Chapter-2
1043 Words
"Oh, milky bar?"
"Hi," Jeet says in hesitation.
"You...you were hiding from me in past three days in my room only." Veer says.
"Why would I hide? I am not hiding."
"Why would you? Don't you remember what you did? Let me remind you."
Flashback
{"Mr. Shekhawat, what are you doing? It is prohibited to bully someone on campus. I am warning you. Do not repeat or I will complain to your father about it." Warden says.
"Not only that, sir. I saw they were smoking on the lawn." Jeet says.
"You were?"
"No sir,"
"No sir"
"Sir, check their pockets."
"Come on, show me. It is not tolerable."
The warden found the cigarettes in their pockets.
"Tomorrow morning, 10 am principal's office. Understand?"
"Yes sir,"...}
"Oh, that..." Jeet says.
"Because of you, I got detention. No one dares to complain against me. How dare you?" Veer is furious.
"But you were going wrong things."
"Huh, you don't know what's wrong things are milky boy. Now I got you."
A boy with specs entered the room. He was really shivering in fear.
"You, now you are free. I got a new maid." Veer said to him.
That boy was confused. Whether he should laugh or it's a trap for him.
"What? Can't you hear? Go..shoo"
He left, leaving me and Veer in the room.
"Milky boy, clean my room."
"What?"
"I said clean the room."
"I won't."
"Hm.. attitude haan. Then get out of the room. And as per I know, if you have to get out. You have no place to stay. Clean, or sleep in the garden. The choice is yours."
Jeet gets up. Walks out and headed towards the warden.
"Sir, what is the procedure to change the room?" Jeet asks.
"I told you, don't mess with him." Warden says.
"Sir please, I need to change the room. He is treating me as his maid."
"There is no room available."
"Can't you adjust me anywhere?"
"No"
"One room is there, no?" The peon says.
"No. That room is not for students."
"Why, sir?"
"I am saying it is not for you, that's it. No arguments." Warden's voice raised.
"That room is for students only. That room is closed for years. This kid wanted a place. Can't you help him?"
"Students say that room is..."
"Dirty? I will clean it. What you say, boy?" Peon interrupted the warden's words.
"Sure"
"Jeet, you are not getting it. If you change your room now, you have to stay there only. No other student will become your roommates. No one likes that room. Can you stay there alone? It's about only 3 months, bear it. Or else you have to stay alone for years."
"Sir, you want this kid to become a rich brat's servant?"
"I am not saying that."
"Sir, this is unfair. You are taking his side. How can you do that? You can't be biased. I can't tolerate this. I will write to your higher officer that you are not allowing me to change the room. I can't be his slave."
"Jeet Arora, you are overreacting. You want that room desperately. Fine, you'll get it." Warden says on Jeets comments. "Don't come crying afterward."
They made Jeet sign the form. Warden let Jeet first examine the room. The room was full of dust. Peon took the initiative to clean the room. The room was big enough. Had two beds, two tables, two wardrobes, perfect for two-person. The room's window was sea facing. None of the rooms in that hostel had a sea-facing window. It was an isolated room. Situated a bit far from the main hostel. It was inside the campus but outside the building.
After the room was set. Jeet walks into Veer's room with pride and gathered his stuff.
"So finally you decided to sleep in the garden?" Veer asked.
"I am going to my new room." Jeet replied with an attitude.
"Whatever, but I will make you pay for what you did."
"I am not afraid of you."
Jeet took his luggage and walk out of the room.
***
"Oh, my Oscar winner." Veer praise the peon.
"I did as you said. Now that boy is gone to that haunted room." Peon says while counting the money.
"Veer, what if he won't be scared of ghosts?"
"Sam, don't ever doubt at Veeraj Shekhawat's plan. My plan always works." Veer says.
"So what's now? We will wait for the ghosts to attack him?" Sam asks.
"There is a proverb. God helps those, who help themselves. So the ghosts will help those who will help themselves as well." Veer winks.
***
"I am eating Maa(Mother). Yes, I am eating every vegetable. The canteen is good. Yes...."
"Bam!"
"Ah.." Jeet got startled.
"What happened, child?" The voice from the other side asks.
"Nothing mom, a poster on the wall fell down."
"Maa, don't worry."
"Slam!"
"Huh?"
"Jeet? Son?"
"The window is open. That made noise."
"Son, you are staying alone. I am not getting a good vibe. Do you have the photo of Hanuman Ji(Indian God)?"
"Maa, I don't need that. It's too late, I need to sleep. I have an early morning class."
"But, son?"
"Maa, good night. I will call you in the morning. Bye"
"Bye, son. Take care."
Jeet closed the window and headed to bed.
"Slam!"
The window got open again.
"What's going on?" Jeet mumbles.
He stepped towards the window. The lights have gone off.
"What the..."He mumbles and turns to reach the door.
"Click!" The door locking sound came.
"What's that?"
Jeet rush to the door. It was locked from outside.
"Bam! Bam! Bam!" He tapped the door.
"Anyone there?.... I am locked inside?.... Sir...Anyone...please..." He calls out loud.
"Swwwiiinnnggggg......" A dramatic sound of windows swing came.
"There must be a power cut. It will be resolved soon. I can wait." He consoles himself.
With the help of the dim light getting in through the window, he gets into the bed.
"Bam!"
"Aaahhh..." He screamed.
"Book fell again. It must be the wind.....It must be the wind."
He draped himself in the quilt and didn't realize when he falls into a deep sleep while waiting for the lights to come.
- Writer
