Holding a box of steamed creamy custard buns, Patty anxiously glanced around the deserted swimming club till at last she saw a sophomore hurrying towards the exit.

"Excuse me," she called to the boy, "Where are the seniors?"

Rawat scowled heavily at the disruption to his anonymous escape. Hiding the small jar of oil in his jacket, he carefully turned around. "You should wait here. The seniors have been momentarily delayed."

"Oh okay. I can wait for them."

Rawat nodded and turned his back on the pesky freshman.

"Where are you going? Aren't you going to swim today?"

Rawat rolled his eyes and faced Patty with a fake smile. "I need to meet my professor. I will be back in a short while. I have already informed P' Danish of the same."

She flicked her hair back and batted her eyelashes before giving him a saucy smile. "I have steamed creamy custard buns in this box. Want some?"

He grimaced. "No thanks, I need to watch my weight and so must you. I shall get going now."

Patty frowned, not bothering to stop the handsome guy from leaving. His cold words had effectively doused her fledgling attempts at flirting. Letting out a sigh, she put down the pretty bakery box on a bench and began to stroll around. She needed to lose a few pounds before the theatre club auditions began!

One of the few things she had never succeeded in learning was swimming thus she was extra careful as she trudged along the edge of the pool.
Even then, as she passed by the deep end, her foot slipped and she fell in with a loud splash. She kicked furiously with all her might as she attempted to keep afloat, swallowing water that seeped in through her mouth and nose. Desperately she struggled to remain afloat even as she began to sink below.

Suddenly there was a loud splash and Niam appeared beside her, still dressed in his university attire. Wrapping his long arms around her, he dragged her to safety. Gasping, he hauled her out unceremoniously before laying her on her back and furiously pumping her chest, forcing up the water she had swallowed. Soon there were loud shouts as other sophomores turned up, hurrying to help Niam. Patty coughed and sputtered painfully, wheezing till at last she fainted from physical exertion.

"Niam, what happened?" asked Danish in panic as Milan picked up the unconscious Patty in his arms.

Niam shook his head as water dripped from his hair into his eyes. "She almost drowned. Take her to the emergency."

Danish's grey eyes widened in dismay. Gesturing Milan to follow him, he raced to the university car park.

The pretty bakery box topped with a silk bow lay forgotten on the lonely bench.

........................................................................

Scantily dressed in revealing clothes that showcased her lean body, the voluptuous redhead smirked as she seductively used a finger to twirl her hair, yet again blocking Prom's path as he availed a shortcut through the university garden.

Prom let out a deep sigh. "Aren't you tired of my refusal?"

The redhead grinned in response. "Come on honey. I know you are pretending to be hard to get. It makes the chase more exciting."

"What chase? You have made my life a living hell. I am forced to seek alternative routes to get to my class just to avoid meeting you."

"Good, you chose the garden, honey. It affords us more privacy." The redhead leaned in for a kiss.

Prom hastily backed away, almost tripping over the twigs lying on the unpaved dirt path. "I told you to stay away from me. Never in a billion years would I choose a girlfriend like you."

Using her fingers to gesture at herself, the redhead winked saucily. "Think you could do better than me? Who would even be interested in a prude like you?"

Prom sputtered indignantly, "Hey! Who are you calling a prude?"

The redhead doubled over in laughter. "You silly. Is anyone else here?"

Prom fumed, his cheeks and ears turning a bright red as he painfully restrained himself from punching her. Pushing his spectacles up, he adjusted his bag on his shoulder. "I have had enough. If you don't stop stalking me, I am going to register a complaint with the Student Council."

The redhead blinked. "You think they would believe you?" I will counterclaim that you were stalking me."

"Except he wasn't," chimed in an indignant voice. Prom had never been so grateful to see Marisa as he was at that moment. She stood behind the redhead, her hand on her hips.

"You need to back off. No means no in any language." Marisa placed herself between the redhead and Prom.

"So, you are my competition," mused the redhead critically taking in Marisa's outfit.

Marisa huffed, "You need to wear clothes to recognize brands."

Though impossible the redhead turned an even brighter shade of red. "How dare you?"

Marisa smiled, "Prom is the nicest guy ever. He deserves someone way better than you. I suggest you find another target."

The redhead flung her hair back. "Honestly, he's not even worth my time. You can have a loser like him. I shall find another prey."

Marisa and Prom watched the redhead stalk away, her hips swaying to an internal rhythm.

Prom let out a relieved sigh. "Thank God it's over."

Marisa helpfully patted his back. "Don't worry. You are exactly like Rachel. Surely you will find somebody perfect when you are ready."

Prom gawked at her, taken aback. Had P' Marisa compared him to P' Rachel?

Taking in his shocked expression, Marisa shrugged casually. "Unlike me, Rache is super brave and Monks is super smart. I am well aware of my shortcomings. If anyone is a loser it's probably me."

Prom shook his head emphatically. "P' your way to kind not to be special."

Marisa flushed a deep red at his honest compliment. Unbeknownst to them, fate would have Niam passing by at that moment. He looked at the two with a frown before forcing himself to move on instead of eavesdropping on their conversation as he was tempted to do.
...............................................................

Niam, Milan, and Danish huddled around their tiny desk in the swimming club locker room, looking as miserable as they felt. Professor Gabriel had not taken kindly to the Patty incident, especially as the club had just reopened after a long suspension. They had been asked to explain their negligence, following which a decision would be taken regarding the proposed permanent closure of their club.

"How is Patty?" asked Milan.

Niam rolled his eyes. "She is much better now though a certain someone keeps ignoring her calls."

Danish looked away guiltily. On silent mode, his phone began to buzz. The caller ID was displayed for all to see- it was none other than Patty! Danish quietly cut her line.

"Why don't you answer her call?" asked Milan exasperated. "It's not her fault!"

"I know it's not her fault. I still can't get the image of her lifeless body out of my head," confessed Danish. "If only I had locked the club carefully the previous night."

"About that," Milan frowned heavily. "You did lock up. I checked the bolt; it had been jimmied open."

"Patty wouldn't break in to deliver a few buns." Danish was perplexed.

"I also found oil on the tiles by the deep end of the pool. I guess it was a case of sabotage and Patty was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time," suggested Niam seriously.

Danish was stumped. "Sabotage. Who would go to such lengths to close the club?"

Milan frowned heavily as the image of a certain someone came to mind. "Somebody with a grudge and a massive ego. Who else could it be other than Rawat?"

"We should ask Patty. Perhaps she saw something. If we can find a shred of evidence that the incident was intentional, not accidental, Danish would be off the hook." Niam picked up Danish's phone to call Patty.

Danish snatched back his phone with a muffled oath. "Call her from your phone. I am not ready to talk to her yet. Also, ask her not to come to the swimming club till this Rawat problem is resolved."

Niam raised his brows. "You are worried for her safety but can't talk to her. That's some shitty logic, man."

Danish gave him a sour look before tossing the keys to Milan. "Here, you lock up for the night. I am going to fetch the car and wait at the front entrance."

Milan made a face at Danish's retreating form. "I have never seen Danish so shaken. Patty would have died if you hadn't come in early. Wait till I catch that rat- Rawat."

"We need a rat trap for that," replied Niam thoughtfully.

Milan smiled wickedly. "I have a few ideas up my sleeve." 

......................................................................

Rachel, Marisa, and Monica skidded to an abrupt halt at the scene before them. Danish leaned against the sleek bonnet of Rachel's car, his arms crossed at the elbow and his face turned upwards as he contemplated the rapidly darkening sky.

Marisa exchanged a knowing glance with Monica before turning to Rachel. "You go ahead, Rache. Danish wants to talk to you. I need to fetch my maths assignment from my locker. We will meet up with you later."

Rachel blushed a deep shade of red. Giving a quick nod, she strode forward to meet Danish.

"Hi. Is my car more comfortable than the university benches?" she joked.

Danish smiled wryly before tiredly rubbing a hand over his face. "It's been a tough couple of days."

She cocked her head to the side. "More difficult than a Board meeting?" 

He let out a breath, his grey eyes clouding over. "Patty almost drowned last Monday. Niam saved her in time. I don't know what I would have done if anything happened to her."

"How did that happen?"

"We suspect it's a case of sabotage, but if we are unable to prove it in time Professor Gabriel might shut down the club." He impatiently raked a hand through his hair.

She frowned, "Do you have a suspect? Do you need the Student Council to run interference?"

"I am pretty sure Niam and Milan would prefer to deal with it on their own. It's the fact that I can't face Patty that is troubling me more."

Rachel ran a soothing hand down his jacket-clad arm. "Avoiding her will make her feel worse. She is the victim here as much as you are. You should try talking to her."

"How?" demanded Danish in a strangled voice. "I can't seem to get the image of her lifeless body out of my head."

She looked away from his intense gaze. "She survived, focus on that instead. Apologize if you must, it will ease your guilt."

Danish roughly pulled a surprised Rachel into his arms. Resting his head on her shoulders, he breathed in her unique scent. Immediately the pounding in his head eased up and the guilt hounding him faded away. "You feel like heaven," he nuzzled into her neck.

Rachel felt a bolt of electricity race through her body as her heart thundered in response.

A long while later Danish pulled back awkwardly. "Forgive me," he said avoiding her gaze.

"It's fine," chirped Rachel in a voice not quite her own.

"Niam and Milan must be waiting for me. See you around. Bye."

Rachel nodded and waved as her voice failed her.

Hiding behind a car, Marisa and Monica watched the unfolding drama from a distance.

"They would be so cute together if they weren't so awkward," complained Monica.

"Are you kidding me? That's not good!" exclaimed Marisa incredulously. "Jokes apart, if Rache's dad ever comes to know about Danish, he would have her hide. Besides we aren't even sure if Danish is serious about her!"

Monica threw up her arms in despair. "Then, what do you suggest we do?"

Marisa looked back at Rachel. "Unmask Danish's true intentions. What else?"