CHAPTER 2
(Pia's POV)
Pia walked out the rusted gate again, around the fence to the small pathway Mr. Saxena had directed her to.
She gasped as she looked at the pathway.
There wasn't anything much to look at, really, and that's what scared her. Did this actually lead to the hostel? Suddenly, she couldn't be sure.
All she could see ahead were tangled vines, and dark undergroW*H. She heard the voice of rustling bushes as wild animals and insects made their way around. She could hear the chirping of the birds. But she couldn't actually see anything beyond a point. It was like a small narrow road which ended in complete darkness, and you weren't sure if it would lead you to the right place, but you had to trust your instincts.
This time, even her instincts were against it. At least, the rational part of her brain was. But then, there was another part which shouted at her that she was being paranoid. It was only a 5 minutes' walk. Besides, she could hear the voices of students from behind her. If anything happens, she could just call for help.
She shook her head and went with the latter part.
She took a step forward. Two more steps. Two more. Darkness engulfed her, but she could make her way by the rays of light creaking through the dark undergroW*H. She felt her way around, and froze.
Bushes rustled to her right. She bit her lip and braced herself for any more sounds indicating that it was a wild animal. Nothing happened.
After a moment, she let her breath out.
She walked again. Now, she could see the end of the pathway, opening to a road. A bright road lit with sunlight. She sighed with relief as she started walking towards it.
But again, she heard a rustle. It wasn't as loud as it had been earlier. But it was there. She slowly moved her head around, but she couldn't see anything. That certainly didn't mean that there was not anything there. It was dark enough for anyone to hide. Anyone.
She felt a sudden rush of paranoia, and she knew that she had to get out of here as soon as she can. Her walk turned into a quick impatient jog as she scrambled around the vines and bushes, trying to get out as soon as possible.
All this while, she felt like someone was watching her. She could feel two piercing eyes analyzing her every step, her every movement. And she felt all the more uncomfortable.
She bent down and let a breath out when she looked at the gleaming building in front of her. Girls Hostel. She smiled and went inside.
''Hello, how can I help you?''
An old lady, who looked like she was in her mid-40s asked.
Pia smiled warmly. ''I am Pia Jaiswal. I have come from Patiala on a scholarship. Mr. Saxena sent me here. He said that I could get some rest today, since it has been a long journey. And I could start my college tomorrow.''
''Oh, of course honey.'' She smiled. ''I am Mrs. Kulkarni, the head of this hostel. If you need any help, tell me. And-'' She looked through a file and handed her some keys. ''Here are the keys to your room. Number 28. Have a nice day.''
She nodded politely. ''Thank you, ma'am.'' She took the keys and went off to her room, since she was in no mood to make a politeful conversation right now.
She stormed in her room and sat on the bed, throwing her handbags and suitcases in the corner. She was freaked out.
She had been feeling like someone was following her since she was in Patiala. That had been a part of a reason she had taken up the schorlorship here. She had thought that moving to a different town ' Dehradun ' would calm her down. But no, that something had followed her. She was sure of it. In the jungle, she had sensed it. She had known that she was being followed.
The worst part is yet to come. She dragged her suitcase to the bed, opened it, and made her way to the bottom of the bag, feeling her hand through her dresses and accessories. At last, she found it.
Her notes.
She uncrumpled them.
It was her handwriting, there was no denying it. But it wasn't her notes. She hadn't written them, she hadn't remembered writing them.
She hadn't told anyone about it. There were times when she couldn't believe herself at all. It was her handwriting, her own handwriting. Who could have wrote these things except Pia herself?
She took a look at her notes.
''Dead before eighteen.'' She read out loud. ''Do not ignore these. The cycle might be broken.''
She read another one of them. ''March is coming-you know what happens then.''
And another one simply read. ''He's coming.''
She started to throw the notes away in frustration, and stopped. She had tried to get rid of them, to erase them, burn them completely a lot of times before, but something held her back. Something always held her back. A sort of anxiousness, a rush of fear, it held her back.
But she knew she couldn't let these things ' she couldn't let her craziness ' ruin her life in Dehradun. She was adamant on moving on, come whatever may. And if she had to visit a psychiatrist in order to get things taken care of, so be it.
She took out a pair of fresh jeans and a top.
There was no time to be wasted. The sooner she could get things wrapped up, the better.
--
*EDITED*
I had to change the plotline and Raj's character. Raj's introduction will be done in the next chapter. Everything else remains the same. 😊
--
There it is. Chapter 2.
And Pia ain't crazy. She's just .. well, that's something ya all have to wait for. 😊
And.. Liz will kill me, now. I ended the part right before the Raj-Misha introduction. 😆
Comments + Criticisms welcome. Like my first post in this thread if you ain't included in the PM list already.
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