My Possessive Beast Husband

2. College.

With a groan, I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed, feeling the weight of yesterday's scolding still lingering in my mind. I couldn't bear the thought of facing another round of reprimands, so I made sure to get up on time, determined to avoid any further lectures from father.

As I went about my morning routine, I couldn't shake off the feeling of disbelief at the unusual calmness in the house. Everything seemed fine, almost too fine to be real. Had I stepped into some alternate reality? I had to confirm that this was indeed my house, so I pinched myself to dispel any doubts. Surprisingly, my father didn't utter a word of reproach or scold me as he usually did. Instead, he appeared distracted, lost in thought, which only heightened my concern. I wanted to inquire about what was bothering him, but I knew better than to provoke him. Instead, I focused on my chores, helping my sister with the household tasks, especially since Mom was sick. Exhausted from the chores, I retired to my room to prepare for college, only to be interrupted by my sister's entrance.

"What's going on?" I inquired, noticing my sister's distracted demeanor as she entered my room.

My sister, much like our mom, had a habit of keeping her thoughts to herself. Even though we shared everything with each other, she had a protective instinct that sometimes led her to withhold information. She was well aware of my troubles with Rahul, as I had confided in her about his persistent advances and my fears surrounding them. After my rejection of his proposal, Di was more concerned than I was, advising me to be cautious around him. She understood our lack of support at home and knew that if anything went wrong, we couldn't rely on anyone else. She had always been my strongest support, truly the best sister anyone could ask for.

"Don't you find Father's behavior rather odd today?" she expressed her concern.

"Yes, I observed the same thing. Do you have any idea what's going on?" I inquired.

"I don't know what's happening, but did you notice that Mom is unwell today?" she revealed, her voice tinged with concern. "I made tea for him, and he didn't even inquire about her. He just took the tea I made. I was nervous to prepare it for him in the first place, but I did it because I was worried Mom would be disturbed otherwise. It was as if he was in another world."

It was certainly peculiar because he usually only enjoyed Mom's tea, and the fact that he didn't inquire about her added to the oddity of the situation. Normally, he'd be upset if we made his tea. There had to be something going on, but what?

As I got ready for class, thoughts raced through my mind. It was already 7:15, so I swiftly dressed, opting for a long red Kurti that fell just below my knees paired with black leggings. I tied my hair up into a ponytail, adorned myself with earrings, and continued with my preparations. I decided to forgo makeup today; after all, I still looked presentable without it.

"Are you all set?" Di's voice interrupted my thoughts from behind. I nodded in response. She always had a knack for reminding me of things, knowing my tendency to be careless. With that, she exited the room.

A short while later, I emerged from my room and made my way to the dining table, where I found Mother serving breakfast. I was taken aback to see her there.

"Mom, what are you doing here? You should be resting in bed. We've taken care of everything, so you don't need to worry. Please, go and get some rest," I urged, hoping she would heed my advice. After all, she was my mother.

"I told her the same thing, but she wouldn't listen to me. Maybe you'll have better luck," Di remarked wearily as she joined us at the dining table.

"I'm fine, just a little under the weather. Don't worry about me. It's almost time for you to head to class. Eat your breakfast and go," she reassured me with a smile, despite her obvious illness. With that, she began serving me breakfast. I accepted it gratefully, bidding Mom and my sister farewell before heading out to grab my scooter.

"Hey, drive carefully and be safe," Di called out as she followed me out of the house.

"Will do," I responded with a smile.

Di was much like me; she never really made any friends and rarely ventured outside, usually accompanying Mom on household shopping trips. I felt a pang of sympathy for her, but I couldn't dwell on it too much considering I was in a similar situation myself.

On my way to school, I couldn't shake off the strange start to my day. Surprisingly, Dad hadn't delivered any of his usual lectures before I left for college. It felt like a good omen, and I couldn't help but feel happy, although Mom's health concerns weighed heavily on my mind.

She looked really unwell, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we should take her to the hospital, even though I was certain she wouldn't agree to go. Di and I would have to convince her, and we would do so once I returned from my classes. Lost in my thoughts, I arrived at the gate of my college. I parked my scooter in the crowded parking lot and headed straight to the canteen, where my friend was waiting for me.

However, amidst the bustling crowd, I couldn't spot her. It was Sapna who eventually found me and waved me over. Spotting her, I smiled and made my way towards her. Thankfully, there was an empty seat beside her, so I settled in.

"So now you decide to show up for class," she grumbled, rolling her eyes. Oh no, she was clearly upset with me. This wasn't going to be easy. I knew exactly why she was saying that, but I attempted to play innocent.

"But I'm here on time," I countered with a smile, though she saw right through my facade. Why was I so terrible at acting?

"I know why you're always late. It's because guys are always drooling over you," she stated, narrowing her eyes at me. She was spot on. I hated being the center of attention, so I purposely arrived late to campus to avoid it. It also helped me steer clear of situations with Rahul, which had happened one too many times.

"You know me better than I know myself," I confessed with a bright smile, appreciating her perceptiveness.

"Yes, that's why I'm your best friend," she replied proudly.

"Are you going to grab something to eat?" she asked.

"No, I already ate at home," I responded. She placed her order as we continued chatting. Eventually, she brought up my absence from campus on Saturday. I fabricated a lie, claiming that I couldn't make it because my mother wasn't feeling well and I had to assist my sister with household chores.

"You know, when you weren't here on Saturday, it felt like the campus had lost its sparkle. All the guys were asking about you," she teased, glancing over at the guys who had been eyeing me.

"Do you see how they're all eyeing you?" she chuckled.

"It's not like that. You're just overthinking it. There are plenty of other girls in this canteen. Why would they be looking at me?" I attempted to deflect, but she saw right through my tactic.

"We all know those girls may look beautiful, but they've got layers of makeup on. Whereas you, you're absolutely stunning without any makeup," she remarked loudly enough for those around us to hear. The other girls at our college didn't particularly like me, for reasons I couldn't fathom. That's why Sapna was my sole confidante; she was the only one I conversed with. Despite numerous attempts by boys to engage me in conversation, I paid them no heed.

"Please, let's not stir up any trouble. I don't want to ruin my morning," I pleaded with her, and she relented.

As Sapna regaled me with stories about her boyfriend, our laughter filled the air. Suddenly, a woman approached us, offering a greeting before informing me that the pricipal wished to see me in office.

"I'll be there in a minute," I assured her with a smile, and she reciprocated before departing.

"I'll be waiting," Sapna replied as I prepared to leave.

I couldn't fathom why Mr. Pavan Kumar, the college president in his fifties, wanted to see me. He wasn't known for his pleasant demeanor, often scolding students for the smallest of infractions. His abrasive behavior had earned him the disdain of many, Sapna included. Surprisingly, he had never raised his voice at me. Perhaps he was wary of the student union, though I wasn't certain why. I approached his office, taking a moment to compose myself before knocking on the door and entering.

Upon opening the door, I found him standing near the window, observing the activity in the campus.

"Good morning, sir. You requested my presence?" I inquired, offering a small smile.

"Yes, please, have a seat," he responded in a soft tone, though there was an unmistakable unease in his demeanor. He appeared disturbed and apprehensive—a stark departure from his usual demeanor. It was the first time I had seen him like this, and I couldn't help but wonder what was troubling him.

"Pooja, I'm certain you're aware that tomorrow marks our annual function. However, there's been a sudden change of plans. We've just learned that the function cannot be held on campus. This revelation comes at the eleventh hour, despite the meticulous planning efforts undertaken by you and the rest of the student union. It's crucial to understand that the guests attending tomorrow's event are not ordinary individuals. Any missteps during their reception could have dire consequences. I acknowledge your exemplary leadership as the student body president, but we cannot afford even the slightest error on your part. Any oversight could pose significant risks to the college, especially with regards to our esteemed chief guest," he explained, attempting to maintain composure, yet the fear in his eyes was palpable. He seemed terrified at the mere thought of mentioning the chief guest's name.

"There won't be any mistakes from me. You don't need to worry," I assured him, injecting a healthy dose of confidence into my tone. Welcoming guests and enjoying the function wasn't such a daunting task after all. He smiled gratefully in response.

"May I take my leave now, sir?" I inquired.

"Yes, you may. Your Head of Department will provide you with further instructions," he replied with a smile. As I rose from my seat and made my way towards the door, he halted me with a sudden query.

"By the way, do you happen to know who our chief guest is?" he asked, his eyes betraying a deep-seated fear. Beads of sweat formed on his brow, his anxiety palpable. It seemed as though revealing the identity of the chief guest would spell his demise.

Meeting his gaze, I responded, "No, sir, I'm not aware of the identity,”

I exited the office and encountered Sapna waiting outside. Curious about my conversation with the principal, she inquired about the details. Without hesitation, I recounted the encounter to her. Much to my surprise, she reacted with equal astonishment.

"This chief guest must be quite the character if they managed to scare the old man," she quipped, a laugh escaping both of us. As we approached our classroom, she broached another topic.

"So, you're still coming over to my house next Sunday, right?" she asked suddenly, her smile faltering. My heart sank at her question, as memories from a month ago flooded my mind. Trembling with fear, I scrambled to fabricate an excuse.

"Sorry, yaar, I won't be able to make it. My father won't allow me to go out two weekends in a row," I lied, watching her expression fall as she pouted. I had promised her we would go shopping, and I could sense her disappointment as we proceeded to our classes.

As we made our way to the canteen during our lunch break, Sapna and I engaged in light-hearted conversation, sharing laughter over some anecdote. Suddenly, a presence behind me caught my attention, causing me to turn and find myself face to face with none other than Rahul. A twinge of nervousness gripped me as I took a step back in surprise. It seemed Rahul's day wouldn't be complete without bothering me, I mused inwardly, feeling a sense of exasperation. His gaze lingered on me, as if I were his favorite meal and he hadn't eaten in weeks.

"You should smile more often; you look sexier when you do," he attempted to flirt, his eyes locked onto mine. Sensing Sapna's impending intervention, I quickly intervened, signaling her to hold back. I didn't want to escalate the situation. Stepping away, I distanced myself from Rahul's advances.

"What do you want?" I asked, my frustration evident in my tone.

"A simple question with a simple answer: I want you in my bed, baby," he replied crudely, his eyes filled with lust as he shamelessly appraised me from head to toe. I detested men like him—did they have no better pursuits than to harass and impose their unwanted advances on girls? Despite my inner turmoil, I managed to maintain a composed facade as I responded.

"Sorry, I'm not interested in joining you in bed," I stated firmly, offering a tight-lipped smile before turning on my heel and striding away. Engaging with him was suffocating, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me as I entered the canteen without looking back. Though terrified, I had faced him head-on, and that was a victory in itself.

Arriving at my doorstep by 3:00 pm, I noticed the absence of my mother. Presuming she had ventured out with my sister for errands, I made my way to the solitude of my room.

The weariness of the day weighed upon me, prompting me to indulge in a refreshing glass of water before succumbing to the allure of a two-hour nap—a ritual I faithfully observed upon returning home from school. Awakening from my slumber around 5:00 pm, I emerged from my room to find Mom in the hallway, busily packing her belongings into a bag.

"Are you going somewhere?" I inquired.

"Yes, your father and I are going to visit a relative. Your sister will be staying here with you, so there is nothing to worry about," she reassured me, understanding my apprehension about being alone at home.

"I wish I could take you with me, but with the annual function tomorrow, you can't come along," she expressed with a tinge of regret. My own disappointment mirrored hers, knowing I would have to endure a few days without Mom's presence.

"No, Harsha will come with us," Father's sudden announcement startled me. I hadn't realized he was standing behind me until his voice broke the silence. All of us turned to him in surprise.

Did I hear correctly? Why did he want to take Di with him? He knew well my fear of being alone, yet he still made this decision.

"But father, how can I be left alone for two days?" I asked him, trying to sound nonchalant despite my rising anxiety. I met his gaze with a surprised expression, hoping to appeal to his understanding.

"Why not? You can go to your college campus alone, so why can’t you be home alone when you have been living in this house for 22 years?" he retorted, his tone laced with taunt. His words stung, and I felt a wave of sadness wash over me. How could he do this to me? How could he leave me home alone?

"Go and pack your things, Harsha," he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Resigned to the inevitable, I followed Di to our room. She began packing her clothes, and I joined in, trying to push aside my feelings of abandonment. She glanced at me with a pout, mirroring the unease I felt.

"I’m sorry, Pooja. I don’t want to go, but I have to. You know how Dad is," Di acknowledged with a pout. I understood her predicament and nodded sadly. Outside, Mom was pleading with Father not to leave me home alone, but he remained unmoved by her pleas.

Later, Mom, Dad, and Di left. As they departed, Mom and Di gave me sad smiles, but Father didn't spare me a second thought. Closing the door behind them, I retreated to my room. There, I allowed myself a moment of vulnerability, shedding a few tears at the prospect of being left alone.

To distract myself, I kept busy. I snacked, worked on assignments for my classes, and spoke to my HOD over the phone about tomorrow’s function. She emphasized the need for me to arrive early. After hanging up, I took a shower, bypassing the effort of making dinner and opting for more snacks instead.

As I settled into bed, the emptiness of the house weighed heavily on me, amplified by the absence of Mom, Dad, and Di. Despite my efforts to push the thoughts aside, the words of the principal echoed in my mind, casting a shadow over the night.

As I lay in bed, the image of the chief guest kept intruding upon my thoughts, stirring up a sense of curiosity and unease. It was unlike me to fixate on such matters, but there was something about the mysterious figure that intrigued me.

Despite my attempts to push the thoughts aside, they lingered, gnawing at the edges of my mind. I couldn’t shake the feeling of apprehension, wondering who this man was and why he inspired such fear in our college president.

Attempting to calm my nerves, I reasoned that he was likely just another unpleasant individual in a world full of them. I resolved to put the matter out of my mind and focus on getting some much-needed rest.

Curling up with my pillow, I finally drifted off to sleep, hoping to find solace in the embrace of dreams.