UNIVERSITY ARC
|"Please... just leave me."|
She whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the lapping water. Her tears blended with the cold lake, her body shivering as the icy depths tried to pull her under once more. Her voice was weak, breaking my heart, but I refused to give in to her plea. I couldn't let her go, not like this. I couldn't turn my back and let her disappear into that dark water forever.
|"Not today"|
My grip tightened around her wrist as I struggled to pull her back from the abyss. Every muscle in my body screamed with effort as I dragged her towards the shore, fighting against the weight of the water and my own exhaustion.
Finally, after what felt like hours, we stumbled onto the shore. Our bodies collapsed into the damp grass, soaked to the bone, breathless, trembling from the cold. I could hear her ragged breaths—each one labored, shallow. My own chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath, but the sight of her lying still beside me sent a wave of panic surging through my veins.
Her skin was pale, her lips blue. She wasn't breathing properly. Panic gripped me tighter than the cold. I turned her over, water spilling from her mouth, but not enough. Not nearly enough. My hands shook as I pressed down on her stomach, desperate to force the water out of her lungs.
|"Come on… come on… breathe!"|
My voice cracked as I spoke, fear thick in my throat. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath with me, the silence deafening. And when I thought all was lost, mercifully she gasped, water pouring from her mouth as her body shuddered, struggling to draw in the air. I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, relief washing over me like a tidal wave. She was alive, yes, but I could see the torment in her eyes, a reflection of the battle she was fighting within herself.
But as she lay there, sputtering and gasping, her eyes slowly opened. There was a brief moment of confusion before reality crashed down on her, and the relief that had flooded me moments ago was ripped away. Her eyes, wide and filled with a terrible mix of emotions, locked onto mine, standing a short distance away.
Her expression shifted almost immediately, fear, anger, and a pain so deep it seemed to reach her very soul flashing across her face.
Her voice, though weak, was sharp, cracking under the weight of her emotions.
|"Why? Why did you save me? I don't want to live… not in this horrible world anymore."|
Her words hit me like a physical blow. I had known the moment I pulled her from the water that she had wanted to die. But hearing it said aloud—hearing the anguish in her voice—it made the reality of her suffering all the more unbearable.
She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them tightly, as if trying to hold herself together. Her body shook, but I wasn't sure if it was from the cold or from the storm raging inside her. She buried her face in her knees, her sobs muffled by her soaked clothes. The night air bit at us both, our drenched clothes clinging uncomfortably to our bodies, but it was the sight of her breaking down that made the chill far worse.
I knelt beside her, not knowing exactly what to say, but knowing I had to say something.
|"Do you really think this will solve anything?"|
My voice was gentle but firm. I continued.
|"Do you think leaving this world will bring you peace? What about your parents? What about the people who love you? Do you think they'll be better off without you?"|
She flinched at the mention of her parents, her sobs quieting for a moment. Her shoulders shook as she cried harder, and I could see the guilt and regret already building within her. It was as though my words had pulled the dam from her emotions, and now the flood of sorrow, fear, and guilt was unstoppable.
I sat beside her in silence for a moment, waiting for the sobs to subside, my own emotions swirling. I didn't know her story, didn't know the weight of the burden she carried, but I recognized that pain. The hopelessness. I had seen it before—in myself and in others who had been to the brink and back.
I stayed by her side, my hand resting gently on her back as I tried to comfort her. I said softly after a moment.
|"Look at me. poverty, hardship... they aren't curses. They're obstacles, yes, but they can be overcome. You're strong enough to fight this. If you had the courage to try and end it all, why not have the courage to live? To fight back and rise above it all? I know, this world isn't easy—it's unfair, cruel, and relentless sometimes—but you have a chance to rise above it. You have the strength inside you. I know you can do it."|
Slowly, she lifted her head from her knees, her tear-streaked face pale in the moonlight. Her eyes, bloodshot from crying, met mine, searching for something—hope, maybe. She looked at me as if she couldn't quite believe what I was saying, as if the very idea of fighting back against her circumstances was foreign to her.
|"But... I don't know how."|
She whispered, her voice broken, trembling with doubt and continued.
|"I don't know how to keep going."|
I hesitated, my throat tight with emotion.
|"You start by taking one step. Just one. And then another. You don't have to know how everything will turn out, you just have to keep moving. I promise, it's not impossible.I promise. And you don't have to do it alone. I can help you."|
For a moment, she was still trying to process. Then, without warning, she threw herself into my arms. Her body trembled against mine, and I held her close, feeling the weight of her pain, her loneliness. I could feel her heartbeat, erratic and uneven, as if her body was still struggling to catch up with the fact that she was alive. Gently, I ran my fingers through her hair and wiped away the tears that stained her cheeks.
As I held her, my mind raced. What had driven her to this point? What could have pushed someone so far into despair that they believed there was no other way out? I wanted to ask, but I didn't want to push her. Not yet. She needed time. And for now, all I could do was be there, a quiet presence in the darkness.
After what felt like hours but was probably only minutes, she finally pulled away, her face still streaked with tears, though they were no longer falling. Her eyes were puffy and red, but there was a flicker of something else in them—something like hope, or at least the shadow of it.
she whispered, her voice barely above a breath while moving a bit far from me.
|"I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean any of this."|
I replied gently.
|"I know. You don't have to apologize. I'm just glad you're normal now."|
She wiped her eyes, her expression softening slightly, though the weight of her sorrow hadn't fully lifted.
But first, curiosity gnawed at me, compelling me to understand the reason behind her despair and I can't control her asking. I softly brushed away the last of her tears and asked.
|"Why did you want to die? You can tell me anything. I promise, I'll help you however I can."|
For a fleeting moment, I saw a glimmer of hope in her eyes, but it quickly faded. She shook her head, her expression clouded by fear and hesitation.
|"No one can help me, not even you.|
She whispered, her voice laced with guilt and resignation.
|"Don't be so sure. Just tell me what's going on, and we'll figure something out to help you."|
She looked away, biting her lip as if she were weighing the consequences of opening up.
|"I've already said too much. No one can change my situation, so please… just let it go."|
I could sense her reluctance, the walls she had built around her pain, but I didn't want to push her too far.
|"Alright, I won't force you to talk about it. But promise me this—you'll never try something like that again. No more reckless decisions."|
After a long silence, she nodded, her body relaxing slightly. I offered her my hand, helping her to stand.
We walked back to the spot where she had nearly ended her life, and I noticed the half-eaten food scattered around.
|"You spent your scholarship money on this, didn't you?" I asked, motioning to the expensive seafood dishes laid out on the ground."|
She gave me a shy smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes.
|"No, it wasn't my scholarship. It was my savings."|
I couldn't help but frown at the extravagance.
|"That's better. But this food… it's so expensive. Why do you spend all your money on something like this?"|
Her gaze dropped to the ground, her voice soft with regret.
|"I love seafood. I've always dreamed of eating at a nice restaurant, but I never could afford it. When I decided today would be my last, I thought… at least I should indulge one final time. So I bought all of this with a second thought."|
She looked at me then, her eyes filled with a strange mix of sorrow and embarrassment.
|"I know it sounds silly, but... could you help me finish it? It's too much for me to eat alone."|
I chuckled, though the situation was anything but light.
|"Why did you buy enough for two people if you knew you couldn't eat it all?"|
|"I was starving."|
She admitted, her face flushing with embarrassment.
|"I've been skipping dinners to save money. I've only had a couple of meals over the past few days, and when I finally decided to treat myself, I bought way too much. My eyes were bigger than my stomach."|
I raised an eyebrow.
|"I was on a scholarship too, but it was enough for me to get by. Why wasn't it enough for you?"|
A tear slipped down her cheek as she struggled to explain.
|"The free hostel rooms were full when I enrolled. I had no choice but to rent a small place, and the rent eats up most of my scholarship. I tried to make ends meet by cutting back on food, but… it's been hard."|
Her voice cracked, and the tears flowed freely again. Seeing her like this, so broken and vulnerable, stirred something deep within me. I couldn't bear to witness her suffering any longer. Without thinking, I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her. She cried into my chest, and for a moment, I let my own tears fall as well. Her pain mirrored the struggles I had once faced, and I couldn't help but empathize with her.
After a few minutes, I gently pulled away, wiping my eyes. She smiled weakly and, in an attempt to shift the mood, held out a milkshake.
|"At least take this. I can't finish it, and it's a shame to waste it."|
I took the milkshake, more out of politeness than hunger. As I sipped it, something dawned on me. I hadn't even introduced myself.
|"By the way, I'm Manoj. I study computer science."|
Her lips curled into a soft smile, her mood lightening for the first time.
|"I'm Divya. I'm studying medicine. Nice to meet you."|
We spent the next few hours sitting together, talking about lighter things—her studies, my own life. Slowly, the tension began to ease, and for the first time that night, I saw a small, genuine smile touch her lips. I shared stories about my friends and their antics, and she laughed—a genuine, warm laugh that made the heaviness of the day feel a little lighter. As we discussed our studies, I couldn't help but notice a growing connection between us, something deeper than just shared hardship.
As the night grew colder, we finally rose to leave, our clothes still damp but the heaviness in the air lifting slightly. When she finished her meal, we both stood and started walking toward our rooms.
But before we parted ways, I hesitated, feeling an urge I couldn't suppress. The question bubbling up before I could stop it.
|"Divya… can I see you again tomorrow?"|
She paused, her eyes meeting mine with a soft, reassuring smile.
|"Of course."|
As she walked away, I made a silent vow. From this moment on, I would protect her, no matter what. She wouldn't have to face her struggles alone, and I would support her however I could, even if it meant using my influence or going without. She deserved better, and I would make sure she got it.