Page 74 - Love Story of a Commando

‘Hang out? Ha ha! Wake up, Reeyaa! You are in a small village, that
too in Kashmir. Where are you staying, by the way?’ she enquired.
‘In a cottage called Chenab on the premises,’ I replied.
‘Oh, that is right next to mine. I will catch up with you in the evening
to tell you how to survive this place and other details. Right now, I should
move my arse, or else Mr Khan could appear like a genie and we’ll be in
trouble. You can never predict what this guy will do,’ she smiled.
After she had left, I sat down on one of the chairs, wondering what I
had gotten myself into and what for.
Was it some kind of sign that I was losing my mental balance or that
I was still living in denial and seeking him? Did he even exist or I should
detach myself from these memories that now seemed like a distant dream, a
faded moment in eternity? Why could I not move on or had I moved on too
far? What consequences were awaiting me now that I had abandoned
everything that defined my identity once?
I still didn’t have answers to any of the questions I had been asking
the universe ever since the Taj burnt and engulfed my existence in its flames.
How would I ever know if he hadn’t lied, and that everything was just
spontaneous and that there was no reason I should believe in true love? But
then, why could I not be my normal self or at least something close to it?
Questions, questions and only questions with no answers to look
forward to. Just my torn soul and scarred memory.
‘No! No! Why am I thinking about him? I am here in nature’s
paradise. It was he who turned Mumbai into a haunted place for me and now
he cannot encroach the peace of my life here as well. I need to shut it out. I
don’t know him and I cannot let him do that again to me .’ I shook my head
desperately.
Just then, a few students entered the room, pulling me out of my
mental ruckus. And I appreciated it.
I got up at once and they did not even glance at me. It was not the
kind of friendly teacher and student relationship I had been anticipating. We
needed to introduce ourselves. Common, Riya, gear up! You have handled
high-end business meetings and corporate conferences. These are just kids, I
told myself.
‘Hello, children…err…students! I am your new computer teacher
and I want all of you to introduce yourselves one by one,’ I said
energetically.
There was no movement from the kids! Nothing!
But I could see a few girls who had their heads covered in hijabs
giggling in one corner. This was not acceptable. There were around fifteen
students and they were standing here and there forming little groups and
staring at me.