10. A Sweet Gift

DIYA

I am standing in front of my college gate, looking at the college building, feeling nervous. It's an emotional moment for me as tears were trying to find their way out while I wasn't letting that happen.

Never in my life, I thought that I will be able to afford college and pursue graduation, but today, here I am. And all the credit for this goes to only one person, Rajveer. 

He is like a glimmer of hope and pure happiness in my life.

I finally put my thoughts on the back seat of my subconscious, took a deep breath and stepped inside the college. I looked around, there were many students, chilling with their friends and laughing and chatting, while I, on the other hand, didn't even have friends when on the school. And it somehow made me feel bad like I am alone.

At the time of admission, I was allotted the classroom number, I entered the building and searched for the same. After searching for a while, on the second floor of the building, I finally found my class and without wasting any time, I entered the classroom.

The moment I entered, I felt out of place. I looked around, the class was almost full of students. Few were sitting on the desks while having group conversations, while others were on their seats, talking and laughing.

I looked at the girls, and I felt uncomfortable, all the girls were beautiful, with a perfect body, wearing clothes through which they could flaunt their perfect bodies and they looked beautiful. They had put on makeup and trendy hairstyles as well.

After looking at them, I felt insecure. My long hairs were braided and I had no interest in putting on any makeup. While others flaunted their body, I was wearing an oversized t-shirt to hide my curves and love handles. I didn't mind about these things earlier, but today, after noticing everyone dressed beautifully, I was hesitant about the fact that will I fit in with them?

I nodded my head and walked to find a seat to settle down for the class. I saw the second bench in the third row was empty. I went there and sat there. Two boys were sitting behind me, I looked at them and passed a smile. They looked at me and smiled back, which made me feel optimistic that maybe I can make a few friends, but then, my optimism was shattered into pieces when I heard them laughing.

This made me feel conservative and uncomfortable, so I quietly focused on the board. I so wished at that moment that I could have had a phone with me then I would be diving into the world of social media and maybe didn't care how others were looking at me.

"Hey, you," I heard a guy's voice and immediately turned around to look at him.

Damn! That guy was hot. Fair toned skin, brown eyes, light beard, and it seemed like he worked out. He was like that college crush type of guy.

"Me?" I asked him. I felt nervous and extremely underconfident.

"Yes, you. Can you please sit at the back? Or else the people sitting behind you won't be able to see the board properly due to your wide frame," he shouted and the entire class burst out into laughter.

I looked around, everyone was looking at me, giggling and laughing. Although, this is not the first time that I am hearing this, but this hurts the same every time. I could feel my eyes getting moistened, but I didn't want to embarrass myself more by crying in front of 40 students, so I immediately got out of my seat and walked towards the back of the class. I sat on the corner most seat on the last row and wiped my moist eyes just to get rid of those incoming tears. 

I have understood, that this was going to be tough for me. This won't be my dream college life.

Before I would do something awkward or they humiliate me more, luckily the professor entered the classroom and started introducing himself.

I thanked God and immediately focused on whatever the professor spoke.

After a long, bearable day, finally, the college for the day was over. Even the college was just for mere four hours, it felt like eight hours to me, just because I was alone. I had none to talk and if I dared to talk to anyone, I would end up being bullied. Well, this is my life, which might look sad and bad to others, but it has been the same for me since I don't know when.

After my not so great day in the college, I proceeded towards my home, but the moment I got out of the college gate, I was ready to be surprised. 

Is he really here? I rubbed my eyes, just to confirm that I wasn't dreaming, but yes, he was there. Rajveer was there. Standing in front of his jeep and doing something on his phone.

I immediately walked towards him and stood in front of him. 

"Hey," his face was enough to make me smile and forget all the terrible things that were about to happen in the college.

"Hey," he looked at me and smiled.

Well! Rajveer smiles now. Maybe he is that mysterious, strict man for everyone else, but he is different when he is with me. He showers his affection for me, he cares about me, talks to me and maybe he is my friend. Maybe I am thinking too much, or maybe this is something else, but I can assure, that there is something between us. Something pure, something that I can cherish in my sad and bad life. Something that keeps ke excited for the day. Maybe it's too soon, but, to be honest. I don't care, I don't care till the time I am happy, and I don't care in such a world when lives are so uncertain that anything can happen to anyone.

"So, how was the day?" He asked me like he was seriously interested in knowing my day.

"Sad and bad," I pouted. Okay, I am repeating the words bad and sad way too much today.

"Why?" He looked curious.

"In a college, where girls and guys look like they are going for a shoot with perfect clothes and perfect figure, a fat girl with clumsy dressing sense is always made fun of," I responded to him, rolling my eyes.

He kept his phone in his pocket and walked towards me. 

"I don't know what the world says, but I can say one thing. You're beautiful the way you're. Maybe you're not like them, but that's what makes you beautiful at least for me," he responded and my eyes were fixed on him.

RAJVEER

The only thing that I have learnt to complete control in myself, is anger. I have been working in the underworld for more than fifteen years, and it's a place where everything legal is done. I am the mafia kind of the east region, but truth to be told, I have never killed or injured anyone during my reign. I don't even feel the urge to kill anyone, but then, this girl, Diya.

I don't know why, whenever she is in pain or upset, and the reason behind it is a person. I feel a strong urge to kill that person. I don't know why, but I feel protective of her, I want to protect her, keep her safe from every wrong person in this world. I can fight for her and people bully her just because she is on the healthier side? That's a sick reason.

She is beautiful, much more beautiful than anyone for me. I have never felt attracted to anyone in my life. Not even Leena. I loved to be alone and in isolation and so much, that I considered myself to be asexual. But then, this girl. Out of nowhere, she hopped into my life, and as much as I hate to admit it, but I am attracted to her. I feel something when I look at her or think about her, and to be honest, this makes me feel happy.

"Okay, hop in the jeep. I have something for you," I tell her.

"What?" She looked at me with surprising eyes.

"It's a surprise," I smirked and then walked on to open the door of the car for her.

She didn't ask any more questions as she quickly followed my words and got into the car. I shut the door after her and climbed onto the driving seat. I turned on the ignition and we proceeded towards our destination.

After half an hour, we reached to our destination. We entered the parking lot of a mall as I parked our jeep.

Both of us got down of the jeep and she stood in front of me.

"Where are you taking me?" She asked, pretending to make an angry face as she tried to hide her excitement and uncertainty.

She has no idea how well I can read expressions.

"I told you. It's a surprise," I smirked and walked, leaving her standing there in confusion.

"Okay. I am coming," she shouted and walked behind me.

This girl is cute yet a bit of crazy.

We entered the mall and I walked towards the smartphone hub. I hope now she understands why I have brought her here.

"Hey! Wait a minute, are you going to do what am I thinking?" She asked me.

"How will I know, Diya. What are you thinking?" I replied to her in a twisted way as I smirked, even if I knew what she was thinking.

"Sir, please tell me," she requested me.

"Patience, my girl. Patience," I replied as we entered the smartphone shop.

"Hey, can you show me a good smartphone under the budget of twenty thousand?" I asked the salesman and he nodded.

I could have easily bought her the most expensive smartphone for her, but I won't be doing that. There are two reasons, first, I don't want people to raise questions at her regarding an expensive smartphone and second, I won't be spoiling her with expensive gifts. I want to make her capable of spoiling herself with expensive things on her own earned money.

As the salesman brought the phones, I picked up the phone which had nice features. In a world, where online classes to study is somehow becoming a lifestyle change and we have no idea when another lockdown might happen due to this stupid virus, I don't want her to be deprived of education.

I bought the phone and we walked out of the mall, to the parking lot. 

"Here, have it," I offer the new phone to her.

"A phone?" She was surprised.

"Yes. You're going to need it now," I replied.

"But..."

"Consider this as a token of thanks for whatever you are doing for my son. He has been able to get out of the trauma of losing her mother just because of you. And I have no idea what we would have done if I hadn't met you,"  I sincerely spoke before she could say anything else.

Her unfiltered gaze was yet again fixed at me and this time, I felt something different in me when she looked at me like that. I knew what was that and that's why I couldn't let that feeling take a control over me. So I walked towards the driver seat.

"Sir,"

Her soft voice halted my footsteps. I could feel my heartbeats fastening because somehow I knew what was going to happen.

I turned towards her, and before I could react, she rushed towards me and hugged me tightly.