In the past more than five years their bond had strengthened and they became sisters. Yet Nia never mentioned to Rhianna a certain part of her life, never revealed about a certain incident which brought changes in her family and changed her in turn. It was only after grandma Fi had told Nicholas about Yougal Lucas and her broken engagememt Nia told her friend about that part of her life.
Two years ago she completed her PhD. and started teaching in the post graduate level. As her work load as consultant had increased Nia recently decided to leave her teaching job. She had discussed about her possible resignation with the director of the institution. She would miss the students, their love and respect, the classroom environment, and the regular company of Rhianna, Ayesha, Maya Seth and a few others.
Zubeen Gohain and his friends asked her to be their regular consultant. She already worked for the Adams and a Mumbai based firm. She decided to have a few of her own assistants and she would need an office.
As she walked to the common faculty room from the car parking Nia thought about how everything about this place would soon change into memory. Inside the common room she did not see Rhianna. Perhaps she was running late again. She checked the time table. There was still half an hour for her first class to begin. Nia sat down on a chair and glanced lazily around the room.
At a little distance from her, at the long table three female colleagues were busy gossiping about their husbands.
"You know, he thinks he is the most wonderful man in the neighbourhood, acts as if I should be grateful that I'm his wife. I told him that if he is that wonderful than he should take me on a vacation to Paris like his friend took his wife to Sydney." Jyoti Sharma did not hide the irritation in her heart for husband.
The other two talking about their husbands supported her with their understanding. Nia smiled as she heard their discussion. She could not help hearing as the women were rather loud. She always wondered why many women discussed their husbands even with a casual acquaintance.
Listening to them gossiping about their husbands Nia would always think that she would rather not marry than dissect her husband in the public. A thought crossed her mind. What if she had married Yougal Lucas, would she have been gossiping about him with Rhianna and Ayesha?
Once she thought that he was cold, heartless person. The thought of him reminded Nia of the night on last Friday outside Night Heaven club. Since she met him at Rhianna's party Yougal Lucas and she had been running a lot into each other. His dishevelled, drunken appearance, his pleading, sad words, the way he suddenly hugged her tight, burrying his face in her hair, everything replayed in her mind like the flashback scenes from a movie.
The sound of the bell ringing pulled her out of the archive in her head. She had two classes back to back. Nia took her books and the bag, and walked to the classroom.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After the two classes were over Nia returned to the common room. Rhianna and Ayesha were already there, chatting with Maya Seth. Rhianna did not bother to greet her and scowled at the sight of her friend. Ayesha noticed it.
"What's the matter?" She asked.
"She is angry with me. Hey Rhi, still on tbe revenge mode. Come on girl, I didn't do that intentionally. The phone was in the bag." Nia tried to pacify her friend.
"What about hanging up on me?" Rhianna glared at her.
"I already explained that to you. Please relent, mom." Nia pleaded again.
"Here comes our Miss Narcissus." Ayesha's brows danced as she smiled mockingly.
The others knew who she was referring to witbout turning their head to look at the person. They did not have to be told that Miss Narcissus was Monica Singh. Monica Singh was unfriendly to Nia even before Mark Adam was in the picture. Nia was loved and respected by the students and by many colleagues. Monica and the likes of her were jealous of the popularity and admiration Nia had garnered. But Nia was too busy to bother about them.
Because she did not retaliate, coupled with the fact that she never dressed to impress they assumed she was from a humble background and they grew courageous. Since Nia avoided confrontation over silly comments, Rhianna and Ayesha took it upon themselves to defend Nia from filthy, jealous mouths.
Nia always preferred simple and suave appearance at the university. If someone thought she was too simple in her dress it was not her headache. Often she felt exasperated at the lady professors and lecturers' attempts to be the best dressed woman in the campus, at their taunting glances at her or simple souls like her.
'For Pete's sake, this is a university campus, not some ramps for models.' Nia often groaned inwardly as they competed to be the best dressed female faculty member in the university.
"Hey Nia."
Nia looked up at a brightly smiling Rhianna and sighed with relief that the other girl got over her grumpy mood. She smiled back.
"Mark's mom called me on the phone yesterday evening." Nia was alarmed. She saw from the corner of her eyes Monica passing by their chairs. "Auntie has said that they are soon to visit your grandma and mom." Rhianna informed her.
Nia kept silent. She knew why Rhianna had to talk loudly of that piece of news to her at the moment. She sensed a burning glare upon her. She was not interested in Mark Adam. First this Monica Singh, next that woman admirer of Yougal Lucas, she had made two enemies for no fault of her. She glared at Rhianna but the latter laughed merrily.
"You and I will be sisters after our marriages to the Adam cousins." Rhianna added, like adding fuel to fire.