THE CLOUD'S CHARM

CHAPTER 20 - part 1 - ANCHOR

ANCHOR

Megha bathed Nanhi as soon as they returned from the park. She made her favourite dinner and fed her with love. Nanhi had played more than usual that day with her Green uncle, and as a result, fell asleep half-way through the meal, curled up in Megha's lap. Megha placed the bowl and spoon back on the table without producing a single sound. She cradled the tiny girl in her hands and carried her to their bedroom. After tucking her in, Megha dimmed the light and went to the adjoined balcony to finish her notes.

She tried her best to concentrate on the book in front of her but she couldn't register any meaning. The words simply entered her mind, echoed for a while and left, without leaving behind any understanding. Finally, she closed it in frustration and tried to calm her mind, breathing deeply.

The night sky sort of reflected her mood right then. The stars were barely visible on the inky sky and the half-moon was being obscured by the clouds. The light from the unblinking street lamps lit up the winding road in front of her quarters. Several students were still out, hanging out with their friends. An occasional laughter would reach her balcony now and then, and would pierce the wall of silence around her.

Sitting there, invisible to other forms of humanity, which were actually only a few feet from her, Megha introspected about the happenings of the day. 

It would be a lie if she told that she didn't worry about Mohan at all. She did admire his willingness and courage to do such a job, but also feared what the outcome would be in case the gang members realised his real identity. A small part of her wanted to stop him from doing it, but who was she to stop him? She was just a friend - nothing more... And she knew he probably wouldn't obey her even if she told him. Even if he had obeyed, it would have been with regret and dissatisfaction and a feeling of failure. The rational part of her mind told her not to risk any of that.

No, she wouldn't stop him. Instead, she would support him in every way she can. And if he needed any help, she would do it wholeheartedly. That's the least she could do to aid such a noble mission.

A cool sea breeze was blowing comfortingly from the nearby beach and it brought her some relapse and comforted her senses. The warning bell rang precisely at nine fifty five, beckoning students to get inside the hostel rooms in five minutes. Students who were sitting on benches near Megha's quarters bid farewell to their friends in other hostel buildings and hurried to get inside the gates on time. The final bell rang a few minutes later and soon, the roads emptied....except a lone figure.

Megha noticed the silhouette of a man rushing to the main road from the Mens Hostel's direction.

"He seem to be coming from the Mens Hostel. I wonder who he is... What is he doing out here?" Megha wondered and kept observing him from her seat on the balcony.

Suddenly, the man's steps began faltering. He took out his mobile and dialed someone. But before the call was taken, the mobile fell down from his grasp and shattered into pieces.

Megha was startled and she got up from her seat.

"Seems like a drunk. I should inform the security." She decided. She went inside, took her mobile and came back to the balcony to observe his condition once more before dialing the number of the security wing.