The staircase
Seven black cars stopped in front of the main building, and around fifteen guards stepped out of the cars. After taking a quick survey of the surroundings, one person proceeded to open the door of the car that had stopped in the middle, and Sagrika stepped out. After a few minutes, Meenal and Arnav arrived with an envoy of almost the same number of cars and guards. Everyone was gathered at the main building to see what was going on outside. It was late in the afternoon and the children had already left the school, but the teachers were still present there as a notice for an urgent meeting had been circulated earlier.
After two minutes, Manya's car also drove in. She got out, went directly to her mother and hugged her, when Arnav voiced the concern that was going on in everyone’s minds.
“Minnie, how many times do we need to remind you that the two of you can't roam freely, just like normal college students?! You both are CEOs of top industrial groups, kiddo, there is always a risk regarding your safety. So please think about it.”
Manya let go of her mother and turned around with a smile, replying, “Don't worry uncle, I will be sa-”
She was in the middle of her sentence, when Arjun also arrived at the venue on a new motorcycle. The bike was expensive and stylish, probably a new model that he had bought in advance, before its launch.
Arnav just looked at him while Sagrika stepped forward and grabbed his ear. He grimaced as she pinched it, saying, “You both are really not going to listen to us!? One is still using her own car as a means of convenience, but you are a step further! When did you buy this new bike, spill?”
When she noticed his awkwardness and lack of reply, she sensed that there must be something wrong. She raised her eyebrows to prompt him, but he said nothing and just glanced at his parents and Manya standing behind Sagrika before returning his eyes to the ground. She got a hint about the problem and indicated to him that she would handle it, whatever and wherever he had messed up as she gave him a reassuring nod.
Arjun understood the expressions conveyed by his Maenu as he mustered a slight smile, and they all entered as it was time for the meeting to commence.
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After the meeting, Manya was busy talking with Arnav about her new plans and the next ventures and collaborations, when two figures by the window caught her eye. Seeing Arjun talking to her mother, a smile appeared on her face after getting a flash of last night's memories.
She thought of going over and teasing him about it, but before she could go further, her mother stepped away from him and came towards the place where Manya and Arnav were standing. Seeing this, the teacher they had met yesterday approached him.
Manya noticed that they had started talking; it was nothing unusual as Arjun had always been good with people and used to get along with everyone ever since they were kids, unlike her. She was observing their interaction from a distance, but she felt a sudden tug when Arjun gave a hi-five to her as he laughed out loud. She felt something weird, something that she was not able to describe to herself either. She was about to go over when her mother called out to her, and she had to turn around against her will. Despite trying to blink away the loud thoughts echoing in her head and focus on her mother, Manya was not even able to listen to what she was saying, all her attention was towards them.
After five minutes, Sargika finished her last statement and concluded with the question, "Do you agree?"
Manya replied in the affirmative, without having listened to a word and with zero clue what she had just said yes to. As soon as it was over, she turned around as her eyes tried to find them. But to her surprise, there was no one there; as if the two had vanished as soon as she had turned.
She took a few steps forward, and then quickened her pace to walk out of the hallway, to look for them. She didn't even know where to start, and was rushing down the corridor, when she came to an abrupt halt on seeing the staircase that had led to all the confusion.
She smiled and started climbing the stairs, recalling how Arjun was the one who had gotten his bone fractured while trying to save her. As she kept going up, more and more memories of her childhood were greeting her, and she greeted them back without letting her feet stop. Memories of scampering up the steps when they were late for class, and dragging their feet reluctantly when recess got over. She passed the principal’s office and smiled at the number of times she and Arjun had been summoned there due to their shenanigans, and then let off lightly, only to resume the same mischief! She realised that the third floor had been renovated, when she spotted another set of classrooms where the staff room used to be. Glimpses of secret meetings in the corridors, whispered conversations and excited exchanges of gossip came rushing back to her and faded away just as quickly as she kept on walking.
By now, she had almost reached the top floor of the building, and remembered that there was another portion of the rooftop that was forbidden to the students. The physics and chemistry labs were just underneath, and so that portion had been cordoned off for safety reasons. That portion of the building also had its own staircase to be used in cases of emergency, which led to a courtyard and the back gate of the building. But the two of them had left no portion of the school undiscovered, not even the forbidden ones. They used to climb over the partition to the rooftop, and then used the staircase to visit the courtyard to play and chat as they shared their lunch. She remembered how she had informed her Massi about it, and she had revealed her own secret- that they also used to sneak out from there, because of the old tree and its pleasant shade. Suddenly, a thought enveloped her in its black shadow, even as she approached the boundary wall of the roof.
*Everybody she loved in this lifetime had been snached away from her- what if something happened to Arjun as well? His smiling face came to the front of her mind as she recoiled with horror at the possibility of bringing harm to him. He deserved to live a long and healthy life, to feel loved and happy- and she was not sure she could give him that. No, she should not go near him.*
That was when somebody pulled her from behind, covering her eyes. She would have dodged and gotten away had she not been lost in thoughts; but when the touch brought her back to reality, she screamed out, “Who are you? Let me go!”
“No, I am not gonna leave you, not in this lifetime at least. So you would have to bear with me anyway! By the way, I have to tell you something really important…”
He said everything in a low voice, almost whispering against her ear.
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A/N- Hello my dear readers! I hope you are doing well. ( ╹▽╹ )
By the way, what do you think Arjun is going to say now? And if I may give something away- Manya has said yes to something, but even she doesn’t know what it is! Let me know what you think, sending my love to you all!
( ˘ ³˘)♥
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