Naina returned back to her hostel in a daze, reminiscing the way Sameer had extended a hand of friendship towards her. His hot and cold behaviour had put her off lately. She'd seen him literally turn his face and go the opposite direction after the bus incident. But things were not as they seemed as his eyes seemed to follow her everywhere that evening, which gave her goosebumps.

'Ye kab kya karta hai kuch pata nahi hota-'

she thought as she knocked the door. But there was no answer.
Naina got confused as she was sure her roommate was still in the room as she'd complained of a headache and had refused to come to the wedding.

'Saare paagal mere hi khaate mein likh diye hai Bhagwan ji ne. Pakka so gayi hogi.'

She took the spare key and prayed Leena had not bolted from inside. Miraculously, she'd not and the door opened with a click.

It was pitch dark inside and some strange sounds seemed to be coming from inside, which put her at unease. The voice sounded to her as if some animal was strangled slowly.

"Leena, theek ho tum?? Zyada tabiyat kharab hai kya?" She said as she searched for the lights, and the sight she saw shook her to the very core.

"Cheee. Kya chal raha hai ye sab?" Naina shrieked, shocked to see her roommate making out with her boyfriend on her bed.

"For god's sake, chup ho jao. Darwaza band karo abhi!" Leena said pleadingly as she adjusted her clothes and jumped out of the bed.
But the damage was done as couple of girls from their neighbouring rooms had peeked inside to see the drama going on and one of them went to fetch the superintendent.

"Tum aise kaise kisi ladke ko hostel room mei laa sakti ho? Aur mera bed hi mila tha ye ghatiya harkat karne ke liye?" Naina was hell angry now

"Oh please! Tumne hi toh kaha tha ki mai kisi ko bhi laun, tumhe fark nahi padta. Ab tumhari wajah se hum phas jayenge"

The superintendent had arrived by then and looked angrily at the residents of the room

"Kya chal raha hai ye sab iss hostel mein? Tum logo ko pata hai na idhar ladkon ko laana strictly mana hai?" She shouted

"Ma'am Leena iss ladke ko yahan layi hai. Mera isse kuch lena dena nahi hai.Main toh Swati ki shaadi se laut rahi thi ki...par ye yahan..Chee!"

Naina said, giving a look of disgust towards the scantily-clad couple.

"Ye Naina bhi koi doodh ki dhuli nahi hai. Usne hi kaha tha ki woh apne boyfriend ko laayegi toh main bhi laa sakti hu."

Naina looked at her roommate incredulously, stunned at the lies she was spinning

After that a round of discussions and accusations followed in the office which made Naina slowly lose her trust from everyone.

"Galti tum dono ki hai. Safety ke khaatir main tum dono ko do din ka waqt deti hu. Room khali kar dena. Main aur kuch nahi sunungi." The superintendent was firm on her resolve.

"Par ma'am-" Naina was in tears now.

"Agar isse aage kuch kaha toh tumhare gharwalon ko phone kar dungi. Sab wapas apne kamre mein jao"

Hearing that her family members might get involved, she got scared and traced her steps back to her room, slowly.
_____________________________________________

*Next Afternoon*

Sameer was combing his hair, when his gaze went to Naina's open window. He saw her head buried under her arms, on the window sill. She seemed to be crying

"Kal tak toh bilkul theek thi. Aaj kya ho gaya ise?" Sameer was in an instant worried for her
He whistled loudly to gain her attention, but to no avail.

"Kaan mein rui laga liya hai kya? Bohot zor se ro rahi hai yaar. Kya karu?" he could make out by the convulsive action of her shoulders.
He had an idea to call the hostel. One of the hostel caretaker picked it up on the fourth ring.

"Kya main Naina se baat kar Sakta hu?" he said in a heavier voice than usual

"Aap Kaun?" The lady asked suspiciously

"Main uska papa bol raha hu. Jaldi se use phone do" Sameer was impatient now

"Accha de rahi hu. Aur aap bhi jaldi aa ke apni beti ko le jaiye yahan se" the lady went to call Naina.

'Ye aurat aisa kyu keh rahi thi?' was all Sameer could wonder.
_____________________________________________

Naina's hands were shaking as she picked the receiver. Her father never called her here. She somehow made her voice normal and said-
"Hello papa, dekhiye meri koi galti nahi hai. Aap kuch bhi galat mat samajhna"

"Naina, main Sameer hu"

"Kya? Yahan meri jaan nikli jaa rahi hai aur tumhe prank calls karne hai? Tumhe pata bhi hai mujhpar kya beet rahi hai?"

"Naina, agar tum mujhe apna dost manti ho toh mere society ke garden mein milo. Ho sakta hai mai tumhari madad kare paun"
_____________________________________________

Naina covered her face with a dupatta as she waved at Sameer, who was standing near a tree.

"Ye muh kyu dhaka hua hai?" Sameer was confused.

"Meri uss kamini roommate ne kahin muh dikhane ke layak nahi choda. Sab mujhe shak ki nazron se dekh rahe hai. Characterless tak karaar de diya kuch logon ne" Naina said, whimpering.

"Please ro mat. Poori baat toh batao" Sameer tried to console her.
'How dare anyone call her characterless' he thought.
They sat on a bench near the tree as Naina poured her heart out, her crying subsiding somewhat on seeing Sameer's reassuring glance.

"- aur agar mere gharwalon ko thodi bhanak bhi lagi na, woh kuch nahi sunenge, sidha shaadi karwa denge uss Sharad se"

she ended, wiping her tears. Her heart felt much lighter after letting out all her fears which she'd hidden since the damned evening

"Kaun hai yeh Sharad? Muh na tod du uska. Bada aaya shadi karne. Ghodi se utarkar zinda gaad dunga agar aisa socha bhi toh"

"Kya?" Naina was shocked at the violence in his tone

"Mera matlab hai...aise kaise zabardasti shaadi karwa denge? Tum bilkul chinta mat karo. Yahan paas mein 1-2 hostels aur hai. Kisiko kuch batane ki zaroorat nahi hogi"

"Tumhe kya lagta hai? Maine try nahi kiya? Koi bed khaali nahi hai" Naina said sadly

"Kitne bhi din hi kyun na lag jaye, tumhare liye rehne ki jagah toh main khoj ke rahunga. Ab please mujhe tumhare chehre mein smile chahiye, hass bhi do" Sameer said making a smile sign with his hand

"Tum meri itni madad kare rahe ho. Aur maine hamesha berukhi dikhayi" Naina said, smiling through her tears.

"Tum Sameer Ko nahi janti. Yaaron ka yaar hu main. Dosti ke liye kuch bhi."

'Aur yeh toh shayad dosti se badhkar hai' he thought, happy that she was smiling now, all due to him

I hate writing drama as it seems unrealistic. But koi na. Please vote if you like the story or tell if any changes/didn't like it😃