Are you OK?

She didn't try to move. Or to be more precise, nobody moved. Because the door was still locked. Some girls walked out with one of them muttering, "We gotta freshen up in washroom before the lecture". All of them were in tensed mood.

Three girls stood beside Ala who seemed to be frozen in place.

"Hey! What have you done?" I thought it was Sama.

"He seems to be frozen in place". Was it Shaan speaking?

I turned my head slowly in his direction. "What?"

"We will talk about this later", Shaan replied. But I noticed something odd in his eyes.

"What about?"

He laughed lightly. "Professor is coming, let's wait".

Two minutes passed...

Three more minutes passed...

It felt like eternity.

Some one behind me muttered, "Was that a lie?"

"Who shouted it in the first place?"

"Who knows?"

Ala came towards us with her friends. Hopefully, they were her friends.

Sana asked, "Are you OK?"

"I will be answering this question the whole day".

"What?" Sama asked clearly not hearing what she whispered.

But I heard her.

"No. Nothing. I was saying I am fine". Ala elaborated.

"So, your real name is Eleanor Shah?" Shaan wanted to be sure.

Eleanor nodded once.

"Some one is coming". Swapnil announced.

"Janitor", Mohsin added.

All of us laughed.

As he walked, he fished out a set of keys. Some of us greeted him to which he replied. He went forward to open the door.

"Hey", Eleanor waved her hand in front of me and Shaan.

I narrowed my eyes. She narrowed her eyes too, but she relaxed after that. "Umm.. Thanks for that".

Before we could answer, she turned and walked inside the hall. Her friends following suit.

"Let's go", I muttered.

The classes went by like a blur. My mind was somewhere else. I have known many brave girls. I have read articles stating the brave efforts accomplished by women. But experiencing it with my eyes was different.

There was definite vulnerability in her eyes, but she resisted. She even gone as far as slapping our senior. I suddenly felt the desire to clap for her, but I knew she didn't want it as well.

Shaan was sitting beside me taking notes. I sighed. I hated making notes. Shaan knew it and never forced me to do it anyway.

"That was intense", he murmured.

"It's not over".

He nodded, "Yet".

Last period was proxy and no teacher bothered to come. Some batchmates gathered around Eleanor. She remained seated in her seat. It was easier to recognise them with identity cards hanging down their necks.

"What happened last night?", Puja looked very concerned for her.

Last night!?

"We heard they cornered you in your room!".

What happened last night? Not living in the hostel had it's disadvantages like not knowing what's going on around here.

"Nothing much", she was calm.

"You should have completed the task given by them", Megha, who sat beside her, said that.

"What's going on? " Shaan asked with curiosity.

Richa disclosed everything, although she regarded Eleanor pointedly. "What happened in your room?"

"Hmm... It was rather funny".

She lowered her head, then raised to look at Richa. "They warned me to not tell this to anyone".

"You are lying", Mohsin didn't accept her statement.

"You guys!" Megha shouted at others. "It's already messed up, don't make her feel uncomfortable" She embraced her, defending.

Eleanor leant on her and sighed. "Let's go somewhere nice. I am craving for fast food or pizza or ice cream".

Laughter erupted from the group. Even I couldn't stop myself.

She pouted, "Ice cream... I can't think more than that. Please. Let's go after the class".

"That's not possible". Sama disagreed at once.

Eleanor blinked at her, but said nothing.

I had my suspicions about her bunking next last class. I sighed. "Let's go, sit". I left with Shaan and sank into my seat rubbing my temples.

"Tired?"

I smiled at his question. "Exhausted".

Together, we looked at Eleanor talking with others.

"Let's study something". Shaan prompted.

I simply joined him.

Only two minutes left for the last class, I wrote down last important pointer in my notebook and closed the book. "I am done".

"Ha! Why do I care to study with you?"

I smiled at him, "because I am your brother".

He smiled back. I glanced in the direction of my sisters and unintentionally brushing past Eleanor. I was confused, her seat was empty.

Eyes wide, I asked Shaan, "Did she really leave?"

"Didn't you notice?" He was incredulous. "Won't she get in trouble?" He added thoughtfully.

I shrugged. "She didn't ask for protection".

What could we do? We attended last lecture which was surprisingly interesting than others. Professor's name was Mr. Joy. He was friendly, calm, cracked a joke here and there. He even recommended some books to refer which I noted down with dedication.

After the class, I asked sisters to head out with others.

"Are we going somewhere?" Shaan raised his one eye brow.

"Library".

I could see him ready to protest, but stopped midway. Grabbing our backpacks, we headed out to Library which was in the top floor. After half way climbing the stairs, I could make out the balcony stretching in both directions to turn in the shape of U. On the right arm of U, there was an entrance for library and on the left arm, there was canteen. The two ends of U was closed with a solid wall with a big single window.

An old lady was sitting outside. On other side of the gate, a big open cabinet with various bags was there. Keeping our bags outside, we entered.

Library was huge. One big room that could take entire half cross section of the building. Each table with four chairs was arranged in rows and columns. Curtains closed and full lighting. Librarian was sitting beyond desk at the far end. I walked towards it with Shaan.

Halfway through, I felt Shaan nudging at me. I followed his gaze towards a person who was engrossed in studying. I narrowed my eyes at her. Eleanor. Wasn't it banned to study in library?

Without stopping, I mouthed at her. "What are you doing, here?"

She answered back, "Studying". And like that she turned back her attention towards the book.

Librarian didn't allow us to see the books up close. Instead, he gave us a catalog for all the books.

Shaan muttered, "I hate this".

We picked some books to check.

Librarian was adamant. "You have to issue it first, sign your names in the register. Return it before 15 days or reissue it and only two books at a time for one person".

We issued four different books. After signing, we walked out.

"Can't we study here as well? " I asked.

"We shouldn't push it ", He slung his back pack over his shoulders. He continued as he walked down the stairs. "We have already created a mess".

"Wasn't it necessary?" I was right behind him.

"No", His answer came instantly.

"Hey! What do you mean? "

"I mean, Shayan, making enemies this early isn't good for any of us".

"So you prefer cowering in fear of seniors?" I was little bit annoyed with him.

He kept his pace and didn't answer.

"You think we shouldn't help that girl".

"There could be a different approach". He turned to face me.

I stared at him. "What?"

"Let's go home and think what we can do about it".

I nodded in affirmation.

After covering the stairs, we walked through the main hall and were just crossing through the gate. I caught sight of Eleanor.

"Hey!"

"Don't be dramatic, Shayan".

"Then, look".

At the far side of campus, a thick belt of forest constituted as a boundary for one side which was situated opposite of the parking lot.

"What?"

She was gone! I scanned that place with narrowed eyes. There was no other movement.

"But...", I was out of words.

"Shayan, you ok?" He grabbed my shoulders and looked for any danger sign maybe.

I had to push him away. "Let's go home".

"You are the one who stopped me", he muttered, shaking his head.

I sighed and turned towards the parking lot.

Sana and Sama were already sitting inside waiting for us.

When we got inside, Sana elbowed Sama.

Shaan raised his eyes brows. While I only glanced at them through rear view mirror and started the engine.

"You gotta listen to this". Sama started.

Still unaffected, I moved the car slowly outside the parking area.

"She's in big trouble ".

My hands froze. My brain took a double retake. I hoped it was some other girl or some news in YouTube.

Shaan asked, "Who?"

My car was already out of the campus and we had not decided to go anywhere else except home.

"Eleanor Shah".

I stopped the car.