"Who are you" Sr Lisa asked.
"What are you doing here?" Naila rushed towards Luke who walked into the room.
"Why have you let them treat you like? What's up with all the allegations. I heard everything," Luke kept talking. "This is not..." but Naila stopped him. "Luke you should not be here," she warned him.
"Who is he Naila?" Natalie asked.
"Ma'am, can you give me a minute?" Naila started sweating.
"I'm here husband. Happy? Here's my number. Try. Call, start complaining. You can restrict her to a limit. Ok I understand, sneaking out of the dorm is dangerous. Fine.. I get it... but treating an adult like she has committed a grave sin, that's not right. That's not what we expected from this institution. She is here because she wanted to be independent but not abused," Luke gave a whole lecture.
Naila's jaw dropped. Natalie was stunned too. Sr Lisa did not find any words to reply him. "Why should she seek permission from you all to meet me?" Luke sounded angry.
"Luke, stop," Naila touched his hands. Luke looked at her.
"How could they?" He asked her.
"Stop," she said again.
"If your husband is here, why are you living in the door?" Sr Lisa finally asked. "Vacate it, leave," she ordered.
"Fine," Luke agreed.
"That would be better," Natalie agreed too.
"I cannot," Naila finally said, louder than she intended to.
"Why?" All three in the room asked her in the same tone.
"Because I'm getting divorced," Naila said. Though a truth in real, she had to use it as excuse in the fake scenario.
"He sounds really supportive. Why are you making such a decision. Whatever it is, go home, live together and deal with it," Sr Lisa said.
"I cannot," Naila said again. "I have my reasons," she did not want to give.
"Is he abusive?" Natalie asked.
"What?" Naila asked. She then looked at Luke. "No, no, he is not, but," Naila could not complete tue sentence.
"Leave. We don't want you to live here. I don't want to split a family. I will ask our counseling office to book session for you both. You may take few sessions and learn what needs to be done," Sr Lisa said.
"No, sister please," Naila was ignored but.
"Leave, leave, pack your bags," Naila was asked to return.
"He doesn't live here," Naila kept coming up with excuses.
"I can," he said. "Home is where you are," Luke added interesting words.
"Luke, stop," Naila turned around, looking serious.
"Ok, ok," he said and remained silent.
"We have nothing else to discuss. You could have just said you were with your husband, instead of causing all this trouble," Sr Lisa said and left. "Young couples these days, don't value their numbered days together. You never know what happens tomorrow. May God lead you both to light and heaven," she blessed and left with Natalie behind her.
Naila closed her eye and buried her face in her hand. "Luke why?" Naila asked.
"They were attacking you, it could have gone out if the hand," he replied.
"So you took it in your hands?" Naila asked.
"I heard what happened yesterday. I was there. They were accusing you, making it look like a crime. I could not just let it pass," he explained.
"I was planning to tell them the truth. It would have been easier in the long run. But with what has happened, I escaped for now. But this is going to create more troubles when they find out we lied," Naila explained.
"Don't worry, things won't go that far," he consoled her. "Now go pack you bags, let's go home," he told her.
"Which Home? I'm not going anywhere," she replied.
"You don't have a choice now," he reminded her.
"Luke," Naila sounded really confused and upset.
"I don't think I will be allowed inside the dorm to help you pack up, I will wait at the parking. Take your time," he said, patted her shoulder, smiled at her, and left.
Naila took a deep breath and walked to her room. She packed all her clothes, she packed her books, teaching materials, learning aid, and all her other belonging. She had three trolleys and another carton. She looked around the room. "Unbelievable. So Unbelievable," she was extremely frustrated. It have her an excruciating headache. Naila kept taking deep breaths and asked two maids for hand ti carry the bags. She did not wish to take multiple trips.
With them, Naila walked toward the guest parking lot. The moment her eyes fell on Luke, she stopped for half a second.
There he was.
He was leaning against his car, dressed in a maroon T-shirt beneath a black leather jacket and a pair of black jeans. Somehow, he managed to look even more striking than she remembered an hour back. Silver rings adorned both his index fingers, catching the light whenever he moved. His silver hair was neatly styled, with just enough effortlessness to make him look like someone who belonged on a magazine cover.
Naila quickly looked away, annoyed at herself for noticing every little detail.
Luke seemed to care about his appearance, that much was obvious. Everything about him from his clothes to his hair to the subtle accessories looked carefully put together without appearing forced.
He was on a call, one hand resting casually on his thigh while the other held his phone to his ear. His expression was serious, his attention completely absorbed in whatever conversation he was having.
Naila found herself watching him for a moment longer than she should have.
Then, as if sensing her gaze, Luke suddenly looked up.
Their eyes met.
And just like that, Naila forgot what she had been thinking.
"Ahem," Naila cleared her throat some seconds later as she approached him.
"I will call you back later," Luke hung up and turned around. "Naila, that was quick."
"Did not have much to pack anyway," she said. She sounded tensed.
"Good," he said and opened the trunk.
"Thank you," Naila thanked the maids and tipped them. And they happily left these two alone.
Naila and Luke filled the trunk and one trolley was left. Luke then kept it inside the car.
"Let's go," he said.
"Luke," Naila called him.
"Yes," Luke turned around.
"Luke I don't know," Naila stuttered. "Drop me somewhere, some inn, hostel, or something," she finally let it out. Luke looked confused.
"And why would I do that? " He asked her.
"What do you mean? That's the right thing to do," Naila reminded him.
"No, if so, I wouldn't have come here today," Luke said strongly.
"What?" Naila did not understand.
"I'm sure this Sister Lisa would check whether we are together or not," Luke just covered up.
"Luke," Naila was not prepared.
Their eyes met. He looked confident while she felt the earth shattering under her feet.