I was practicing badminton in the sports complex of our college with a senior, thinking about how I'd return the amount to Melvin. There was about a week left for the Freshers event. Ugh! Why is life tough I wondered. Of course, it would seem tough to a teenager 🤕

Just when I was about to leave, I noticed Ferb fighting with a guy. I quickly walked upto him and asked him to come with me. He refused at first but then, agreed. We walked towards the parking area and he was furious. I was repeatedly asking him what happened but seemed like he first wanted to calm down. He took out a cigarette and lit it. “It was Ralph. I found out that he has been texting several girls from our batch and asked him not to. To that he started arguing with me…asked me who am I to stop him from doing what he wanted…I just wanted to punch his face! How could a person text people like that without their consent?” Ferb told. I agreed with him. 

I and Ferb walked into the hospital cafeteria to pick up something to eat on our way home as he told he'd drop me home on his way. While he was ordering, he got into a fight with Nia, a girl from our batch. What is wrong with this guy today I wondered! I walked to him and apologized to Nia on Ferb's behalf. They were fighting over who would get to order first 🤦🏻‍♀️

That evening, at home, my grandpa was fighting with my grandma over something that happened about 20 years back! Oh god! Why is everyone fighting today?

I checked my phone notifications and found out a new post and lots of comments on the college facebook group. Greaaaat! There were pictures of Ferb and Ralph fighting and the comments said that how Ferb stops fighting only when I ask him to and the link up started. SERIOUSLY? This is insane! 

Suzie called me up asking why I didnt tell her that I was dating Ferb. I got furious and hung up, switched off my phone and slept right away…the escape route.

The next day, I didnt want to attend any lectures so I walked in for some part time job interviews and got selected at none of them. Great!

I went home and cried an ocean! I didnt feel good about anything. I recieved a text from a cafe that read, “You are selected for the billing job at our cafe. Please report at 4 p.m. tomorrow and meet the manager for further details” I was glad!

I went to the cafe next day, spoke to the manager and started working there the same day. The pay offered was way low than what I expected but something is better than no gain.

The next day, Ferb called me asking why I haven't been attending the classes since the past 2 days. I told I wasn't doing well these days and would join back after the Freshers event is over. “No way! You can't be doing this to me. I needed a partner for the party and you better show up or else I will never talk to you again!” He said and hung up. I didn't want to attend the event as I felt like a misfit among everyone. It seemed to me like everyone had a lavish lifestyle except me. Everyone had a good pocket money to spend, a car and a driver who would pick and drop them, wore the best clothes etc. Well, I was jealous maybe!

While I was wondering about the ways to escape the party and handle Ferb's tantrums, I saw Melvin and his friend, Andy enter the cafe. Noooo no he shouldn't see me here! But before I could think of an escape, he walked towards the counter to order, looked at me, laughed at my face and said “So, are you this poor to make a living out of a part time job?” Ugh! So rude and mannerless. I chose to ignore. What else could I do? I might lose my job. Andy asked him to behave and they placed an order and sat at the table right in front of me. Melvin kept staring at me and laughed for, god knows, what reason. He probably was making fun of me.

Before they left, he came up to me, gave some cash, laughed at me again and said “Keep this tip. You need it. And don't you worry, I won't tell about your job to anyone.” Little does he know, I was working part-time  only to pay back the amount he paid for my gown.