Chapter Four : Rock N Roll

They both were filled with tons of excitement and zeal. This is the thing every student wait for when they join college. As this is post graduation course maybe this will be Rhythm's last freshers' party so she was looking forward to it very desperately. She could feel butterflies dancing in her stomach. Well who doesn't like to go shopping, get all dolled up and make new friends?

"Oh wait wait! There is a dress code for us," Tisya exclaimed looking at the pamphlet. She has gone through it for like hundred times as she doesn't want to get anything wrong, that's what she told Rhythm.

"What is the dress code?," Rhythm asked but got no reply from her new roommate. "Stop staring and give it to me," Rhythm snatched it from Tisya.

"Oh God! It's saree! I'm tired of wearing saree to fresher's and farewells. I thought it'll be different here," Rhythm said with annoying expressions.

"Yeah. Even I saw girl's in western outfits in photos of senior's fresher's party," Tisya replied.

"It's gonna be boring," Rhythm said hitting her face with pillow.

"Don't say that. It'll be so much fun. Cheer up. We'll rock it," Tisya removed the pillow from Rhythm's face and gave her an optimistic smile.

"Okay," Rhythm nodded.

For rest of the night they kept planning about the fresher's party. The discussion was never ending as they were confused how they'll style their saree. They were so lost in their conversation that they forgot to have dinner. Both of them slept while talking. 

In the morning Rhythm heard someone yelling at her. She rubbed her eyes and got up to see Tisya was getting ready and saying something to her.

"What's happening?," she asked trying to grasp the situation.

"Get up you lazy bear. We're late for class. Go get ready. I brought you breakfast, it's there on the study table. Hurry up now," Tisya said while brushing her hair.

"Omg. I'll be ready in five. Just wait for me," Rhythm jumped out of her bed and ran to the bathroom. She got ready at lightning speed. She quickly put on her blue jeans and white shirt and wore red ballerina. She tied her hair in a high ponytail.

Both of them saw other students walking towards the college and took a breath of relief as they are not the only ones who are late. They rushed finding their lecture room. As they entered the lecture hall they saw some people sitting on the front desk and other students were standing in front of them.

"What's going on?," Rhythm questioned. She was confused as she couldn't comprehend what was going on their.

"It's the seniors," Tisya whispered.

"So they are here to tell us about classes?," Rhythm asked.

"We're about to find out," Tisya said. Both of them joined the crowd.

Curiosily Rhythm started looking around as why everyone was standing there. She tried peeking through the people standing on her toes. She saw a girl and boy was dancing in the middle and the seniors were cheering for them. There were five boys sitting on the desk. It's the middle one that caught her attention. The guy with messy hair and trimmed beard wearing grey hoodie and blue jeans. His presence was very dominant, she can feel it from even behind the crowd. She understood he was the leader of that gang who were ragging new students.

Suddenly she saw the gang leader's eyes staring at her. She quickly shifted her gaze and ignored him.She tried to hide behind other students.

"Hey you,".

She heard someone shouting. She closed her eyes praying that it's not what she is thinking.

"You at the back. Girl with glasses," she again heard the same voice.

She opened her one eye to see what was happening. She saw people who were standing in front of her are now standing sideways leaving her in the middle where those seniors can clearly see her.

"Yes you," she saw the gang leader speak.

"What's your talent? C'mon do something for us," he said in snarky tone.

Rhythm can clearly feel all eyes were on her. Everyone whispering something to each other. She tried to find where Tisya is. She saw her standing behind others. She thought of running to her but she doesn't want her to go through this.

She was standing there quietly as she was looking at her ballerinas.

"Hey. What's so interesting about your shoes. Share it with us," he commented. Everyone started laughing.

She was so embarrassed. She was just wishing somehow the ground opens up and swallow her. She can hear everyone mocking her. She was trying to be strong and telling her that this will pass and it doesn't matter if it passes like kidney stones main thing is it'll pass.

She was still standing there quietly.

"What do you think of yourself?,"

She saw the gang leader coming to her with annoyed look.

"So much of attitude huh? Who are you? When everyone else is doing their part what is the problem with you? Or you're some Papa's princess who is more superior than everyone else?," his tone was so harsh and sharp that it broke Rhythm's courage.

Tears started rolling down her cheeks as she was standing there like a mannequin.

The room suddenly became silent. Everyone was looking at Rhythm and the gang leader. The pin drop silence was broken by someone's phone ringtone. After few second Rhythm realized it was her phone. She took out her phone and saw it was her dad's call. Impeccable timing dad as always she said to herself.

She doesn't know what took over her. She was so relieved by this call. She forgot where she was and answered the call. She heard her dad on the other side.

"Hi kid. How are you?,".

"Dad," she said while crying and trying to not cry anymore. But it was her dad she couldn't hide her feelings.

Her dad got worried hearing her cry.

"What happened? Why are you crying baby?,"he asked with concern.

"Dad. I...dad I..," she couldn't say anything to him.

Tisya felt that situation was going out of control so she came and excused Rhythm and herself.

"We will perform for you next time sir," she said and grabbed Rhythm's hand and went outside the hall.

The gang leader was standing there with shock. He never expected that this could happen when he was just trying to tease her little bit.

Rhythm was still crying and couldn't hold her tears. She again felt her phone buzzing. She took the call and this time it was her brother.

"What happened? Why were you crying? Dad just called me and said you were crying! What's wrong just tell me. I'm on my way. Don't worry. Just tell me what happened," Neer said. From his sound it was clearly evident that he was more worried.

Rhythm told him about everything that happened few seconds ago and said she didn't mean to trouble dad or him. It was nothing. They need not worry about her. She is fine now.

When she came out of the lecture hall. She realized what just happened and how she got her dad worried about her. She promised before leaving for college that she'll be a brave girl and will manage everything on her own but in reality she couldn't even get past her first day of college without crying.

"Hey. You are not giving any trouble to anyone. It's someone else who is in lot of trouble. I'm coming golu just stay wherever you're," Neer said in furious tone and disconnected the call.