A Fateful Encounter

"Wake Up"

"It's okay, get hold of yourself girl, get up, wake up"

I woke up with cold sweat moisturizing my face. I reached my hands to wipe it off, then cringed at the coldness of them. The soothing voice of my roommate Avika woke me up from my continuous nightmares, that didn't falter from last few years.

She handed me a glass of water, I couldn't speak instantly as always during times like this. After some time I said.

"Did I sleeptalk?"

"No, it was pretty calm this time, you just squirmed and sweated. But that didn't mean you suffered any less."

She looked at me with eyes containing compassion mixed with hint of pity. Avika is a beautiful girl, with long black-brown silky hair, deep brown eyes, long eyelashes and kind laughing face. I feel at ease with her, she was my closest friend here.

I regained my composure and asked

"What were you doing middle of the night?"

"Oh, I just woke up to drink water and saw you."

"Okay go and sleep, you have a great day ahead, don't let the lack of sleep affect your performance."

She smiled understandingly and went on her bed for her peaceful slumber.

I took out my earphone, connected some songs of my playlist and felt myself loosing in soulful world and soothing voice. Sleep took over my jittery mind. And at last I slept, dreamless.

Next day I woke up with earphones kept neatly beside my bed, Avi's work obviously, and annoying alarm ringing cruelly. I switched it off. 'Avi already went' I thought as I walked towards my closet

I went to freshen up and prepare for my day, today I'm officially going to meet Literary Club of our college. I study in India's well known bussiness and management college. The classes started 2 weeks ago. I arrived at the end of June and classes started in first week of July.

I dress in a long baby pink tunic paired with dark blue jeans and looked myself in mirror. No remnant of last night's emptiness on my face. I look okay, I guess. My mother thinks I'm good looking but I can't say that for myself. I did have good eyes but not thick eyelashes. Well, that was because when I was young I used to pluck my eyelashes to make wishes. I applied my lip balm, tied my waist long black hair in braides and started towards the campus after taking my stuffs.

My first class was Mathematics where we were taught Advanced Calculus. As I was a science student earlier it was one of my favourite class. Next was psychology but our professor was out of station for some reason so I went to the library to read. As I entered I started towards the fiction section but quickly remembered to fill in the register. The librarian wasn't sitting there, instead it was her assistant, a student, who I wasn't a fan of. He always answered me in twisters. I went to fill in not even glancing at his direction. And went ahead to search for my precious treasures.

I reached the shelves and took out my favourite books, one of them being "Veronica Decides To Die" by Paulo Coelho. I had read it when I was in 9th standard but grasped it's deeper meaning after that awful incident happened. It helped me to regain my will to live again. It brought me out from my emptiness. How silly it is that sometimes we feel a particular book is written for ourself. My old copy was left at home. This time I will surely get it and won't allow my sister to blackmail me, emotionally.

I was busy in life of Veronica when I heard my name called out by the assistant librarian, obviously my ignoring took a tow on his ego. I got up sharply with an annoyed expression and went to him.

"What, can I help you with something."

Although I was mad I couldn't ignore my basic civility. My mother would be proud of me, I used to stick to that particular book and murderous aura filled the room if anyone dared to even touch or disturb me while reading it.

"Miss, I would like to tell you that you can only issue 2 books at a time." And he nodded towards the table.

"That's alright, I'm going to issue only one rest are for reference." I replied coldly.

He glanced at me and went back to what he was doing. I was returning to my seat 'How could he just assume I would issue those many books, don't I already know that, and that he knew this but purposely called me, for what? to heal his shattering ego, Ugh' I kept muttering under my breath.

I reached for my table and saw a boy sitting on MY desk, holding MY book in his hands and reading the pages I was reading. First that stupid, annoying idiot assistant and then some another idiot is here to comment on my book. What type of luck I brought with me today. I walked up to him, filled with rage.

" Hey, that's my place you are sitting in and that book was first fished out by me." I said.

He looked at me and first thought that occurred to my mind was that 'oh he is good looking' second was 'so what he still  stole my book' okay not my property but still I was very particular with this book.

He said " Is your name written here or do you own this property" typical answer.

"Name isn't written but I think first come first get rule applies here. And my bag over there symbolises that someone was there, right?" I asked back.

He smiled a chilly smile that sent shudders down my spine and said " First come first get huh? When I came here I didn't see you sitting, or holding this book or carrying that bag, so I sat and you weren't here so I came first and will get first."

I was speechless, he used my words to trap me. I don't really swear but I really wanted to. I took my bag and said

"Okay, just keep these books back in the shelf when you are done."

" Why would I, didn't you say you brought them over, keep them yourself." He said.

I smirked as I grasped the opportunity

"Oh yeah, I thought you didn't  believe me, you said that I wasn't sitting here or reading.  I wonder, do you yourself question your beliefs often?"

His face tightened. And I walked away. Signed on the register and got out from there to the cafeteria to have an early lunch. Many students from my psychology class were there as well.

I walked in when Riya called me over where two other girls were sitting. Riya sat beside me during Psychology and  English. I went over and we made introductions.

Riya was a cute girl with highlighted ends with red colour. Other two were Myra and Diya. Myra was good-looking girl with a tattoo on her wrist. Diya was tall girl with ethnic aura around her, she looked rather pretty in her salwar kameez.

I then walked to order a simple veg sandwich as I don't prefer to eat oily foods, they give a lot of acnes that I got rid of only few months ago. All the while I did not forget my book in that boy's hand. I called my father and asked him that could he mail me my book? It took me a long time to convince him but at last he agreed.

I went back to my seat with my eatables.

I started eating quietly as I could only think how that book saved me from myself when I was undergoing worst phase of my life.

"...Yeah he is really good looking..... I heard he is the president of literary club and plays basketball too." Myra said

Literary club president? My ears shot up.

Just then Riya said " Hey Verma, didn't  you say you joined literary club?"

"Yup, I did but I haven't gone to the official meeting yet."

"Good for you, I might be interested but i think singing talent like mine will be wasted  in a book club" she joked.

I left the cafeteria to enter the literary club room. I entered and saw some students waiting patiently. At last I came to place where I belong.

Just as I thought this I heard a voice that belonged to someone who irritated me. As I turned I saw the person from library, standing right in front of me and saw me with his sharp eyes. He was a lot taller than me. As I was really short, he appeared rather tall to me. He glanced past me as if I didn't exist.

He then said

"Luckily the weather is on our side today! The sun and I are pleased to offer you a warm welcome.Here's a hearty welcome, big and warm enough to encompass you all! To say we are thrilled to see you is an understatement. Good Afternoon everyone. I, President of Literary Club, assure you that you won't feel left out in our club, we all will share opinions, views, dreams etc. here. Feel free to express yourself and exhibit your creativeness."

Darn it. Okay, so he was the man in question during the gossips I heard in the cafeteria. So will he punish me indirectly? Wait he wasn't that friendly with me in the library. He was overflowing with iciness.

"You would be glad to know that our association has got the affiliation from National English Literature association.

Several award winning authors would visit our place to deliver lectures on their recent works.

All of you would be provided with a handbook which contains all the rules of our association. Please read it carefully."

He continued.