Part 1 Cold Blood Monster

Ooty is the short form of Udhagamandalam, located in Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu in South India. It's popularly known as the Queen of Hill stations, adorned with beautiful mountains, lakes, gardens, and forests all around. Because of its high altitude, the temperature is generally lower than the surrounding plains. Sky-high mountains, greenish tea plantations, colorful flowers, and slanting roads, all are its specialties. Tamil is the official language of Ooty. It's one of the most frequented destinations in the country, especially to the HONEYMOON couples. Its name itself is enough to feel the chillness. Its beauty is the main attraction.

But now... we could see something opposite to its nature. It was the next day to FULLMOON day morning 11 am, yet, there was no sunlight but only mist. People in sweaters and mufflers, gossip with one another, inside the forest range. A few of them were tourists. There was a dead body near the misty lake. The police were examining the body. There was confusion on the inspector's face. It seemed a dangerous animal attacked the man but they could not conclude which animal attacked him. The body was taken to the postmortem. The crowd adjourned talking about the murder.

After a few weeks

Beryl College of Arts and Science

The computer professor entered the M.Sc. Computer Science, second-year classroom. Students stood up and wished him,

"Good morning, sir"

"Good morning, students. How was your vacation?"

"Super cool sir..." students said.

"Too hot, sir" a guy said differently.

"Hot in Ooty?" the professor frowned.

"I went to Chennai, Sir"

"Are you mad? Who would go to Chennai in the summer leaving the pleasant climate of Ooty?"

"I went, sir," he said sadly.

"Why did you go to Chennai?"

"To meet my cousins, sir"

"Instead of going to Chennai, why didn't you bring them here?"

"I did that last year, sir and still regretting"

"Why?"

"They are not just my cousins but a troop of monkeys, sir. I'm not ready to take risks this year. So, I got ready to bear the hotness of Chennai..."

"And, you became one among those monkeys?"

The guys grinned and other students laughed.

"I never heard such a bad vacation story" the professor huffed and the class filled with laughter.

That was when the attention of the whole class went to the entrance of the classroom, as the sudden flash of light hit them. There were different expressions on the students' faces. Some frowned, some raised their brows, some opened their mouths and some forgot their existence. A beautiful girl was standing at the entrance asking for the professor's permission to enter.

"Yes...?" the professor asked.

The girl came inside and gave him a paper. Taking it from her hand, the professor read it. The girl ran her eyes on the students who were clearly visible to her due to the stepped seating.

"Wow... how beautiful she is..."

"How fair she is...!"

"Has not she ever gone in the sunlight in her life?"

"Is not she looking thin?"

"How her skin is so shining?"

Students murmured with others about the girl.

The professor folded the paper and looked at the students.

"She is Khushi, a newcomer of your class,"

Students gossiped.

"Sir, this is SECOND year," the same guy who went to Chennai for the vacation said as he thought the professor had forgotten it.

"Nandkishor... I know this is second-year class and she is also second-year Computer Science student. So, you don't have to remind me, ok?"

The girl looked at Nandkishor and smiled. That made Nandkishor delighted.

"Hi..." Nandkishor grinned.

"Hi..." Khushi responded that it made Nandkishor happier.

"Where did you study the first year?" the professor asked.

"I studied in Madras Christian College, Chennai, sir"

The professor looked at Nandkishor and asked,

"Is she your cousin?" he asked because NK went to Chennai for the vacation.

"Sir, I told you my cousins are a troop of monkeys... not DEERS" Nandkishor said looking at Khushi and the student tapped the desks making a cheerful noise.

"What's the reason for you to join second year in Ooty? Why didn't you complete your Masters in Chennai?"

"My Dad got posting in Ooty. I joined masters in Chennai staying with my grandmother. Seven months ago, she passed away. I have no one in Chennai. My Dad was not ready to leave me alone in Chennai. So, he got my admission in this college and brought me to Ooty"

"Her father should long-live for bringing her here," A guy said and the students again tapped the desks.

Khushi smiled at the guy.

"By the way, what's your father?"

Khushi's answer made the class pin drop silent.

"SP"

"You mean, Superintendent of Police?" the professor asked raising his brows.

She nodded yes. The professor looked at the class controlling his laughter.

"What happened, guys? Why do you become quiet?"

"It's because we heard about police third-degree treatment, sir," NK said as if was shivering.

"Yeah, keep it in your minds" the professor laughed.

He looked at Khushi.

"If you are thorough in the first year portions, you won't struggle to catch up second year portions and it will be easy for you...!"

"I was thorough in the first half of the portions sir. I could not concentrate on the second half due to my grandmother's demise..."

"Ohhh... but you can't understand anything if you don't know some first year's chapters. It will carry forward this year."

"May I get last year's notes, sir?"

"Do you guys have last year's notes?" the professor asked the students.

No one opened their mouths. The professor sighed.

"You can get it from your friends IF (he stressed) they have," the professor said looking at the students.

"Sir, don't you know whether we have it or not?" NK asked.

"I know you would not have it..."

The professor looked at a particular girl and asked,

"Do you have it, Vedika?"

"No, sir" Vedika said.

The girl next to Vedika looked at her perplexed. She was Swetha. She asked Vedika whispering,

"Don't you have?"

"I do"

"Then why did you say no?"

"Why should I give it to her? Does she think we will bend in front of her if she is a daughter of SP??" Vedika said irritatingly.

Swetha knew how jealous Vedika was. She was the daughter of a BIG SHOT in Ooty and the second rank holder of the class but won't help anyone. She never shared her thoughts about her studies with anyone.

"She is the second rank holder. If she doesn't have it, no one would have it" the professor said.

"Second rank holder? Means, who is the first rank holder, sir? Can't I get the notes from the student?"

The whole class turned to the last bench where a guy was sitting alone. He slightly raised his head and looked at the new girl who talked about the first rank holder. He again looked at the book in his hand as if he was unrelated to the talks.

"Do one thing, go to the library and refer to the first year portions... that will be a good idea" the professor said.

"What about him? Won't he have?" Khushi asked.

"Even though he has you can't get it from him. He won't give it"

"But why?"

"HE IS LIKE THAT"

Khushi looked at the guy who didn't give heed to their talks.

"May I try?" Khushi asked.

"Waste of time," the professor said.

At the same time, the bell rang. The period was over.

"Thank you, sir," the students said.

"Thank you" the professor walked out.

Khushi rushed behind him.

"Sir, can't you order him to give it to me?"

"No orders can make him obey"

"But why, sir?"

"He is like that. He studies well and finishes all the work on time. He is the college topper. What else do we need? He won't talk to anyone, won't mingle with anyone, doesn't get help from anyone, and won't help anyone. We can't order him because he will obey the order only if it comes to his limit. Giving you notes is purely his wish. How could I order him?"

Khushi sighed.

"Go to the library... you can get many books from many authors" the professor walked off.

Khushi came to the classroom all fed up. She directly went to the guy who didn't look at her. She tapped the desk. He looked at her having no expression on his face.

"Hi... I'm Khushi. Khushi Gupta" she extended her hand towards him for a shake.

He looked at her as if, SO WHAT?

"Can I get your first-year notes?" she asked.

He looked at the book not answering, making Khushi disappointed.

She heard,

"Sss...ssss..."

She looked behind only to find NK signaling. She nodded her head like, WHAT?

He beckoned her. Khushi walked to him.

"Why did you call me? I was asking his notes..."

"He won't give you"

"Why?"

"He is like that... you will never get it from him"

"But why?" she sighed.

"We never have seen him talking to anyone. He won't respond to anyone except professors, that too only if it is related to the subject"

"Would he have the notes?"

"He would... definitely..."

"How are you so sure of it?"

"Last year, he brought his twelfth standard notes for reference. If he can keep his twelfth standard notes safely, why not have last year's notes?"

"If he has the notes, I will definitely get it from him," Khushi said.

"I don't think it will happen"

"It will... I will do it"

"May God bless you," NK said sadly.

"What's his name?"

"Students named him CBM"

"CBM?" she frowned.

"Cold Blood Monster"

Khushi looked at the CBM raising her brows.

"His real name?"

"Arnav Singh Raizada" NK said.

To be continued...