Before turning to leave, Kabir looked at Piya, his tone dropping into a warm, sincere quiet.
“By the way, I’m not that bad, do you think? And I’m just saying the truth… you’re really beautiful.”
Piya felt a faint blush touch her cheeks and rolled her eyes with a shy laugh.
“Oh, please, Kabir… Anyway, it’s very late and the weather is getting worse. You should get going.”
“Ahh, okay… bye-bye,” Kabir said, stepping back toward his car.
“Good night, sweet dreams,” she called back softly.
“See you tomorrow in college.”
Suddenly, a harsh light flickered from the hostel entrance.
The heavy wooden doors creaked open, and out stepped the hostel warden.
She looked formidable—arms tightly crossed, wearing sharp black-framed glasses, her expression radiating absolute disapproval.
“What is this, Piya?” the warden barked, her voice slicing through the cold night air.
Piya froze, a jolt of panic striking her chest.
“Actually, Ma’am…”
“What ‘actually’?” the warden interrupted sternly.
“It is one in the morning, and you are standing outside the hostel with a boy!”
“Ma’am, Kabir is just—” Piya tried to explain, her voice trembling.
The warden’s stern expression softened just a fraction, though her posture remained rigid.
“Piya, please. I know he is your friend, and I am not questioning your character. But rules are rules, and everyone in this hostel has to follow them. Since you are new here, I am letting you off with a warning. This is my first and last warning. Understood?”
Piya lowered her head, taking a deep breath.
“Okay, Ma’am. I will always remember this.”
“Good. Now, come inside.”
Piya slowly followed, but stopped at the threshold to look back over her shoulder.
Kabir was sitting in the driver’s seat, watching her attentively through the open window.
Piya subtly signed with her hand for him to drive away first, but Kabir quickly shook his head, signing back—”No, you go inside first, then I’ll leave.”
A tiny smile played on Piya’s lips.
“Okay…” she mouthed, finally stepping past the heavy oak doors.
Only after the hostel doors clicked firmly shut did Kabir turn his key in the ignition.
The engine purred to life, and he pulled out into the misty, empty road, leaving the imposing building behind.
Piya hesitated, her hand hovering over the doorknob of her room.
The dimly lit corridor felt unnaturally cold, the shadows stretching long against the peeling walls.
“What happened, Ma’am?” Piya asked, her voice trembling slightly from the sheer exhaustion of the night.
“Come. I will tell you,” the warden replied, her usually booming voice reduced to a low, serious murmur.
Inside the cramped, dimly lit cabin, the warden shut the door firmly, blocking out the chill of the hallway.
She pointed to a rigid wooden chair opposite her desk.
“Sit, Piya.”
As Piya slowly sat down, she noticed the warden’s strict, hardened features softening into something entirely unexpected—nostalgia, and a hint of grief.
“I am talking about Misha,” the warden began, taking off her black-framed glasses.
“What?” Piya blinked, instantly on edge, preparing to defend the girl who had nearly fought for her just an hour ago.
“Piya…” The warden sighed heavily, resting her hands on the worn desk.
“I know about your mother. She was my classmate. And she was my best friend.”
Piya’s heart skipped a beat, her breath hitching in her throat.
“Before I read your admission documents, I didn’t know,” the warden continued gently.
“But when I saw your mother’s name and picture, I understood immediately. You are just like her. You are a good girl, Piya, and very sharp-minded.”
Suddenly, the warden leaned forward, the maternal warmth in her voice shifting into a rigid, practical coldness.
“But please… stay away from girls like Misha.”
“They are rich, Piya,” the warden warned, her voice thick with absolute certainty.
“They have their fathers’ money. Girls like Misha study just for a time-pass; they have no real consequences. But you have no financial support. You study to make your future bright, and you came here through sheer hard work—not by a massive donation like Misha. Don’t let her reckless world destroy yours.”
Piya sat completely frozen, staring at the scarred wood of the desk as the weight of the night finally crushed her.
“Piya, please don’t misunderstand me,” the warden said softly, her stern facade completely melting away.
“I am just telling you the harsh truth. And please… also stay away from boys like Kabir. They are just playboys, nothing else. They play with emotions and move on.”
She stood up slowly, stepping around the large wooden desk.
Taking a deep breath, she looked down at Piya with genuine concern in her eyes.
“Piya, you are like my daughter. I am only telling you all this for your own benefit. If you understand it with time, it will be so much better for you. But in the end, it is your choice. Now, you should go get some rest.”
”Thank you, Ma’am,” Piyawhispered, taking a slow step back toward the door.
“Good night.”
She quietly exited the cabin andstepped into the dim, empty hallway.
The silence of the hostel felt unusually heavy tonight.
As she walked toward her room, the warden’s warning echoed in her ears—competing with the memory of Kabir’s gentle smile, Misha’s fierce protection.