I walked in the college premises with much better grip on myself, and with better clothes that at least exposed my skin and drew in some oxygen. The Hyzberda had perfectly darkened my skin up to four tones and let's say I was not looking ashen-faced anymore. Harun had seen me walking out with a backpack and blushed as he told me I looked beautiful.
I wore a light blue polo shirt with black jeans and tied my hair in a ponytail. It was as though I was starting anew because everybody in the campus was staring me wide eyed. Yes, I am a predator, I mentally eye rolled at them all, I am nothing if I am not good enough to lure you.
I have to admit that the walk to the class was one long route with even more whispers than yesterday. Did humans really have nothing better to do? I sat on my seat and heard some boy laughing and saying things like 'who said she'd die virgin? I think she'll have more than anyone of us in this life alone.'
"Oh hey, you look different," Meera's comment caught me off guard, "and ten times better than yesterday."
I looked at her and slightly smiled.
"You never told what you're called?" she asked
"Maya," I said
She blinked at me and chocked on her words as though she was kicked in the mouth.
"What?" I asked when it got uncomfortable
"Wow, you're voice..." she said cautiously, "...it's so sugary."
I looked down at my hand. Charming humans during the hunt was play, but this was getting ill at ease. If Pratik acts like this too, it will be too awkward for me to even look at him.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, "I am not a lesbian, if that's what you thought of me."
"No, that's not what I thought of you," I spoke, "I didn't mean to offend you by my silence, but I am not much of a talking type."
She let out a nervous chuckle. "Alright, but your voice really is as beautiful as you are," she said, "and no homo."
"Thank you," I replied smiling
She stood for another minute until she was conformed that I will not speak again. I kept on counting number in my mind, because that somehow kept me calm.
By the time that Pratik came to class, I had solved four trigonometric problems and was on five trillion, twenty six billion, ninety seven thousandth number. He sat all worried on his seat and did not even look at me. I tried to breathe as casually as I could but his scent was flooding the room and provoking me. Just when I about to dodge at him, Meera sat took her seat and rubbed her shoulder against his.
"'Sup best friend?" She playfully asked
"I can't happen to find my library card," he said, "what am I supposed to do?"
"I don't know," she spoke, "write an application for new one maybe?"
"I remember keeping it in my book," he explained, "how could it have a life of its own and disappear like that?"
I had completely forgotten that I was supposed to return his card and that too before he gets in to any trouble whatsoever. I looked at his appealing back, then back at picking up the counting in my head again.
By the lunch time, I was completely loosing it. Pratik had not once noticed me and it was even more irritating, to get the wrong reactions from wrong people. I was feeling way too exposed here, so much that I might get stalked as well. I sat in the football ground bleachers while it got swarmed by other kids from all different courses, trying to act natural but being way too obvious. I sighed in irritation.
- - -
I followed Pratik and Meera after college and to my surprise Pratik did not even seem aware of me all day. They both went to his house in his Black Vento and to be honest, he was a pathetic diver, with awful lot of speed that could have killed both of them. I yelled at him each time he accelerated on a turn but of course he could not have heard me from the distance I was keeping.
I climbed up on the balcony while they went in. I glanced in form the window and found Meera sitting on his bed as she wolfed down some food.
"You know, it's high time. I can really help you break this vow," Meera chirruped
He lifted his head up from his phone and glared at her.
"You're giving me a headache already, shut the hell up," he said, annoyed, "Please?"
"Why?" she pouted, "Don't tell me you'll never date? You're young and you should be wild and free."
He laughed, "Why are you so interested in hooking me with someone?"
"I am your best friend and I can't see your pain, simple."
"If only you could see, you'll see I am not in pain," he defended himself, "in fact, am very happy."
She gazed at him, "I know you're dying to be with someone. Meera would help you."
"Stop it."
"No, you stop it!"
"Meera..."
"Pratik?"
"Will you please stop it?"
"Will you please date someone?"
"If I say yes will you stop bothering me?"
She squealed in excitement. I gritted my teeth as she kept the plate on the side table as she jumped on him, hugging him awkwardly. She kept on saying something or the other in his ears like 'You won't regret this' and 'I am a perfect match-maker', but frankly it does not matter because he will not date anyone at all, and I will make sure of it.
Meera left an hour later and I was glad she did because she had given me a killer headache too with her constant babbling. But apart from all the talking, she was really very enthusiastic and her enthusiasm was contagious. I know she was a good friend, but he said things that took me by surprise.
"You make me want to beat the shit out of you," he said, "and you know it."
She grinned and said, "I am proud of it. I call it the Art of Annoying."
Once she left, he went downstairs and this was the perfect time for me to sneak in.
I quickly grabbed that photography book that was still on the same spot on his desk and slipped in the card. I did mean to come out after that and head back to the land, but his room was so welcoming that I did not feel like leaving just yet.
I walked up to his closet and opened slowly. His scent hit me list a gust of wind and I felt like burying myself in there. I took out every piece of cloth one by one and sniffed it so dearly that for a second there I thought his scent was soaking in me. I let his shirts fall on the floor but nothing was relevant now except this smell. I randomly picked up one black t-shirt of his and put in on top my clothes. I loved it, the way I had his fragrance on myself now. A weird ringing sound came from his bed for a brief second before ceasing. I turned to find the laptop screen glowing. I walked up to it and found a notification. I won't see it, I told myself, it could be something very personal.
And I did not. I was about to lie down on his bed when I heard him walk towards the room. I swiftly walked out on the balcony and he stood there flabbergasted. What have I done again?
"Maa?" he called
"What?" she answered almost instantly
"Could you come here for a minute please?"
He waited for her to come and when she finally did, her eyes widened with shock.
"Why'd you do that?" she asked, "The laundry boy ironed your clothes, and you just spread them around. I am not picking-"
"Mom, I did not do it," he said, "Who came to my room when I left?"
"No, you didn't. You're clothes just lied on the floor themselves, right?"
"I am not saying that."
"Are you alright?"
"Maa, I am not a schizo for god sake"
"No one came to your room Hun and better pick that all up," she said rolling her eyes and leaving
- - -