Rishi

I am back to my original self. For an year, I had been the kind of guy Sanjana would want, but I realized my efforts and sincerity had no value to her . She had been so blinded by her notions that she failed to understand me. On the other hand, I had developed a good bond with Pooja. My heart actually goes out to her, she had seen a lot for her age and I want to do as much as I can to help her. 

For about 2 months, Pooja and I have been meeting late evenings within the campus, with me helping her understand what are things which matter in the world of modelling. I have learned quite a few things through my mother and people around her. Mom shared few videos for Pooja to understand and learn the required body language. I know she cannot afford an extra expense in form of training so mom and I decided to pitch in.

It was one of such days , I asked Pooja to pose as I took picture. We would take numerous shots ,  select he best ones and then analyze what can be improved. This would help us understand what had to change, the ones we couldn't , mom would do.

''I am tired Rishi, can we do tomorrow.'' She asked sprawled floor like a toddler. I smiled. ''Think of your financial independence Pooja, I think its worth it.'' She nodded and got up to pose. I did few pictures and then we sat analyzing hem. ''These have come good, I guess best till now. Let me mail these to  Mom.'' Pooja nodded her face split into a wide grin. We decided to call the night , she gave me a hug and turned to leave but then stopped. ''Rishi, no one ever put any effort in me. My basic necessities were met and I was expected to be quite with some  currency notes thrown my way and expect no affection in return.'' I watched her silently, this is what she needed in this moment, someone to her her out.

She wiped her face, ''Thank you!'' That came in a whisper, in that moment she looked like a child. Taking a deep breath, I replied. ''I am your friend Pooja, you chose to trust me and I will keep it.'' She gave me a hug and I chuckled patting her head. 

''Pooja!'' A third voice took our attention. Pooja smiled. ''Hi Sanjana, we just finished.'' Sanjana nodded. She gave me an accusing silent glance. I Ignored, she had no right to be upset when she is he one who called me a wrong choice. Ruffing Pooja's hair once , I made my way out without giving her a glance. I will show her that what I am and I am no going to change for anyone.

I could feel her tense as our shoulder brushed, I stepped away. ''Move.''

She stepped away embarrassed and I walked off not looking back. I know there are stories about me being a womanizer and doing all stuff considered immoral as per the norms of society, then so be it. I am not going to change for any one. 

***

''Boys, this week we being t]or annual sports event, give your best. The best players will get a chance to participate in inter college event along with scholarship. Our coach announced. I was excited about the sports event, my eyes were set on scholarship money. I decided to target and win it at any cost, though, I don't need it. I could still use it to help Pooja. 

''Stop dreaming and start running, I need 10 sprints from all of you in next 5 mins.'' I jolted out, nodded and started the warm up. Jay jogged along by my side. ''be careful on the field, Kunal is looking to hurt you.'' He whispered.

I Just smiled. ''If he dares, he will never be able play again, I will make sure of that.'' Jay nodded. We always had each others back. For likes of Kunal, I am someone, who got things easy and had to do nothing. In short, my privileges made be eligible for all the hate. He had few like him have tried instigating me before but never to a point where I would lose my senses. 

Kunal has been holding the grudge against me for what I did to his precious car and I know it will come to full light during the matches. Coach called off the evening once we had nothing in name of strength. Jay and I made our way out to be stopped by most irritating voice of the millennium.

''Hey Handsome.'' I rolled my eyes at Ruby. Ignored and took a step ahead but she blocked my way, he palm pressing down my sweaty chest . ''What do you want?''

''You!''

''Not worth my attention.'' Jay scoffed. Ruby glared at him, she quickly moved her attention back at him, her lips stretched into a grin.

''The one you poured your attention on has rejected you like trash.'' She taunted. 

''Still, that doesn't make your worthy of my attention Ruby.'' This time it was a warning

''You have been insulting me for years Rishi, why can't you see how much I love you.''

''Yet, you tail me like a puppy. For the las time, I hate you Ruby. Your face , your presence makes me puke. How on earth should I make you understand that I don't like you.''

''Why?''

''Because you are Ruby.'' Jai made a bottle popping sound in support of my comment. Ruby was now burning in rage. ''Rishi, you will pay for this.''

''Bring it on, it will be your last mistake.'' Ruby eyes spat fire but now I was done, enough of ignorance and giving chances , now I will teach people lessons they deserve. Sanjana's words has something triggered in me and for now I have no clue how to calm my head. 

***

Post dinner, I decided to take another run inside the campus, I need this alone time. As I jogged around the campus, few voices took my attention. They were whispers, so difficult to make out who they. As I came close, I realized these were two girls who were performing some ritual to ward of a ghost. Well, no ghost would want to end their peace in after life. I kept myself hidden and watched them doing some random stuff and when they look completely lost I played a ghostly music on my phone. Being dark and lonely, made the song echo more . The two girls jumped , screamed and ran off. I watched them disappear into a block realizing that was H, Sanjana's block. How I wish i was Sanajna I spooked, but will get there. Now, I am curious of the stories in the block.

Sanjana

There is one story which has been constant about very dorm or hostel for years; 'its build over over morgue or cemetery. I had been hearing about these for about a year but tonight, it seems some girls heard ghost whispers.  We have had a new junior batch coming in this week and along with them , came new stories.

We heard lot of screaming and commotion in the corridor and decided to step out.  There were 2 girls, it seemed the air around them lacked oxygen and they were unable to speak. When enquired,  one spoke in broken whispers. ''End block....near the scared fig (peepal tree)..'' And she fainted. Our eyes went to the other one who decided to faint as well.

While few of us found it funny, there were others who had witnessed the same some months back or had a chance to cook the story. The warden was informed, and campus doctor did his examination, concluding they fainted of exhaustion.  The end block they mentioned is about 3 KM from our block and these two might have ran for their lives and were left exhausted. After the drama , we were asked to go back to our rooms. But the little incident had awaken the dormant stories on ghost encounters. It Seemed, all had met atleast one in their life time.

Pooja and I sat in silence in our common room and then smiled a each other. ''We haven't had fun in long time.'' I nodded. Since these were female dorms, CCTV were in main corridors or on the entrance. We decided to play a little fun game with girls.

It was pas midnight and we decided to step out of our dorm. Pooja had one of the worst singing voice and she decided to utilize the same today. We sat on a staircase, covered in white duvet and she started signing horror songs for good 10 mins. Our floor was quite, but we did hear some screaming from floor below us. 

''Who is there?'' Someone asked. I covered myself in the duvet, undid my hair , leaned on the staircase making sure only the white duvet or my hair would be visible.The girl screamed for her life running away like a scared mouse.  We collected our props and decided to disappear, curious of the stories next day. We laughed and the I hugged Pooja, yes I am jealous of her bonding with Rishi but it was me who made a choice. Plus, I am not the one to fight a friend over a guy.

''hey, are you fine.''

''I miss you a lot. You have been very busy.'' I confessed

She wrapped both her arms around me. ''I know, have been busy. But for next two weeks, we will have lot of fun. The annual sports event and end of it we have freshers welcome party. We didn't attend the one for us but we will go to this one.'' I nodded

''Do you think they will catch our ghost act?'' I asked

''No! But we will have lot of fun with all the stories.'' We hified. 

***

The next day was really eventful for us, and a little extra for me. The ghost whispers, what we decided to call, the thing has been the talk of the campus. The girls in our building did hear the ghost singing while others blamed the two girls for getting the entity along. 

But the whispers seemed to have reached other blocks as well and number of ghost sighting being reported across the different blocks. Pooja took a sip of her coffee and whispered. ''Girls and gossip''

But we were proved wrong when a table full of guys started sharing their experience about this campus ghost and their experience with it. We looked at each other and then went back to our tea. Guess, the theory about girls being gossip mongers isn't entirely true.

***

Rest of the day, the ghost remained the hot topic but what made my day sour was Rishi. I am sure he had some ghostly power. The man seemed to every where I am present. I saw him in canteen, then in class corridor; funny thing this isn't even his course building and then we got stranded in same elevator. I stole a glance at him and he kept staring at his phone, dismissing my presence. The doors slid open and few new students stepped in giving him the googly look.  He gave them a charming smile and I am sure they died then and went to heaven just then, while I was going to hell with all his indifference. I rolled my eyes and decided to get out the elevator two floors before mine. I was going to spend quite time in library. The intention was to throw him out of my head but seemed to have been settled there without any rent.

My breathing came hard as I  climbed  next two floors cursing my jealousy for ditching the elevator. After checking my ID and my bag was allowed in. I pulled out few books for my notes and then took a corner.

I tried to focus really hard but all that came to me was Rishi, him smiling at every girl and his hug with Pooja. I slapped myself lightly and a girl next to me gave me a shocked look. I smiled and went back to my books. Still, I couldn't concentrate. Finally, after a long hour I did some study feeling a little less guilty about my lack of interest in books.

''Hey, I heard there was a ghost in your building.'' A girl asked. I blinked at her and then decided to play along. ''Yes, we heard a shrill voice singing and someone even spotted it.''

''Do you believe they are real. My senior Ruby said that we should be careful as this place had Brit people buried under.''

I rolled my eyes bu decided to play along. ''That's the first time I am hearing this. Is your senior scared?''

''No, she looked very confident and said she can handle''

I huffed nodding and then added. ''I am worried he ghost might possess one of us and we might never know. What I have understood from movies that only ghost aren't' scared of another ghost.'' The girl nodded and looked thoughtful, I wanted to call Ruby possessed but can't do the directly. Hope this one gets a hint

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Sanjana thrashes the ghost