His Soumya

Soumya glanced at herself with a small mirror on her hand.

After paying the cab driver, she picked up her tote bag and stepped out, adjusting her white kurti and blue pants.

She walked towards the college.

It was her first day. She was an art student. She didn't even know where her class was. When she saw a girl nearby, she tried to ask her for directions, but a loud thud stopped her.

She turned and saw a guy lying on the ground. He lay motionless, his face hidden from view.

She noticed everyone ignoring him. They simply walked past him without offering any help.

She was about to walk over when the girl in front of her grabbed her wrist. Soumya looked at her. The girl shook her head, silently telling her not to go.

But who was going to stop her?

Soumya walked straight towards him.

As she got closer, she began hearing whispers around her. She didn't pay any attention to them.

She bent down on one knee and gently shook his shoulder.

"Are you okay?" her voice came out softly.

The guy didn't react.

She tried again.

"Hi,Can you help him, please?" Soumya asked one of the guys standing nearby. Instead, the guy quickly stepped back.

What's wrong with him? she wondered then gently held the stranger's wrist, checking his pulse. It was normal. He seemed fine.

She had learned basic first aid by watching her parents treat their patients.

The guy slowly turned towards her.

His eyes opened little by little until they met hers.

Her face was filled with concern.

"Hey... Are you alright?"

The guy only stared at her.

He didn't say a word.

The only sound between them was his steady breathing.

"Come... let me help you."

She said it without being bothered by his looks or his size.

She looked like a small deer standing in front of him.

He was almost twice her size.

She tried to help him up, but she couldn't.

The corner of his lips lifted slightly but he still followed her instructions.

The moment he tried to stand, a wave of dizziness hit him. He lost his balance and almost fell on top of her.

Without thinking, Soumya wrapped her arms around him, trying to support his body. Her small hands barely reached around his waist, but she refused to let go.

He quickly steadied himself, making sure not to put too much of his weight on her. The whispers around them grew louder, but she paid no attention her only focus was how to help him.

However he heard every single word.

He knew the danger she was inviting into her life... simply by helping him.

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Soumya entered the classroom and sat by the window in the last row.

She never noticed the stares or the attention she was receiving. She was lost in her own world.

A moment later, someone sat beside her.

When she looked up in she was surprise. It was the same girl she had asked for directions earlier.

But the girl's expression looked uncomfortable.

When Soumya smiled at her, the girl immediately turned her face away.

"Hi, I'm Soumya."

There was no reply.

She felt a little hurt by being ignored.

After a few moments, the girl slowly turned towards her. She looked at her up and down before leaning closer.

"You shouldn't have tried to help him."

Soumya frowned in confusion.

"Who?"

"The guy you helped."

"But no one was helping him. He fell on the..."

"You should mind your own business."

The girl lowered her voice.

"You don't know him, right?"

Soumya slowly shook her head.

"He's dangerous."

Before she could ask another question, the teacher entered the classroom.

The girl immediately sat up straight, leaving her even more confused.

He's dangerous...

Those words lingered in her mind.

For a brief moment, she felt uneasy.

But she quickly brushed the thought aside.

What danger could come from helping someone?

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The class fell silent when someone walked in. Even the teacher looked uncomfortable. A tall figure entered the classroom.

Soumya was too focused on writing to notice. Her eyes remained on her notebook. It was only when the silence lingered that she finally looked up.

There stood the guy she had helped earlier.

His eyes found hers.

He didn't even blink.

For a few seconds, he simply stared at her.

Then he walked to the back of the classroom and sat in the corner.

The teacher cleared his throat and continued the lesson as if nothing had happened.

Soumya lowered her head and continued writing, completely unaware that a pair of intense eyes was still fixed on her.

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Soumya placed her tote bag on the table before dropping onto her bed with a tired sigh.

A gentle knock came from her bedroom door. Babita, the housemaid, smiled warmly at her.

" You want anything to drink?".

" Yes,Babita ma. Just a glass of water, please. I'm so tired today."

Babita smiled and left.

Soumya lay there, staring at the ceiling. The fan spun lazily above her.

Her thoughts, however, refused to slow down.

A few moments later, Babita returned with a glass of water.

"What happened? You don't look as excited as you were this morning."

She sat up and stared at the glass for a moment before taking it from her.

Making a little puppy face, she told Babita everything in one breath.

Babita couldn't help but smile.

"Oh, dear. Why are you worrying about their comments and the way they looked at you?"

She let out a soft sigh before continuing,

"You did a good thing by helping someone. Don't worry."

Soumya still looked troubled.

"But no one wanted to talk to me. Even the girl sitting beside me..." She pouted. "I don't have any friends."

Babita chuckled softly and patted her head.

"There will be someone who wants to be your friend. Don't be upset. True friends come into our lives sincerely. You'll find one."

She smiled lovingly at Soumya.

The little girl she had watched grow up had become a beautiful young woman with the kindest heart.

Babita had been there through every step of her life. And if she could help it... She would protect that girl at any cost.

"Now go and freshen up. Your mama and papa will be home by seven for dinner."

Soumya let out a soft sigh and nodded.

Deep down, her thoughts were still back at college.

Just as she was about to get up, her phone vibrated.

She frowned and picked it up.

Unknown Number

Her eyebrows knitted together. Who could this be...?

To be continued