THE NAME
They made their way back to the canteen, once again, choosing the same table to sit at. Anya, noticing the pristine condition of the table, couldn't help but comment with a sardonic grin and pointing her finger towards the table, she said "Well, well, well... look at this. The cleaner followed my instructions to the letter."
As they took their seats, Anya's gaze swept through the canteen, seeking the cleaner who had become the subject of her ire. He was conspicuously absent, a fact that didn't escape Meera's notice. "Hunting for the mystical beast?" she teased with a grin while looking around herself.
Anya's response was laced with annoyance. "Mystical? Hardly. He's nothing but a filthy cleaner." Not satisfied with just looking, she beckoned a young staff member over. "You there, come here," she demanded.
The young man approached promptly, "Yes, ma'am?"
"Where's that brute?" Anya asked, expecting an immediate answer.
The boy's confusion was evident. "I'm sorry, who, ma'am?"
Anya's patience wore thin. "The man who looks more Animal than human," she clarified with a hint of exasperation.
Still puzzled, the boy hesitantly said, "I'm not sure what you mean, ma'am."
Now visibly frustrated, Anya raised her voice, "The one with the beard and mustache, you fool!"
Recognition dawned on the boy's face, and he replied with a smile, "Oh, the big, handsome, sturdy guy? He finished his shift and left," the expression on his face was evident that he was very much impressed by the man.
The description of the cleaner as 'handsome' only served to fuel Anya's anger. "Handsome? He's nothing but a wild animal," she retorted, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Anyway," she inquired once more, "And what his name would be?" Her gaze fixed on the young staff member, expecting an answer.
The boy hesitated for a moment before responding, "Amavas, ma'am."
The name seemed to hang in the air, and with a dismissive wave, Anya signaled the boy to leave. She turned to her friends, repeating the name with a mix of intrigue and mockery.
"Amavas," rolling the name around her tongue "Dark, black, moonless night. What kind of odd freaky name is that, isn't it?" Her tone carried a blend of amusement and disdain as she pondered the unusual moniker.
"Amavas… Amavas…" Raj mulled over the name, his gaze shifting between Anya and Meera. "It's quite an unusual and odd name, Almost sounds like a spell or," he emphasized " a curse from an ancient tale rather than a person's name. Remember what I said? There's definitely something off about that guy."
Meera looked at them both with surprise on her face. "You two are obsessed with this guy. What's gotten into you?" she observed. To me, he's just a ruggedly attractive man doing his job. Since when it became a crime to be awfully handsome and a cleaner? Her words were a mix of jest and genuine puzzlement.
Raj sighed, trying to steer the conversation away from the mysterious cleaner. "Let's drop it. What's everyone in the mood for?" he asked, turning his attention to the girls. Meera responded first, "I could go for some tea and rusk."
Anya simply added, "Just green tea for me.""Got it. I'll be right back with the order," Raj said, heading off to the counter.
Raj walked up to the canteen counter and said, "Excuse me, I'd like one green tea, two regular teas, a rusk, and four samosas, please." The boy behind the counter glanced up from his register and replied, "Certainly, sir. You'll need to wait for about five minutes."
As Raj waited, his gaze wandered toward the window. Just two hours ago, Amavas had stood there, his presence etched in his mind. Almost as if under a spell, he found himself drawn to the same spot. Standing close to the window, he adjusted his angle to match the one Amavas had held earlier. Outside, the dense woods of the jungle stretched out before him.
"What was he looking for among the trees?" The question echoed in his mind, consuming his thoughts, when suddenly he heard a voice from behind."Excuse me, sir, your order is ready."Raj snapped out of his reverie, turned back, and returned to the counter. Raj whispered to himself. "Why had Amavas been staring into those mysterious woods? WHY."
He returned to the table and carefully placed the plates on the table. With a smile, he said, "Well, senoritas, bon appétit."
After finishing their meals, they stood up and left the canteen. Anya, stretched languidly, "Well," she said, "let's head to our rooms. I'm feeling tired and could use a hot bath." Meera, on the other hand, seemed preoccupied. "I have to prepare the research paper," she said hastily. Anya shot her a surprised look, as if to say, "The research paper isn't due until next week, and here's this nerd already working on it."
Raj shrugged "Okay, I've got some work too. See you later, beautiful ladies." He winked playfully, they exchanged handshakes. and went their separate ways, each heading to their respective hostels behind the college.
The girls' hostel was to the right corner, and the boys' hostel was to the left.As Raj walked back to his hostel room, he couldn't stop thinking about Amavas and the woods. He casted a curious glance at the dense trees, their shadows beckoning.
And there, among the foliage, someone walked—a fleeting figure that vanished into the depths.
Compelled by surprise and intrigue, Raj dashed toward the fence, his eyes scouring the forest for any sign of the mysterious visitor. He darted from one vantage point to another, desperate for clarity, but the forest kept its secrets, shrouded in silence.
Minutes ticked by, and with a heavy sigh, Raj abandoned his search, turning back toward the hostel. His expression was pensive, the gears of his mind turning with theories and possibilities.
As he approached the hostel gate, he paused, casting one last glance over his shoulder. The woods stood still, as if mocking his curiosity. And in that moment, a single question echoed within his mind: "Was that Amavas?"