chapter 27

         The last of lectures was over and so was Vibha's battery. She looked as if she had the worst boring time of her life. I couldn't help but smile at her state.      " What are you smiling at? " " You"" All your favour. ", she cursed and then turned her head to other side lying on her arm, that rested on the desk.  " Don't wanna go home ? " , she didn't respond so I nudged her a bit as I packed my bag. " I already am home. ", she mumbled. It was barely audible but I still caught on it. I rolled my eyes though she didn't see it.     And I thought she was tired enough to not be doing such shit.   " I mean the structure with walls and windows. " " What about it?" I am done! Far beyond done with this girl.  " Get up already!", I sounded desperate as a nursery kid but doesn't matter. I too had a long day though willingly. I just want to get home.  I slapped her arm lightly and she finally straightened up , moving at a speed of sloth .     " I am leaving if you don't hurry up!"  she looked offended and stopped her already negligible movements. " I came all the way and waited all day long just to hear this? Oh lord! Have mercy! Can this be any worse? Did you keep me alive to see this day? Am doomed. ", she said in most dramatic possible way as her backside of her hand rested on her forehead while she closed her eyes turning her head away from me. I frowned and stood up leaving her alone in the empty room to continue her drama.    I surely wasn't enjoying it.    I walked ahead and noticed she didn't follow.    Exactly how slow is this sloth??     I kept walking really unbothered about her now.    I have home to go unlike her who lives anywhere. Even in rib cage.     I chuckled at my own thoughts but kept walking. And all my speed came to rest the moment I saw the staircase.    What now?   I stood at the top staring down at the completely dark and deserted staircase. It seems almost entire college left except a few idiots like me who stayed back till last lecture. And where did those disappear to? Am alone?    Why even keep us here this late if you can't keep the lights on that long!     The only person I could recall staying back with me was none other than the one I wanted to beat the life out of.   No way! I can do this myself! I can get down! Just two floors! It ain't much! You can do it Aarushi! You can!    I took a deep breath and closed my eyes collecting all my courage, I exhaled opening my eyes and turned back running back to our class.   " YOU DON'T WANT TO GO HOME!??" I almost yelled at her right from the door. She was too busy on her phone and only spared me a glance, chuckled a bit.  Then keeping the device aside she turned towards me.   " You want me to?", she asked and I could look at her with pure disappointment and confusion.    What about me wanting you to or not. You don't want to?   " The staircase is dark?", she asked with a broad grin and I can see she already saw that coming and hence decided to use it to her advantage.   Exactly how worse can her revenge get?     I can't do anything at this moment. I only nodded. " Aww so is my scared?", she asked giving me a teasing look. " Can't you just get moving?" , I asked annoyed.    She took her bag and stood up , walking in my direction, her eyes never left mine. I couldn't exactly interpret the look in them but still found myself refusing to look away.       She reached upto me and still our staring contest hadn't got its winner .     " It's okay . Am here. ", that's all she said as she wrapped her hand around my shoulder leading me along. She stepped back in after leaving me out and switched off the lights and fans.      I don't know what's about those mere words . It feels safer around her. Despite of knowing how annoying she can get at times , it still feels like she'd never leave me alone. I don't even understand her.     She came out and once again wrapped her hand around my shoulder. I was looking at her like a lost kid looking at the gaurdian who is supposed to drop them back to their parents. She just smiled at me and pulled me closer , if that was even possible. The smile was a pure affectionate one. Atleast I believe so. No hint of mocking or pranking. Her grip had tightened a bit but only to assure me and not hurt.   I don't know exactly was this feeling but all I know is I felt safe.       We got till the stair case and my eyes hadn't darted anywhere else beyond her face. I wasn't even concerned about the staircase.     Did she always look this etheral or is it the situation I am in making me think highly of her?     We had already got down a floor and I hadn't even looked away despite the minimum light available making it already difficult to see the stairs under my feet , leave alone a human by my side. Surprisingly I hadn't fallen face flat yet , turns out my body knows how to get down the stairs on its own even without having to look down. That wasn't biggest surprise though. What was more that she hadn't taunted me for staring at her that long, and it was actually long enough to go unnoticed.    The surrounding started to light up a bit indicating we had almost made it till the ground floor. The passage of the ground floor was well lit till the main gate and so it wasn't a problem. Her grip loosened and she let go off me.     " Good now?", she asked and that broke my daze . I could only nod timidly. I looked at the ground and tried to avoid walking too close to her , to avoid our hands brushing against each other.      " Mind if I ask you something?", her question caught me off-guard. It was so unlike her to ask for permission. And this sounded serious. But what possibly could she ask?  I only nodded and she nervously looked at me before stating her question.     " Why are you so afraid of dark?"     The question was simple and obiviously could be expected but I still wasn't prepared for it.     " It's fine if you don't want to answer. I just asked out of curiosity. ", I was glad she said that and I only smiled faintly. No way I wanted to answer that. As much as it seemed scary , I was more embarrassed to answer it.     " The weather seems so nice.", she said as she stepped out in the campus and I looked up at the evening sky and only folded my arms in front of my chest. " It's cold.", I complained and she gave me a questioning look.     " You really love to disagree on everything I say , don't you?", I nodded.     Because everything you say is by default wrong.        She only sighed and took off her bag. I raised an eyebrow at her. " Don't worry , it's not like I don't wear anything inside the jacket. " , she joked and took off her orange coloured jacket handing it over to me. I simply glared at her but took it nevertheless.     She had worn a plane white tshirt and her usual baggy jeans, with her hairs tied in a pany tail with those loose strands and metal earrings. She wasn't wearing her specs though.  This combination also didn't look that bad . Well I liked it better with her jacket on but I need it more , though I'd look a total idiot wearing a orange jacket on dark grey kurti.