CHAPTER 1

 While solving an advanced level quant question, after almost an hour and a half, I decided to give up. I took out my phone and looked at its screen. Among so many notifications and unread messages, what most intrigued me was the date, Feb 2 2020.

"It's just a month and a half left for my exams. So many topics to cover and such a little time." I strained. And that strain made me close the cap of my pen, put it in pages of my notebook and asked me to get off my seat to take a break for 15 mins. I have heard that taking out little moments of joy from your hectic life actually lead to some hike in your productivity. I don't know how much of it is true but, here I am, back again on the same terrace of the library, I study in. It's going to be hard to swallow, but, my little escape from the hectic schedule is the noise of the world. Yes, the noise which generally irritates people, gives me peace.

"Tonight?" I heard a guy talking on the phone. It was a new voice. For people who don't know me, I remember each and every sound I hear. It's my weird thing. I sometimes may not identify someone by the face, but I will never fail to recognize them by their voice. It's absurd, I know. So getting back to that voice, I sensed an unusual combination of fear and frustration from it. I turned to see the face. And there was a boy with slightly fair skin and very dense curly hairs (my weakness). He had a little bit plumped face and an average stature, the eyes with light brown colour, large, attractive, fixed or slow, and almost hypnotic. His voluptuous lips were barely moving while he was talking. The whole physique gave an impression that was somehow misty, mysterious, benevolent and quiet. His outward appearance was nearly impossible to classify, similarly to his personality, which remained totally elusive for me!

"Okay fine. As you wish." He said in a very frustrated tone, cut the call and went inside the library. And all of this literally happened in just 5 seconds. 

"Something certainly bad must have happened," I said to myself and decided to end the break I just took. I unlocked the door to get into the library and left it open as always, it is a habit that I am really ashamed of. 

"Can you please close the door for once at least?" It was the same voice and the same frustration in the tone. 

"I am sorry. I'll just close it." I replied, most sweetly and politely I could be. I actually wanted to say, 'I am sorry I heard your conversation on the calls and don't worry, everything will be fine.' But I chose to just close the door and disappear. It's been 3 hours since then. I am still thinking about the boy with a deep and bold angry-frustrated voice, I don't know his name so, it's going to be his identity for a little long time. I checked my phone. It was 8 PM. "Oh, God I need to rush, I have got a date tonight," I exclaimed to myself again and started packing my backpack. The moment I packed my bag, I twirled it on my shoulder and left for his seat. I don't know why, but I craved to see him once again. I wanted to call off my date, and sit in front of him, listen to his story calmly and help him out in the best way I could. But alas! the place was empty, like our world. 

I left the library, walked down to my hostel and immediately started to get ready. I chose a simple red top. And then I picked black jeans to pair the top with. A pair of black block heels and a high ponytail, nude makeup and the look was complete. It was 9:05, and I was at the cafe we were supposed to meet. Always 5 minutes late, it's my thing. I saw my date sitting on a chair. I joined him. After some shitty hi hello conversation, we ordered some food, and the shitty conversations went on again. I could barely remember what he was talking about. As all I was thinking about then was my library guy, the guy with the deep-frustrated voice, the guy with light brown eyes.