Chapter 4: The Old Lady

"My name is Avyaan and I am your senior, do you remember me? "

"Yes! I do remember you. The one whom I ran into twice. "

Avyaan smiles a bit. Seeing his smile Rohan was surprised as he hadn't seen him smiling.

Rohan was eating and talking so he got a choke. He drank water which was kept beside him.

"Thank you for hosting me today senior I will leave tomorrow for my home."politely said Rohan.

" For which home? the one from which you got abondend? "

"I will live with my friends." answered Rohan.

"Fine"

Avyaan entered his room and closed the door. Rohan had to sleep on the couch of the hall. It was 8 in the morning, Rohan got up and saw Senior had already left and there was a note left.

"I have early classes today, So I am leaving. Get up ! fresh up and breakfast is kept on the dining table."

Rohan got himself ready and sat on the dining table, ate the breakfast which was kept for him. He also did the dishes and cleaned the table.

Rohan's mobile started to ring. He picked it up and it was Nitesh.

"Where are you Rohan? I am waiting for you, we have microbiology class now."

"You leave first, will meet you in the class. "

"Ohhk! then"

Rohan took his bag and locked the door and left towards the university. He was late to the class as seniors room was far from the university. Later in the afternoon, Rohan asked his friends if they had place for his accomodation.

Tina said that she and Monika were living in a girl's dorm. So there is no chance of Rohan living with her.

Nitesh was living with his family. At last Rohan turned towards Harry.

"Harry! Please help me with the accomodation. I will pay you. "

"I will help you Rohan but give me some time as I am also looking to shift to rented space from PG."

"Ok then I will live for some time in the current place. "

Rohan got a call from an unknown number. He picked the call and heard a familiar Voice from that side.

"Hey! You have room key with you? "

"Yes! it's with me."

" I am done with the classes and heading towards the room. "

"Tell me where are you and I shall bring the key to you. "

"I am at the entrance. "

"Ok! I am coming. "

Rohan got up and heads towards the entrance. He saw Avyaan standing there.

"Here you go, your room key. "

"So are you coming today or found a new place. "

"I will find it very soon. Till then please let me live in your room I will pay the rent. "

"Ohhk! Fine, till you pay the rent you can live with me.

"It's so kind of you Senior. And I had cooked some lunch for you, i have kept in the fridge please reheat it and do eat."

Rohan leaves after giving key to Avyaan. Avyaan's friends ask him if he was joining them for lunch, which he refused and went straight to his dorm.

Time slowly slipped the way like this and Rohan never moved out from senior's dorm nor did Avyaan ever say him move out. Rohan completed his two semester like this. He was working as a part timer at a convienience store. He used to work hard in order to pay his tutor fees at the college.

And there is the day when Harry asks Rohan if he still wanted to move out and live with him if he wanted as he had rented a place. Rohan was hesitant at first and later denied Harry about moving out.

The bond between five friends grew stronger and Rohan was the one at center holding that invisible strongly and firmly. One day when Rohan was sleeping peacefully, a sad and crying voice fell on his ears. He woke and just wanted to see the person who was weeping. He saw an old lady standing on the road and crying her heart out.

Rohan couldn.t stand her sadness and got from the bed and went out to console her. He saw the old lady's back had a hench. She was crying covering her face. Rohan sat beside her started to console her.

" You know what, I lost both my parents at my young age. My Aunt took me in just because of the insurance amount which my parents had left for me. She treated me like a burden, I never got love and affection from her. I used to clean and cook for all the three, I used get Beaten by her almost everyday. But still I wouldn't complain and do all my jobs relentlessly.

One day her son got beaten by some thugs and you know what she raised her finger at me and held accountable me for everything that had happened to her son. Do you think I was wrong any where. I faced so much, but I never weeped out. I am thankful to the supreme lord for sending lovely friends and also a caring senior for my rescue. Now Tell me why are crying out so loudly at middle of night."

The old hag had stopped crying when Rohan had started talking . She was silent for sometime and then started speaking.

" I was a Young girl almost in my 20's, I was pure and Innocent just like you. My Parents were happy as they had only me. I knew everything about the people in the village. One day a caravan was passing through our village and they decided to stop. Villager's were excited to host the caravan, I was also excited to host the big caravan with whatever we had.

We gave everything the best we had, but we innocent people less we had expected about truth of the people in the caravan." she stopped talking when mentioned about the people.

Rohan got a bit curious when old hag stopped talking. He asked her to continue speaking, Rohan just held his hand on old hag's shoulder. Old hag turned around and cold air flowed down the spine of Rohan when he saw old hag. He Froze and his lips stopped flipping. The eyes were Dark black as there was no pupil in it, she had one broken horn on her head. Blood dripping from her forehead, hairs all messed up. Her Looks were fierce. Rohan stopped for a moment and was staring in the black eye holes of the old woman, he felt as if the eyeless of eyes of the woman were sad and are trying to convey something. But not long ago, he heard a familiar voice from his back. He turned around and saw senior Avyaan standing behind him.

" Why are you sitting here at this hour of time?"

Rohan said " I was talking to this old lady..." he turned around to show the lady and to his surprise there was no one sitting there.

Avyaan asks him to stop talking nonsense and get in as it was cold outside. Rohan still couldn't believe what he saw wit his eyes. Rohan got in and Avyaan followed him in.

Avyaan asks Rohan, not to think about anything as he had classes next morning.

Though Avyaan consoled Rohan. But the looks of the old lady was still in his Mind. Many Questions arised in his mind.

"Who was the old lady? and what was deal about her looks? She looked sad as if she wanted to say something."

With these questions running in his mind, He fell asleep.