It was not easy mixing with these outrageously bold girls here. In Mumbai, she was used to being ignored and only called for when someone needed her for their work. Whereas here, in Odisha, she struggled to keep up with their 'extra' interests in her.
"I love your name very much. It's so romantic! Did your parents have a love marriage?"
"Aww!! You must be so lucky to see love everyday at home!"
"Will you let us meet them when they come to visit you?"
"Gosh, why did you leave such a dreamy city like Mumbai and come in a simple dimple Odisha, huh?"
Needless to say she was left to think a lot about those questions.
Most importantly, she saw her classmates being genuinely interested in knowing it than faking it. That fact caused more of a disturbance in her mind.
What were they actually having in mind?
Since Rob was not busy the entire day, he spent his afternoon with the earphones and a popcorn packet he got handy from canteen. Just like Sweety, he could hear the questions toppling from girls with different voices.
As he didn't know nor he wanted to, he named them No. 1, No. 2 and so on.
"Why isn't she saying anything? Surely they weren't that difficult of questions to answer." He thought as he heard every original voice except the current owner of locket.
'Alright, leave the girl alone. She must be tired, especially after losing the game today.'
'Jasmine! Come here, have a seat!'
Ah, Jasmine Mehra, he realised.
'So tell me,' Jasmine continued probably after sitting down, Rob curiously tuned in to hear, 'Have you met Mr Wilson before? Or could it be he is your private teacher teaching you to top the exams?'
Rob expected Sweety to remain silent again. But miraculously she happened to open her mouth only now!
'No. Why would you say that?'
'Oh look. She speaks! You won't believe it Jasmine, ever since we gathered in TV hall, she was only staring at us like aliens. You are indeed a remarkable job!'
Jasmine smirked at the compliment. It was not new for a popular girl to feel it. Such ones enjoy and sometimes can't live in peace without it.
'Oh, we could be something then sweety. Uh, I wasn't saying your name, just so you know.'
'Warden Mam is coming here. Clean up the room if you all want to see TV!' A new voice warned others.
Rob heard some rustling in his ears too. Possibly, she was helping in cleaning too. He was ready to keep the phones down for the day until Jasmine's silky voice again countered his ears.
'I am seeing this for the first time. Where were you hiding this locket all this time? In your bosom?' She laughed at her own words. Now that he thought of it, it was true she was keeping it safe. Safer than he kept with him.
'I have placed the newspapers in their rack. Mam won't be upset now.'
He heard Roulette's footsteps going far from noise.
Yet in the distance he could here their whispers: 'Did she just go away like that?'
'If she come from a great city, that doesn't make her so special.'
'Forget her. We have a movie to watch.'
Sweety went inside her empty room to read a novel she took from library today. Her roommate, Kirell was also watching TV leaving her time alone to herself.
While planning to make the girl's life difficult for making his life a tornado, he fell asleep until a sluggish thing was shaking him awake.
"Oh come on! Why don't you ever listen to me! Dining hall will close in five minutes! Do you want to sleep hungry?! Well, you are already sleeping without dinner.... ugh! Get up! Get up before you are expelled for not doing your duties as a teacher! As a teacher you should see to it that all boys have attended the dining hall! Do you know, yesterday we caught a group of seniors smoking cigarettes outside in basket ball court! Have you got any idea-" Samuel Works blinked at the now empty bed where Mr. Wilson was drowned down.
"What? Where did he go?!"
Shaking his ears, he walked into the cool night where mild talks were surrounded all over. Students were walking rounds, some were speaking in phones with their parents. He heard there was a certain phone timing for them since they were not allowed to keep such devices with themselves.
Among all that, he heard a laughter coming behind one of the bushes near Girls Hostel. Creeping closer he came to see Sweety laughing while talking on phone.
Looking at others who were similarly engaged in conversations with family, no one appeared 'that' happy as her...
Viewing his locket dangling around her neck, he immersed his earphones curiously.
"Now that I am here, you must be the happiest." Sweety's voice materialized.
A female voice answered from the other line, "Yeah... Papa was calling 'Sweety, Sweety' to massage his back. You are not very easily forgotten."
"Aw, is my sister jealous? Oh yeah, you've always been jealous of me. That's why I know you are very happy I am here."
"Are you done now? I am hanging up."
"Okay-" Phone was hung up before Sweety could say more. She was thinking of the talk she had with Papa which Rob happened to miss hearing upon and she was surprised to find it was the first time, she laughed with him.
"Distance does teach a lot." She said to herself. Getting up she handed back the phone to a lady attendant when she turned to see Mr. Wilson watching her. Her gaze consciously looked for Warden Mam who was always around to check if girls were anywhere near the guys.
"Wait!" He called before she could make her mind to run back inside hostel.
But Sweety did just that. She almost ran inside the entrance hostel building knowing he won't be able to follow in. Just when she turned right for stairs, Warden Mam appeared ahead blocking her.
"What are you running from in such a hurry?"
"Sweety! Sweety Roulette? Come back out!" Sweety squeezed her eyes shut at the unwanted passionate calling her teacher was making her listen.
"Who is it?" Warden Mam demanded.
"Mr. Wilson." She answered.
"He is calling for you. Why are you still standing here?" She pushed her round spectacles on her nose bridge, folding her short arms to appear intimidating. Frankly, she was feared of for her punishment techniques rather than her looks.
"Um, you said not to talk to a boy..."
"He is a teacher. Are you this dumb?" Madam directed her to go back outside, which Sweety unwillingly had to progress.
Watching his student and an old woman coming together, he fixed his jacket readily. The old woman stepped forward, "I am Miss Naomi Roy, her Warden Mam. If you wish to assign work to her, you may come anytime at my hostel to get her. Studies come first and I would be happy to receive complete details of her performance in school."
Rob was silent for two seconds when he recovered quickly, "O-of course. Thank you. You see..." he glanced at Sweety before continuing, "Miss Roulette is one of the best students in my class. She impressed me from the first day of class... I think I might be her favorite teacher too." Sweety eyed him at that time skeptically however Warden Roy was blissful.
Getting to the point he said, "I need a few minutes with Miss Roulette but she insisted it was time for her to get back in. So may I...?"
"Sure. Wherever you want. I will be waiting here until she is back." Shining his smile like a sweet heart he led the girl towards front pavement.
"What the bloody hell are you doing?" Sweety's raging eyes confronted Rob in a very attractive way. He couldn't believe for an unshapely girl to gain attention from him appealingly.