The weather of Bombay was rather sunny with occasional gusts of sea breeze making it even more pleasant than ever. The streets were bustling with large crowds of all working people expediting their travel to their respective working places. And so was St. Adelaide college, lively with energetic youths marinating in their rose-coloured life. Or maybe a few weren't.
''Ughhhh!!! Why did I have to get up sooooo early?! Damn I feel dead drowsy.'' A usual pathetic Aparna complained in her usual low-energy tone; her big head lying on the big lunch table in the open cafeteria of the college.
''Man is made to wake up when the sun rises. My grandfather was the epitome of this.'' A calm Gauri said sipping on her morning tea holding the paper cup. She was one of the few people who were used to Aparna's daily nagging on life. Adding to it, she continued, ''Well, just so you know, we have a lecture an hour later. Maybe we could revise some random objectives until everyone arrives.''
''Oh please no! Have mercy on me. Let me have some rest before those noisy brats arrive.'' Just when Aparna was about to doze off after her earnest plea to Gauri, a loud and excited twittering woke her up.
''There the devils are. I hate them.'' Gauri smirked at Aparna's visible frustration and then turned to face her other friends approaching their table.
''Aparna!! Gauri!!'' A very excited Swarangie ran upto the two girls who had already reserved the seating.
''Oh come on Aparna, it's already 10:30 in the morning. Can you not spread such drowsy vibes when we have a long day to go?'' Meher, one of the newly arrived people, said shaking Aparna trying to get her up.
''Oh I have a way to get her moving.'' Sanika said while taking out a big thermos and bowl from her bag. She could notice the completely fazed expressions of her friends who were baffled by her action.
''Please don't tell me she is about to serve a bowl of soup here. She isn't right?!'' Gauri desperately asked hoping for someone to give a positive response.
"That's her newly found hobby.'' Shreya said, placing a hand on Gauri's shoulder. But Sanika had already poured the fresh and fragrant soup from the thermos into the bowl and placed it in front of Aparna.
''I knew this group is full of weirdos and it's getting even worse day by day.'' Aparna said giving up on expecting anything sensible from the girls around her.
Before she could pick up the bowl to drink the fluid, a sudden male voice popped behind her startling her. ''Wow you guys having an appetizer in the morning?''
''Where the hell did you come out from?" Aparna asked. Disdain, annoyance and laziness was evident on her face at the sight of Aniruddh. She could definitely never have any positive reaction for Aniruddh who was inclined to giving her judgemental looks every time she was being typically herself, especially during the lectures.
''I was in the boys' common room.'' Aniruddh said pointing at the direction of his previous location.
"Well, whatever.'' Aparna said disinterestedly.
"So what were you up to there? It's rare to see you anywhere other than the canteen, the study hall or the lecture rooms.'' Meher inquired, sarcastically it seems.
"Well I was -'' "Flirting with someone probably. Isn't he an absolute authority of that.'' Sanika added before Aniruddh could finish his explanation.
And somehow, nobody seemed to disagree. Well not like they were interested in his love affairs as well. Aniruddh was one of the those people whom one usually won't take notice even on a deserted street. That's how undetectable he had created his presence to be.
For now, he was too indifferent to pay any heeds to the presumption of flirting so he just gave his friends a generic smile of his, to which Aparna responded with an expression of pure disgust.
''Moving on from one insignificant person to another, where is that worrywart?'' Aparna tried to change the subject since she was unwilling to talk any further about Aniruddh of all people.
''Ahhh! Vedanti? She is probably not coming today since she pulled an all-nighter last night trying to finish her novel.'' Sanika replied instantly, knowing exactly who Aparna was talking about.
''Is she dead finally?'' Aparna asked with her face brightening with joy. ''No she isn't. She is just being you for a day.'' Gauri added gulping down the leftover amount of tea.
''Now that I think about it, does anyone know what Vedanti is writing of recently?'' Swarangie asked with genuine curiosity. For some reason, she could see everyone's face changing sour. ''Is it something unspeakable?'' she asked feeling a little embarrassed for not knowing the content.
''It's probably some weird stuff again. Something paranormal and romance. I wonder how she manages to mix these genres together.'' Meher said looking confused yet surprised remembering all sorts of things Vedanti has written till now.
''I won't be surprised if she ends up becoming a black magician soon. Gauri told me she had been learning to read the tarot cards as well.'' Shreya said laughing a bit looking at Aparna in a state of utter disbelief.
''Oh God! Why did I end up with such abnormal people?'' Aparna cried in vexation. ''Does really consider herself normal?!'' Sanika whispered to Swarangie and Shreya who chuckled in agreement. ''Now, now, does anyone know how Kshirja's doing recently?'' Aniruddh asked avoiding further pathetic cry of Aparna.
''Ah right. Srija exists.'' Aparna whispered in the lowest of her tones but she managed to be caught by the ever sharp Gauri. ''I hope you say her name right at least in her absence.'' Gauri demanded.
''Kshirja is preoccupied in boosting her business. She has too many orders recently.'' Swarangie said showing her Kshirja Instagram feed to them.
''Woah....Whenever I see you guys doing so much in life, I just get this sudden surge of worthlessness welling up inside me. Swara sings, Aparna dances, Vedanti writes, Shreya acts, Kshirja has her own business, Meher paints, Aniruddh flirts, Sanika has boyfriend. I am doing nothing.'' Gauri said in a self-depreciating manner.
''HOLD ON!'' Sanika and Aniruddh cried in union. Unfortunately, these two things had somehow turned out to be their cardinal traits in life. ''I am capable of other things as well!'' Sanika yelled. Aniruddh wanted to protest a bit more as well, but decided to give up seeing how offended Sanika was.
''Oh sure, like what again?'' Aparna asked sarcastically revenging her for the soup thing previously. Now this did make Sanika feel flustered but she had to think of a comeback in a few microseconds.
''I can sleep like a dead person!'' Sanika shouted out but failed to calculate the repercussions of this. Now there was an utter silence for a second before everyone burst out laughing.
''Yes, two minutes of silence for Sanika please.'' Aniruddh said.
''That was so hilarious. She did some severe self-burn here.'' Aparna added.
Sanika couldn't be anymore awkward now. But at least she was grateful she didn't blurt this out in front of her boyfriend. Or that would have an irreversible damage for her self-esteem. Their enlivened discussions, jokes and roasts continued for an hour. Though they still missed their few missing members, all of them were way too stubborn to admit they did missed them. It was quite a normal day for their group. Soon the bell rang and it was time for their lecture.
''Ughhh! What's new for today's lecture?" Meher asked frustratingly. ''A test probably.'' Aniruddh said smilingly as he was the only one who was prepared for it. Aparna, Gauri and Meher had huge jaw-drop reaction while they tried to persuade him to show his answers, which he definitely wasn't. Especially not after being accused so openly a while ago. He could be really vindictive at times.
Swearing and laughing at each other, they split into groups and headed for their respective lecture rooms. ''What a regular peaceful day.'' Swarangie said climbing the huge wooden, Gothic staircase besides Sanika. ''It sure is. But why is my chest feel a little heavier today. Am I coming down with something? Is it pneumonia again?'' Sanika said worriedly,
''It's more often called premonition my child.'' A sudden voice scared every ounce of their soul from Sanika and Swarangie.
''VEDANTI! Can you not just appear normally? Why did you pop up from behind like a ghost? Wait a minute. Weren't you supposed to be absent toady??'' Swarangie screamed at the newly appeared girl who stood in front of them calmly, pale and white as a ghost.
''I thought my heart was about jump out from my chest. Are you and Aniruddh competing to see who's the spookiest of all? Be a little considerate, will you??'' Sanika threatened her with a murderous look.
''My apologies. I didn't mean to scare you. Rather I am here to warn you. My tarots card having been predicting something ominous since last night.'' Vedanti said grimly.
''Huh?What? What are you saying? What about the cards? Speak in a way we can understand.'' Sanika was almost losing her patience. She wasn't really the type who could stay calm after the mention of something bad or ominous. Neither was Swarangie.
''Okay then. I did a tarot reading today morning. And I -'' Vedanti was cut off amidst.
''Are you seriously planning on learning black magic?!'' Sanika burst out at her. ''Let her speak you idiot!'' Swarangie shut her up.
''Yeah. So I happened to see the 13th trump card.....the 'tarot card of Death'.'' Vedanti's solemn voice brought a chill down their spine. It never ended up well whenever she predicted something. And this time, she was talking about death!
''What the hell! Stop joking and stop scaring! I don't believe such superstitions. ALSO WASN'T THIS SUPPOSED TO BE SCI-FI NOVEL??'' Sanika said. ''Oh is it?'' Vedanti questioned raising an eyebrow. ''If you really find this poppycock, then why do you look like Aparna who hasn't been coffee for a whole week?'' she added. And it did hit the bull's eye.
''Stop it you two. It's just a deck of cards. It won't really bring any misfortune. Why are you both getting so serious over such a trivial issue.''Swarangie tried to reason this out. ''Swara, you are speaking like someone I know.'' Vedanti said pinching Swarangie's face.
''Then how about you delineate this prediction in front of that someone later?'' Swarangie said glancing at the terrified Sanika who was still overthinking about it.
''I might get slapped right on my face by him. He'll just call it a load of codswallop.'' Vedanti said shrugging her shoulders. ''However, I believe, it's gonna be an interesting day today ladies.'' she added slyly as she walked away towards the library.
''She is resembling those suspicious looking fortune-telling women on the streets. Is she even alright in the head??" Sanika couldn't stop contemplating on what she said.
"She must be overwhelmed after writing those crappy novels. She is just imagining things. You don't have to brood over it.'' Swarangie tried comforting her. But Sanika was too much in a shock to calculate the greater scheme of things. Every unnecessary existence in this universe could be turned into a worthy enough topic of talks and thoughts if given a chance to Sanika to overthink about it. If dust piled up becomes a mountain, then Sanika's thoughts combined can even bring down a mountain.
****
"Ahahahahaha!! Guys I got a text from Swarangie. Here this out. Seems like Vedanti has pulled a prank on Sanika.'' Meher said sitting on the last bench, bending over the desk to be audible only to her friends.
"Wasn't that worrywart grandma supposed to in deep slumber at home? Why is she pranking people?'' Aniruddh asked remembering the related information received earlier.
"She is in the college library, Swara. And Sanika is totally perplexed because of something Vedanti said.'' Meher said reading the messages.
"What did she do? Don't tell me she told Sanika's parents about her relationship. I am absolutely unconcerned about what scandalous affairs Sanika is into.'' Aparna said as she lazily looked somewhere else to avoid this topic going ahead.
"Go ahead, see for yourself.'' Meher showed them the messages secretly.
"Seriously? She is actually reading tarots?? She is assuredly a lost cause for humanity.'' Gauri said. ''I am really surprised by the innovative ways she comes up with to disregard every scientific possibility in the world.'' Aniruddh said still looking at the texts.
"But seriously, why death?? Does she mean to say someone from us is gonna die?'' Meher asked, a little creeped out.
"I hope it's this boring and prosaic person. I have had enough of his judgemental looks.'' Aparna said pointing at Aniruddh who ignored it. "Let's just calm Sanika down after the lectures. She is worrying unnecessarily.'' Gauri tried brushing off Aparna's remarks.
"Since you people are already at it, do something about that spooky idiot also. She is getting more and more into occult.'' Aparna's statement couldn't be agreed more by everyone.
Vedanti was another person after Aniruddh, or maybe before him, whom Aparna purely wished to silence forever. Not only was she an entirely unmatched existence to that of Aparna's, but also her interests were all Greek to her.
After a few hours, the day finally ended with the last bell. Everyone was walking out of the lecture rooms. Some were scurrying over to go somewhere, while some were just dilly dallying around. In all truth, the corridors were full of people and walking through them was a hell of task.
Walking down the stairs in this clogged place was an imaginable hurdle. And St. Adelaide college, was no better than a medieval palace with lots of big wooden staircases and European interior elements.
"Oh I hate these stairs....There's almost nothing in bag and still walking here feels so heavy.'' Meher said walking with her friends, making way through the enormous number of people.
"Oh come on, it's not that big of a deal. You just have to use your force to push your way out.'' Gauri said casually walking ahead of her group trying to make it easy for feeble friends as she talked looking at them.
"Umm, Gauri, I really think you should be a little more careful of your footing. You might fall down if keep looking back.'' Aniruddh tried warning her seeing her overly confident stance. Time and tide, whenever Gauri acted with assurance in her way of doing things, she did end up in the gutter every time. And Aniruddh, being a realist, always warned his friends every time he observed them being reckless. And if one believes in bad omens, which the atheist Aniruddh surely doesn't, one could say his words were actually that of a schlimazel.
"Ah please! There's no way I -'' before she could finish it, Gauri had already missed a step and was about to fall down. Just how unlucky this group could be. In those very few moments of free fall, Gauri dramatically found herself cursing Aniruddh and was most definitely planning on stitching his mouth shut if she makes out alive.
Aniruddh being right behind her rushed to help her. He was amazed at credibility of his own words and he too was prepared on planning a lecture to teach Gauri how to walk if he successfully manages to save her.
But unfortunately, in another few seconds, both of them fell down the stairs.
All the people stopped at their place and gasped loudly at the sight of the two falling down. Teachers and students around there hurried over to help them. Meanwhile, Meher and Aparna were in a great state of shock seeing two of their strongest friends lying on the ground unconscious. They had no external injuries but were being carried by the people to the infirmary. Both the girls still couldn't process the accident.
"Are they dead?'' Meher asked shakily. She continued, "Isn't this what Vedanti said?!'' Man could never be more terrified when encountered by unexplained occurrences. And so were the two girls who had just ridiculed a warning prediction a few hours ago.
"Vedanti! I am gonna kill you!'' Aparna's shouting was loud enough to have other people pause with fright.
"Let's go the infirmary first and check out on them. Also call Sanika and others. Especially that occult girl.'' Meher pulled Aparna by hand and they rushed to the infirmary. Who knows, both Gauri and Aniruddh might actually die and wake up in a new life as the tarot says.....