Page 67 of Storm
My eyes closed on their own accord and I felt his arm brush mine, making me shiver. He opened the cabinet behind me to look for the book.
“Ha Ha! Very funny.” I forced a smile.
I had seen his smirk. Knew he was not going to confess, he told them all about me. Of course, he wouldn’t accept it.
“Is it true that Masters in Political Science is a very tough nut?” I asked straight out.
“No Sani, we can't say it’s tough. Yes, it is a deeper study of the topics that you are studying this year. It’s quite interesting actually. You have scored well in all the tests and quizzes until now. And International politics is one of the main subjects in Masters.” Aariz winked at me giving me an encouraging smile he might give a friend.
I was too far annoyed to blush on it.
“What?! But I have heard that it’s completely different and unrelated to what we are studying this year!” I stomped my foot in irritation.
“Who said that to you?” Aariz stepped close enough to touch me, his grey eyes storming in oceanic cold seriousness.
“Your Masters course student. You know Tina Woods, from one of your classes this year. A friend of hers told me. I do not know her name. With everything she was going on about, I did not even care to ask her name. I was too bewildered.”
Aariz nodded with an unknown expression in his eyes.
I went on,
“She said the course work is completely unrelated to our syllabus this year. Therefore, I thought I would ask. It’s not that I'm planning to do Masters in Political Science. I haven’t decided anything about next year yet. Just wanted to know is it really very difficult and boring as she said? Asking out of curiosity that’s all.” I smiled unable to meet his eyes for the most part, in case he guessed what else she had told me.
Aariz sent my body into a delicious sensation as he gently held my hand and placed a book on my palm saying,
“This book will be all right Sani. And whatever that girl might have said, I'm telling you it’s nothing like that. It’s not that difficult. In case if you decide to take Political Science as one of your subjects next year, then relax, you won't be making the wrong choice. I know you are considering a specialization in Journalism post-graduation. Zidaan mentioned it to me. So yeah, Political Science would help. I'm there for you.”
Closing his eyes, he turned nervous,
“I mean...do...don't worry Sani. That girl exaggerated it a bit. It’s nothing you can't cope up with. I can assure you, that you will be fine. I will guide you every step of the way. Do you trust me?”
I did not need any time to think before answering. It came out instantly,
“I do trust you.”
He smiled the warmest and I returned it with equal delight before breaking the eye lock as I left from there, cheerful due to Aariz's reassurance. His stalkerish noticing of me and praises to students about me, totally slipped from my mind.
Next day in college, during lunchtime I was just about to enter the food court with Rose when I came face to face with a few girls and boys. Tina was amongst them.
Accusingly in a tone dripping with condensation, she rounded on me,
“Sani, why did you complain to Prof Deewan about Elli?"
They all looked pissed off.
I actually gulped in unknown anxiety. What the hell did I do?
17-PUZZLES SOLVED
Sani
“Who’s Elli? I don't know anyone with that name to complain Prof Deewan about, in the first place.” I said honestly and inclined my head back to see all of their hostile expressions, who did not seem to be buying it.
“You are the one who complained against Elli. She is sure about it!” screeched one of the girls in a high pitched voice, while their friends just stood glaring at me.
“But who in the ev
er loving hell is Elli?!” I gazed at each of them desperately.
