It was almost ten in the morning, and Bhoomi woke up with a start. "Oh sit! Sit! Sit! Bhoomi, that professor will surely bury you today. It's ten already. Oh God, why did I wake up so late? I had set the alarm, didn't I?" Bhoomi muttered to herself, checking her phone to find it switched off. "Oh God, why am I so careless?" she exclaimed, rushing into the bathroom and emerging ten minutes later. Grabbing her bag, she hastened out of the hostel and reached the department in five minutes. Panting heavily, she entered the gallery and then rushed into the lab. But as she looked up, Aakash glared at her, his eyes blazing with anger. Bhoomi felt like she was doomed.
It was 10:30 in the morning when Bhoomi arrived at the class, or rather, the lab, where scholars spent most of their time. As soon as she reached the door, Aakash's gaze fell upon her. He glared at her. "May I come in, sir?" Bhoomi asked, her eyes fixed on the floor. Aakash sat on his chair, his expression stern, as always, when he looked at Bhoomi. His hand rested on the table, and he seemed relaxed, but his gaze was piercing. The entire class became alert, sensing Aakash's impending outburst.
His gaze lingered on Bhoomi's hair, which barely touched her shoulders, and was, as usual, disheveled. Despite her attempts to tame it, her hair remained unruly, a reflection of her carefree nature. If possible, she would have shaved her head, as hair care was her biggest weakness. Aakash's anger intensified as he noticed her hooded jacket was worn inside out. His ire reached new heights when he spotted her wearing mismatched slippers. He silently invoked all his gods to calm his temper.
Bhoomi glanced at her fellow scholars, who began whispering and snickering. The girls giggled and started gossiping. Bhoomi was perplexed. "Will you stand outside and sweep the floor or come in and disrupt the entire class?" Aakash asked, struggling to contain his anger. Bhoomi entered, her head bowed, and sat beside Jb. "Attention!" Aakash commanded, and the class returned to their tasks. Aakash continued explaining the Stone Age tools on the table, but his gaze kept drifting to Bhoomi, who seemed oblivious to the class.
Her attention was focused on Akhil. Aakash's grip on the Stone Age tool tightened.
"Miss Bhoomi," Aakash said, deliberately directing the question at her. "Can you explain how we identify if these tools are natural or human-made?" Bhoomi faltered, "Y-yes, sir... I-I mean..." She trailed off, unsure of the answer, and lowered her head.
Aakash's anger was palpable. "You'll work in my personal lab after today, Miss Bhoomi. It seems you need extra attention to understand even the simplest concepts." His teeth gritted, Aakash's tone was biting.
"But, sir, alone?" JB intervened, but Aakash's piercing gaze silenced him. Jbi's words remained unspoken, and he looked away, his head bowed.
After a brief discussion, Aakash exited the lab. Jb turned to Bhoomi, his hands clasped together. "Please don't tell me you didn't comb your hair today," he whispered, and Bhoomi opened her mouth to respond.
"Don't even get me started on your hoodie being inside out and those shoes! Who wears two different slippers to college?" Jeevi teased, and Bhoomi finally noticed her attire.
"I'm not wearing your slippers," jebi said and bhoomi smile. "I'm telling you beforehand."
Jeevi's expression turned stern, "No, no, no. I won't lend you my shoes."
At the cafeteria, Jeevi looked dejected, while Bhoomi hummed a tune. He glanced down at his feet, realizing he wore mismatched slippers, and clasped his head.
"Bhoomi, what did your mother feed you?" Jeevi asked, exasperated, and Bhoomi burst out laughing.
"Mother didn't have time to teach me, brother. If she could, she'd have born an archaeology professor directly!" Bhoomi chuckled.
Jeevi softened, knowing Bhoomi's situation. He was the only person who empathized with her.
"This Aakash is a nightmare. Why did my parents assign him to guard me? He's always hovering over me like security at the Kashmir border. It's as if I've escaped from Pakistan. If he focused on himself as much as he does on me, his arrogance would lessen," Bhoomi said, shaking her head.
"Let it go, Bhoomi. It's not Aakash's fault; your parents instructed him. You know he's been with them for twelve years; they've groomed him. He'll follow their orders. Come on, I know you haven't eaten breakfast. Eat first, then you have lab work. Forgot?" Jeevi asked, and Bhoomi's face fell.
"Ugh, that lab is the most complicated place. Aakash Sir's lab is the weirdest," Bhoomi said, searching for a spot.
"But that's where you learn the most. We never got a chance to go there. I've heard Sir doesn't easily take anyone there. People die to work with Sir in his lab," Jeevi said.
"Who wants to learn? We'll just die like ghosts in that haunted lab," Bhoomi pouted.
"Bhoomi, come on. You know you have to study here, so focus or you'll fall behind," Jeevi said.
Just then, they noticed Akhil and Sami sitting at a table, laughing and joking. Across from them, Aakash, Sameer, and Neera sat. Bhoomi's eyes met Akhil's, and he smiled slightly.
"Why do you like that guy, Bhoomi?" Jeevi asked, shaking his head, and Bhoomi elbowed him.
Akhil didn't notice Aakash, but Aakash saw Bhoomi's gaze fixed on Akhil, and his fists clenched.
"Bhoomi, Akhil is looking at you. Talk to him nicely; he might have brought your thesis material," Sami said.
"This girl always spoils my mood. Why did she come now?" Akhil said irritably.
"You're not worthy of anyone's true love, Akhil," Sami teased.
"Shut up, Sami! Whose side are you on, mine or hers?" Akhil snapped.
"She's coming," Sami warned, and Bhoomi approached Akhil.
"Here's your material," Bhoomi said, handing him a file.
Akhil took it reluctantly. "Thanks, you could've given it to me later."
"Are you free this evening?" Bhoomi asked.
"No, I have something important. I'll leave now," Akhil said, getting up, and Sami followed.
Bhoomi stood there, disappointed.
"How ridiculous! Why does she keep getting insulted? When he's not interested, why does she keep following him? This girl's strange. Look at her face; Akhil's so handsome," Neera said.
Sameer agreed, and they laughed, while Aakash's face reddened, his fists clenched.
"Aakash, what's wrong? Since you took responsibility for this girl, you've become overly aggressive. It seems her bad luck is rubbing off on you," Sameer said, and they laughed, but Aakash's gaze remained fixed on Bhoomi.
"Leave it, Bhoomi. You know I've told you before. He's not worth it. You just want to get insulted by him," Jeevi said.
"He's never insulted me, Jeevi. He just doesn't talk nicely, that's all," Bhoomi sighed.
"Drop it, Bhoomi. What do you see in him?" Jeevi asked.
Bhoomi sat beside Jeevi, her face still fallen from Akhil's cold response.
Here is the translation:
"Leave him, Bhoomi. You don't know what he's looking for in you. How many times have I explained this to you? Leave him alone. But no, you just want to get insulted by him." Jeebi said irritably.
"He's never insulted me, Jeebi. It's just that he doesn't talk to me properly, that's all." Bhoomi took a deep breath.
"That's what I'm trying to tell you, mom. When he finds someone else, it won't take him a minute to leave you." Jeebi emphasized.
"How many years have we been in a relationship?" Bhoomi asked seriously.
"We've been together since high school," Jeebi replied.
"I asked how many years."
"Seven years." Jeebi answered.
"Then tell me, Jeebi, Akhil has been with me for seven years too. Why hasn't he left me yet?" Bhoomi asked, and this time Jeebi was also lost in thought.
"Maybe because you do all his work for him." Jeebi said, making Bhoomi smile lightly.
"No, Jeebi, I'd do his work even if he didn't treat me well. Because he knows I'll tolerate anything he says. Unlike other girls nowadays who don't tolerate anything." Bhoomi said, her voice trailing off.
"So you still like him even when you know he doesn't like you? Is this love?" Jeebi asked.
"Maybe. Not from his side, but from mine. I've never asked him to stay for me. If he finds another girl, I'm happy too." Bhoomi spoke as if lost in thought.
"Are you human or a tomato? Your brain isn't in the right place." Jeebi joked, but Bhoomi remained silent. However, her mind began racing.
After lunch, Bhoomi arrived at Akash's lab, seeking solitude. No one was around, just what she needed.
Twelve years ago, when Bhoomi was an eleven-year-old schoolgirl, she returned home to find a handsome boy sitting on her living room sofa. He was Akash, ten years her senior. Bhoomi froze at the door, captivated by his deep, ocean-like eyes, thick eyelashes, and disheveled black hair framing his face. His fair skin and pink lips added to his allure. Akash wore glasses, intensifying his charm.
Bhoomi stared, entranced.
"Come inside and change quickly." Her mother's voice broke the spell, and Bhoomi rushed to her room. In front of the mirror, she couldn't shake off Akash's image.
"Why can't I be beautiful like him?" The thought lingered.
Downstairs, Akash smiled warmly at her mother but ignored Bhoomi. At dinner, Bhoomi's gaze met Akash's, but he remained silent. This became the norm in her house - Akash's presence, her mother's indifference, and Bhoomi's solitude.
Bhoomi still wondered who Akash was, why he suddenly appeared in their lives, and how he replaced her in her parents' affections. Akash became the villain, snatching her family's love and attention.
Tears welled up in Bhoomi's eyes as she stood in the lab, memories flooding back. Suddenly, she sensed Akash's presence and turned to see him working behind her.
"Sir, I'm sorry. I didn't see you." Bhoomi apologized, and Akash paused, turning to face her.
"Miss Bhoomi, I don't think you need to do anything in your life. But I have a responsibility towards you. Here are some references that will help your thesis. Remember, these are exclusively for you. If I find these references in your so-called boyfriend's thesis, consider our association terminated. Help your boyfriend or don't; I don't care. But what I'm doing is for Mr. Pathak, who entrusted me with your responsibility. Don't involve your boyfriend in this." Akash spoke calmly, his eyes serious.
Bhoomi's gaze dropped.
"This lab is my sanctuary. I hope you won't ruin anything here. Otherwise, you can't imagine what I'm capable of. Think ten times before touching anything. So focus on what I'm doing and try to understand. I won't explain again." Akash said and then immersed himself in his work.
Actually, this lab was Akash's sanctuary. He had kept all the artifacts of his research here. He worked with great seriousness, and this was evident in his lab. Akash was telling Bhoomi about a fossil, and Bhoomi was writing about it. Before he knew it, the day turned into evening.
Around six, when his work was finished, he removed his gloves and kept them aside. His gaze fell on Bhoomi, sitting on a chair, writing in her notebook. Akash's face became slightly stern.
But what was it about Akash that made him so resentful towards Bhoomi? And what for? Bhoomi had never caused him any trouble. He had come between Akash and his parents. So why was he always angry with Bhoomi?"