Nightmares

"What to do now?" I asked

He was silent, deep in thought. I was very nervous. Time was running out. It was 7.55 now. I'm done for. Just then my phone rang. It took me a long time to decipher that it was my ringtone. I picked up and Trisha's voice came through.

"Where are you?" She asked.

"We got caught up in a traffic jam. We are held up because of the car accident. I fear we might not reach any soon." I said.

"Too late Manya. I'm sitting with Avika and Riya in the mess right now. We told the warden that you are too tired to eat you won't be able to come back now. Where will you stay?" Trisha said equally anxious.

"What should I do? You mentioned Riya is with you guys right." That means I can't stay at her home. Why did this happen to me?

"I'm sorry Manya. This mess wasn't yours, to begin with. " Trisha said sorrowfully.

"No, it's okay. However, suggest some solutions. This traffic jam would take up a lot of time." I said.

"Don't worry we can do something about it. I have a solution." He said. I glanced at him. He kept quiet the entire time.

Trisha "..."

"Trisha I'll call you back," I said. Of course, she heard his voice. At least she doesn't know that I'm alone with him.

"What solution do you have?" I asked.

"Stay at my apartment." He said casually.

I was shocked. Utterly speechless. I know that he lives alone. It would be better if he had his family living with him.

"Hey, don't overthink. I would sleep in my room and you on the couch. Don't imagine unnecessary and totally absurd scenarios in your head."

"If you don't want to sleep you are welcome to pull an all-nighter. Anyway, you have already slept here so I don't think you would be that sleepy." He said.

Well, this guy has underestimated my capacity to sleep. I can sleep the whole day and whole night.

I was very nervous. But I knew he wouldn't hurt me. It was my intuition that he was safe.

"I'm scared and have trust issues. But I think I could trust you right, Mr President?"

"Yes, Miss Verma." He said and with that, he reversed his car and we went to the opposite way.

I had my necessary protections in my bag just in case. By the time we reached his apartment, it was already 9. And I was very hungry.

He parked and I went out. He led me to the second floor and unlocked the door on the right side. The building wasn't that tall. Maybe three floors most.

Entering the house I saw a couch, a table and a bookshelf inside the room which was considered a living room. On the table, there were scattered sheets of paper. Since the lights of the living room were flicked on I could merely see this.

"Sorry, I was studying last night and forgot to clean." He said rather shyly.

Apart from this, I couldn't see any other mess. It was different than I imagined.

"Aren't you hungry?" He asked.

"Very, actually," I said.

"Let me make some sandwiches as any food delivery will take more than 30 mins. I think you won't be able to stand that." With that, he went inside the kitchen. He always makes fun of me. I followed him to the kitchen furiously.

The kitchen was small and cosy. I saw him swiftly working his way to make cheese sandwiches. I did the same it was done easily a perfect snack. But I fear it wouldn't be able to satiate my appetite.

"Can I help you with something? I don't think a sandwich would be enough for me." I admitted. No compromises in front of food.

He chuckled. "I know, let's order take out. Eat this until the food arrives." Saying that he placed the plate in my hands.

I went back to the couch and started munching on the sandwich. He asked me what he should order my reply was what could be given quickly.

He laughed again

I heard him ordering 'the food which could be cooked and delivered quickly'.

He joined me on the other side of the couch to eat his sandwich.

We sat quietly. I remembered we ignored one another for a week.

"You know I brought your chocolates." He said suddenly.

"Where are they?" I asked remembering the chocolates.

"I ate them." He said.

"Then why are you telling me?" I was irritated.

"Why did you leave that day without telling me? I brought chocolates last Saturday for you." He said and I instantly regretted my decision to go without informing him.

"Sorry sorry. Can I get my chocolates back?"

"No. Moreover you should bring me some. I made a mistake, I promised you chocolates. You made a mistake, your chocolates got cancelled. Simple. But as I helped you today, you should do something right?" He said, smiling evilly.

I gritted my teeth. He is a devil.

I humped and continued to eat my sandwich. The doorbell echoed in the whole house.

Food really helps at all times. It's a great distraction. We are the food which was Veg. Biryani. It was good. Or maybe I was so hungry that all the food turned super delicious as it entered my mouth.

After eating we chatted a little and then he resigned to his bed. I got the couch as he told. He didn't even offer the bed once. The movies, drama and novels were all lies.

I was reading a book. A book from his collections. I don't know when but I was engulfed in slumber.

"She is the one, isn't she?" One of the boys said.

They started following me when I went out of the school. My home was nearby and I always walked. These days I walk alone. Not again.

They weren't far behind me.

"Stop you b*tch. Where are you running off? Everybody knows what you did." 

They were five in total.

Familiar fear gripped me. Their voices now muffled. I could hear nothing. I suddenly kicked one of them and tried to flee but was crashed on the road by the force of the other. I cried and shouted for help. But no one came. They laughed and joked at my pitiful state. I cried more and shouted to my full might.

"Manya! Manya. What happened to you? Wake up wake up." His voice and powerful shakes woke me up. I didn't realise I was crying. He was kneeling on the floor, his eyes screamed of helplessness and fear. No pity? I wondered. I leapt into those protective arms and cried. I dreamt this after a long long time. This nightmare didn't trouble me after those boys got punishment.

I calmed down. He looked at me with the same look. I wanted to tell him everything. I don't know why but I felt that he wouldn't judge me.

He didn't urge me to tell. I sat quietly as he brought a glass of water.

"Won't you ask me about this?" I asked.

*******************

Vihaan's POV

I was always a light sleeper. But today I was nervous as hell. I don't know why I suggested coming here. I never brought my friends for a party or to crash here when they are absolutely drunk. I couldn't sleep but I stubbornly closed my eyes but my mind showcased her face every time. I tried to fight back this but couldn't, at last, I stopped suppressing and continued seeing her different antics which were saved in my subconscious.

Suddenly, I woke up when I heard her screams and pleas of help. I rushed down the living room and saw her squirming around, face wet with tears. It felt as if my heart was squeezed by a fist. I touched her but she fought back. I sat on my knees, held her and whispered.

"Manya! Manya. What happened to you? Wake up, wake up."

She heard me and her eyes flew open. They contained nothing but raw fear and pain. I felt so helpless at that moment that it's indefinable. She threw herself in my arms and I mumbled words like "it's okay, it was a nightmare." These words which I never thought I would use. I wanted to know what was troubling her. Will she open up? She is like a mystery. Now even more mysterious than before. I thought these while I brought her glass of water. It's solely her decision to tell me. I shouldn't force her. After calming down she said.

"Won't you ask me about this?"

"No. Only if you wanna share." I replied.

"I want to. I didn't tell about this to anyone. Avika got to know about this from my mom and sister. No one other than she knows about this here." She said.

"Grip yourself, Mr President. Maybe this changes your opinion of me." She said staring at nothing.

Her eyes contained a multitude of emotions. Pain, embarrassment, self-pity, worry and fear. Fear of judgement. I wouldn't judge her whatever her past would be. In these days I have seen enough of her. I'm prepared and already made my mind. She is a cheerful sometimes hot-tempered girl who is highly sensitive but cold enough to send chills down the spine. This wasn't her choice it was what she did to protect herself. I understood this pretty well. I did the same or perhaps do the same, but coincidently we both were successful to break each other's wall in so little time.

She took her time to tell.

"It happened one fateful evening when standard my 12th began." She began.