Clearing my drafts, this was written last year not sure if you'd like it. Do comment your views. Here you go, a short shivika tale.

All she could see was darkness as if she had suddenly closed her eyes . A wet self she was , running upstairs and downstairs for like 7 ,8 times already bathed her with sweat . She stood at the corner, holding the door for support, taking in deep fast breaths to comfort her pounding lung system . Loud inhale and exhale sounds continued to follow as she seemed too desperate to breathe . Her wet feet placed water marks on the stairs showing the path through which she came running to hold on here . Foot sweat wasn't something new for her , wet layers on skin  happens when she gets nervous . But this time , it was different , water seemed to drip out from her foot . She balanced to stay afoot with on leg and wiped the other foot over the pant , she did the same with the next foot .

Her lips started to shiver when  she kept looking out at the corridor through the small gap between the doors . Noises helps in anticipating something , not having the capability to sense it , she felt more scared not knowing what to even look or think of .

A sudden movement quiet far away captured her attention, she focused on it closely. Some yellow thing it is , she was able to guess only that, she crooked her eyes and tried collecting some detail from that distance but couldn't. And when she looked back after making a blink , it had vanished , only black darkness again . What happened ? she was confused.  How many times she made up her mind to move forward and look out at it herself , but some  sort of fear stopped her . Silence was nothing new to her , but this time she felt panicked , as if something big was awaiting her .

Even the slow gulps she kept making produced slushing sounds . She peeped and peeped through that narrow gap to see anything in that black space . She blinked suddenly when there was a hard bang on the door from the other side. Nothing was visible as usual , just darkness. Stepping aback , she locked the top latch fearing  just the middle one was not enough as the bangs began to grow wild . Her teeth pressed the lower lips much when she bit them hard in fear , even blood started to ooze after a while .

Tears ran down her eyes as she saw the door moving harsh against the bangs made . 

'Who's it ?! '

The  latch on the top broke and fell for the door opened up to show some bit of the other side through  that narrow gap. 

She gasped opening her eyes .

Devi- dreams  haan , of what ? Fantasy date with your favourite star? Continue the date this night . Come on come on now get up , we're late already .

She stopped talking on realizing something,  leaving a huge sigh she jumped before the bed to stay exactly in sight of her friend. Patting her shoulders , she asked her to look .

D- annika !  get up will you ?

Annika crushed her eyes a few more times, and felt relieved after realizing it was just a dream , wait , a nightmare actually.  Exhausting this was , the same nightmare every every day . Does it even have meaning ? She felt agitation .

She was engaged in her deep thoughts when her friend chinned her face up in hurry.

D- look at me when I'm talking.

Annika- what !

Annoyed,  she seemed.

D - I can't keep repeating annika ,  you know the drill , look at people's face when they talk ! go get ready now.

A- why do I have the same dream everyday?

D- I don't know , maybe it means something.  Your dream .

A- and what is that ?

D- sorry dear annika , I don't think I can read and elaborate about dreams . Maybe we can check in the book I told you about ?

Annika cringed after staring at her for a while .

A- you believe such stuffs ?

D- no but , atleast we can try .

A- ok , during lunch break .

D- done , ok now I'm ready . Are you coming or not ?

A- 10 minutes D.

She signified showing her ten fingers and ran into the restroom.

' History is constant . Everything changes,  but past doesn't. That's what history is . See these sculptures and findings were found beneath the ground , they have stories in them . Memories bound with them .  Lives attached with them .'

He stopped on hearing them giggle within themselves . 

' lives attached? Whoa! I didn't know our syllabus had subject of ghosts '

One among the group commented for the others started to laugh along . He was irritated.

' Mr. Praveen I'd like you to kindly move out of my class, now . Everyone,  what about this weeks assignment? Completed or  do we have any special guests this day ?'

Devi noticed her friend who was busy sketching something on her note . She tapped her hand quickly, annika turned to look at her .

D- raise your hand , he's taking the attendance.

At once she stopped whatever she was doing and rose her arm up high .

A- sir !

' No place for you in my class , out . '

She stood there and focused to look keenly at his face , the distance between them was more which made it difficult for her to capture his words . He understood her reaction and stepped down the stage to walk forward towards her.

Standing before her bench, he took a moment to notice her ears in close while she stared at him,  clueless .

' Where is your aid annika ?'

A- forgot .

She responded after reading his lips from close. He sighed huge and shook his head .

' that's your problem . Assignments, why didn't you complete it ?'

A- who told I didn't! I have completed everything .

The other students laughed when she shouted in defense suddenly .

' shh ! Then why did you raise your hand ?'

A- no I

As soon as it struck her , she glared at her friend hard . Devi just sat there tried so hard not to laugh .

A - sorry .

' sitting all idle ,so you didn't listen to the class either ? Out annika '

A- but sir I

' out '

She twitched her lips helplessly and stomped Devi's leg on her way out from her desk .  Her friend knew it was planned , she swallowed her groan and looked away while the professor continued.

' so class , none knew dinosaurs existed before people learned how to dig . So realize the importance of your work , and how much it contributes to the world. Archaeology is no joke, remember that . I believe we have  completed the 6th lesson , ethno. Let's move to the next topic then '

Annika was finding it too difficult to cope up and write down the notes as he kept on dictating , without facing her . She couldn't even comprehend which topic was going on , she sighed in frustration and moved towards the first row students,  who were seated a little close to the doorway .  She copied from their notes .

A- where's it D, lunch is almost over!

Devi looked around the library following the noise to see where her friend exactly stood.

D- annika I already checked that stack, leave that.

She sighed when there was no response and came downstairs to stand by her. Annika looked back when someone touched her from behind.

D- I said I already checked here.

A- what! And you're telling this now?

The librarian immediately twitched his lips making a noise to grasp focus, he signalled them to keep quiet.

D- shh!

A- we have checked everywhere.

D- ok come break is almost over, we, we'll eat something and go to class.

She held her hand and dragged her out but Annika looked disappointed .

A- what now?

D- I have given the details to the assistant, he would call us if the book is found.

Devi explained with neat actions and Annika nodded quickly. Both went and setlled with their other friends in the canteen.

Praveen- where were you girls?

D- library, actually we

P- oh I don't wanna hear more, sure it was boring stuff.

Devi smacked his head immediately before snatching his lunch box.

D- I love pulao, let me have it please. You order something for yourself.

P- you do this everyday!

D- have some pity on us hostellers.

Mallika- guys please don't start this hosteller vs dayscholar war now. Tell me we are going to theatre tonight, hmm praveen?

P- I'm in.

Rosie - I don't want to miss dance practice.

M- I know why that is, let me reframe it for you, you can't miss being around Mr. Dance master. Am I right?

Everyone giggled immediately, Annika who noticed all this quietly and nudged Rosie's arm to ask her something.

A- you like him ?

R- yeah, I think I love him.

A- how did you know?

R- know what?

A- that you love him.

R- I feel it from here.

Annika watched her in keen as she pointed her heart, soon her focus changed when Mallika shook her hand in front to grab her attention.

M- you're coming right? D said ok.

She looked at devi once .

A- sorry Molly, my gaurdian is coming to pick me up today.

D- annika...!

A- sorry, important stuff.

M- we've been planning this since day one they had started production for that movie...! What about Kiran,  know anything Ro ?

R- he's on sick leave today, I don't know if

P- oh please that idiot is not sick vick, he's been sleeping in his room all day. I'll drag him don't worry.

M- done.

She fixed the earing aid properly for the nth time now, this heavy earing she wore  was distracting too much. Actually, she felt weird, surrounded by crowd having all their focus on nothing but the center dias where she stood. She smiled watching pinky who stood quiet close to the stage, with eyes brimmed up in happy tears. A voice grabbed her attention soon, the owner was standing very close to her.

Shivaay-  you didn't forget your aid now did you?

A-hmm

She turned to find his hand lingering in air already, asking for her's.

He slid down the ring in her finger as soon as she gave him her hand and everyone clapped immediately when they both exchanged rings. Only then annika took a moment to notice him from close, there was an automatic smile on her face.

A- you do look hot. The girls in our class, I get them now.

He smirked.

S- thanks, are you happy to have this hot fiance then?

A- hmm... not sure actually. And can you give the notes you recited today, I couldn't completely it in class.

Pinky - shivaay, annika .

They looked at pinky who insisted them to focus on the camera, and they did. She leaned on him as he put his arm around her, they posed for sometime then.

P- I'm so happy today annika, finally you both are engaged!

Annika smiled faintly while removing her jewelry, being seated in front of the mirror.

A- you said it would be a small event.

P- it was.

A- there were so many people.

P- annika, just some close relatives and friends that's it.

A- ok .

She sounded dull, pinky saw this and held her shoulders from behind.

P- my son is a good man annika.

A- I know, but I don't think we both are ready for this relationship.

P- well the wedding is not happening tomorrow. Only after you complete studies  , I promised you that.

Annika pressed her lips together and smiled when pinky emphasized this.

P- you must be tired, sleep well. I'll take you to college tomorrow.

A- you please carry on aunty, I have some writing work.

P- ok.

She sat on bed and started writing notes but they were hardly legible ,his handwriting.

Shivaay was awake still, working on his thesis. He looked up from the laptop screen to find her standing by the door, she entered after when he signalled her.

A- I can hardly understand anything.

Giving the notes back to him, she complained .

S - I've been teaching for three years now, none has ever said that to me.

He sighed realizing she forgot the aid again. Pulling her to his side he made her watch him.

S- ok, I'll read and record it for you . Is that ok? You can write it afterwards?

Annika still kept staring at his lips, took some time and then gave a thumbs up.

While he did that work, she sat beside waited quietly  . That's when it caught her eyes, the book lying on the shelf. The same book  she and D were searching this afternoon.

Dreams mean.

She ran to her hostel room on finding it already open when she's got the key with her still,a stranger was found working on the fan inside.

A- how did you get in?

' they said to repair the fan, warden gave me the keys '

Annika sighed in relief just then and nodded.

A- yeah, it's actually very slow.

' will take this and check '

She sat on the chair and drank some water, but felt weird for a while. His stares between those regular intervals felt creepy. The only noise in the room was made by those screws and bolts, whenever she looked up he would stare. Annika tried to ignore him.

And suddenly the power was gone, it was dark and only dark. She switched on the mobile torch quickly.

A- it's ok baiya, you can continue afterwards when the power resumes.

' almost done '

He jumped down the bed after completing.

A- ok thanks.

She was about to close the door behind him, but he suddenly tried to pull her out with force. Annika was scared like hell, she screamed.

A- leave me!! Help!

He didn't leave though. Her arm got stuck between the gap and he was still pulling her.

' come with me! Come out !! '

A- leave me you stupid!!

She struggled for a few minutes like that, he seemed strong but she didn't give up too. At one point she somehow grabbed the penstand from the table and threw it at his face. He shouted in pain while she used the time to shut the door and latch it.

' Hey wait! There's something, someone is hiding in the room! '

S- Annika!

She woke up with a jolt when shivaay shook her shoulders, her face was horror stricken for a few minutes until she realized she has been dreaming again. He asked her what happened in sign language.

A- bad dream. When did I even sleep...

She replied while pulling her hair to make a bun.

S- last I found you reading this book, and suddenly you started blabbering.

The book lied on her stomach, opened.

A- you got this from the library?

S- hmm, last week.

A- can I have it?

S- after I complete, now here's your notes. All three pages recorded .

He passed her the note and the mobile , she hesitated to leave .

A- can I stay here tonight?

She actioned the same slowly.

S- why?

There was no answer so he spoke again.

S- do you snore in sleep ?

A- no.

S- fine then.

She showed a quick thumbs up and sat on the bed again. A sudden thought crossed her mind.

A- by the way

S- shh... you're shouting.

A- sorry, by the way I just thought of something.

S- what?

A- after marriage I don't have to worry at all even if you have snoring habit.

He showed his fake glare before shaking his head.

S- I don't do that.

How was it?

Honest reviews please.

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