Writing a sequel is extremely challenging for a beginner like me, I have gone back to The Unwanted Rose n times to recheck the storyline. I hope my efforts don't go in vain. If you have any suggestions or have come across a plot hole, just inform me. I will be grateful:)

***

Having a roommate can be extremely fun and if that person is illegally staying in with you then that vibe is next level. I couldn't stop giggling as we sneaked in. My dorm was closest to the gate so it was much easier. As soon as we reached our dorm, Ronnie went to sleep.

The little guy was tired but he held onto my hand the entire night. And I hardly experienced any sleep because of the restless thoughts. I was tired but my nerves were high, constructing me from falling asleep. Counting bricks and studying Ronnie's features were the only tasks I completed till morning.

As I counted the bricks random thoughts floated in my mind.

Tracks are empty,
Minds are open,
Hands are entwined,
Hearts are blind,
On a lonely night,
We chatted about our future,
Not understanding,
That we were becoming history,
Of our own time.

Listening to songs have improved my skill. Music is something that softly knocks on our heartstrings. It can make people emotional even without understanding the purpose of the words. Music has no language. It's another way to communicate your feelings without opening your mouth. A musician can take you on a journey with their voice drawing you in their notes, till you forget about the lyrics. And when you know the lyrics you enter a different world.

Two things that remained the same about me were my love for music and food. My stomach growled imagining a ravishing bowl of Italian cheese pasta with extra cheese. Getting up I rushed out to bring in a treat for both of us.

***

As I was coming back to the dorm something attracted my eye. Three familiar figures made dread boil inside me. My uncle aunt and a lawyer. Before I could escape they spotted me and hastily caught on to me.

"Where is your brother?", My uncle questioned. Plastering an oblivious expression I raised my brow confidently.

"Who? Ronnie? Where is he?", I asked in a fake worried tone. They glanced at each other then studied me to intimidate me. I stood unbothered glancing around the dorm which infuriated the lawyer.

"We are here to speak about some legal issues", The lawyer said in a serious tone. He was professional enough to be polite.

"Yes, you can speak", I replied confidently.

"You are a minor (below 18) but the power of attorney of the villa is in your name. What you have to do is sign here and you will get free custody of your brother" He implored in a tone that suggested he won't give up easily. This made me laugh.

If this has happened in my past life I would have given up the house without any reluctance in my naivete. The real treasury of the villa was revealed when I was 23, the house was built by my parents and the property was rated no less than 5 million for being a suburb area.

I won't let my parent's effort go to waste. This house was ours, Ronnie and mine. And it will remain ours.

"I won't sign this paper", I stated in a serious tone. My eyes challenging the lawyer who frowned slightly. He whispered something in my uncle's ear then cleared his throat.

"Then there will be a legal warning issued against you for kidnapping a minor boy and keeping him in a public dorm without informing the authorities.

I passed a death glare to my uncle.

"Mister Flore, I hope you fair well in life", I said giving him a sweet smile before entering the college gate leaving them hanging.

***

"Students you all are going to stay back to practice for the festival because this festival will help you realise how singing is not just a talent but a way of communication. I want you all to keep all your senses open and scatter around to find music within nature. Look at the thunder,  nightingale and seashore, don't they evoke powerful emotions from within? Get inspired by nature and create a song the world will remember", Our professor concluded his speech. I could see the hope shining in his eyes, he gave us a thumbs-up sign and shouted.

"Fighting!!!" The students rose in a chorus and clapped for him as he walked down the podium. I could feel the motivation running through me as I smiled warmly at my violin. The polish was fading away but I preferred it because this violin has been with me in my weakest moments. I knew it and it knew me. The violin was not just an inanimate object for me but a life source. Its chords were the music of my veins. The notes combining with my heartbeat as I hugged the violin case close to my heart and closed my eyes.

"Are you sleeping?" The voice broke my moment of peace, opening my eyes I shook my head and stood up to seek inspiration from outside.

"We are supposed to perform in a group, so can I join you?" He asked his tone polite. I turned around and tried to read his face. I shrugged and started for the garden hearing his footsteps following me.

He maintained a distance letting me walk in my zone. Karthik understood what personal meant, that was another surprise for me.

"Do you like roses?", He asked casually as we sat down in the shade of a tree.

"Should I?" I asked humour and curiosity shining in my eyes.

"Umm..well you are a girl" He answered awkwardly not maintaining eye contact with me. His posture depicted that he was guilty of something.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I said in a serious tone trying to intimidate him further. He was plucking at his nails, looking almost childish.

"Sorry, I guess it was a little sexist of me to say that.  I just thought girls love roses", He explained his eyes conveying his desperate attempt to clear the meaning behind his words, my serious face broke. And I laughed tapping his shoulder to cheer him up.

"All girls don't like roses, but they love it when their beloved gifts it to them", I explained. His eyes were dazed as he blinked and then they suddenly lit up.

"Why don't we write a song on soulmates?", He suggested, his eyes were filled with passion as he removed his guitar from the case and immediately started playing a dull note.

"That's too dark but strangely calm" I commented, as he started humming cheerfully. The guitar was getting duller in each tone and his humming was increasing in each note. Then there was a pause, deathly silence engulfed us and he showed his brown eyes again. The guitar started in a cheerful tone but his voice was duller as the guitar hit all the high notes.

With the guitar and his voice, he was describing a tale. The guitar was depicting the unhappy moments he was facing and his cheerful hum was his positive outlook towards life. He was happy in the beginning till the guitar got darker and then there was a deathly silence. The silence was the sudden disruption in his music and maybe his life. Then as the guitar got cheerful his voice went in the opposite direction. There was a range of emotions that he couldn't express through music but I could feel it in the atmosphere. His shivering fingers as the guitar overtook his humming and then there was just the guitar playing a happy song.

At that moment I realised why our professor approved him. Karthik lived in music, one could hear his heartbeat in his songs. Songs aren't always the way we hear them. The song he played would appear like a cheerful one to people who didn't know how to appreciate music. It was just some guitar playing, but for a musician, it was the synopsis of life.

***

So this was chapter 15. I know it kinda sucked.