Eva
I twisted my body, trying to find a more comfortable place on my own bed. I had dragged my limp body towards the bedroom after staring at the space where Devon was standing before leaving. Almost mechanically, I had gotten out of my clothes and changed into more comfortable pajamas. Food was long forgotten, so I just snuggled within the sheets, trying to find solace in them, but it was of no use.
From the last two nights, after Devon had left, sleep seemed impossible to me. No matter how hard I tried or what remedies I used, I did not fall asleep. I had spent most of my time lying down, hoping to catch some rest at least on Sunday, but to no avail. My whole holiday was ruined and all because my thoughts refused to stop circling Devon.
The alarm rang, indicating that it was five in the morning. Pulling mobile, I switched it off. It was already morning, and knowing that sleep was not going to grace me, I left my bed. In the bathroom, after tying my hair in a messy bun, I looked into the mirror, and my swollen and red eyes greeted me. I couldn't help but curse myself.
What was the need for crying so much, unconsciously wept for the whole two nights for him.
People may find it too pitiful, too foolish to cry for someone who never belonged to them. However, the one who suffers the pain of the first heartbreak knows how agonizing it is to have that person in front of you. My inner voice reminded me.
I never cried. Never. Even when I realized that Devon preferred Jasmine, I did not cry. The night I needed him, he did ot appear, nor did he call, yet I did not cry. Though after turning eighteen years old, I had already shifted to the college hostel, I would still go to the orphanage at every opportunity I got, but later I stopped. I moved from my orphanage because in every corner, I could feel him.
Muting my thoughts as I force myself to complete my routine chores. The best way to forget it was to behave like it never happened and indulge myself in other things. That was more to keep my mind occupied or perhaps buburdenedith other things. And, it was a working day too. So eventually, in all the college work, I would be too busy to think of other things.
Packing my lunch and all the necessary things, I left for the college.
*
"Good morning, Ma'am."
"Morning, Ma'am."
Students started greeting me as I entered the departmental building. I nodded, silently making my way through the busy corridor. The day being Monday,
I had no classes to take, rather I had only two hours of a practical Microwave engineering class for the final year. There was no need to rush.
However, my mind was in a mess, and the best way to get rid of all unwanted thoughts was to involve myself in setting up types of equipment for a practical. Perhaps spending time doing experiments was my stress buster. So, instead of going to my cabin, I changed my route towards the stairs leading to the labs on the second floor.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the Microwave lab had a practical going, and from the known face, I found it waforof second-year communication engineering.
"Excuse me. Mia, can I have a word with you?"
Mia, a first-year master's student, looked up. Standing up, she nodded. "Yes, Ma'am. Just give me a minute." She turned towards the two students she was talking with.
I placed all my belongings on one side of the counterhich was near the wall and empty. All labs in our department were designed in the same pattern.
The wide counters were built across the hallway, and in the leftmost corner, racks and wooden cupboards were kept. They had all the necessary equipment, and over the counters, CRO's, function generators, and power supplies were placed in designated places. It was done considering the strength of the batch.
In the middle of the hall were large rectangular tables joined together with more than 20 chairs placed around. In one corner, a round table was placed with a chair behind it for the teacher. Two labs were separated by glass cabins in between for the lab assistants and lecturers.
One batch had almost 20-25 students and thus was divided into groups of four or five students each. Sweeping my eyes over the students present, I counted in my mind. There were a total of 21 students present. I pulled out my mobile to check out the timetable, though I had an idea about it.
Mia came and stood beside me. I locked my mobile before turning my attention to her.
"You have a presentation coming, don't you?"
"Right, Ma'am. It's on Wednesday," Mia replied. She had a somewhat confused expression on her face because I seldom engaged in any conversation.
"Then I'll engage in this practice of yours. You go and concentrate on it." I was going to ask her permission, but then changed my mind on second thought.
"But—" Mia tried to protest, but I cut her.
Off "It's alright. Anyways, I wanted to check out all the kits, so this way, two works will be done. You go on; I will take classes for all the batches this week." I smiled, encouraging her not to worry.
"Thank you, Ma'am."
"All the best."
Gathering her things, Mia left, and I shifted my attention to the students who were curiously looking at me. It was the class I had not yet had an interaction with. Having an introduction was a waste of time because, firstly, I was not going to remember their name, and there was no need for it. Secondly, they all knew me because, of course, no matter what, everybody knows the lecturers in their departments.
"All right, everyone. Today we'll perform a DSB-SC balanced modulator."
I chose the third practical from the list because it is the fourth semester. Only one week had passed since then. So, students knowing about the theory of other topics was out of the question. Also, I had taken a look that Mia was going to take it.
*
I let my exhausted body rest on the swirling chair in my cabin. It was lunch break currently, and from the morning, I had taken back-to-back two-hour-long sessions. It was not needed, but I did. After standing for more than three hours straight and speaking for the same time, I had sucked the energy out of myself. Maybe it was more because of not having proper rest for the last couple of days that I was feeling so drained.
After drinking the water, I dropped my head on the table over my folded arms. After half an hour, I had another class to take. I decided to eat the sandwiches I had made in the morning. Taking out the wrapped packet from my bag, I opened the aluminium foil from the corner.
Holding it in my left hand, I carefully started eating while reading the blog post I had bookmarked previously.
Nowadays, the scorching sun did nothing but scald anyone and everyone who dared to stand for too long in his territory. As if the deepest area until its light reached was his own property, nd he had every right to act as he wanted. Why wouldn't he? When people like us forget that we rely on nature and there is no other way around and damage it,then we don't have anyone but ourselves to blame.
The rising global warming was the result of the selfishness and greed of humans. Even a small act could help, but no one wants to try that. Are we really that insensitive? We shall not forget that after us, we do not want to leave only destruction for the coming generations. We shall pass the good future without danger.
All of a sudden, the hair on my nape stood up. It was the same feeling. Since morning, I could feel the strange sensation of being watched. I stopped reading. I looked up, trying to find the source behind such a suspicious feeling. The cabin I was using was allotted for two professors, but I was the only one using it after the last professor had left last semester.
What the hell?
I noticed that the other table was cleaned and had some stuff. Why was I getting the familiar vibe from that stuff? It was not much: a laptop bag, some books, and some files.
Why was I not notified about this?
I was tempted to dump my food and go to seek answers, but on second thought, I chose to ignore it. Food was more important because if I left it now, then I was not going to get time to eat it later. And, I hated wasting food. I focused on finishing sandwiches. I preferred sandwiches for lunch. Mainly, because I always ate a healthy breakfast, and the sandwiches I made were all healthy and fulfilling.
Maybe because I was too busy forgetting Devon, I did not pay any attention to where and how Devon found my bag. Only if I knew what was waiting for me in college.
I found the answer soon, once my eyes found the familiar coat lying across the arm of the chair in front of me. It was good that I had finished the morsel in my mouth, otherwise I might have choked with surprise or shock. I threw the used wrapping paper in the dustbin.
"Hey Eva," Ryan Carl, my colleague, greeted me. "May I come in?" He smiled charmingly.
"Ryan, Sir. Please, come inside."
Many female students were fans of Ryan. His almost six feet tall figure with a slight dark complexion, and that charming smile, was a sight to look at for many. The spectacles covering his beautiful eyes added extra points to his seriousness when he wanted to. I respected him for his knowledge and the decent and respectful distance he maintained.
He was my senior and the most helpful person. Though I had maintained my distance from everyone, I was not exactly aloof towards him. That may be because of our common interests.
"How many times must I tell you not to call me Sir?" He helplessly smiled.
"And how many times must I tell you that I can't?"
"Until you drop this… 'sir'. It makes me feel old, you see." Ryan chuckled.
I shook my head. His logic was beyond me. My earlier nervousness and anxiety were forgotten momentarily. He always managed to create a cheerful environment around him.
"So, do I get some lunch? I had nothing in the morning and I don't want to have cafeteria food." Ryan took the chair in front of my desk.
We were not exactly friends. We were a little more than colleagues and a little less than friends. This was not the first time that he had asked me about lunch. Sometimes back, after one staff meeting, we all had lunch together, and at that time, he liked the food I made. After that, once in a while, he would appear in my cabin just to grab something to eat. He had said that it reminds him of the taste of his mother's food.
"Sure. But I only have sandwiches." I too sat down and took out two more sandwiches from my bag. I gave both to him.
"No problem. It's, of course, more appetizing than that bland and too oily food." He peeled off the outer cover and started eating.
I glanced at my watch. Ten minutes remained for the end of the lunch break.
"Eva, I wanted to tell you something."
What a speed! I gave him my whole attention, and that was when my eyes again fell on the table behind him.
"Before that, let me ask you something. Do we have a new member?"
Ryan's eyes twinkled with happiness.
"Yup. That's what I wanted to tell you. My friend is going to share your cabin for some time. He's here as a visiting faculty member for final-year students. Only your cabin had space because of the renovation going on."
I nodded. It was true, the renovation work was going on in our department, and most of the cabins were either locked up or in the process of getting renovated.
The main question remaining was about his friend. For a fleeting moment, I thought he was Devon, but then again, I had never seen Ryan Sir in our orphanage. So, that meant I was worrying unnecessarily.
"Are you okay with that?"
"I would have shared my cabin with him, but I am already in Mr. Anderson's cabin. And, you know Mr. Anderson's nature. If I were to shift now, then the consequences would be bad. He doesn't like a lot of interference. You know that, don't you?"
"I do. I'm okay with it. Don't worry."
"I'll leave now; I have a class to take."
"But don't want to meet my friend?"
"We'll meet eventually. Right now, I am in a hurry."
"Ok. Thank you for this." He pointed towards a packed sandwich he had not eaten.
I just smiled at him and left my cabin— which was not solely mine anymore.
*