Secrecy Of Heart

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Afraid

Riddhima's pov:

Huff!!

I snapped closed the book consisting of 401 leaves after getting frustrated upon unable to solve a physic equation. I wonder why even I took it out to do as my revision. The exams are like years away.

Unzipping my college bag, I aim to place the thick book inside but nodding my head subconsciously, I took it out once again only to rifle through the pages.

I remember my mobile phone screening the time 12.35pm before getting switched off. Certainly, it's more than 30 minutes since I am sitting here alone, on a shelter provided, a few feet away from my college, waiting for Sia.

It's not that I didn't try calling her before, rather her phone was not reachable since I had my lunch break.

It had never occurred something like this before.

After every physics class, she used to be the first one, eager to reach home soon more than me.

But what actually happened today? Where was she? Is she fine? My heart beat accelerated as unwanted thoughts occupied my mind.

She must be fine alright. I informed my inner self.

I looked at the bustling city before me yet, there was no hope of getting a mere sight of Sia nor Pinto uncle today.

At a time, I thought to stroll along the way to home and in a way,  I would have lost some calories too though, had my overprotective mother had not forbidden me to walk path-away to home, I would have reached the Rai Singhania  mansion by now.

Moreover, it seems, Rai Singhania mansion is beyond my reach today.

Pouting my lips and crinkling my eyebrows in boredom, my stomach automatically grumbles as I caught a glimpse of a rather small shop, a little away from me.

My lips curved upwards in happiness. I swayed my legs, back and forth as I thought to walk down and fetch myself with something to conquer my hunger.

But the very next moment I had to change my mind upon seeing a group of guys looking in my direction with different gazes.

I stopped swaying my legs and sat up rather stiff.

Reality knocks harsh upon me to find I am all alone.

Alone; the word echoed in my mind repeatedly.

I looked around for someone; my bad, I found none.

A sense of uneasiness and fear crawled on my skin as I gazed down to see I am having goosebumps.

With trembling hands, I tugged a strand of hair behind my ear.

I stole a quick glance at them only to find their gazes fixed on me.  Oh! I wonder, since when they are eyeing at me like that and how come I couldn't sense it.

I further looked down at my clothes; nothing much revealing yet I adjusted my dress to my knees.

My hands feel cold as I feel my heart running a marathon. I fisted my bag and hugged it tight across my chest.

My pupils burn as the already welcomed tears blurs my vision; threatening to roll down my cheeks any moment.

What should do now?
Why am I this Alone?

"...never let the thought of coming home alone that to by walking down creep on your head Riddhima..." mum's words swivel in my mind.

Now I could feel the real sense of that statement.