Mission Forensic
Part 3: Elegance in Mekhela Sador
By Milik Ahmed
The air thrummed with anticipation as the long-awaited Department Freshers' Day dawned, a golden afternoon spilling into an evening ripe with promise. The university campus, usually a mosaic of hurried footsteps and murmured lectures, transformed into a vibrant tapestry of laughter and festivity. Strings of fairy lights twinkled like captured stars above the auditorium, and the scent of jasmine and anticipation hung heavy in the air.
Edward, a young man with a penchant for precision and a heart that beat a little faster for adventure, stood before his mirror at precisely 6:00 PM. The party, a grand affair to welcome the new forensic science students, was set to begin in an hour. He adjusted his crisp kurta, the deep indigo fabric catching the light, and ran a hand through his dark hair, taming it into submission. Tonight was not just a celebration; it was a stage, and he intended to play his part well.
The shrill ring of his phone sliced through his thoughts. Tringgg…. Tringggg…. He glanced at the screen—Shawn, his ever-enthusiastic friend whose voice could ignite a room.
"Edward! You ready to steal the show tonight?" Shawn’s voice crackled with excitement, as if the party had already begun in his mind.
Edward grinned, his reflection mirroring the spark in his eyes. "Yeah, Bro! Meet me outside the auditorium in thirty. Don’t be late—you know how you get distracted by shiny things."
After hanging up with Shawn, Edward’s fingers danced across his phone, typing a quick message to Catherine, the enigmatic girl who had a way of making his pulse quicken. Hey! I’ll be at your hostel in 15. Meet me downstairs.
Her reply came almost instantly, a single line that carried her usual blend of warmth and command: Okay! See you there!
Fifteen minutes later, Edward leaned against a lamppost outside Catherine’s hostel, the evening breeze cool against his skin. The hostel loomed above, a hulking structure of red brick and glowing windows, but Catherine was nowhere in sight. He checked his watch, then dialed her number, a playful edge to his voice.
"Where are you? I’ve been standing here for ten minutes, looking like a lost puppy."
"I’m in the elevator, Ed. Give me one minute," Catherine responded, her laugh light and teasing.
"Stop fibbing!" he shot back, grinning despite himself.
"Who started it?" Catherine’s voice was a mock challenge, her tone dancing with mischief.
"Okay, fine. How much longer, Your Highness?"
"Maximum ten minutes. Just wait there," she instructed, and Edward could almost see the imperious tilt of her chin.
She could be as commanding as a general when she wanted, and he was powerless against her charm. He paced a small circle, the gravel crunching under his shoes, until the hostel doors slid open, and the world seemed to pause.
Catherine stepped out, and Edward’s breath caught in his throat. She was a vision in her Mekhela Sador, the traditional Assamese attire draping her like a cascade of moonlight. The silken fabric, woven with intricate golden threads, shimmered as she moved, each step a graceful note in a silent symphony. Her dark hair, loosely braided, framed a face that glowed with an ethereal beauty, as if she had stepped out of a myth, escorted by celestial beings through a garden of stars.
"Wow," Edward finally managed, his voice soft with awe. "You look… absolutely stunning, Catherine. I don’t have the right words to describe it."
She tilted her head, a smile playing on her lips, her eyes catching the light like polished amber. "Thanks, Ed. That’s sweet of you. Didn’t expect this, did you?"
"No way. I mean, I knew you were an angel, but a goddess? That’s a plot twist I didn’t see coming," Edward admitted, a boyish grin breaking through.
"Okay, enough! You’re making me blush. Let’s get to the party before we’re fashionably late," Catherine said, her cheeks flushing a soft pink.
They set off toward the auditorium, the campus alive with the hum of excitement. The path was lined with flowering shrubs, their petals glowing under the soft light of lanterns. Edward stole glances at Catherine as they walked, her presence a quiet anchor amidst the chaos of his thoughts.
As they neared the auditorium, the music grew louder, a pulsing rhythm that promised a night of revelry. Shawn was waiting by the entrance, his lanky frame bouncing with restless energy. He spotted them and waved, his grin wide enough to light the night.
"There you are!" Shawn called, his eyes flicking to Catherine. "Whoa, Catherine, you’re killing it! Ed, you better step up your game, man."
Edward rolled his eyes, but his smile betrayed his amusement. "Let’s just get inside before you start a fan club."
The auditorium was a kaleidoscope of color and sound, students swirling in a sea of traditional attire and modern flair. The forensic science department had outdone itself—banners adorned with crime scene tape motifs hung from the rafters, and a makeshift stage glowed under spotlights. The air was thick with the scent of spiced snacks and the laughter of new friends.
"Sometimes, beauty is a clue, a hint of the mysteries yet to unfold," Catherine said later that night, her words lingering in Edward’s mind.
The night stretched on, filled with music, dance, and the electric buzz of new beginnings. But beneath the surface, Edward sensed a thread of something deeper—a puzzle waiting to be solved, a mission that would test their wits and their hearts.
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