Thoughts

"What the hell was that!" Arpit screamed as soon as he entered the room. Rian, completely unfazed, continued unpacking his luggage and shifting his clothes to the cabinet.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"For fuck's sake, calm the fuck down." Rian lowered his voice and stared at Arpit. "I just wanted to see her, and I did. Why are you getting so worked up?"

"Cause she asked me to find out more information about you! Like everything."

"Then why haven't you done your job and told me this?"

"I... Look, I was really having a bad time since I joined. The university actually told us to join a week before the classes start so that the students can adjust to the new system here, and I was a week late. So when I joined, I couldn't understand anything, the new rules, and the code of conduct. That got me into a lot of trouble. You see how I'm doing the assignment for everyone? I'm not alone. That's how it works here. You'll see soon! Though they've restricted the students from going outside, it doesn't mean there's no contact. A lot of shady things happen here, and to be safe from all that, I had an agreement with others that as long as I keep providing them the assignments, I'll be kept safe. And by 'them,' I mean first years! But as soon as you joined, I heard the rumors that they're wary of you. So I thought you might be the way to my freedom. It's really important to have connections here, and you just pissed off one person you shouldn't have." Arpit took some deep breaths to calm himself down. He looked at Rian, who was looking at the timetable on his phone. "Are you even listening?"

"Yes, I am. It was hard not to when you were continuously speaking. Just relax! My only motive was for her to remember my face. Nothing else." Rian said, checking the time on his phone. It was 12:23, lunchtime. So, I was not one, but two weeks late, he thought.

"Yeah, well, you succeeded! And to be honest, you wouldn't even have had to pull the stunt you just pulled. You're taller than 6 foot and by looking at you, you obviously work out. You're one of the tallest and most fit guys here, so it won't be hard for her not to remember you!"

"Well, either way, I don't care. Tell me more about the agreement thing later. I'm going to attend the classes now. I heard we have to maintain attendance here, or we won't be allowed to take exams." Rian spoke and moved out of the room, leaving Arpit behind.

"Oh, and please lock my room and keep the key with you. I'll take it from you later." Rian said and closed the door behind him. He started walking towards the stairs when he saw Dhairya coming out of room 604.

"Heard you pissed off Divya." Dhairya spoke, his tone more reserved and formal.

"Haha, yes. I'll have to apologize to her, I guess." Rian smiled and scratched his head.

"Well, I hope you haven't forgotten about the letter. This will be my first and last reminder."

"No, no, not at all. In fact, I was going to class right now. I'll ask around and find the girl you were telling me about. What was her name again?"

"Nysa, Nysa Menon." Dhairya spoke with a little smile.

"Ah, yes. I'll give her the letter as soon as possible."

"Good."

Dhairya was about to go when suddenly Rian spoke, "How much are the cigarettes? I asked around, and it was really hard to get one on campus."

"I didn't know you smoked. It's 30rs a cig. Is that above your pay grade?" Dhairya smirked mockingly.

"Hahaha, yes it is, but I can always ask my parents for more money. It's not like I'm earning it, hahaha." Rian laughed and took out a 50rs bill.

"You're a funny one! Here, take another one for only 20rs." Dhairya laughed and walked off after taking the bill.

𝘐 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘬𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯. 𝘏𝘦'𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴. 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬. 𝘈𝘩𝘩𝘩𝘩, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘺. 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯.

Rian turned and swiftly started walking down the stairs.