'Zombie in streets.'

Sambhavna

2020

I didn't want to get out of my bed let alone get out for college the next morning. I dragged my feet, one after another as I walked to the campus. The morning air didn't help me and the hum of city noises hammered through my head and my eyes were fixated on my feet-one step and then the next.

My mother barely noticed my existence, I knew she wouldn't care if my hair was on fire and my father was so excited for my first day I had to put on a show and make stories of my grand success. I barely slept through the night and I was certain I looked like a zombie in the streets of Colaba.

There weren't many students around when I made it to the lecture hall. I decided to grab a seat in the middle row instead. I didn't have the mental energy to face those girls again or cross them for that matter. Setting my notebook on the desk, I browsed through the digital library on my tablet and began to read the course details silently for the next few minutes.

There were another couple of minutes for the lecture to commence so I shut my tablet and placed it back in my bag carefully. "Good morning." A man sauntered into the hall and I averted my gaze on him. "I wasn't expecting anyone yet." His smile was contagious-so...full of life.

"Well, I don't like being late for the sessions so..." I fidgeted with a loose strand of my hair and looked away. "Good morning though." I looked at him and he nodded. "Oh, by the way, you don't wanna sit in the front row," I told him and leaned back to my seat. "But you probably know that since you're in this class."

He held on to his messenger bag and stepped forward with a frown. "Why? What's with the front row?"

"Except some mean girls with egos bigger than this hall, nothing." I shrugged offhandedly and he arched a brow in realization. "It's nothing. You're probably friends with them." Shit. I shouldn't have said anything. I was only stirring shit even further. "They are cool though." I decided to sidetrack to sew things up instead.

"If they are so cool then why do you look so out of sorts?" My attempt had backfired remarkably and I was jittery all over again. I remained silent and bowed my head down to hide my wince. I was so freaking stupid. "Did they hurt you?"

"No." I snapped my gaze at him. "It's nothing. They don't hurt anyone." Trouble was the last thing I wanted to invite and rehashing any of the events from the last day was only going to drag me in further. "They are nice people. Just a little...I don't know rude, I guess."

"Bullying is a serious offense, you know that right?" he asked and I looked away. "More like harassment. If things go out of control and they get violent then you'll have to do something about it." Why did it feel like he already knew about things? Probably because he was friends with them and maybe he knew what they were capable of.

"Have people around here often been violent?" I asked him curiously and he backed away from the front row. I waited for his response and a fellow student wandered into the hall.

"I wouldn't know," he told me and shrugged. "It's my second day here." That seemed interesting. I wondered what was his reason behind a mid-season transfer.

More and more students started to show up and I smiled at him. Maybe I did have a shot at friendship. The goth queen was the last one to make it to the hall. Her hazel gaze landed on me and I ignored her as she took her seat in the front row.

"Alright, guys." The charming man set his messenger bag on the professor's desk and I gulped the tight lump in my throat slowly. "I'm Mayank Saxena, your new professor for this semester." Shit. Oh shit! All the while I was speaking with the goddamned professor? He didn't even look like one.

I wanted to shrink to the floor and get invisible from his piercing eyes. I was cursed.

*

I had fixed myself a sandwich in the morning and packed it for lunch. I didn't want to wage a war and I certainly didn't want to bump into those girls so I stayed back in the hall and indulged in my sandwich while watching a movie commentary on my tablet.

"What are you doing?" An alarming voice echoed through the hall and I glanced at the threshold of the room blankly. "Why are you eating in a lecture hall?" She sauntered inside and I paused the video on my tab. "And why are you alone? Don't you have any friends?" She was so beautiful-like an angel and her voice...she sounded like one too. It was the first time a fellow student wasn't being obnoxious to me and it made me smile.

"Actually I don't," I told her and giggled. "I'm new around here so I thought I could use some time off."

She searched my face for a beat before she nodded slowly. "Is that right?" She looked around and then at me. "Well, in any case, you shouldn't be alone. Why didn't you try making friends? I'm sure you'd find your tribe. Everyone has one."

"Right," I muttered after I swallowed my food. "I don't think this campus has anyone who'd be interested in being friends with me."

Her perfect lips curved into a smile and she tucked her hair behind her ear before she held her hand out. "In that case, let me fix that! I'm Vaanya Mittal." I thought that name suited her. She had a beauty that was so rare and regal. Her features were sharp around the edges but altogether made the most delicate of features.

"Sambhavna Gupta," I told her and shook my left hand since my right was occupied with the food. It was a clumsy move and it made her giggle.

"Well, it's nice to meet you Sambhavna," she said. "Welcome to Caliber Sigma. If you ever need anything, just let me know okay? We don't share the same lectures but I'm often around and quite resourceful."

"Huh. How so?" I dug into my food and she took her seat across me.

She smiled. "Hm, for starters, my mother is one of the board members of this University-"

"And that makes you practically untouchable," I finished her sentence and she giggled.

"That's one way of putting it, but my mother isn't the only one."

I arched my brow questioningly. "You mean there's more?" Where were these people and why wasn't I friends with them already?

She nodded and chuckled. "Yeah, you should meet my friends. Our families run this city, including this college." I thought that was amazing but it also gave them the kind of power that made them dangerous and invincible.

"Well, aren't they waiting for you in the cafeteria?" I shot instead and her smile turned into a frown. "You've been here for a while now."

"Crap!" She pushed to her feet and grabbed her purse from the seat. "I have to go but I hope to see you more often in the cafeteria and I'll catch you later."

"Yeah and thanks," I told her as she began to walk out of the class gracefully. "Bye." She waved her hand in response and I got back to tuning into the movie commentary.

*

I slung my bag and stepped out of the lecture hall, it was almost empty because I was the last one to get out. I didn't like to push through the crowd so I liked to wait until everyone else was gone so I could finally move at my pace.

I was excited and happy about the fact that I had finally made a friend and also made an impression on the professors. I scrolled through my phone to book a cab and the next thing I knew, my shoulder hit the marbled floor with a sickening thud, and a blinding pain jabbed through my socket. My knee too had landed on the floor and started to ache.

It took me a minute to register what had happened and the aftermath. A few of my peers were laughing-howling and the goth queen grinned insidiously, her beautiful friend chewed the gum and flashed her brilliant smile as though it were a comedy show.

I thought I did everything in my power to ignore them. I struggled to rise back to my feet and E clicked her tongue. "Oh sweetie, did that hurt?"

"Like a bitch, isn't it?" M couched down to lean closer to me.

"Why are you doing this?" I snapped at her.

"You should be thanking me for making your trip on the floor, it could have been off that banister too, you know?"

"So now you resort to death threats?" How wasn't she in jail already? She deserved it. "How classy."

Her jaw clenched and E jostled her away from me. "Enough with that," she demanded and lent me hand to get back to my feet but I ignored her and finally rose to my feet.

I stepped back because the burn in my knee was acute. "Why can't you guys leave me alone?"

"We will," E said and I looked at her. "But you have to agree to be one of my minions." What did that even mean?

"You sure have a knack for the cartoons," I scoffed and looked away. "I'm not interested and if you don't stop this-"

"Or what?" M bit out acidly. "You'd run to your daddy and tell him how much people around here trouble you? Get him to expel us?" She threw that familiar mockery back at me that I had thrown in her way the other day. That was so juvenile and petty.

"Actually I might do just that." It didn't offend me to run to my father for help.

E snorted and crossed her arms. "Good luck trying that one out." She stepped closer to me and I backed away instinctively. "If you manage to so much as try to expel us then I'll make sure your family is banished from this little town."

"And who are you to decide that?"

"The daughter of the Mayor," she told me and my gaze lowered. I did mess with the wrong kind. My family was in no condition to relocate on such short notice and this was supposed to be a fresh start for us. "That gives me some power, doesn't it?" She winked at me and I exhaled harshly.

"Please get off my back," I pleaded instead and she rolled her eyes. "I don't need to be a part of this."

"Are you kidding me?" M cackled and walked to me. "This was the warm-up, bitch and you're groveling already?"

"Either you be one of my minions or you stay under our radar," E told me impassively and batted her lashes. "You decide."

"Neither," I muttered and picked my bag from the floor. "Some of us have a life and you should get one too." I was on my feet before they could say another word.

The laughter and the jeering of my peers echoed in my head in a loop as I hailed one of the local cabs and got back home.

*

That evening I locked myself up in my room with heating pads around my shoulder and knee. I pushed myself to hope for the best. I forced myself to be alright and pretend like it didn't affect me that I was nothing but a toy to them. I didn't even know their names and they were after me for god knew what obscure reason.

I was browsing through several websites and a random pop-up caught up my attention. I clicked on it and it prompted me to sign up. It dawned on me then that it was a live streaming platform. I quit and closed the tab immediately before clearing the caches and deleting the history.

I yelped to the series of bangs on the door and cursed under my breath. "Bhavna open the door," Ma demanded and I groaned lowly as I got off the bed and limped to the exit.

"What is it?" I asked after unlocking it and she searched my face silently. I grew flustered. "Ma-what's go-what is it?"

"Your father will be leaving town for a few days and he's asking for you," she told me and I nearly sighed. She almost scared me. "Why was your door locked?"

"I was making notes," I lied and stepped out slowly. "No big deal."

"It better not be because we can't afford you fucking up too."

"Ma," I snapped at her icily and she rolled her eyes. "Will you ever stop antagonizing your husband?"

"Why should I?" She began to saunter to the living room. "It's not he cared while he was embezzling funds out of the companies."

"I really can't deal with this," I bit out under my breath and walked to the dinner table where my father was. His smile instantly melted my heart and I kissed him on his cheek. "Heard you're leaving."

"Yeah darling, I have to go meet with a few people for business," he said as I took my seat. "I figured it would be better to deal with people outside the country."

"Shouldn't you wait for the charges to drop? It isn't exactly credible or safe to be doing business under the circumstances."

"That's true," he said thoughtfully and Ma started to serve the food on our plates. "But there's no harm in trying. Get the feel of the market for a change."

"Sure and embarrass yourself in front of many people," Ma muttered and I rolled my eyes.

"If that's what you think is best for you then you should," I told him and smiled but his eyes were fixated on the bump in my shoulder.

"Why is that bruised?" he asked skeptically and I pursed my lips.

"I hit my shoulder in the bathroom earlier today," I lied again and I smiled sweetly. "I was late for the lectures and didn't notice the door. It's nothing. I'll be fine."

I was glad he decided to drop the subject. "How are the classes? Do you like them?"

"It's only been two days Papa," I chuckled and dug into my food. "Give me at least a week to answer that question." That made him smile and he continued to eat.

"In any case, don't do anything stupid and ruin our chances in this city," Ma demanded sternly and bowed my head down silently. "It's a good place and people are welcoming. I don't want you father and daughter jeopardizing that."

"Of course honey," Papa smiled at her and I was at a loss for words. Kind was the last thing people were. She had no idea what I was going through.

"What if someone tries to hit me?" I shot and peered at her. "What if something went down? Would you still tell me the same thing?"

"Why would anything go down if you're acting normal?" she shot back and I exhaled harshly. "As I said, stay away from stupidity and you'll be fine. Learn to be tactical-"

"You mean fake," I retorted icily and Papa gawked back and forth between us silently.

"Sure, fake it if you may." She shrugged and I looked away. "But don't ruin this for me. I've had enough of suffering for a lifetime and I need to be happy. You should be too."

"Do you ever care about anyone besides yourself Ma?"

"Sambhavna..." Papa rubbed his temples gently.

She banged her fist against the tabletop. "What did I ever get after caring about both of you besides humiliation, shame, and dishonor?"

"Can we please continue with the dinner?" Papa snapped and Ma's nose flared. "Just eat and get back to your rooms doing whatever you want. You'd have plenty of time to continue this conversation while I'll be away."

I ignored Ma's glare and continued with my dinner. It had grown to be a toxic routine in my family over the months after my father's fall out. He went to prison and my life was never the same. The whole nation knew about it and it had become nearly impossible to start over but my father was trying to redeem himself-if only someone gave him enough of a chance to. People looked at us like we were criminals and I had hated that. I hated that we had to go through that every single day.

That's it! It made sense. I knew why the girls in college were bullying me. They knew who my family was-knew who my father was.

*

Mayank

2020

Mumbai had a different vibe to it. It was full of energy thrumming through the streets and billowing past the condos. A jog around the marine lines, for starters, was my favorite part of the day. It was serene in the morning but the city never truly slept. The strum of life was contagious and that made me look at the city with a renewed enthusiasm.

I wiped the layer of perspiration off my face and neck before I stepped into my house. It was an independent property that once belonged to my father and now it was mine. Everything about the house reminded me of the people I'd lost. The walls echoed with the laughter of my folks in one of those golden days-Neha, my sister-running around the room, giggling and talking. I glanced at the age-old couch with an indentation that reminded me of my father. He used to sit there every morning while he browsed through the news channels. It was my backyard that I missed the most. I slid the door open to step out and looked at the dead plants-or whatever remained of them. The garden didn't look like it was once looked after by my sweet mother.

I often wondered why I was left behind-why I continued to live when everyone I ever loved was no more with me. I never truly got an answer to that but I was on a perpetual wait for slow demise.

"Mayank?" I pivoted to face Shawna-the cleaning staff from the UNI, step into the living room. "What would you like me to do first?" she asked, darting her gaze around the vast expanse to note the details. "I can make you some tea if you like or fix you a quick breakfast."

That made me smile. "That would be nice, thanks." I began to walk to my bedroom. "The kitchen is on the left. Feel free to explore the property all you want. I'll go shower."

I halted at the threshold of my room when the doorbell chimed. Shawna looked at me. "Expecting visitors?"

"Why don't you make tea for two instead?" I smiled at her and sauntered to the door. "Now," I demanded and she got her cue to leave. I wasn't ready to face the person behind the door. I sighed and unlocked it quickly.

"Cry-" My words were lost midway when her lips crashed against mine. I stepped back to balance both of our combined weights as she threw herself on me. My back hit against the wall and her tongue slid into my mouth longingly. She had traces of a sickly sweet candy but it was maddening. I had missed her.

She smiled at my mouth as I pressed her hip against mine. It had been years since I'd met her and braced her. She moaned into my mouth and my fingers flexed against her neck. I pivoted leisurely and leaned her against the wall, caging her with my body against her. I cursed under my breath as she bit my lip and I groaned lowly. Fuck. She was driving me crazy. Her hands roamed around the hem of my sweatshirt and my hand was tangled in her hair.

"Mayank?"

The abrupt mention of my name yanked me out of the moment and I stumbled back, tearing the contact. I had a nightmare vision of what I looked like with my erection straining my sweats and my cheeks flushed.

She gaped at me and then at Shawna. "What-who is she?" Crystal was shocked and flustered.

"I'm just the maid," Shawna told her as she set the tray on the coffee table. "I'm sorry-I didn't mean to intrude. I-"

"It's alright," I muttered and chaffed my fingers against my scruff exasperatedly. I was aroused and mad-I'd promised myself not to lose my mind that way and yet I did. "You should leave." Shawna nodded in agreement and I scowled at her. "Not you. I need you to finish whatever work you need to." It was evident my cold tone had managed to offend Shawna but I decided to iron that out later.

"You mean...me?" Crystal asked warily and I ran my fingers through my hair exasperatedly. "No."

"Excuse me?" I snapped at her lowly and she stared at me. "You don't exactly have a say here. I want you out of my property right the fuck now." I watched Shawna wander back to the kitchen silently and sighed. I was in desperate need of a shower, goddamn it.

"You're here for me Mayank." She stepped closer to me and suddenly the crack on the wall was more fascinating than the conversation. "You got to this town so we could get back together." How did the damned wall crack anyway? "I have missed you so much. I keep calling you and you don't answer." Fuck. I had to fix that wall, maybe renovate the whole property? "Did you miss me?" she asked and my gaze narrowed on the wall. I hoped it wasn't that bad. "Mayank?" She caught my hand, drawing me out of my thoughts and I looked at her blankly.

"I'm sorry, did you say something?"

She glared at me. "Come on. Let's go to your room." She tugged me and I pried my hand out of her light grip. She advanced to the living room anyway and I rolled my eyes. "Oh, it's nice you had her fix a mug for me too. You're always so thoughtful." She grinned as she fetched the steaming mug and made herself comfortable.

I leaned against the wall and crossed my arm as I watched her move with ease and grace. "So you didn't understand anything I just said a minute ago?"

"Did you?" she shot back and sipped from her mug. "Understand what I told you less than a minute ago?" Her brows arched and I remained silent. "Exactly." She scoffed and continued to sip from the mug.

Feeling defeated, I advanced to the couch and took my seat across from her. "Is there a reason for this visit?"

She nodded thoughtfully and set her mug back on the table. "You weren't answering my calls and I had to make sure that you were fine."

I was confused. "Why wouldn't I be fine?"

"Because you joined CSU and moved back in without telling me," she said softly and leaned closer to me. "You have no idea how happy I am about this. You should've told me that you're in town. I'd have helped you with everything."

"It's fine," I told her and she rolled her eyes. "Besides, I got to this town because the offer was tempting and it seemed like a gig I could use. I need some change in scenery."

"What about that slut?"

I winced to myself upon the mention of my ex-wife. "She is busy and happy."

"And far away from you right?" Crystal held her chin up lightly and I nodded quickly. "Good. Let me know if you need my help with her." That was the last thing I wanted. She had complicated a lot of things in my past and I wasn't interested in neither of the ladies. "Anyway, enough about that, tell me what's changed. How's the job and how do you like it?"

I didn't want to speak with her but Crystal was also someone I had no way to screw with. She had meant a lot to me at a point in time and I respected that. Besides, I'd be lying if I didn't admit how much I missed her, and I needed a familiar face. It was starting to get lonely for me. I leaned back to my seat and settled for a quick conversation over cooling beverages.

~~~~

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