Chapter : 4

Chapter 4 : Fading parts of him, gathering again"

It was almost the time of dusk, the sun' scattering rays were covered by the wrinkled dark, grey clouds. The cold wind was blowing with the sudden change in weather. The sound of lightening & the sharp but melodic songs of raindrops were forcing everyone to drift into a peaceful sleep.

The buses were passing via the forest area & they were about to reach the main road of that city after half hour later. Now the journey was continuing with silence. Everyone was drifted into sleep.

A flurry of rain was pattering against the window. It made Mehula wake up all of a sudden. She opened her eyes & felt the slight darkness welcoming her as the bus was filled with dim light.

She turned her gaze towards the window. She took off her earphones & sighed deeply while inhaling the scent of wet rain & wood. It somehow made her remember his fragrance. She chuckled on his thought.

But she can't deny the fact that now she hates it.

She hates the rain.

She hates its pattering sound.

She hates darkness.

She hates those clouds blocking the fading rays of sun.

She hates this cold blowing wind.

Maybe she hates all of them cause now she is afraid of these things. She is afraid of all the things which makes her realize about his absence.

These dark, cloudy days makes her remember those days of her high schools when after waiting for plenty of hours in coldness, he never came.

She used to wait for him with teary eyes only with the hope of his one glimpse, but he never & ever came across the rain.

All these incidents made her hate the rain & darkness.

Even somehow she believed that she is the moon cold, dull, lonely & he is her sun warm, bright, joyful.

She believed that she is like a flowing water - lost, transparent, flawless, carefree & he is like fire - warm, only to make her feel its warmness; scary - only to scare her foes; enthusiastic - only to make her feel alive; silent- so that she can hear his flammable noise; colorful - only to get mix up into her; cautious - only to cage her into his boundaries; the boundaries of his memories that are only filled with his existence.

She used to adore darkness, night, coldness, rain, clouds covered sky, mist, patters of rain, but he made her hate everything even her every choice - whenever she choosed silence over words.

She kept her gaze outside the window while Jiya was lost in her deep sleep, her head resting on Mehulas' shoulder.

🍃

After 1 hour later, finally they arrived infront of their Girls hostel' gate. The driver pressed the horn & all the girls wake up by the sudden unpleasant noise.

The other three buses also stopped beside & their both teachers came out immediately. The half of girls were still in their half sleep, but it was already dark outside cause of the bad weather.

They all took their bags, luggages out & went directly inside the building without wasting any second cause they were tired & still in half sleep.

Siya & Amira were pulling their bags as they didn't has the energy to carry them. Sara was still standing outside the gate waiting for someone desperately. Mehula & Jiya asked her the reason & she just smiled slightly in return. They were really tired of asking any further question so just simply went inside.

Their hostel building was structured oddly. That was 3 floored building designed with grey stones. The whole building's walls were surrounded by ivy. This building was standing on 1.5 acre land, surrounded by huge trees. Beside this building, there was their girls school. Behind the large walls of their hostel' building, there was another building & that was boys hostel & beside the boys hostel, there was boys college.

Wide, thick wooded entrance gate & then a corridore leading to a hall which has stairs leading to second floor where there are also a narrow corridor along with 20 rooms just like the boxes of train. One big hall which is divided into few washroom & bathing places.

Five of them were on the 2nd floor. Each room has to share 5 girls togethers. Sara, Jiya, Amira, Siya & Mehula were roommates.

The four of them opened the door of their dorm & threw themselves on their bed recklessly. Their room was painted with brown colour & it had three beds on the floor & two were on the top of first & second bed'. The two pairs of bed were placed on the opposite direction of each other & the last one was placed between it. It had 5 study tables placed against their beds & 3 windows were covered with thin white curtains. It also had a cupboard nailed on the left side of the wall next to door & the five of them have to adjust their clothes in that one almirah.

The sound of raindrops started coming once again & it just made them drift into a peaceful sleep. They were lost in deep sleep that they didn't notice when Sara came back & when the timing of dinner passed.

🍃

21 Sept, 2023

The sharp ringing of bell made everyone flinched on their places. The morning rays were making their way inside the rooms, fooling the thin white curtains which were trying their best to block their way.

The sky was getting clear as the cold morning wind was taking the clouds wherever it was running, making the different patterns of clouds on the blue morning sky.

Mehula digged her face into the depth of pillow while pulling the blanket up in irritation. Sara opened the curtains while yawning & suddenly Jiya came downstairs the moment she realized the time & she pulled the duvlet off Amira & said, "Get up! She is about to reach here at any moment."

Amira left a deep cry & opened her eyes while stretching her arms. Mehula also stood up from bed in a swift movement.

"It's 7 : 35 am," Sara said while rubbing her eyes. "Grab your all clothes & lets go or else we will lose the chance again", Sara said again while pulling out her clothes from under the bed & grabbed the hanging clothes from the hanging point.

Mehula left a deep sigh while grabbing her clothes from the closet. Jiya started crying & grabbed her own while sobbing.

Today was Sunday. Sunday means the day of washing your own clothes day. Usually they didn't get warm water for washing their clothes cause they always arrive late & all the girls used to finish the warm water. But today they don't want to repeat the same thing. The five of them immediately opened the door & the outer view was more terrible than they had expected.

The whole corridore was filled with the shouting & screaming of girls as they were running towards the washing area. Mehula tightened her grip around the clothes that were resting against her chest. She ran towards the washing area while moving aside other girls. The whole scene was so terrifying & humorous.

The moment Mehula arrived inside the washing area, she saw some girl pulling eachothers hair & cussing brutally. She frowned at the scene as it was not new for them. The four of them also arrived & stood beside Mehula. They completely ignored that unnecessary drama & grabbed the small tubs resting at the side shelf.

They can still hear the noises but no one was saying anything to them. Mehula filled the tub with water & fortunately it was warm this time, this thing made her lips curved into a smile. Seeing Mehula' smile, the four of them also chuckled with gratitude.

Everyone started washing their own clothes & now those girls also stopped fighting cause of tiredness.

"Applying soap is so relaxing thing.", Amira sighed while rubbing the soap on her cloth. "But washing it offf fully is so tough & unpleasant", Mehula said while rubbing the sleeves of her shirt roughly.

"No matter how much hard is it, we still have to do this", Sara said while sighing deeply.

After half hour later, they done the clothes, but they have to pass through the most ridiculous work & that is bathing. Mehula & Jiya hates it the most.

The five of them, glared at eachother before running towards the area of bathing which was right next to washing areas. It was a long narrowed room which had so many walls separating small rooms like compartments from eachothers. There were maximum 20 small compartments' like bathing rooms into that long narrowed hall like bathing area.

Some were already locked & only few were available. Mehula & Jiya immediately went inside the bathing rooms & locked them while Sara & Siya went back to their dorm for bringing the towels & necessary clothes.

Amira was waiting inside the bathing area while still yawning, her gaze got stucked on the display of her watch. It was 8:05 am & the mess hall was about to close. She ran towards the mess hall & there were some girls standing in a queue while holding their food plates for food. She also grabbed 5 plates & stood at last in the queue but her eyes were running on her wrist watch again & again as the mess was about to close at 8 : 10 am & now it was 8 : 07 am.

She went near the food stalls & started smiling towards the food giver, "Can you please give me food... i..in advance actually this line is too long & the time is also passing like the sand passing from hand. So can I please get it before them", Amira said to the food giver. She was a middle aged woman, wearing a black outfit & an apron on it. Her brown wavy hairs were closed into a tight bun & she was a short heightened woman.

"No", that woman replied coldly. "Please, don't do this to me. You are being are too rude. Please just 5 plates only for once, only for this time.", Amira said again in pleading voice. Manipulating old people & kids was her right hand' work, but this time it was not working on Mrs. Beiber.

"My mom was so worried last night when I called her. You know why she was worried?", she asked Mrs. Beiber with teary eyes. "Why was she?", Mrs. Beiber asked her back while letting out a deep sigh.

"I missed my dinner again cause I slept early as we just came back from the trip, I was hell tired & my one of roommate had a fever last night. Now we all are dying from hunger, but they are busy in washing & bathing stuffs. What if your daughter have to suffer like us. Will you let her suffer, here?", she asked with low voice.

"I don't have any daughter, Miss. So its not going to work on me", Mrs. Beiber replied & that same coldness was reflecting in her voice & in her eyes. Amira cried loudly & went to stand in the queue. After the hard struggle finally she get the food , but it was so difficult for her to carry those 5 plates but still she somehow managed to.

She was about to stumble but that moment Jiya held her back & she took the 2 plates from her hold & putted them on the food table. "Thank God, you came!", she inhaled deeply. Jiya sat down on chair & Amira also putted down the rest of plates. She also settled down on the opposite of Jiya.

"I thought we are going to starve again", Jiya said while taking one bite of rice & dal.

"But why this dal is so thicker than me?", Amira asked while mixing the dal with spoon she was holding in her right hand. Jiya giggled in belief.

"Where are others?", Amira asked again while breaking a small piece of chapati. "Sara & Siya are taking bath & Mehula went to the roof for drying the clothes", Jiya replied while eating.

Suddenly a girly voice grabbed their attention, "Can I join you?". Both looked up to see a tall girl who was dressed up in a formal outfit- chiffon yellow coloured half sleeved gown. Her bronze hair were open, falling freely till her waist length.

"Yeah, sure." Amira nodded after hearing her. She sat down on the seat beside to Amira.

"Are you two coming to the evening party ?", That girl asked both of them with exciting tone. Jiya & Amira firstly looked at eachother then shifted their gaze to that girl with blank expressions.

"What party & Whose?", Jiya asked her while making a crease between her brows. "Trisha & her boyfriend are throwing an evening party on thier 1 month anniversary. All the girls are going there.", she said while lowering her voice. "& you know what the whole boys of our neighbouring college are also coming their as her boyfriend invited them. So don't you think its a good chance to make your life enjoyable?", she added to let her excitement come out.

Amira opened her eyes big in shock & she chuckled soon the moment she realize that what she just said. "Really, then I think this is my chance. I can find my prince charming there", she smiled widely on her own statement.

"So you both are coming right?", that girl asked. "Yes, we are coming", Jiya replied on her question. "Ok, then at 5 pm near the club of 'Silver & Brown Bookstore' don't forget to come. I'm going then, I have to inform others", she went away while carrying her plate.

"But bro, we didn't have any party clothes.", Amira said sadly. "I don't want to miss this chance", she added to complete her statement. "Firstly, go & take bath, then we will go out for shopping", Jiya said while gulping her food hastily. "Yes, you are right.", she started eating her food fastly.

🍃

At Afternoon, the five of them got ready as they all were going for shopping. Jiya was wearing an aqua blue coloured frock touching her knees alongwith black coloured long shoe heels covering her half of legs. She made a lose braid of her hair & some strands were moving freely towards her temple.

Amira wore an mint colored full close buttoned, full sleeves shirt, with white tweed cloth pants at lower & grey sneakers as footwear. Her hairs were tied into a high ponytail.

Sara was wearing an ash coloured half sleeves top & a dark blue green coloured denim jacket on it, alongwith blue jeans at lower & white-black coloured shoes as footwear. She combed a little then left her hairs open.

Siya was wearing a long medium rosewood coloured frock with Very dark jade coloured chenille jacket on it & white spooky shoes as footwear. She fastened her hair with a small butterfly shaped hairpin.

Mehula wore a Georgette fabric lavender grey coloured T-shirt with Pewter coloured melton clothed pants & white sneakers as footwear. She tied hair into a lose bun while some strands were still swinging behind her ears.

They went out after taking the permission from the warden.

🍃

Now they were passing on the streets like the blowing wind.

"Stop!", Jiya said while stopping others while sitting down on her toes in the midst of road.

"Are you out of your mind? Why are you sitting like this?", Siya asked her while pulling her up by grabbing her arms. "No, I can't. I'm so tired. Firstly lets go to eat something. My feet are hurting too much", Jiya said while frowning.

"Then who told you to wear heels?", Mehula asked her in sarcastic tone. "Please, naah?", Jiya said again while crying. "Stop your drama!", Sara warned Jiya. "Lets go to the 'S&B Bookstore'.", Mehula said while making Jiya stand on her toes again. Jiya hissed a little & grabbed Mehulas' arm.

🍃

After few minutes later, they arrived at the bookstore as it was near them at that time. Sara opened the door & Mehula & Jiya entered & their sight got stucked at the vacant table that was right beside the windows.

Mehula & Jiya went near it & settled down immediately on it. They both sat on the opposite seat across the table. Sara, Amira & Siya stood near them while glaring at them confusedly.

"Look I don't think I can walk anymore. So, you three can go & as you know Mehula isn't interested in that party. So she is going to accompany me here", Jiya said while smiling innocently on them.

"Shut up, Jiya!", Mehula warned her & soon she turned her attention towards the three of them who were staring at them like they will burn them with fire that was reflecting from their gaze.

"She is blabbering nonsense. We both are really interested but you know about my phobia. So buy whatever you are going to buy for yourself & you have good taste in colours & in dresses as well. So we will wear, whatever you are going to buy for us", Mehula said sweetly with her inoccent eyes.

"Yeah & I don't need to impress any boy like-", Jiya was about to complete her statement but

Mehula covered her mouth with her both hands.

"Don't mind her. She is just spilling the bullshits.", Mehula said them while signing them to leave.

"Ok, but I'll kill you for sure if you complained a little about the dress", Amira warned her with blood shooting eyes. "Then how are you going to know about your choice, Baby?", Jiya said while moving aside Mehula' hand.

"Bye we are leaving then. We will come back here after shopping. Don't go anywhere.", Sara said while pulling Amira with her. Mehula nodded on her statement while the three of them left.

"Mehu, I'm fucking tired. Please bring a coffee.", Jiya said with pleading eyes while taking off her heels. Mehula went towards the counter & ordered the man to make two cup of coffee with cream on it. The man smiled on her while nodding her, she also smiled back. The man was in his mid-30s with light beard & a black specs on his eyes. This Bookstore was owned by him & his wife means by Mr. & Mrs. Pinto.

This Silver & Brown Bookstore was not only bookstore but it was also a cafe. Its very cozy place along with comfy aura. The moment you entered inside, your nostrils are going to tangle with the scent of old books. Its interior is also wonderful, designed with light brown coloured with so many tables & chairs & behind the wall of counter, there are few book shelves which are filled with so many novels. The book sleeves are parted into different sections according to your taste in books- fiction, fantasy, rom-com, historical, Si-Fi & so on.

The order was getting ready & Mehula went towards the books section & she started tracing her fingers through the books resting on shelves while feeling the texture of those books. She inhaled their scent deeply that she loves to do whenever she come here.

A light smile got nailed on her lips & she took her arms back while crossing her hands behind her. She kept her eyes running to the name of different books while taking small footsteps. She was finding something on the Romance fiction section, but the unpleasant expressions on her face was telling that she still doesn't found whatever she was trying to find.

Finally her lips left a slight chuckle, the moment her gaze stopped at a book.

"Finally, I found you", the two voice echoed at the same time. Mehula heard a manly voice beside her & she turned her gaze to the right side of her direction & the moment her gaze meet the gaze of the boy standing beside her, she froze.

Her breath got tangled into her lungs. The smile got vanished soon the moment she realized who he was.

It took her back to the period of 2020, to the moment when for the first time someone' mere presence depleted the universal law of breating.

Once again, she felt the burning sensation heating up her cheeks just by someones' gaze on her. Once again, someone made her heart skip a beat. He still has this much affect on her. Once again, the fading parts of him are gathering into her existence.

💐

________________________________________

Vote to read more. don't forget to share your thoughts.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***