Chapter 60

2022.03.09

I stood in terror. I wanted to throw myself out of the window. I was going to be embarrassed. Was I not qualified? Did I get the message wrong? Am I blind or deaf or was I mentally unstable? Do I have a deadly disease? A girl behind me whispered, "Sick to be you." I was sweating like a spring now. "Anna Minier, I am terribly sorry for the wrong information. You are not in the Radiography department." Wait. That means everything was over? What am I going to tell my parents now? They will be hurt. Oh, damn! I clenched my hands to the point my finger nails dug in to my skin. "This is your letter." He held out a letter in front of my face. I rapidly took from his hands and opened to read it out. I was shocked. "You mean I should be in Dental department. I am going to be a dentist?" It was the first time I saw him smile. He nodded. "You sure that this not a prank or am I being ragged?" He shook his head and said, "You better get going. And say good bye to your class." He turned his head to Professor and took him out for a word in private.

I could not help but smile. I could tell the class was in shock. I threw my things in to my bag. Without heading to the door that was just next to me, I went and stood in front pf the class and gave a princess bow. "Goodbye have fun!" I winked at the end of sentence and flipped my bag to the shoulder and walked out in big steps.

"Sir, I do not know where is the Dental department." "It is at the east side of the University. It will take about thirty minutes by vehicle and one hour fifteen minutes on foot." My eyes almost escaped the eye sockets. "Wait, what? Then how can I get a ride sir?" "Since it was our fault and we should have at least contacted you beforehand, I will be giving you a ride to the faculty."

It was a mini car. I sat in the back seat and the head sat in the driver's seat because it was his car. "Sir, if you do not mind can I ask you a question?" "Go ahead." "Why did they chose me to be a dentist? I do know that my rank and cut off marks is absolutely low." "It was because three of the students did not show up for the interview. We have to fill the seats that are available. It is a rule. The ones who are in the ranks before you have not applied for the Dental which means we cannot give them the chance but only to the candidates who really applied for the course." "I sure am lucky sir. Thank you sir for the ride."

We came to my faculty. 'Dentist Anna!' Before the head rode off he spoke, "Give the letter to the professor. The lecture hall is number five. And the classes began day before yesterday, which means you missed two classes. Good Luck!" "Sir wait." I ruffled through my bag and took out a chocolate bar and handed it to him. "Thank you sir. And the blazer you wore during the interview was really nice and vintage. It suited you a lot sir. Have a good day sir." I ran off quickly to the lecture hall. I was late forty five minutes.

I was sweating very badly. Before I headed in I put on a little scent to get rid of the sweat smell. "Excuse me sir!?" I interrupted the lecture. He got mad in an instant. I quickly took out the letter and showed it to him. He frowned and came towards me and opened the letter. "Ah, yes. Head professor told me. You are a new comer right? After the lecture is over come to me and get your attendance checked." I nodded and sat in the front row without disturbing the class. I noticed that the whole class was filled with boys and only three girls. I was not planning to make friends so I was okay with it. I pulled out the audio and recorded the lecture and wrote some notes and drawing in a sketch book before writing it clearly in the book for reference.

After the lecture was over I ran to the professor to talk with him. He registered my name and my index number and talked to me. I asked him for reference book to study. And he listed some for me. I came back to the class to get the previous notes but the hall was empty. No one was there. I should get the notes next week. I messaged my father that my lecture was over and waited for him to pick me.

2022.03.14

I was slightly late to the class. My parents were thrilled when they heard that I was going to be a dentist and more than anything others felt it was unfair. They even claimed that I was not worth it. Daniel was shocked and finally he congratulated me. Sally said that I deserved it and told that not to worry about what others thought and to study hard to prove them wrong. And even I won in the novel competition and won 10,000 USD and also I was in an exclusive contract with a second website and I earned around 800 USD. I am keeping the money for future usage. I have not yet still though what to do with it. I only told my parents and asked them not to tell anyone because I did not want the people I know read it out open.

I sat on the front bench. I tried to talk to the girls but they seemed to avoid me. I did not want to disturb them anymore. I was sitting by the door on the left. I was checking messages and news in my mobile. A guy from behind me spoke, "You want the notes? "I turned to see who was talking to me. He was hellish handsome. He was neatly dressed. His watch glistened in the sunlight. Even he smelled so good. He was like very girls' dream boy. "No. I am fine." I turned back and watched my phone's screen. 'What is wrong with me? Why did I say no?' I was feeling a bit uncomfortable. I felt uneasy by his smile.

Professor came. A chubby boy came too. He stood and searched for a place. Like there was so much space. What was he thinking and searching for? The handsome boy clicked his fingers. I startled. He giggled at me and said 'sorry'. I did not answer back. I kept to myself. Professor asked him, "You are not going to sit?" He nodded in fear. Everyone was avoiding his gaze. I stood and showed him to hope in next to me. He smiled and came running towards me and sat beside me but a little far away. He was a little nervous. The handsome boy's friend poked the chubby guy. I watched him and our eyes met. I turned away without blinking. The friend stopped and concentrated on the studies.

The class was over. I packed my books and watched the chubby boy pack. "Hey, I am Anna Minier." He looked a bit unsettled. He was surely an introvert. I waited till he replied. He finally spoke after a minute or so. "Hi Anna. I am Steven Larchfield. Thank you for today's seat." "You do not want to thank me. This is not my seat." I smiled. "I really want your help. Can I get the notes from last week?" "Sure. You are new right?" I nodded. He started to trust me slowly. He was about to unpack his bag again and I was already late for my other lecture. "Hey Steven. How about you send me photos of the notes since I am in a hurry to go to another lecture." He nodded and took his notebook out. He was quite cute to be honest and a bit old-schooled. I wrote down my number on his notebook and said "Thank you. See you on Friday."

2022.09.15

It was almost the end of first semester. I and Steven became thick friends but more like siblings. We do not meet outside the University and if we do it is only study related. We do not text each other often either. We mainly used emails when sending any papers or notes. It was because Steven did not want other boys getting my number and he clearly showed the other boys that we messaged other only through mails.

"The gym and the diet is finally paying off huh?" I told Steven while I was feeding myself with a sandwich. "Yeah, I still have to lose more to get back to my old self." I smiled. Steven is a shy boy and an introvert but when you get closer with him it was so warm. He had put all those weight because of the lockdown and he was being a couch potato those days. And above all he respects you and was well-mannered. He was loyal and kind. He does not talk to others except for me about private matters. He made some guy friends but they are not that close. The girls talked with me so did the other university-mates. We just say good morning and bye. There was no bad blood between us and I loved it. And the hellish handsome boy turned out be a little playboy. He tried hitting on me but it did not work well. He is not bad but he is not serious of relationships.

"What do you think I should get her once she arrives?" Steven talked with food in his mouth. He has a girlfriend no more like a fiancée. He liked a girl in his cousin's wedding and he had tried talking to her but failed. Funnily the girl had approached him and asked his number. And you know all what happened next. And now the both families agreed getting them married. "Are you going to the airport to welcome her or to her house after she arrives?" "What do you think?" "Do we have lectures that day?" He nodded. "But only in the morning. And she comes home by the afternoon." "How about we attend the lecture. Go shopping and meet her at the house. I can tell a lie to my parents that I have another lecture and we can also get the things for the group project." he was dazed. "Are you sure that we can do all those in one day?" "Bro, it is not that hard. Okay now for the gift. What does she like?" "Do you think I will ask you if I knew what she liked?" "Ouch! Fine. Does she like accessories?" "I am not sure. But she wears them a lot." "How about we get her an everyday wear necklace?" "But they wear out very quickly. And they do not cost a lot." This guy does not know much about them. "What is your budget?" "Fifty US dollars." "You are a generous guy. Then see you on next Tuesday. And I will list the stuff we need for assignment and get some notes, I will also. I will send you through mail."

I was going on a day out with Daniel and some of his friends tomorrow. I am looking forward to it. It has been days I met Daniel. I sat down and started with drawing sketches for dresses that I like to create in the future. My heart has still not set on a single thing. Like I had no dream yet. There was a lot of things I wanted to try out. I did not know what sort of business to start before I become a dentist. The money was still in my bank account waiting to be released.

I have all sorts of plans. A cosmetic brand that has both chemical and natural cosmetics, a fashion brand, a small plaza? What about cute stationaries? Or perhaps herbal plants or spices? My parents kept saying reasons for it. Cosmetic brand is not easy. You need to get access to laboratories and contract, warrant. The fashion brand, everyone is doing it these days now but I was meaning an entirely different strategy; they are not ready to listen. Plaza, costs a lot and you cannot afford. Stationaries, you need to contact a factory. Spices, you need a huge land.

I want to start small. But I do not know from where. The import dresses was a failure but I managed to sell all the dresses. There was only a little profit and thank lord there was no any loss. I am still in search of an idea to start a small business and then grow it. I think the most passionate thing in my life is to be a CEO of a famous company that has around five thousand employees. My eyes are on a government building that was once a prison built by British rulers back in history. My mother said that it was a dream that will not come true because it was government's building and moreover my country is in a crisis state. The rulers are destroying the country slowly by slowly. Maybe just maybe there is this slight bitty chance to get that building.