Chapter 17

Conference room-

Dono bosses nahi hai. din ka case solve ho gaya sab paperwork kar rahe hai aur Riya? Riya papers correct kar rahi hai. Achanak..

Riya: No Dammit!!! Ribosome protein nahi hai! woh protein ko create karta hai…Mumma!! Woh table par sar rakh kar rone lagti hai. baakhi sab haste hai.

Ayesha: shaant ho jao Riya….bache hai

Riya(exasperated): They’re 15!!! Ye Chapter Pichle Saal Ke Chapter Ka Revision Hai Aur….(Dusra Paper Dikha Kar) Ye Dekho, RNA Ke Bajay Sab Jagah DNA Aur DNA Ke Bajay Sab Jagah RNA Daal Kar Rakha Hai, Aur Isme (Teesra Dikha Kar) Longest Bone Femur Ke Bajay Fever Likha Hai!!!

Liza scandalize ho jaati hai: KYAA?!!?!?

Woh immediately uske haath se papers lekar padhne lagti hai.

Liza: how stupid can they get? Ye Biology Ka Khule Aam Qatal Hai

Riya: haina? Aur pata hai ek mein na, anaerobic respiration ke example mein human likha hai

Liza: Bullshit!

Riya: wahi toh!! Insaan kab se bina oxygen ke respire karne lage? Ye log textbook ko padhte bhi hai ya fir aise hi haath hila kar exam likhne aa jaate hai mere samaj mein nahi aata hai.

Tabhi Arjun aur Rathore enter karte hai.

Liza: sir!! hume isi waqt arrest warrants nikalne hai

Rathore(confused): kya? Kyun?

Liza: ek khoon hua hai

Arjun: kiska?

Liza: mere subject ka

Rathore(irritated): kya bol rahi ho Liza?

Ayesha: are kuch nahi hua, Riya papers correct kar rahi thi aur woh aur Liza answers dekh kar paagal ho rahe hai

Arjun: kyun aisa kya likha hai jo tum dono itna hyper ho rahi ho

Riya: should I answer chronologically or alphabetically?

Arjun sigh karta hai. woh Riya ke paas jaata hai aur papers side par rakhkar, uski pen band karta hai.

Riya: are aap kya kar rahe hai? mujhe….

Arjun chup chap bina jawab diye uska haath pakad kar, sabko shock karte hue use office ke baahar le jaata hai.

Riya: are sir mere papers, mujhe correct karne hai….aap kaha le jaa rahe hai mujhe?

Par Arjun uski ek nahi sunta aur use gaadi mein bitha kar le jaata hai. Dusri taraf, Rathore uske attitude ko dekhkar disbelief mein sar hilata hai.

Rathore: chalo baakhi ka kaam kal kar lena.

Sab khushi-khushi pack up karte hai sivay ek ke. Ayesha Rathore ke saath chali jaati hai.

Liza: Sakshi, kin khayalon mein khoyi hai?

Sakshi: ye Arjun Riya ko lekar aise kyun chala gaya?

Shree: Sakshi tu kyun undono ke peeche padi hai? le gaye toh le gaye, tumhe isse kya?

Sakshi irritate hoti hai: tumhe kya problem hai? jab dekho tab us Riya ki tarafdaari karne aa jaate ho. Chakkar kya hai? abhi ek mahina mushkil se hua hai use aaye hue aur tum meri side lene ke bajay uski side lete rehte ho. Kahi tum dono bhi toh …

Shree aur Liza dono ko gussa aata hai.

Liza: Enough Yaar! Kya Kuch Bhi Bole Jaa Rahi Hai? Aur Frankly Speaking Sakshi, Is Office Mein Tumhare Ilawa Kisi Ko Bhi Riya Se Problem Nahi Hai. Woh Achi Hai Ye Baat Tum Digest Kyun Nahi Kar Paati Ho? Woh Arjun Sir Se Close Hai Ye Baat Hum Sabko Dikhayi De Deti Hai, Aur Usse Bhi Tumhare Ilawa Aur Kisi Ko Koi Problem Nahi Hai!!!

Shree: Aur Rahi Baat Hum Dono Ki Toh Woh Bhi Meri Dost Hai Jaise Ki Tu Hai. Ek Ladki Hokar Bhi Tum Uske Character Par Sawaal Utha Rahi Ho? Just Because, Woh Sabse Khul Kar Baat Karti Hai? Tum Nahi Karti Kya? Tum Toh Rathore Sir Ke Saath Bhi Usi Tarah Baat Karti Ho, Atleast Usme Itni Toh Respect Hai Apne Senior Ke Liye Ki Use Ye Pata Ho Ki Professional Setting Mein Kisse Kya Baat Karni Chahiye.

Sakshi dono ko glare karti hai.

Liza use shaanti se explain karne ki koshish karti hai: dekh Sakshi hum tumhare dushman nahi hai, dost hai tu humari, lekin yaha tu galat hai aur tu jitna jaldi is baat ko accept kar le yahi tere liye acha hai….Chal Specky

Shree aur Liza bhi chale jaate hai. Chotu is sab ka silent spectator hai. woh Shree aur Liza ke peeche chala jaata hai.

Parking mein-

Shree: waise Lizard ek baat bata tu kyun itna bhadak gayi? Jab Sakshi ne bola ki main aur Riya…

Liza use glare karti hai: kyunki tum apne laptop ke ilawa aur kisi ki taraf aankh utha kar nahi dekhte

Shree: toh bol, kiski taraf aankh utha kar dekhu?

Liza mutter karti hai: meri taraf dekh lo wahi kaafi hai

Shree sun leta hai par fir bhi use chedta hai: kya? Kya kaha tumne? Kiski taraf?

Liza: shut up and get lost!!

Liza storms off par Shree uske peeche pagal ki tarah smile kar raha hai. uske pair peeche chalne lagte hai aur woh Chotu se takra jaata hai.

Shree: ayi!!!

Chotu: abe oye! Kaunsi dhun mein chal raha hai aur woh bhi ulti disha mein?

Shree(uske kandhe par haath rakhkar): are yaar mere Bheem! Tu nahi samjhega rehne de, chal ghar jaate hai.

On the other hand-

Riya is ranting on and on about the papers and about why Arjun just dragged her away but Arjun continued to drive silently not stopping before his destination.

Riya: Dammit Sir! kuch toh boliye main kabse….

Arjun looked at her, she was still not ready to shut up. He quickly glanced around, making sure that no one else was in the parking he pulled her to him shocking her.

Riya: Ar…

Arjun: chup! Bilcul chup! Kitna bak-bak kar rahi ho yaar? (Riya’s breath got caught in her throat being so close to him) mujhe pata hai kal papers dene hai, mere bhi baakhi hai. tumhari battery down ho gayi. Agar aise kaam karti rahogi toh dimag aur correction dono kharaab ho jaayega. pehle khaana khaate hai uske baad waapis office chale jaayenge okay?

Riya could do nothing but nod positively.

Arjun: good!

He let go of her and unfastened his seatbelt. Before getting out of the car. Riya followed suit still a little shocked at what had transpired and flushed a little. She smiled seeing her favourite restaurant and held his hand as they walked inside

Two more days passed in the snap of one’s fingers. It was the day of the PTA meeting. Arjun and Riya both were on their complete guard. Arjun had specifically warned her as she being the class teacher would be handling Jasmine’s parent or guardian or whoever turned up.

Riya was sitting in her seat. The benches were occupied with a few students and their parents. She was talking to the one sitting in front of her but from the corner of her eyes, her gaze was stuck at the door hoping they could get some significant clue.

Finally, Jasmine arrived but not with Pathan. A man in his 40’s walked beside her. Riya felt internally disappointed but carried on. Soon it was Jasmine’s turn. As soon as Riya saw the man from the short distance she instantly recognised him. She knew any wrong move and the case would bungle up forever. She maintained her composure and greeted him.

Riya: good morning, please have a seat…Mr Naved, correct?

Jasmine’s face fell a little which did not go unnoticed by Riya.

The Man looked at her with keen interest and smiled : I’m afraid Naved couldn’t make it, I’m Ravi Deshmukh….Jasmine’s guardian Miss…?

Jasmine answered cheerfully before Riya did: Shivangi Miss!!

Riya passed a warm smile at her as Ravi nodded.

Ravi’s attention was only on the beauty in front of him: I hope Jasmine padhayi kar rahi hai

Riya: oh yes, she’s a bright student…

Riya noticed what was happening but talked to him formally and informed him about Jasmine’s progress in the academic year.

Arjun on the other hand was desperately waiting in the staff room. He stood and walked to the window to calm himself. He closed his eyes waiting in anticipation.

Sahil: Atharv (Arjun turned) ye circular aaya hai principal ke office se, ise padh kar sign kar do.

Arjun went forward and took the circular: ye kya? Kal school nahi hai?

Sahil: kal se nahi parso se Diwali vacation shuru ho rahe hai.

Arjun: lekin yaha toh likha hai ki kal Diwali party hai, toh school toh nahi hogi na?

Sahil: dikhao (woh paper lekar padhta hai) are nahi Atharv, dhyaan nahi gaya mera. Party 12 se 2 hoti hai, ye log print karna bhul gaye hai. school toh normal time par hi hai

Arjun: toh..vacation mein bache hostel mein rehte hai ya fir ghar jaane ki permission milti hai

Sahil: waise toh sab ghar chale jaate hai lekin hostel khuli hoti hai, agar kisi reason se student ghar nahi jaa sakta ya fir kayi baar higher std ke bache chote vacations mein ghar nahi jaate, padhayi ke liye hostel mein hi rehte hai (haste hue) par padhayi kitni karte hai ye bhagwan hi jaane.

Arjun nods and signs the circular. As he glanced at it again he realised Riya hadn’t signed it. Taking the excuse he left the staff room and went to Riya’s class. He saw Jasmine sitting opposite her with a man who was not Pathan. He maintained his calm, and entered the class.

Arjun: Shivangi

Riya looked in his direction: Atharv? (looking at Deshmukh) excuse me.

Deshmukh: sure.

Riya stood up and walked to him: kya hua?

Arjun: sign,

Riya took the paper and read it

Arjun whispered: Shivangi ke naam se sign karna Riya nahi, kaun hai?

Riya whispered back as she answered: guardian, story hai baad mein batati hun

Shivangi: thank you Atharv

Arjun nodded and left. Riya quickly wrapped up the day. Arjun left early and waited for Riya in their usual place. He waited impatiently. Riya came sprinting with files in her hands.

Riya: hi! Sorry, Aarti ne atka diya tha

Arjun: koi baat nahi woh admi?

Riya: woh admi Jasmine ka guardian hai, usne apna naam Ravi Deshmukh bataya tha par…

Arjun: par kya?

Riya: par main jaanti hun use

Arjun(shocked): USNE TUMHE PEHCHAAN LIYA?!?!.......................................