UNIVERSITY ARC
As we got closer to the hostel gates, I could feel my heartbeat pick up. Not because of fear or danger—but because I had no idea how I was going to explain this to Raksha.
"Uh… Raksha," I started, hesitating, "this is a gents hostel. You can't just walk in like that."
She tilted her head, eyes widening in innocent confusion.
"So? Are there monsters inside? You'll protect me, right?"
I blinked. "That's not—no, that's not the point. You're not allowed. No girls are."
Raksha crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks like a child being denied candy.
"So unfair! I come all this way, protect you from creepy guys, save your life, and now I'm banned because of… rules?"
She stomped her foot lightly, pouting like a five-year-old.
I tried not to laugh and failed.
"It's not my rule, okay? I'm just saying—please don't cause a scene. They'll think I'm… you know…"
"Ohhh!" she gasped, her eyes suddenly sparkling with drama. "They'll think you're cool for having such a pretty bodyguard?"
With that, she did the most exaggerated hair flip I'd ever seen—like some anime character in slow motion. I groaned and buried my face in my palms.
"God, save me…" I muttered.
...
We stood at the entrance a bit longer before she finally gave in—probably because she noticed I was genuinely panicking. I explained there was a guest accommodation nearby that could be used discreetly, arranged in advance by my mother. She reluctantly agreed, but not without throwing me one last look.
Then, just before she stepped away, she leaned in.
"You're hiding something again," she whispered. Her playful energy had dimmed, just slightly.
I paused. "I'm not hiding anything."
"Liar," she grinned. "But fine. We'll pretend."
I quickly changed the topic before she dug deeper. "If you're really going to act as a classmate, you need to pretend like you don't know me."
Her jaw dropped.
"Pretend I don't know you?! After everything I did for you? What are you—ashamed of me?"
"No! That's not what I meant," I said, laughing awkwardly. "It's just… things are complicated at college. Some classmates aren't exactly kind to me. I don't want you to get involved in—"
"Oh, you mean the bullying?" she said casually, like she was talking about the weather.
I froze. My eyes locked with hers.
"You really thought I didn't notice?" she continued, her voice softening. "I've been watching everything as I was told before. Since you can't even imagine how long it has been since I started. Every insult, every look, every moment you walked back to your room alone… I saw it all."
I turned away. "I didn't want you to see that again."
"Well," she said, her tone bouncing back into her usual teasing rhythm, "too bad. I'm your shadow now."
As she walked toward her room, she tossed one last line over her shoulder with a wink.
"Oh, and if anyone dares mispronounce your name again, I'll try not to break all their ribs… maybe just one or two."
I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or run far away.
One thing was clear—my world was never going to be the same again.
....
As I finished my dinner, I layed back on my bed.
Sleep didn't come easy that night. Not because of the day's chaos—but because of her.
Raksha.
Her laughter still echoed in my head like an aftershock. That childish pout, her fierce protection, the way she flipped between cold killer and cartoon character—it was like trying to understand a tornado that wore bunny slippers.
And yet, I couldn't shake off one thought.
"Why would mom trust someone like her?"
My mother didn't gamble with people. She measured them. Tested them. Broke them if needed. For her to choose Raksha, she must've seen something I hadn't. Something deep.
And just like that… I decided to trust her too.
Not Raksha. But mom's decision.
– – – –
I woke up to the sound of chaos.
"BRO! WAKE UP! FOOD APPEARED FROM HEAVEN!" Suresh was already inside the room, waving a box above his head like he found treasure.
Still half-asleep, I sat up. "What…?"
"It was just sitting outside the door, waiting for me," he announced proudly.
"It's not yours, idiot!" Ramu shouted from behind him. "It's clearly for all of us."
"Who said?" Keshava yawned as he grabbed the box from Suresh. "It's not even addressed to anyone. Might be poisoned."
Suresh shrugged. "Then I'll die happy and full."
As they opened the box, a heavenly aroma filled the room—perfectly packed items, different spicy specials. It looked like something straight from a five-star kitchen.
I didn't even need a second guess.
Raksha.
That overprotective child in assassin's clothing had actually cooked breakfast for me?
I stared at the handwriting on the folded note tucked inside. Simple, playful. "Eat. Or I'll break your legs next time." There was even a tiny doodle of a stick figure getting kicked.
Yeah… definitely her.
Now came the real challenge—acting like I didn't know.
"Wh-where did you say you found it?" I stammered.
Suresh raised an eyebrow. "Outside. Why, you recognize it?"
Huh? Manoj, just switch to an actor mode. I know you are an expert. Just pretend to be cool.
"Me? No! Never seen it. Totally mysterious. Suspicious. Probably cursed."
Ramu narrowed his eyes. "Then why are you sweating?"
"I'm not!"
"Look, he's even blushing!"
"I'M NOT BLUSHING!"
Keshava held up a spoonful. "Whoever made this knows your spice tolerance, bro. Only one girl in this city cares that much. Spill it."
"Do you have a secret girlfriend, Manoj?" Suresh gasped dramatically. "Is she rich? Is she deadly? Wait—is she hot?"
"I don't have a girlfriend!!"
"Ah, so she's not official yet. I see…"
I gave up. While they ate like starving hyenas, I sat quietly, letting them spin whatever fantasy they wanted—because the real truth?
If Raksha ever found out they were bullying me before…She wouldn't just break their ribs.
She'd probably disassemble their souls.
And I really love these guys. So manoj, be careful when you are around that devil.
So yeah. They could think I had a secret crush.
It was safer that way.
.....
We finished breakfast like wolves at a wedding. Suresh even licked the cup clean, muttering something about proposing to the "mystery chef" one day. I didn't have the heart to tell him she might kill him with a spoon.
As I washed my hands, something kept bugging me. That food… it wasn't just good. It was heavenly.
Did Raksha really cook this? Or did she kidnap some hotel chef at knifepoint and force him to make it?
Because honestly, I had serious doubts that the same girl who once threatened to "karate-split my head like a coconut" could make such a delicious breakfast. It was messing with my brain. Was she trained in both combat and culinary arts?
Assassin by night. MasterChef by morning.
I shook my head and got dressed for college, trying to clear my thoughts.
...
We walked together as usual—Suresh cracking jokes, Keshava complaining about attendance, Ramu making plans to skip the second half of class. It felt normal.
Too normal.
And that's when it hit me.
As we approached the college gate, something shifted in the air.
The sky didn't actually darken—but it felt like it did.
The wind grew still. Even the birds seemed to stop chirping. I swear I could hear ominous violin music in the background. My footsteps slowed.
Because right there—just beyond the gate—I saw her.
Raksha.
She stood near the entrance, backpack on, head tilted slightly as if waiting for something. For someone.
A ghost in broad daylight.
A devil with a cute haircut.
Her presence was like a magnetic field gone wrong. My stomach dropped.
My imagination betrayed me. I pictured her eyes glowing red, hair billowing in supernatural wind, lightning cracking behind her as students scattered like pigeons. I saw her lifting a class bully by the collar, whispering, "Let's talk about manners…"
I could barely breathe.
My friends, of course, walked right past her, totally unaware.
"Dude, why did you stop walking?" Suresh called back.
"I—I think I forgot my soul," I muttered.
They laughed and went ahead.
I stood frozen.
Because I had a plan.
I was supposed to reach class before her. Just once. To warn people, cover for her weirdness, maybe even bribe a few classmates with snacks to stay nice.
But no. She beat me.
She was already inside. Probably smiling sweetly. Probably destroying social norms with a baseball bat.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead and whispered to myself.
"If anyone's funeral music starts playing today… I swear I didn't do anything."