure I don't come in his way. I moved my neck towards the window and kept my eyes on the running road until we reached the college. He cleared his throat a few times as if he wanted to drag my attention but failed poorly. I didn't want to face him anymore.

The car stopped and I clamber out without peeking at him.

"Thank you." I smiled gently at the driver as he was the same person who brought me from Delhi. I pushed the 10-feet main gate and stepped inside. Mission accomplished. But, he was still looking at me, holding the car gate.

To be continued........