You never know how life surprises you! The unexpected happens and you are left surprised..
When I was little I was with my Mom in the market. We were finding a grocery shop that would sell the ingredients for our bakery at a lower price and on a recurring basis. While searching for it my eyes caught attention of a family. They were a couple with two kids. The mother was holding her girl's hand and the father was carrying a boy a little younger than the girl in his arms. They looked so happy. I on the other hand had one side holding onto my mom but the other side was empty. I suddenly felt so lonely. Although I had Mom by my side but you know each person has a separate place and I know my Mom tried so hard to fill the gap of a father in my life, which she did brilliantly, the gap was still there. I wanted a complete family and I still do.
.....AT THE CAMPUS....
There was such a fresh and lively vibe at Princeton. So many students with their luggage in hands and some accompanied by their parents were all I can see. I felt really excited. I had thoroughly studied the campus and knew exactly where I had to go. To the Registrar Office. There was a long queue and I joined in.
"Hey! Are you on a scholarship too?", a girl asked me.
"Yeah!", I replied.
"Me too!", the girl replied excitedly.
"My name's Arin and you are?", she said again.
"I'm Ashtine.", I replied.
For waiting in the queue for half an hour, it was our turn. We submitted our documents and the registration and admission process was done. Next we had to go to the other block for hostel room admission.
"You see Princeton's like a Disneyland to me. The only love of my life. The place I dreamed of every night and day. It feels like a dream to me even now. Can you please pinch me once?", Arin talked as we walked towards the accommodations block.
I pinched her.
"Eww!! That was sharp.", she exclaimed.
"Sorry!! I thought you were serious", I replied.
"Oh no worries. Just kidding. You are timid. Any body can fool you. But now that you are away from home you need to be strong and confident. Don't worry I'm here with you. If we are lucky we would be in the same room.", Arin replied.
Arin reminded me of Lilly. Coz this girl too is way more confident than me and speaks a lot. Although no one can replace Lilly but I was glad that at least I have someone on the very first day.
So that was a really lucky day for us. We both were in the same hostel room. As we entered the room there were three beds. So technically there should be one more person living in this room. Looking at the room one can tell that someone was already living here. A senior maybe.
"Ashtine, I'm so happy that you are my roommate!", Arin hugged me happily.
"Me too!!", I replied.
It was not a tidy, well maintained room. There were beer bottles, dirty clothes and half smoked cigarettes lying on the floor. It was a sight I was not used to see. But anyway we had no choice.
"Let's unpack now. We have an early class tomorrow morning.", I said.
We both unpacked our bags & luggage. I took out a photo frame of the four of us clicked on my birthday and kept it on the back of my bed. I missed them all.
One unread message:
Paul: Hey Ash!! Call me when you're free.
Me: I'll call you after dinner.
We went to the mess afterwards for dinner. It was a really big place. So many students were there including boys. It was a common mess for both girls and boys hostel. We had our dinner and returned back to our room.
"The food was good. I liked the potatoes!", Arin said.
Just as we opened the room we saw two girls.. making out.. Again a sight I'm not used to see.
"Oh we're ss...sorryy!! We'll just go!", both of us said together.
"Oh please don't!! Come on in. We were just having fun.", the girl said with a wink. She looked older than us as expected for she was in senior year. A very intimidating personality she had. Curly long hair, piercings and tattoos.
"Hey I'm Sarah! This is my girlfriend Joe. I live here and she's a guest!", she said while kissing her gf again.
"Nice to meet you Sarah! I'm Ashtine and I'm Arin. We are your new roommates.", we both said.
"So glad that finally I'll have a company in this room. Just two things for disclaimer: 1. I'll be drinking & smoking here so I hope you guys would adjust & 2. Joe would be sleeping here somedays.", Sarah said while taking her stuff out of our beds.
We both nodded in agreement. In this regard we both were silent.
Sarah and her gf went out after that. I called Paul.
[Paul: Hey Ash! Miss Princeton how's it going? How's your room. Do you have any roommate? Tell me everything.]
"Its good here Paul. Yes I have two roommates one senior and one with me in freshman year. Food's good too. I.. I just miss home.", I replied.
[Let a week pass and then see. You'll get adjusted there and will be busy with studies. And to be honest I miss you too!]
We both talked for some time and then I went to sleep.
......Our First Class....
I was overwhelmed. My first class at my dream university. I thanked God for everything.
"Its Mrs. Wilson's class. She is a 2007 alumni and a the author of "The literates of the English Literature".", I told Arin.
"Yeah I've also heard and read about her a lot.", she replied.
We were both busy chatting and every other student was too. Everyone had someone. It was good to see. And suddenly the loud chatting went silent and everyone in the class listened to the footsteps of a person approaching. Everyone in the class stopped talking and just when I looked at the person coming. My eyes froze the moment I saw that person and couldn't process anything. My eyes couldn't believe the person I was looking at was actually here. Here in Princeton. And he was looking so fine. He was Chris.
"Mrs. Wilson is in a meeting. She will be 15 mins late for the class.", Chris said to the class.
Girls were all in awe. I could hear their whispers.
What a handsome guy.
I wish I become his girlfriend.
Do you see those piercings. So hot!
I hope he's single.
I was just hoping he does not find me among fifty students. I tried to hide my face by looking down into my notebook.
"What are you doing Ash? Who's so stupid to look at a book when there's a fancy treat right in front of the eye!", Arin said.
Now who will tell her that this handsome face belongs to a flirt. Someone I don't want to be involved with and who I want to keep out of my mind.
"These handsome faces come with a price. I better not get involved. Also I have a boyfriend. So..", I replied.
I tried to not look at him but my eyes couldn't resist. He was in his usual self. Looking charming and he was busy looking at his phone. He's probably chatting with his girlfriend which I saw that day at the cafe. I felt pain thinking that he has a girlfriend. It was strange.
I kept looking at him until the time when his eyes met mine.
Sh*t!! Ash you are stupid. Why do you have to stare at him like that? Now what will you do?
He looked at me again and this time he focused at me making sure it was the same girl who shouted at him at a cafe. He smirked at me when he confirmed that it was me only. His flirtatious smile was back. The smile that kept me awake all night. I travelled almost 600 miles to be away from this person only to find him near me again.
"Butterfly", he said looking at me.
My heartbeats ran fast again. I just hoped he does not call me or my name. Just when I was praying to God that he leaves the class, I heard him saying, "All of you introduce yourselves! I think I know someone here!" His eyes fixed on me and I knew it was game over for me.