Anvesha:

Wednesday afternoon. College starts in about five days. I don't have anything to do for the past few days. Sometimes I clean the house, sometimes I try to cook new things and sometimes, I don't do anything at all.

I didn't go out of the house. I had no energy to deal with certain people.

When I apologized to him that day, I expected some reaction. Some shouting, screaming...anything, but the way he reacted, just sitting there and doing nothing, was really embarrassing. He didn't even look like he was going to say something. That is why, I didn't wait for any response. I just left.

I had told my father about this and he was happy that at least I did apologize. I don't know what he will do now...will he get me arrested for slapping him? Will he let it pass? Will he forgive me?...I just don't know.

...

I couldn't spend any more time at my place, so I decided to go at my favourite spot-under the tree, beside the road to home. Well, I'm tired of calling it "my favourite spot under...", so I will name it. I think...because the road is called Queen's Road, I will name the tree...King? Done!

So, I'm going to King's.

I knew I had possible chances of meeting him there, but, even if I see him, I have promised myself that I won't react.

I took a small handmade basket and kept my dabba in it. Then I took the book I was currently reading and kept it inside too. After that, I left.

As I walked, I looked around my house. I was here since the day I was born, and I really enjoyed being here. My house was near a dense forest, away from other colonies. That is why, walking was my favourite part. Light twitter of birds, calming breeze...I loved everything about the nature.

I reached the place after some time. I kept the basket in the tree's shade and was about to sit when a huge blur of white jumped from the tree. I froze. I couldn't see what it was, but I could feel its presence. My heart started beating fast. It wasn't moving or saying anything. My hands were shaking. I had heard things about this tree. Supernatural things. Some people of the nearby village said that a woman and a child took their lives here by hanging themselves. I didn't believe in aatma, bhoot...etc, but, something was standing behind me, wearing white, how would I not be sca--

"Hello!" a deep, very familiar voice said. It was human's voice.

Of course.

I slowly turned around and came face to face with...HIM! I kept a hand on my heart, which was still beating very fast and was able to mutter only one thing, "Oh my God! Oh my God!..." I mean, it was not the ghost of a woman or a child...it was him.

Wait...it was him? And he was saying..."Hello"?!

"Hello again!", the man said again, with a big smile on his face.

Not even a few days ago, he was calling me " filthy" and "creature". And so many more ugly things, but today he was acting like we were old friends.

I needed to stay calm. No...I am not going to do anything stupid.

So I said, "What do you want?"

"I want nothing. I was just trying to be polite...and fix things." He said, quickly.

What?

WHAT!

Calm. Calm. Calm.

"Thank you very much, the things are already fixed, so you can leave now." I answered calmly. No...nothing was fixed, but as soon as everything ends with him, it would be good for both of us.

"Everything is fixed? But I haven't forgiven you...", he said in a light whisper. He was looking off at distance and was muttering things to himself, or at least, he thought that.

"Yes, but for me everything has been done and fixed. Now, I shall read and you can leave." I said to him. Then I sat under King and took my book out. I began reading it.

I soon realized that he wasn't leaving.

All of a sudden, he said, "Why?"

I looked up at him, confused. "Why, what?"

"Why should I leave?" He said.

What type of question was it? I looked up from my book at him. I was taken aback by what I saw. He wasn't standing close to me, but I was having a close look at him for the first time. The British man was tall and had an athletic frame. He was young...young enough to have just crossed the teen-age, just like me. He had an oblong face and a prominent chin. His deep set, mesmerizing emerald green eyes hid under his thick eyebrows, which were arched high. He had a perfect straight nose above his pink, plump lips, which were now pressed into a straight line. His blonde-brown hair was swept off his face neatly. Straight back, chin held high...every feature of his body screamed "arrogance".

I won't deny, but if he wasn't a British, and I didn't dislike him as much as I do now, I would have thought that he was handsome, very handsome.

He was staring straight at me. I realized that he was waiting for me to say something. I quickly looked away, heat rising up in my cheeks. "Your job is done here. We are at peace...and also, I don't find any reason for you to stay", I finally said.

There was a silence, but then he said, "Well, what if I want to stay here?".

My mouth fell open.

"Why?" I said, almost immediately. I didn't want him to stay here, alone. If anyone would see us together, rumours would spread in the town and that would be a great disgrace.

"Because I can? It's not like your name is written here." He replied, annoyance clear in his tone. Then he sat under the tree, at a safe distance away from me.

No, my name was not written here, but sitting under the same tree, in a secluded place, with the person who made your life so interesting...was so safe. No?

He was a type of person who was annoying because of their childish deeds.

I decided to ignore him. It felt very...weird and highly uncomfortable. With the man you hate sitting beside you, glaring at the dirt on their white trousers. I almost laughed at that sight, and he noticed me. He sent a glare towards me. I shook my head and tried to read again.

No luck.

"What's your name?" He said, all of a sudden. This young man was taking me by a lot of surprises.

"Why do you want to know?" I said to him. What was he up to? Can't he just go away?

"Oh, you know...I'm tired of calling you 'that woman'". He said, as a matter of fact.

Then I realized. So much had happened and we didn't even know each other's name. Even I was tired of calling him "That British man". So, I decided to answer him.

"Anvesha"

"Ahnvisha?" He asked, pronouncing my whole name wrong.

"An-Ve-Shah" I said to him again, annoyed.

"Okay." He said. "My name is Alexander, but you can call me Alex, because, everyone calls me Alex. Actually--"

"I didn't ask your name, or your what everyone calls you." I cut him off.

He seemed taken aback, but I didn't understand the reason why. I mean, yes, we were having conversation like civilized people, even if we disliked each other, but it didn't mean I would act all 'friends' with him.

"It's called being polite." He told me.

"Right. Your lessons on politeness could be so useful. You are so polite yourself, isn't it?"

"I'm trying to sort things here, and you, like always complicating everything." He huffed, and then got up from his sitting positing. His posture was rigid and his jaw was clenched.

Really? Why did he even want to "sort things". Suspicion and anger ran like a wave through me.

"We don't even know ea--"

"I'm done here". He said, cutting me off.

At last his true personality finally came up. I snorted. "No one cares...or at least, I don't."

With one last glare towards me, he left.

...

Hello people! So, here's the fifth chapter. Did you like it? Please leave comments, votes and your feedback...trust me, I REALLY REALLY REALLY need your feedback.

And "aatma", "bhoot" and "dabba" are Hindi words, which mean 'soul', 'ghost' and "tiffin", respectively.