As usual, I got ready following my routine. Going downstairs, I met with Dadi, and again, the topic of marriage started. I can't even express in words how much I hate this topic. I just want to live on my own without any problems.

Why can't she understand that I don't want to get married? It's my life, and I want to live it according to me without any disturbance. I clearly told her that I am not going to get married.

Arriving at the college, I attended my first lecture. It went smoothly, and the students seemed to be attentive. After the lecture, I was heading to my office when I saw that girl again. 

She was rushing out of the lecture hall.

“Where are you going?” I don’t know why these words left my mouth. 

"I have something urgent," she said, her voice strained.

"More urgent than your studies?" I questioned.

"Yes," she replied, not offering any more explanation before rushing off.

I didn't say anything further as she left. She can skip the lecture—not only her, but anyone can skip the lectures. I would just give answers by cutting the grace marks. 

Entering upon, I was greeted by the students. Shifting my attention towards the lecture, I got busy explaining the concepts. My whole day passed as usual, the way I wanted it to—without any disturbance.

The time eventually flew to night, and right now I was sitting in the VIP room of a club.

In front of me sat my close friend Abhimaan Raizada, the only person I am close with besides my grandmother. Both of us were engrossed in a game of chess.

Abhimaan moved his piece, and I smirked, knowing exactly what his next move would be.

"You're predictable, Abhi," I teased, studying the board intently.

Abhimaan leaned back, crossing his arms. "And yet, you haven't won a game against me in weeks."

I chuckled, my fingers hovering over my knight. "I let you win a few times but that doesn’t mean I am lacking off.”

The atmosphere in the VIP room was relaxed. The dim lighting and the soft hum of music from the main area of the club created a cozy ambiance. It was a perfect escape from the routine of daily life and the constant nagging about marriage from Dadi.

"So, how's the new job treating you?" Abhimaan asked, taking a sip of his drink.

"Challenging but satisfying," I replied, moving my knight. "The students are decent, though some need a bit more... discipline."

“Don’t start again, Veer.” he laughed making his next move.

As the game progressed, we continued our banter, the worries of the day slowly fading into the background. For now, I focused on the game, determined to finally claim victory.

Time passed, and I finally won the game after a long time.

Abhimaan was my classmate, and I had known him for a long time. We had met a few times when I was in America. The reason we were this close was that a lot of our qualities matched with each other; he was as disciplined and punctual as I was.

As I made the winning move, a sense of satisfaction washed over me. 

Abhimaan chuckled and shook his head. "Well played, Veer. You finally won after a long time.”

I grinned, feeling a rare moment of lightness. "Even a broken clock is right twice a day, right?"

He laughed, clapping me on the back. "You've always been better at this game than you give yourself credit for. It's not just luck."

I didn’t say anything further.

"You know, Veer," Abhimaan said, breaking the comfortable silence, "it's good to see you relaxed. You should let yourself unwind more often."

I nodded, appreciating his concern. "I'll try. It's just hard sometimes with everything going on."

"Life's always going to be busy," he replied. "But it's the moments like these that keep us sane. Don't forget that."

I nodded.

Some time later, we left the club and went towards our respective places.

The Next Morning,

My day started off well. The first two lectures went smoothly, and I began to get a better sense of the students. Some were diligent and eager to learn, while others seemed to be passing time, uninterested in the subject.

During my second lecture, I scanned the room, looking at each student. Despite my better judgment, I found myself searching for that girl. She hadn't shown up today too.

I shook my head, trying to push the thought aside. It wasn't like me to be distracted by a single student, especially one who had already caused disruptions.

The lecture continued without any notable incidents, but a nagging feeling persisted. I couldn't quite place why I was so curious about her absence.

After the lecture, I returned to my office, trying to refocus on my work. I had a stack of papers to review and preparations to make for upcoming classes.

My gaze shifted to the screen of the laptop in front of me, which held the data of each and every student. I started reading through the academic qualifications of each student.

 Eventually, I arrived at the record of that girl, her name~ Saranya Oberoi. I couldn't quite put my finger on why she piqued my curiosity so much.

Her academic results were displayed on the screen. Her marks were subpar in the past few semesters in accountancy. She even had a compartment in the second semester.

"Wow, great," I muttered sarcastically under my breath.

She doesn’t have any good results, yet she still has to skip the lectures. Well, what can I expect from such students? I thought, a sense of frustration building up inside me. Students like her, who seemed to disregard their academic responsibilities, always irritated me. They might have the potential but lacked the discipline and focus necessary to succeed.

I closed the laptop and leaned back in my chair, contemplating how to handle students like her. Should I push them harder or let them face the consequences of their actions? I wasn’t here to babysit anyone; they were adults, responsible for their own futures.

With a sigh, I refocused on preparing for the next class.

………………………………………………………………………

Last night was a roller coaster ride of emotions. Seeing our mother fighting between life and death was definitely the hardest thing we have ever faced.

Even after the surgery, her condition was critical. This morning, the doctor told us that she is finally out of danger for now, but there is still a risk. Their words gave us hope but also shattered it. At this moment, she is fine, and that's all that matters.

Right now, it’s evening, and Vani di and I are sitting beside her bed. The steady beeping of the monitors and the faint antiseptic smell filled the room, but seeing Mumma's chest rise and fall steadily brought a sense of calm.

Our second night passed in the hospital as well, taking care of our mother. The room was dimly lit, with only the soft glow of the nightlight casting shadows on the walls. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor was both comforting and a constant reminder of the fragility of life.

Vani di and I took turns resting on the uncomfortable hospital chairs, our eyes heavy with exhaustion. But we didn’t mind; our focus was entirely on Mumma. She looked peaceful, her breathing steady, and that gave us a sense of relief.

As dawn approached, the first light of morning seeped through the hospital window, casting a gentle glow over the room. I stretched my stiff limbs and glanced at Vani di, who was sitting by Mumma’s side, her eyes red from lack of sleep.

The morning was a blur of doctors and nurses coming in to check on Mumma, their expressions gradually turning more optimistic. By mid-morning, the doctor who performed the surgery came in with a reassuring smile.

"Your mother is making good progress," he said, his voice warm and encouraging. "She still needs to rest and recover, but things are looking much better."

Relief washed over me, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. "Thank you, doctor," I said, my voice trembling with gratitude.

He nodded and left, leaving us with a renewed sense of hope.

"Mumma, how are you feeling now?" I asked softly, squeezing her hand gently.

She opened her eyes slightly and gave us a weak smile. "I'm better, Chiku," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Don’t worry about me. You both need to take care of yourselves too."

Vani di brushed a tear from her eye and smiled back. "We’re fine, Mumma. Just focus on getting better."

"Chiku," Mumma said after a while, her eyes meeting mine. "You should go to college. You can't neglect your studies."

I shook my head. "No, Mumma. I'm not leaving you. Studies can wait."

"She's right, Saranya," Vani di chimed in. "I'll stay here with Mumma. You go to college. She would want you to."

I hesitated but eventually nodded. Mumma was always the strongest person I knew, and if she could fight through this, I could manage to go to college. "Okay, I'll go. But I'll come back as soon as classes are over."

"That's my girl," Mumma said, her smile a little wider now. "Now, go get some rest. You need it."

I leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I will, Mumma. I promise."

Vani di gave me a reassuring hug. "We’ll be fine. Now go, and don’t worry."

I left the hospital with a heavy heart but a determined mind. The events of the past few days had been overwhelming, but I knew that I had to stay strong for Mumma and for di. They were my world, and I would do everything in my power to support them.

As I walked towards the college, I couldn't help but think about how life had changed so quickly. But with each step, I reminded myself that I had to stay focused and positive. Mumma's strength and Vani di's resilience were my inspiration, and I would carry that with me, no matter what challenges lay ahead.

Talking with my friends, I shared everything with them. They were genuinely concerned for me and my mother. 

Right now, I remained focused on Mrs. Jivya Rathee's lecture, fully engaged in the class. The lecture proceeded smoothly, and during the break, I went to the washroom with Tara. 

There, I overheard a few girls discussing how hot Mr. Singhania looked when he rolled up his sleeves during the lectures. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Their crushes seemed to change every week, from one person to another.

Entering the classroom, I took my seat and noticed Nitya lecturing a girl for something unknown. I rolled my eyes, not wanting to get involved in any conflict. I wasn't in the mood for it. If only others would speak up, maybe we could request a new head, but everyone else remains silent. 

And soon her attention turned back to me. I knew it. She always tries to provoke others so that I react, and then she can complain about me.

"Why were you absent for 2 days?" she asked, her tone demanding an answer.

I replied calmly, not wanting to escalate things with her. "I don't think it's necessary for me to tell you."

She insisted, "Yes, it's necessary. I have to report every student's attendance."

I remained silent, resting my head on the table.

"Miss Saranya, I am asking you something," she persisted.

Again, I didn't respond.

"Saranya," she raised her voice.

"Kya hai?"

I couldn't control myself and ended up yelling back at her as I looked up.

"Can you keep your voices down?" Mr. Singhania's voice from the door caught our attention.

His stern expression made me instantly regret my outburst. I straightened up in my seat, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration.

As he entered inside, he placed his laptop over the desk. His gaze meeting mine briefly as I slowly looked down at my lap.

Mr. Singhania's voice resonated with authority as he addressed the class.

"First of all, let me make something clear. Those who genuinely seek my guidance are welcome to stay. Others are free to leave and do as they please," he began firmly. "Secondly, I have zero tolerance for disturbance, as I've mentioned before. I won't repeat myself. It's imperative that you maintain discipline and punctuality in my lectures. As for the rest, it's of no concern to me." His words hung in the air, setting a serious tone for the class.

No words came out of my mouth. I don’t know why, but I felt like he was targeting me, though I didn’t say anything. Yes, I was absent for two days, but I had my reasons, and I didn’t want to explain myself to anyone. He got busy teaching, and I didn’t let my focus distract for the whole lecture.

The lecture passed, and two or three times, his gaze landed on me. But I stayed concentrated, not giving anyone a chance to find problems within me. I am definitely not a disruptive one, but yes, I get angry easily. Four more lectures, and I was free.

I really wanted my day to end as soon as possible so that I could go to my mother. A lot of times, I felt concerned about her, but my friends were there to lighten my mood.

Meeting my mother, I had a chat with her for a while. I sat beside her and let my di rest. The doctor has allowed us to take her home tomorrow, and we were both really glad for it. Right now, I was sitting on a chair with my laptop on my lap. My gaze alternated between Mumma and the screen. I was preparing for a test scheduled for tomorrow while Vani di was doing her work, sitting opposite me.

The night passed as we rested for a few hours.