Chapter 7"I asked you what the hell you are doing in my room?" Manik repeats, just as harsh as the first time. His long legs stride towards me and he snatches the book out of my hand and he places it back onto the shelf. My mind is whirling. He rudely clears his throat and waves his hand in front of my face.
"Harshad told me to bring Mukti in here," my voice is barely audible. He takes a step closer and lets out a deep breath. I gesture to his bed, causing his eyes to follow my hand. "She drank too much and Harshad said-"
"I heard you the first time," he interrupts. He runs his hand through his hair, clearly upset. Why does he care so much if we are in his room? Wait..
"You are a part of this fraternity?" I ask him. There is no hiding the shock in my voice. Manik is far from what I imagine frat boys to be like.
"Yea.. so?" he answers and steps even closer. The space between us less than two feet. I try to back away from him but my back hits the bookcase. "Does that surprise you, Nandu ?"
"Stop calling me Nandu," he has me cornered.
"That's your name isn't it?" He smirks, his mood slightly lightening.
I sigh and turn away from him, I have no idea where I am going but I need to get away from Manik before I slap him. Or cry. It has been a long day so I will most likely cry before slapping him. Maybe I can manage both?
"She can't stay in here," he says as I reach the door. When I turn around he has the small stud in his lip between his teeth. What made him decide to put a hole in his lip and eyebrow? That had to be painful.
"Why not? I thought you guys were friends?"
"We are," he says, "but no one stays in my room" his arms cross over his chest and for the first time since I met him, I can make out the shape of one of his tattoos. It's a rose, printed in the middle of his covered forearm. Manik, with a rose tattoo?
Feeling brave and annoyed, I let out a laugh. "Ohh.. I see. So only girls who make out with you can come into your room?" As the words leave my mouth his smile grows.
"That wasn't my room. Are you trying to say you want to make out with me? You're not my type sorry," he says and for some reason it hurts my feelings. Manik is far from my type but I would never actually say that to him.
"You are.. you are.." I can't find the words. My feelings are hurt and I am embarrassed, annoyed, and exhausted from the party. I stop trying to speak to him, he isn't worth it. "Well.. then you take her to another room, and I will find a way back to the dorms." I say and head for the door.
"Goodnight Nandu ," Harry says as I slam his door.
I can't help the tears that fall down my cheeks as I reach the bottom of the stairs. I hate college so far and classes haven't even started. Why couldn't I just get a roommate that was like me? I should be asleep now, preparing for Monday's classes. I don't belong at parties like this, and I most certainly don't belong hanging out with these type of people. I do like Mukti, but I just don't have it in me to deal with these parties and people like Manik . Harry is such a mystery to me, why must he always be so rude? And why does he have all of those books? There is no way a rude, disrespectful, tattooed jerk like harry could possibly enjoy those amazing books. The only thing I can picture him reading is the back of a beer bottle. I am not even sure if I can make my way back to the dorms, I have no idea where this house is located. The more I think about my decisions tonight, the more frustrated and stressed I become.
I really should have thought this through, this is exactly why I plan everything so things like this don't happen. The house is still packed and the music is too loud. Niall's blonde hair and tattoos are no where to be found, neither is Aryaman. Maybe I should just find a random bedroom upstairs and sleep on the floor? There are at least fifteen rooms up there and maybe I will get lucky and no one will come in. But I know better and decide against it. Despite my efforts to conceal my emotions I can't. I go back upstairs, find the bathroom and sit on the floor with head in between my knees and call Noah again. He answers on the second ring.
"Nandini ? It's late, are you okay?" he says, his voice groggy.
"Yea.. no.. I went to a stupid party with my roommate and now I am stuck at a frat house with no where to sleep and no way to get back to my room," I sob through the line. I know my problem isn't life or death but I am beyond frustrated at myself for getting into this situation.
"A party? With that red head girl?" he sounds surprised.
"Yea..but she is passed out."
"Whoa, why are you even hanging out with her? She's so.. just not someone you should hang around," he says and it irritates me. I wanted him to tell me it will be okay, tomorrow is a new day, something besides being judgmental.
"That isn't the point Dhruv .." I say. The door handle jingles and I sit up. "Just a minute," I call and wipe my eyes in the mirror, the toilet paper smears the liner even more. This is why I don't wear the crap. "I will call you back, someone needs the bathroom" I say and hang up before he can protest. An impatient knock pounds on the door and I groan as I open it, wiping my eyes again. "I said just a min.." I stop as glaring green eyes pour into mine.
His eyes meet mine and I notice that his eyes are green, he hasn't actually made eye contact with me until now. He looks away quickly and I walk past him out of the bathroom. He grabs my arm, not gently and pulls me back.
"Do not touch me!" I yell and jerk my arm from him.
"Have you been crying?" he asks, his tone curious. If it wasn't Manik I might actually think he was concerned.
"Just leave me alone Manik " he stands in front of me, his tall frame blocking my movements. I can't take much more of his games. "Manik , please. I am begging you, if you have one decent bone in your body you will leave me be. Just save whatever mean comment you are going to say for tomorrow. Please" I beg him, literally. A flash of confusion flashes in his eyes before he speaks.
"There is a room down the hall you can sleep in, Mukti is already in there." he says. I wait a second for him to say something else, but he doesn't. He just stares at me.
"Okay" I say and he moves out of my way.
"It's the third door on the left." he instructs and heads down the hall. "Goodnight Nandini " I hear as he disappears into his bedroom. What the hell was that? Manik without any rude comments? I know I am in for it if I see him tomorrow. He is probably already planning out all the snide comments he will make to me.
The third room on the left is a plain room, much smaller than Manik's with two small beds. It looks more like a dorm room than the large room that Manik has. Maybe he is the leader or something? The more likely explanation is that everyone is afraid of him and he bullied his way into the largest room. Mukti is laying across one of the beds so I kick off my shoes and cover her with the blanket before locking the door and laying down on the other bed. My thoughts are all over the place as I fall asleep, images of swallows and green eyes flow through my dreams.
Edited by pagolmeye - 9 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
