Amidst The Chaos

~•~Chapter 2~•~

I collected the exam papers and was heading to the administration to submit them. I just then hit my foot on the corner of the door frame and all the papers slipped from my hands. I swear to god my pinky is born to get hit.

"Can't even walk properly now, can you?"

Instead of offering help to his colleague like an adult, he is here taunting me. Classic Naivedhya Singh Rathore.

"For a professor who has supposedly spent years in academia" He kneeled. "You surely take your time to form a complete sentence."

When I didn't answer and focused on gathering my papers.

"See, It was this easy." I said, The smirk visible on my face.

"What?" He looked confused.

"All you had to do was kneel in front of me and I would be delighted to bless you with my voice." Standing on my feet I gave him the sweetest smile ever possible to mankind.

"Excuse me?" Offended by my words he too got up. "Your shrill voice could give the sound of chalk screeching with a black board a complex."

"You were so eager to hear my shrill voice. I didn't come to you and ask why can't you walk properly. I was just on my way."

"Whatever! I just came to inform you that you will be submitting the answer sheets of students to me after you check them. I'll check them after you and then I'll submit them."

FUCK OFF.

"Sure." Giving a nod I walked off.

I submitted the unchecked answer sheets, signed off the invigilation formalities, and finally relaxed a bit in the staffroom. It was only a quarter to twelve yet. Chachu wouldn't be home until six. And Avinash? That boy practically lives everywhere except home.

The silence is unsettling there.

I don’t like being alone anymore. Not after that night. 

When I found someone in my house. 

Under my bed.

Even in this March heat, the memory gives me chills. The hectic schedule helps in distracting me but that dread never fully leaves. It waits for silence. For stillness. And it bounces back with double.

I saw his hands before I saw him. And sometimes I still see them. I still feel that crawling filth on my body. I know it’s not real. But I can’t shake it.

 What if it was them? What if they’re back? What if they try to hurt Avinash? I won’t survive it. I can’t. I’ve made my peace with our parents being gone but not Avinash. Not my baby. What if they take Chachu too? What if— 

“Ira madam?” 

“What if they kill me? 

“IRA MADAM.”

 I jolted. Dilip uncle was standing with a broom. Beside him Naivedhya, with that unreadable expression again. “I want to clean the staffroom,” Dilip uncle said. “Oh.” Naivedhya left wordlessly, heading to the locker room. “I’ll just grab my stuff,” I said, dragging myself to the door.

“Umm… Dilip uncle?”

 “Yes?” 

“You want to clean the staffroom, na? Can I sit in the locker room while you do? I’ll bring a chair here. You’re not going to clean both rooms at once anyway.” He nodded. “Okay, beta.” 

I found Naivedhya exiting the locker room with some admin files. He glanced at me and quickly looked away.

 Strange.