Chapter 28

Part 29 – Holi ke din...

N: No, Manthan, its 3 = 2x + b. You messed up here -
M: (Sigh) Nisha, I'm never going to get this, I'm a hopeless case in math
N: No, you're not!

     Nisha walked over to the black board and wrote the equation and it's proper answer on the board. They had been here for over an hour. It was well beyond evening now. They had been tutoring for a long time now and even though Manthan had pulled his marks up to 70%, Nisha knew he had more capability.

N: Ok, how to solve this?
M: Ummm…You find the parabolic arch and then you find…
N: You got the first part right, Manthan. After that you find?
M: Then you log it?
N: Good, Manthan! See you do get it! Pretty soon you'll be getting higher marks than me!
M: Yeah, I doubt that'll ever happen.
N: See this is your problem; you start every problem saying "I can't". You can, Manthan! You just have to try a little harder! You WILL get it! I know you will.

     Manthan smiled at Nisha. She was such an awesome teacher that it was hard not to love her optimism. She walked over to the board and wrote another question on the board.

N: Ok, last one for today. A challenge question, actually. If you get this then no more tutoring! Professor Mehta told me that you're really improving and she told me that I could stop tutoring you whenever I feel like you're ready. And I feel that if you get this question; you're ready. So, Manthan, how do I solve this?
M: You take the first derivative of ƒ at ? and then you –

Manthan stopped abruptly. If he got this question, there would be no more tutoring which would mean that there would be no more after school time with Nisha. She was looking at him with eager eyes awaiting the answer. She had worked so hard in improving his marks and she had taught him so well that he couldn't stand to see her eager eyes become disappointed eyes. But at the same time, he didn't want to lose the chance of seeing Nisha every week and sitting with her for hours with nobody around him except them. What should I do, he thought to himself. A perfect idea struck him to change the topic without Nisha realizing it.

M: Nisha…Um I forgot my quadratic calculator in my locker. I can't solve this without it. I'll just run and get it ok?
N: Oh, it's ok you can use mine –

     But it was too late; Manthan was already running towards his locker. Once he got to his locker, he pulled out a small pouch. He looked around him, nobody was watching him. Good, he thought to himself. He rushed back to the math room and knocked the door. He waited by the side of the door so Nisha wouldn't see him there. He wanted this to be a huge surprise for her. Suddenly the door opened. Manthan rushed forward and threw a handful of holi colours at the person. He was shocked to find Professor Mehta instead of Nisha there.

Prof.: Mr. Manthan Virani! What kind of a prank is this?
M: No, ma'am, I'm sorry –
Prof: Oh you better be!
M: No, I mean, I was going –
Prof: Going? Oh, you aren't going anywhere, Mr. Virani! You are coming with me to the principal's office! Right now!
M: But ma'am –
Prof.: I'm not listening! You can say whatever you want to at the dean's office!
M: Ma'am, just listen!
Prof: Don't tell me what to do!! I'm the professor –

     Now she was really angry. Nisha was silently watching, realizing what had happened. Manthan wanted to wish her happy holi. He probably wanted to surprise her and he probably thought that she would open the door. But unfortunately, he was unaware of the fact that Professor Mehta had come there in his absence. She felt so bad for him. She also felt partially responsible for it. She had to help Manthan out somehow.

N: Professor!
Prof: Yes, Nisha?
N: Ma'am, Manthan just wanted to wish me Happy Holi, he thought you were me. It's really not his fault, ma'am. Please forget him…

     Professor Mehta looked from Manthan to Nisha and then back again. This couldn't possibly be a prank could it? Nisha was her favourite student – her academic record was impeccable and she was doubtlessly the nicest student who never spoke against any teachers or elders. She sighed at them.

Prof: Very well, Mr. Virani. You are left only with a warning this time but I see that you are using you're tutoring time unwisely so I will have to ask you to arrange your own tutoring time.
M: Oh that's fine by me! Nisha can come over to SN everyday!
N: Wait – what? No, ma'am, remember you said that Manthan is free of tutoring now?
Prof: Yes, that was then, this is now. I see that he isn't using his tutoring time effectively so Manthan – I'm sorry I cannot let you waste my student's time under my supervision.

     She walked off briskly shaking off the red holi colours on her shirt. Manthan grinned at himself. He wasn't going to give up the tutoring lessons so easily.

M: So, you can come over to my place now, right?
N: No, Manthan, your house if far and I need the bus fare and –
M: Phir se bus? I told you, you're not going to travel by bus anymore! After school, you come straight home with me, ok?
N: But what about Isha?
M: Tust me, she won't be unhappy if she's getting more time to spend with Eklavya. So you're coming then?
N: I guess
M: Great! Ok, I'll drop you home, come on.

     Nisha got her things and headed for the door. Then stopped abruptly. She picked up the pouch that Manthan had placed on a chair.

N: Manthan?
M: Yeah?

     She threw a handful of colours at his white shirt, giggling.

N: Holi hai!

     Before Manthan could realize what had just happened, she ran off laughing. She had used his plan on him! Manthan grabbed his things and ran off behind her…It was only after school right now…He had plenty of time to get revenge on Nisha for throwing rang at him. Plus, he was secretly taking her to SN and then he'd have all his cousins playing holi already. He saw Nisha was on the bike already, smiling her I-didn't-do-anything smile. He smiled back at her and grabbed her hands and put them on his shoulders as he sat down.

N: kya hua, Manthan?
M: Hold on tight, we have to get to SN in 5 minutes.
N: 5 minutes? Shantineketan?
M: Yeah, we're having a holi party…and you're coming!
N: But Manthan, Isha – Ahhhhhh!

     She never got to finish the rest of her sentence because Manthan drove faster than ever on his bike to get home within five minutes.


                   Pooja