The Mafia's Collateral

Part 26

Arohi's P.O.V.

I went and sat on the stand in the field lost in thought about what just happened. Danny came and sat next to me and asked, "What's going on?" "Something strange just happened," I said. "What?" he asked. "We got a new professor for psychology and when I was leaving the class, he called my name and stopped me," I said. "What's strange in that?" Danny asked. "It's strange because he never asked me my name in class and he said that Mafia told him about me. But why would Mafia tell him about me?" I said. He side hugged me and said, "You're overthinking. Why would he lie?" I sighed. "Maybe you're right. Where's Sarah?" I asked shaking off my thoughts. "She's waiting for us in the cafeteria for lunch," he said. I frowned and said, "I'm not feeling hungry. You guys go ahead and have lunch. I have an empty period after, I will eat then." He held my hand and asked, "Sure?" I gave him a small smile and nodded. He got up and left me and I sat and looked at some of the boys playing football on the field. Although I was looking at them, I wasn't paying much attention and felt down for some strange reason. "Why am I feeling scared?" I asked myself. I heaved a sigh and my head turned to Mafia's office window. I saw his figure standing and looking out. I got up and walked away from the stand and went and sat under a tree where there was no one. I sat there and leaned my head against the tree trunk with my eyes closed. I was starting to have a headache. After sometime of sitting like that, I heard a voice and opened my eyes saying, "Are you ok?" It was Martin. I looked at him and nodded. "Can I help you with something?" he asked. "No sir," I said. He sat next to me leaving me surprised and said, "Didn't I tell you not to call me sir? Call me Martin." I began to feel nervous with him. "Don't you have any work to do?" I asked. "This is also part of my work," he said. "Excuse me?" I said. "I mean that it's my duty to take care of my students as well," he said.

I took up my bag and was about to stand up to leave when he held back my hand. I was completely taken aback by this gesture and pulled my hand away from his. I began to feel very nervous and scared and even began to sweat. "Please sir, I want to be alone for sometime," I said and got up. I quickly ran away from there and kept turning around to see him looking at me. As I was walking forward and my head turned around, I bounced into someone. I turned around and saw Mafia. I was relieved. "What happened?" Mafia asked. He took out his handkerchief and gave it to me asking, "Why are you so nervous and why are you sweating like this?" I turned around and saw Martin gone from by the tree. "Arohi, what's wrong?" he asked me worried. "Nothing. It's very hot so I am going inside," I said and walked past him but he held my hand back and carried me to his office despite all my objections. Once inside his office, he made me sit down and kneeled down in front of me. I avoided meeting eyes with him and he cupped my face. "Hey, you can tell me what's wrong," he said softly. I can't tell him right now. Perhaps I am only overthinking. Until I am not completely sure about that Martin's intentions, I can't accuse him of anything. And this is Mafia, if he finds out, he will fire him from the job at once and I still don't know if Martin is just caring. I shook my head and said, "Nothing is wrong. I am completely fine. I just want some water." He nodded and got up and gave me his glass of water. I drank the entire glass and he placed it back on the table. He sat on the chair opposite me and held my hand. "Arohi, you can trust me with anything. I will always be there to help you. If there is any problem, just say it and I will end it at once," he said. I looked at him and smiled. "I trust you. Who else would I go to to end my problems?" I said. He frowned. He wasn't convinced. I know he wasn't. I stood up and held his shoulders and made him stand up.

I slowly hugged him and his body froze from this sudden action. I rested my ear on his heart and said, "When you are here, who can harm me? Trust me, I am absolutely fine." He held my shoulders and broke the hug. "You..." he started but was interrupted by a knock on the door. We both looked and Martin was standing at the door. "I'm sorry sir. I will come back if you are busy," he said and turned around. "It's ok sir, you can come in. I was just leaving," I said. I stepped away from Mafia and was about to leave when Martin held my hand once again and stopped me. What is this man's problem? He immediately released my hand. "I'm sorry Arohi. You can stay, I only a minute's work with Mr. Raichand," he said. He smiled. I looked at Mafia and saw him a bit annoyed. I stood as Martin said with a paper in his hand, "Sir, I just wanted to give you the report about today's class session." "But that's given to the clerk outside," Mafia said. "Oh! I didn't know sir. I'm sorry," he said and turned around. He looked at me with a small smile and then left. "I'm going as well sir," I said to Mafia. I turned around but he stopped me saying, "Wait!" I stopped and turned back to him. He slowly approached me and said, "Why were you so nervous around Mr. Martin?" I lowered my eyes and said, "Nervous? No, I wasn't nervous!" He raised my chin and my eyes met his. "Don't lie to me Arohi. I saw you when he held your hand," he said. I frowned and remained silent. "I'll teach him a lesson," he said gritting his teeth. He took a step forward but I held him back saying abruptly, "No!" I faked a smile and held his hand and said, "I'm fine!" "I don't like this guy," he said. "Ok, fine, if he does anything that makes me uncomfortable again, I will come first thing and tell you," I said. He frowned angrily. The bell rang for the next period and he asked me, "Do you have a class?" "No, I have an empty period right now. I am heading to the cafeteria to grab a bite," I said. "If you're hungry then we can sit together for lunch, what say?" he said. I smiled and replied, "No, it's ok. You do your work in peace, I'll eat in the cafeteria." I left his hand and walked out of his office.   

Deep's P.O.V.

Arohi left my office and I immediately called Avinash. "Find out everything about this Martin. I want his entire biography in front of me before we leave today," I ordered. "Yes sir," he said and left. I sat down on my chair and leaned back thinking about how uncomfortable Arohi looked when he held her hand. There is something fishy about this guy. I just have the feeling. I must keep him away from Arohi. I got up and walked out of my office. I went to the cafeteria and stood outside and looked at Arohi sitting with a burger at a table alone. Then my eyes moved a bit and I saw Martin approaching the table where Arohi was sitting with his eyes stuck on her. I took a step forward and my bodyguards followed me but I raised my hand to them signaling that they remain where they are. I quickly approached the table where Arohi was sitting and sat opposite her before Martin could approach her. "Hi!" I said. She looked at me confused. "Sir, you...in the cafeteria?" she said surprised. I turned and looked at Martin. He stood and looked at us for a second and then turned and left. Arohi waved her hand in front of me for my attention and I looked back at her. "What are you doing in the cafeteria?" she asked. "It's my school. I am the principal, I can go where I want," I said. "But you have never come here before like this," she said. "So? I was feeling to eat the burger from here so I came," I said and grabbed the burger from her hand. I took a bite from it and looked around to see if Martin was anywhere keeping my look casual. "Sir, please, don't do this," she said softly. "Do what?" I asked. "Sir, all of the students are looking at us," she whispered. "So?" I said. "So they might think that we are..." she said and then eventually stopped. I knew what she was trying to say. I leaned forward and asked, "We are?" She looked around and said, "That the principal is having the same burger that I have eaten from." I leaned back and stare at her with a small smile. I placed the burger back in front of her and said, "Here is your burger, eat it. I will order my own." I called a student who was sitting at the table next to us and said, "Go and get a burger for me." He immediately left.

I turned back to Arohi and asked, "Happy now? I won't be eating from the same burger as you." She shook her head. "You are impossible!" she said. "That I am. And you have to spend your entire life with this impossible person," I said. She stared at me silently a bit surprised at my line. She lowered her eyes and a small smile played on her lips. "Did you like the sound of that?" I asked, "Do you want to spend your entire lifetime with this impossible guy?" She raised her eyes and looked at me. Her face had become completely red with her blushing. I took out my phone quickly and snapped a picture of her much to her surprise. "What are you doing? Why did you snap my picture?" she asked. "It's not the first time I did it," I said. She looked at me with her mouth forming an o. I quickly snapped another picture of her expression and looked at it. I began laughing and covered my mouth. "How dare you!" she said. She stretched her hand out and said, "Give me the phone! Delete those pictures!" I smiled and turned the screen to her and swiping through all the pictures asking, "Which one? This one? This one?" She looked at them shocked. "You have been doing this for such a long time?!" she exclaimed. She was about to grab the phone away from me when I quickly moved my hand away and pushed it inside my pocket. "I don't look good in pictures, please delete them?" she said with a huge frown. "You don't want to be with me that's why I have to use these pictures as a substitute right?" I said. She looked at me sadly. My eyes began to well up and my heart pained. "Sir..." she started but the guy brought back the burger and placed it in front of me. "Thank you," I said. "Welcome sir," he said and left. Arohi sat and looked at me sadly. I took the burger and ate a bite. Arohi only looked at me silently. I swallowed my sadness with the bite and asked, "What happened?" "I need to tell you something," she said softly. "Hmm..." I said and continued to eat the burger. "Sir, I..." she started but what my eyes glimpsed behind her, made me immediately drop the burger and I quickly pushed my hand inside my jacket and grabbed my gun.

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Hey guys! I hope you guys enjoyed this update! Hope you guys are safe and sound in this difficult and trying time. Please vote for the chapter and comment your thoughts. Until next time! Keep safe and keep smiling! Bye!