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Chapter 3 - The landlord

It was nearly 11 o'clock at night. The restaurant had long since emptied—customers gone, staff departed, and only the cleaning crew remained. Outside on the balcony, Vedanshi and Maria had settled into their familiar late-night ritual: finishing up their duties, sipping hot tea under the moonlight. In just a week, they'd learned so much about each other over these quiet conversations.

The city stretched out below in breathtaking beauty. From here, the meandering "S"-shaped Basakhi River glowed under the night sky, flanked on both banks by the city's lights. A broad road ran parallel to the river, and at one point—a grand bridge shimmered with lights, connecting the two sides. On either end of that bridge lay the college campus, perched up on gently rising hills, with the city climbing further beyond. Both sides of the city looked almost identical—so alike that distinguishing them was nearly impossible.

Three prominent hills defined the skyline—each shaped like a cone—collectively known as the Trishanku Hills: First, Second, and Third, in ascending order. Light posts lined the roads below, casting a soft glow on both the river and the pathways, making the night scene even more enchanting.

The restaurant stood atop Trishanku First—the so-called "hill of the affluent." Lavish hotels and upscale residences clustered here, home to the city's wealthiest. Yet, lower down, where the river began, lay a poorer settlement—a small neighborhood where many in the city's less fortunate lived. Perched on this very hill was also a grand temple dedicated to the Mother Goddess. Situated right on the main road, this temple marked the boundary as any traveler entered the city—about 4 kilometers from the restaurant.

Meanwhile, the Trishanku Second and Third Hills formed one continuous rise. Atop Second Hill were the faculty apartments—homes of professors and lecturers. The primary college building—where most academic activity took place—stood proudly on First Hill. On Third lay a vast hospital zone, known as the "Doctor Colony," with medical professionals' homes spilling across its slopes.

After their tea, Vedanshi prepared to head back to her room. She would start her shifts there from tomorrow, she thought. One aspect of living in this city reassured her: fear of crime was nearly nonexistent, making night-time walks safe and peaceful. Even autos ran till 1 a.m., ensuring no one was stranded.

Just then, she arrived at the gate to her room. She'd moved in only a week ago—so why was the gate locked from inside? Panic seized her. She rang the bell several times—no answer.

"Oh God, what do I do now?" she wondered. If I hadn't jumped over the gate last night, I'd have spent the entire night outside. She bit her lip, wanting to complain, but instead kept silent and eventually made her way to college the next morning.

At 6 a.m., a sudden commotion jolted her from sleep. Outside, her landlord—a man in his fifties—was loudly ranting.

"My daughter... girls these days!" he roared. "They vanish all night, and claim they're perfect! Are we landlords or security guards? They're not tenants—they sneak in like thieves! Unbelievable!"

Vedanshi felt her blood boil. Last night, she'd risked life and limb just to get in. But she swallowed her protest and, after a moment of silence, slipped out for college quietly.

She'd asked an auto to drop her at the big gate—it wasn't allowed inside. From there, the department lay about half a kilometer away, and she'd walk. Even though summers here could scorch, blazing sunlight, the wide canopy of yellow and red-flowered kaner (oleander) trees shaded the sidewalk beautifully. It was the most peaceful way to walk—and most students, professors, and staff preferred it. Some biked or rode scooters, but the lush walk remained a favorite.

The college buildings sat around 100 meters apart. First was Commerce; then B.Tech; then Hotel Management; followed by others, leading to the History & Archaeology department—famous for constant rivalry with the others. The campus to this side of the river was serene—a sharp contrast to bustling life elsewhere.

Standing at the gate of her department, Vedanshi paused, gazing at the building ahead. Suddenly, a voice behind her barked, attempting to startle her.

"Are you friends with ghosts or something? You always stand and stare like this," Sagar teased.

Vedanshi, unfazed, replied coolly, "Not a ghost's friend—maybe its owner."

Just then, Nikhil joined, giving Sagar a high-five. Vedanshi rolled her eyes.

"I'm still wondering why katphoda isn't here yet," she said, referring to a friend, with a wry smile.

"Katphoda!" Akshay's voice boomed from behind, laughter following.

It was hard to believe they'd only met a day ago. In those hours, they had already begun figuring each other out—and friendships had quietly formed.

Just then, a voice cut through the chatter. "Are we having class here?" Nayan asked, swinging off his bike. Everyone jumped.

"Head to the classroom—your seniors are arriving today. They went to the main library yesterday. Introduce yourself," he urged, striding into the department.

"What was that? At least give us a chance to say 'Good morning,' sir," Akshay grumbled.

"Man, check the time! A professor isn't going to hang around at the gate like us. He's got real things to do," Sagar shot back.

"Not 'like us'—you mean like you," Vedanshi said with a grin, baring her teeth as she dashed inside. Akshay followed, then Sagar and Nikhil trailed behind them.

As they passed the History Department corridor, some history students whispered and snickered.

"Look who's here again—those Archaeology monkeys," someone hissed. Laughter rippled through the hallway.

"And which one of you ran like dogs wiggling their tails after the last time you got stung? Spill it," another student sneered, accompanied by two boys and three girls.

The jab hit a nerve—one history student growled, "You bastards…" before raising his hand to strike... but a firm voice stopped him.

"What's happening here? If you've got a fight, step outside the gate. Not in college," Dhayani sir's stern voice echoed.

Silence fell. Another commanding tone followed: "If you're here to study, head to class—otherwise the gate is wide open." Gradually, the history students retreated into their classroom.

Dhayani sir's gaze swept to Vedanshi and her friends. "And you lot? I guess no one taught you how to greet your teacher properly," he said. Taken aback, they hurried into the room.

"Should I say 'Good Morning' first, sir?" Vedanshi choked, "G-Good morning, sir." Dhayani nodded and strode off toward his office.

"Thank God," Sagar exhaled, clutching his chest. "That voice alone could give anyone a heart attack!"

They looked up—and saw the same two boys and three girls from before, still smiling at them.

A tall girl with shoulder-length hair, wearing a blue top and black jeans, stepped forward. She smiled warmly. "I'm Seema. We're your seniors from the Archaeology Department."

One by one, they introduced themselves: Riddhi, Nikita, Seema, Ayansh, and Pranay. They welcomed the juniors clearly and sincerely.

Ayansh chuckled, "So you're just showing up, and we've been waiting a month to have a fresher's party!"

"Sagar, we know you—we just couldn't remember your name. But after seeing your face on campus, it stuck," Pranay joked. Sagar's friends looked surprised.

"Dude, you've been pretty active in college politics," Riddhi added, "You're like a hidden champion."

"Alright, enough chit-chat. Class is starting—and we're already late," Nikita said, and with that, they entered Dhayani sir's class.

Walking in felt like entering the den of a lion—everyone sat so still you could hear their breathing. After class, Nikhil grinned.

"Man, sir teaches so well."

"Yeah, everything he taught stuck right in the brain," Vedanshi said.

Riddhi, who had lingered behind, added, "He's strict—but he's a great teacher."

With that, the seniors headed into their own class.

Now it was Nayan's turn—and everyone crowded back into class. Nayan hadn't arrived yet, and the hallways buzzed with renewed energy. "Vedanshi, look! Your head!" Nikhil teased, and Vedanshi stuck out her tongue, retorting, "That's yours—it's completely empty. Just like you." The group erupted in laughter once more.

At that moment, Nayan walked in. Startled, he scanned the room—no one was in their seat. Everyone rushed back to theirs. His eyes softened into a smile.

That was his charm: he always smiled. His face was innocent in a way that drew people in. His warmth wasn't limited to his department—it made him beloved across the entire college.

He was also an excellent teacher—his lessons were memorable. His smile wasn't just a smile—it was a "killer smile," legendary among students. College girls swooned over it, but no one could ever truly get close to him. Not just students—everyone working at the college saw him as the perfect presence.

But no one really knew the truth behind that ever-smiling face. Was he truly the happiest person in the world? Just because someone smiles all the time doesn't mean they're not hurting inside. And that's exactly what Vedanshi had noticed.

It had only been two days since she'd met Nayan, but something about his face always struck her as strange. After all, she'd been through her own share of pain. She had learned to recognize a wounded soul hiding behind a smile.

These thoughts swirled in Vedanshi's mind as she sat in class, eyes fixed on Nayan. She kept staring at him, unaware of anything else. Nayan noticed her gaze, but said nothing. He simply finished the lecture and walked out of the room.

Later, Vedanshi and her friends were sitting in the canteen when she said, "Guys, I need to vacate my room today. Can you help me out?"

Her friends responded instantly, "Do you even have to ask? We're always ready!"

It was around 2 PM when Vedanshi and her friends reached her room. As soon as they entered the premises, the landlord began shouting again.

"Now these girls are openly bringing boys into their rooms! Oh Lord, what has the world come to? And then they say something wrong happened to them—look at their behavior!" he kept yelling at the top of his lungs.

The boys looked at Vedanshi in utter confusion.

"What the hell is this?" Nikhil asked.

"He's crazy, just ignore him," Vedanshi replied calmly and began packing her things. She didn't have much stuff, but she'd still asked her friends to help.

The landlord, irritated by her silence, grew more aggressive and louder. But Vedanshi didn't even flinch. Within a few minutes, she had packed up everything. Sagar called for an auto, and they began loading her things into it.

That's when the landlord went silent.

He had expected her to beg to stay—he never thought she'd actually leave. The reality of the situation left him dumbfounded. He stood frozen, unsure what to say.

Vedanshi walked up to him, anger in her eyes, and shoved the rent for the past week into his hand.

"Seems like your wife or daughter must've eloped with someone. With a mindset like yours, who would ever want to stay with you?" she said coldly.

The landlord was stunned. He never expected such a comeback from Vedanshi. He just stood there, watching her disappear down the lane, until she was completely out of sight.

"Man, seriously… What kind of people even are out there in the world? How do others even put up with them?" Sagar muttered. "Good job, Vedanshi. You did the right thing leaving that place."

Vedanshi let out a deep breath. "That's the problem with our country," she said. "The moment they see a girl alone, they start throwing accusations. Our elders believe that if a girl is with boys, something wrong must be going on. They never accept friendship between boys and girls. According to them, if a guy and a girl are together, it has to be for that one reason."

"Yeah! Even if a girl is out with her brother, they'll assume he's her boyfriend," Nikhil added.

Vedanshi, lost in her thoughts now, muttered to herself, "Even I had to face so many taunts once… from this so-called 'typical society'…"

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