Note translations of Hindi words(in italics) are at the end of the chapter. However, they don't add much to the story so feel free to ignore them

This is not edited. Please point out any errors if you see them.

"What do you mean, vakilji?" Parth was starting to lose patience with his lawyer. "I thought the Chauhan family agreed that Arpita's last wishes will be honoured."

"Absolutely," the lawyer reassured him. "And like I told you before Parth, it seems Ms. Chauhan wanted you to spend at least 20% of the money on yourself. You are free to donate the rest."

"But donating brings me happiness so it is spending on myself." Parth tried to reason, hoping the lawyer would agree this time.

"Enough Parth! I'm tired of this discussion, we've been having the same conversation for four hours."

Parth jumped out of his seat. Four hours...he had missed his 1 pm bus to Roorkee, and he had to hurry to Delhi Bus Stand to reach FITE before 4.30 pm. "Sorry sir, I didn't realize the time. I have to leave now."

"Arre we need to finish this fast Parth," the lawyer stood in front of the door. "Her family wants it done."

"I promise I'll come back next month," Parth said as he stepped around the lawyer. He ran with his luggage to the main road and hailed an auto. "City Bus stand, bhaiya. Jaldi!"

-+-+-+-

2.25 pm, Parth looked at his phone screen. 2.26 now.

"Bus stand," the auto driver announced as he came to a stop. "90 rupees."

Parth pulled a hundred rupee note from his pocket and gave it to the driver. "Thank you for dropping me. Keep the change, for dropping me on time."

The auto driver smiled. It's wonderful how easy it is to brighten up someone's day, Parth thought.

He picked up the two suitcases and his backpack, and walked towards the ticket counter. He leaned down to the small gap in the glass window and said, "Good afternoon ma'am, I need to go to Roorkee. When is the next bus?"

"There's a KPM bus starting soon. Three hundred rupees."

Just three hundred! He pulled out his purse and counted out the notes, almost giving her four hundred by accident. "Thank you," he smiled.

The ticket seller turned pink, but Parth had turned around and was on the way to his bus.

He found it easily. He was a little stunned at the condition of the bus - some parts of the body were rusted. He supposed he could not expect much at that low price.

He loaded his luggage and stepped into the van.

"Just get lost!" a woman shouted from the back.

Parth rushed there. "Is everything fine here?" he asked the three - no, four - men.

"We are just talking to our friend here," one of the men jeered.

There was a girl in the crowd of men, searching for something in her bag. Something about her was familiar to Parth.

"Lis - listen, I have pepper spray and I will use it if you don't go away," she said as he held a shaking hand up.

One of the men pulled the can from here. The gang was now laughing. The girl looked frantically around, like a caged bird.

"Vidushi?!" Parth blurted out in surprise.

"Parth!"

Now Parth turned to the four men. "Leave her alone otherwise I'll take care of you," he warned.

One man punched Parth. Or rather, he tried.

Parth had a calm personality, but he was also a professional in the ring. Parth dodged and the man hit his friend instead. One by one, each gang member tried to hit Parth but he easily dodged their blows and beat them up, punching each of them in the jaw. The entire bus was now watching the fight.

Parth picked up each gang member and threw them to the front of the bus. "If I see you touching another girl I won't be so gentle."

"Wow," a girl sighed. "He's so heroic."

Vidushi on the other hand was not as impressed. "I was handling it on my own, who asked you to show off?"

"Vidushi I was just trying to help, and those men had stolen your pepper spray!" He picked up the bottle and gave it to her.

"Yeah, I remember you locking me in the lab overnight during the tech fest, I don't know why you like to help me so much!" Vidushi was irritated. "I know what to do. And why are you sitting next to me!"

"The bus is full Vidushi. And I need to make sure no one else tries anything."

"And why will anyone else try anything, Parth."

"When you travel in a public bus it's not a good idea to wear such clothes," he said, deliberately avoiding looking down.

"Unbelievable," she said, plugging in her earphones and looking at the roads.

Parth sighed. He would help her no matter what, but that still didn't mean he liked her.

_+-+-+-+-+_

Sanyukta dropped her bags at the registration desk. Before she could say anything to the Hostel in Charge, Randhir tried to cut her off. "Farzi, I was here first."

"Oh just shut up Randhir," Sanyukta said, but she didn't sound very angry. Thwack! came the satisfying sound of her elbow connecting with his stomach.

"Ouch! Such violence!" he said as he moved away. Sanyukta rolled her eyes but chose not to respond.

"Sir, Sanyukta Agarwal and Kaustuki Sherpa, third year computer science. Please give us our keys."

The Hostel in Charge slowly turned the pages of his yellowing notebook until he reached the page for Computer Science. He scanned through the list until he found the names. "Room B406, Kaveri Girls' Hostel. Here, take the keys."

He gave the girls two used looking keys and hesitated for a second. Then, he pulled out another key.

"Sir, extra key? Kyun?" Kaustuki asked.

"This is for your third roommate. Vidushi Kumar."

"But sir this is not fair, third year students get double sharing rooms."

"Vardhan sir wants all dream team students to stay together."

"Haha! This is my revenge, farzi," Randhir laughed. "This is what you deserve."

Sanyukta turned around. "Oy, don't laugh too much. You have to share a room with Jiggy and Parth."

As she picked her luggage and walked away, Randhir realised she was right. This was going to be a long year if he had to share a room with Parth. Again.

_+-+-+-+-+_

Sanyukta looked around the room, exhausted but happy. "The room looks perfect, Kaustuki!"

"Except for that bed," Kaustuki grumbled, glaring at the offending mattress in the corner. "The witch will be here soon."

"Come on Kaustu...it's third year, time to learn how to work together."

"I guess you're right. But forget about that, we deserve a treat after unpacking all our boxes."

"Chalo let's go to the canteen."

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Translations

vakilji - lawyer

Arre - is just an interjection

Bhaiya - brother

Jaldi - fast

Chalo - Let's go

Farzi - Fake