Chapter 15

Two weeks passed by and exams ate up everyone's head. Collecting notes and syllabus at the last minute and pulling an all-nighter 5 nights straight. The three managed to cover it all but looked like pandas, with dark circles under their eyes and looking tired. Whereas Niall spent the time buried in books for his thesis and the rest of the time doing practicals with his students. The Saturday after the exam, the third week, Tristen paid her a quick visit one morning. He gave her things her mother had cooked and Miranda was more than delighted. Tristen gave her all the news happening in their small town.

"You better come home soon, there is a new fancy restaurant opened near our book store. They are asking to make reservations you know since it's too crowded,"

"Oh Tristen I will, tell me How my mom and dad are these days," Miranda asked back.

"Pretty peaceful, I heard my mom once telling my dad that it been a couple of years since your parents have had a fight and that your mother is relieved now seeing you growing up into a successful person," Miranda's eyes were filled with tears and Tristen changed the topic.

"And they pissed me off of course for not pursuing higher education, do you know they called me an 'old foolish pig' behind my back, I was so furious I walked into the room shouting, and they understood that I was eavesdropping," Miranda laughed this time.

"Old foolish pig, yeah you are one," and Tristen knocked her head.

"Ok, that hurts," Miranda turned serious and gave one back. She got up from the lawn and moved away from him. "Don't hit me we are in the campus," By that time, Shia and Renee came towards them. "My friends are coming, behave yourself," she warned him.

"Hey, you're still here Mira," Renee said looking at Tristen.

"Girls this is my best friend since childhood, Tristen, and Tristen these are my roomies, Shia and Renee, we are in the same class too," Miranda introduced them to each other.

"Mira, a notice is put up in front of the department, we are going to have two wardens on each floor," Renee said.

"What?"

"The second warden is going to be a professor, the board decided based on the complaints raised by parents it seems," Renee told her.

"In the previous semester, three girls dropped out of the college due to pregnancy and sneaking out issues, and a few years back, a girl died getting abortion it seems. Everything because of the loose rule in our hostel,"

Miranda recalled her conversation with Niall and his brother in the restaurant. She didn't react much since she already knew.

"God this college isn't safe at all for girls, how can the hostel be not strict,"

"It's common everywhere and our hostel already is suffocating as it is. Besides its just a few cases and people choose their fate, they were careless and it happened," Miranda defended.

"Yeah that's right too," Shia agreed with her. "I can't imagine the new rules,"

"Don't professors stay here with their families in the staff quarters?"

"Just a few, the majority are singles, but not everyone is staying here, let's see what all happens,"

"It's for safety why don't you girls co-operate with it?" the three turned towards Tristen furiously. "I better take off," he said soon giving an uneasy smile for the comments he made and took his leave quickly. "Take care Miranda," The girls walked back to their dorm feeling agile against the rules. They didn't like it and little idea did they have about what was about to happen to them.