Prachi and Shahana are keenly listening to the professor of their literature class when an alarm rings through the college.

"Fire! Fire," yelled Darsh much to everyone else's annoyance. Everyone remains seated, with the exclusion of Prachi. The whole class is aware of Darsh's annoying pranks but they are all unaware of Prachi's fear of fire. Prachi recalled the events from that tragic day, she had lost someone very special in that fire, the last thing she wanted to do was be near another fire.

"Shahana, let's go, please. I don't want to be near another fire," Prachi tugged Shahana's arms and stifled her tears. She couldn't cry, she wouldn't cry. At least not on her first day her new college. For that, she knew that she needed to avoid the fire at any cost. She didn't want to get reminded of that incident again. She lost the person who most connected with her, who always bickered with her. She would never have that connection again, her twin was gone and she had to accept that fact and learn to live it. Even if she was only six at the time, she knew and understood how important her twin was to her. She missed her twin, and no one would ever be able to take her twin's place. Not even in her next lifetime.

Shahana and the rest of the literature class were bewildered on seeing Prachi's reaction but they assumed she was afraid of fires and in a way they weren't wrong but they weren't entirely right either.

"Prachi please calm down....." before Shahana could finish her sentence Prachi started breathing heavily and faints.

Everyone is astonished to see this and the professor glared at Darsh.

"Darsh, how many times have I told you not to pull off these types of jokes! Especially when there's someone new the class. You will be coming to the principals office with me. Shahana, you take Prachi to the health centre and Aryan I'm putting you in charge of the class; if no one listens to you inform me and they'll get a month of detentions," ordered the professor.

As the professor speaks no one dares say a word, well aware of the consequences. However two people were not at all afraid; they had their back up with them and they would just blame him. He would get out of it easily enough; he was from a high status and rich background. It would help them heaps.

Shahana started to help Prachi up but is unable to do it alone. Rishi, a normally quiet student, came up to her and helped. Someone mouthed a thank you to him and Rishi discreetly gave him a thumbs up. Everyone but one person failed to notice this interaction. The person looked at Rishi curiously. Why was he connected with that group? He didn't seem like that type of person. The person, Shahana, decided kept a close eye on Rishi from now onwards.

After a while Rishi noticed Shahana eyeing him.

"What is it, Shahana?"

"No one else may've noticed the interaction between you and him but I did and I know you won't tell me what that was about but if I find you joining there gang, I will not hesitate in murdering you. Even if you are my cousin," Shahana glared at Rishi.

"Look Shahana, sometimes things aren't the way they seem. You won't understand what I mean right now but in time you will, everyone else will too." Rishi replied, understanding who the 'him' was.

The rest of their journey remained silent, aside from Prachi's unintelligible mummering.

================================================================================================================================================================

"No, no, no! Mumma lemme go back. I save! I save." A girl, approximately six years old, screamed.

"Didi! Mumma! Papa!" The girl and the two adults nearby hear someone scream. The girl rushed towards the fire in front of her but before she made it the man next to her pulled her back.

"Prachi, you won't go in the fire. Stay here with your mother and I promise your twin and I will be back here with you guys," Abhaijeet said.

"Papa," little Prachi looked towards the fire, her mouth slightly open while tears brimmed her eyes.

"Prachi beta, you love Mumma and Papa na?" Avleen asked.

Prachi instantly nodded her head, still not fully aware of what the word love meant.. no one ever is.

"Then please don't go in the fire," Avleen said, and picked up Prachi after she gave her consent.

The duo wait for a while. After around three minutes Abhaijeet returned, both Prachi and Avleen look on, hoping to catch a glimpse of another, smaller figure however no one comes. "Papa," young Prachi looked at Abhaijeet as tears brimmed her eyes.

"Why isn't...." Avleen started but stops as Abhaijeet shakes his head while his lips slightly trembled.

"Mamma, Papa, where rondu?" Prachi asked, in a demanding tone. Despite not being able to explain her emotions, she knew that her rondu held a very special place in her life, she wouldn't do anything without him - even if they would end up fighting no matter what they were doing.

"Gone... gone to the happiest place, here" Avleen replied.

"This not fair, Mumma! Rondu get hit by me, going without me! You not hitting me it, okay, Mumma?" younger Prachi said, upset for more than one reason.

Elder, grown up Prachi opens her eyes. Her lips trembled, her eyes brimmed with tears. That day she had lost the person who was closest to her at the time. Though they were both only 6 years old, she always felt that special connection. She didn't understand the meaning of her mother's words at the time but now, now she knew exactly what her mother meant. She shivered as she recalled the events that happened on that day. Her Rondu, her twin had left her and would never return.

Shahana slowly assisted Prachi in getting up, and she put a pillow behind her.

"What happened Prachi?" Shahana asked.

"I'm fine - it's nothing to worry about, trust me." Prachi whispered.

Shahana frowned, tears flowed down Prachi's cheeks and she expected her to believe that she was fine! The white flowers embroidered on her baby pink suit were all ruined by now. She was anything but fine. However, Shahana decided to let her be. Though she was unaware of the reason, she felt it would hurt her talking about it.

The nurse came back after attending a badly bruised boy. "Mam, my friend has woken up now, is she alright to come back to class?" Shahana's voice was laced with concern.

"Yes, Shahana. You're friend is fine now, but I think she's been through some sort of trauma related to fire, it would be best if there isn't any mention of it near her," the nurse whispered the last part so only Shahana could here. Shahana nodded, and turned to Prachi who just seemed so lost. Prachi's expression was grim, and she only let a few tears out but Shahana felt like something was wrong.

"Come on Prachi, according to your timetable, you have biochemistry next, and I have physics. Rishi can go with you, so you don't get lost," Shahana suggested and Prachi nodded. Shahana bid bye to Prachi, not before making sure to give Rishi a warning glare - she didn't want anyone related to her to be involved with bullies, she despised all bullies for a very personal reason.

Rishi sighed as Shahana left, she would never learn to think more deeply about situations, would she? He decided to let go of these thoughts and help the new student, for some reason he felt a special connection with her, one he hadn't felt in over years. Prachi too felt as if Rishi was someone close to her but she just couldn't put her finger on it.

================================================================================================================================================================

(1300+ words) That's the end of today's update, and I'm pretty sure I'll edit the first part again, because I seem to be focusing more on editing my work than writing new content right now.

And yes, I know it's been way past that 'next week', I said in the previous update. So, this time, I'm not gonna say when I'll update next - I may forget or not be able to do it.

Also, Prachi's twin's name is not Rondu, it's a nickname given by Prachi to tease her twin.

Please do comment.

Who was the person that mouthed a thankyou to Rishi? (This may or may not be easy, I'm not sure)

I promise, that I'll update quicker this time, well, I'll try to update quicker this time.

Until Next Time!

~ Riya Sharma