21 Confinemen

We went to the office of the university to check us in. Apparently, I was looking for a higher degree in mathematics, and Mad was accompanying me. We talked to the clerk for some time before walking towards Professor Habib's office. Mad said the clerk recognized her and thus we were able to talk to Habib before the Head of Department.

We entered an empty office, consisting of a glass table, one chair on either side, and a couch in a corner. There were cupboards and shelves all around the room, filled up to the brim with different kinds of paperwork. The one directly behind her had files and loose papers. The one on my left had bulky books neatly stacked. The one behind me was filled with different kinds of comics.

I pointed towards the shelf behind me and asked Mad," What's the deal with this?"

Mad threw herself on the couch while she looked at me. She squinted her eyes, trying to remember what kind of literature I was pointing at.

"Oh that, she picked up that habit when she went to America for the first time." Mad filled me in.

I started browsing her collection.

"Does a professor as busy as her have time indulging in fictional worlds?"

"She finds a way to inhabit her habits in her daily routine. Trust me, I know." Madonna spoke the last part with barely any strength in her words. But I was able to catch on.

I gulped, trying to dissolve the uneasiness I was feeling deep in me.

I ran my fingers on the eight-step shelf. It was filled from top to bottom with American comics. Some Marvel, some DC. I paused when a certain book caught my eye.

'The Killing Joke.'

Sounds haunting, I thought to myself.

I crouched and realized I was wrong. It wasn't just American comics. The bottom three shelves consisted of manga.

This was one interesting individual.

I stood up and scanned the room once again before sitting in one of the chairs. I looked at Mad. She was sitting tiringly. The fatigue was not going anywhere any time soon.

"Mad, do you want some water? Some painkillers?"

"No, thank you." She replied.

"So, should I know something before we talk to the Professor." I diverted the topic.

"Only that she is a fox. If possible, keep your ears open at all times. She has a way with words. And when I say that, I mean that. If Priscilla was a brute who only relied on her strength and power, she is that as well as a master manipulator. Her sugary words are rarely one note." Mad adjusted herself on the couch before continuing, " you may think you can take her on, but you can't. I got trapped into her plans once. I am not going into that abyss. Remember Kyo, we have an objective. I am going to apologize to her and ask her to attend a party."

"Why would we do that?" I inquired.

"Because Priscilla didn't do what she was supposed to. Thus, we have to listen to one of her tantrums for a little while longer."

"What exactly does that mean? What did she want from the Professor?"

Mad hung her head low and said," Not just Habib, she wants me to contact everybody. Everybody that consists of my past."

"What will she gain from this?" I was confused.

Madonna was getting pissed. "I don't know Kyo. Maybe she'll throw a slumber party to all the 'Madonna Rejects'. Who cares?"

"Babe, I was just asking." I said dryly.

Madonna huffed and puffed for a moment while she scanned the room for a clock. She noticed one behind me and said," It's almost time."

I closed my eyes and recalled all the things Mad told me about the Professor.

Don't fall for her trap. Don't overstay your welcome. Don't reveal anything more than what was required.

We heard chatter behind the office's door. I wasn't able to understand the conversation, but Madonna was listening to it with prying ears. The words were hitting my eardrums, but I was looking at Mad's face for her reactions. The wrinkles on her forehead were that of irritation. I guess she wasn't all to happy about our inability to listen to whole conversation.

In the middle of the conversation, I heard someone letting out a loud 'Huh'. I looked at Mad's face, and I knew something was up. Mad's eyes were bulging. Her expressions were aligning more towards being scared than annoying.

She dashed towards me and whispered in my ear. Seconds later a woman in all white hijab entered the room. she set her eyes on one woman bent over while in a chair and another one sitting near the chair on her knees.

"Well, I seem to have missed the interesting part of the demonstration. But I prefer all of us sitting on equal levels before we can start our conversation."

"Yes sure." Madonna said as she struggled to stand up. I let go of my knees and stood up to lend her a hand. I grabbed one side of her arm and Professor held another side of Mad and we put her back on the couch.

"Ah, seems like you have injured your legs. How did that happen, 1.6?"

Mad shot her a look with her sharp eyes and demanded not to be called that. Professor smiled softly at her and walked across the table towards her chair. She sat and signaled me to do the same. While I sat down, she opened one of her drawers in her table and took out a lunch box.

"Would you ladies care for some food?" she asked.

"Actually, we came here for something else."

She opened her lunch box and the aroma from her biryani filled the room.

"What can I indulge you ladies with?"

"Habib, I am here to apologize for the past. Whatever I did to you, and every part of me you detested. I can't take that back from you, but I am more than willing to do whatever you like. All I am here for is your forgiveness and one last request." Madonna spoke.

"I wont lie. I am intrigued. But there is one thing that doesn't settle with me. Have I met you before?" Habib pointed her gaze towards me and asked the question.

"No, I don't think so. I have lived in this town previously, but it was some time ago. Even so, I never came in this area." I hoped I satisfied her curiosity.

"Hmm. when I woke up in the morning, I didn't believe my day would be going on this path. I guess the world is a small place. Isn't that right, Madonna? But you came into my office on the base of a lie. I don't think I am comfortable with that. However, I know of a perfect venue where we can meet later in this day. We can have dinner, and talk about this matter at hand for as long as you'd like. It will also give me enough time to think more about this situation."

She looked at Madonna before saying," I mean, it's not everyday you come across your past, now is it?"

She dug her spoon in the lunch, scooped up the rice and brought up to her lips. She looked at us and questioned our presence in her office. Mad stood up and touched my shoulder. It was my signal to stand up.

Mad flung open the office's door and said,"Be aware if…"

"…you're unfair." Habib completed the phrase Madonna started.

"I hope you do a right thing this time, A1."

Following that, we left the room.