CHAPTER 3

Author's Note: Hello! I am back with the 3rd chapter. So enjoy everyone! Don't forget to review!!

"Interesting, very interesting", spoke prof Vardhan in his normal monotone, "First u have crossed the time limit given and now you have the audacity to come barging into my office accusing a fellow competitor of theft? Mr. Randhir, what do you think of yourself?"

"But sir, I was late to begin with because my prototype got stolen. I searched for it everywhere but to no avail", justified Randhir.

"Shut up, just shut up", yelled Vardhan. His face showed disgust, anger etched in its every lining. "Each one of u was assigned to a different room to perform your task. Every necessary precaution had been taken to ensure fair play. And you are telling me that someone broke into your room and stole ur robot? What nonsense is this?"

"Sir, all of us were busy with our own tasks. I think Randhir must be mistaken", said a seemingly nervous Vidushi.

"Mistaken my foot", replied Randhir, "Please sir, let me explain. Towards the end of the task a fire alarm went off and all of us evacuated our rooms immediatelty. Jiggy and I went to check the cause of the alarm. Sir, if u don't believe me then ask Jignesh"

"Umm...Ye-s...Yes sir", stammered a fidgety Jiggy, "The fire alarm did go off and we had to leave our rooms"

"Yeah...and then sir, this Sanyukta said that she forgot her cell in her room and went back to get it while Jiggy and I went ahaed", continued Randhir, "When i returned to my room, my robot was gone. Tell me sir, what other expalnation can there be for this?"

While all this drama unfolded before her, Sanyukta Agarwal remained glued to her spot, unable to think clearly.

"Miss Agarwal, do you have anything to say?", asked Vardhan. This snapped Sanyukta out of her trance and she mumbled, "I didn't steal anything sir. Randhir is lying. I never entered his room. He has made up the whole thing..."

She couldn't finish her sentence when Randhir cut her across harshly and spoke "You know very well what happened Sanyukta, don't you dare lie, not to my face. I know u very well. Mujhe harane ke liye tum kisi bhi had tak ja sakte ho. Aur aaj toh tumne prove kar hi diya that apart from being a brainless showoff, you are also a thief, a cheater."

"How dare you say something like that Randhir? How dare u? Tum samajhte kya ho apne aap ko?", screamed sanyukta

"Enough", bellowed Vardhan, " I am sick and tired of u ignorant fools acting like idiots."

"But sir", started Randhir, but he was stopped by prof Vardhan who seemed infurated.

"You will not test my patience any further Mr. Shekhawat. The rules of the competition clearly stated that you were not to leave your room and go anywhere. There was a watchman stationed outside ur rooms, was there not? Despite that u still went to see the cause of the alarm on ur own, thereby breaking the rules. And now u expect me to do what exactly? Whose fault is it that ur robot got stolen?"

"But i am not lying sir. I am positive that my robot is there in one of those boxes, i can prove it to you if u allow me", argued a distraught Randhir.

"Leave, get lost. All of you. Now. Rules are rules and nobody gets away by breaking them, not even the brightest student Mr. Shekhawat. Your results will be out tomorrow morning. Now go", said Vardhan.

Randhir had no choice but to leave the room. No one argued with prof Vardhan when he was angry. The other 3 followed Randhir out of the room and into the hall. As soon as they were outside Randhir rounded up Sanyukta and went, "Miss farzi engineer, i will not leave u today. U will pay for this, i will crush u for this."

Sanyukta had enough. "For the last time, Randhir, I DIDN'T STEAL UR ROBOT. Why can't u get that through that thick brain of urs?"

"Liar. You bloody liar", shouted Randhir, "Why else was the fake alarm raised? Why else did you stay behind while we went ahead? This was all your cleverly formulated plan."

Their voice had attracted a large crowd. Everyone was curious as to what was going on.

"Arey Randhir bhai, itna gussa mat ho, please, sab dekh rahe hain", Jiggy tried to reason with randhir. But he was adament.

"Dekhne do Jiggy, sabko pata hona chahiye ki aakhir kitni besharam hain yeh ladki...", continued Randhir.

Meanwhile Vidushi was enjoying the show.

"Mera plan kitna kamaal ka kaam kar gya yaar, kisi ko kuch pta nhi chala, even Vardhan ko bhi nhi...aur toh aur, yeh Randhir ne toh sari blame sanyukta pe dal di...yesss! Vidushi u rock", she thought to herself.

"Sanyukta", someone called from within the crowd. It was her best friend Kaustuki. "Kya hua? Why is Randhir shouting like this?" she asked.

But it was Randhir who replied. "I have every reason to shout. This girl has ruined my chances in YSA. Till today i had thought that you were irritating and snobbish, bur atleast you had self-respect. But today you proved me wrong. You are a cheap, manipulative b***h..."

And finally Sanyukta's self control broke. Tears brimmed her eyes threatening to fall at any moment.

"Tumahari problem kya hain? I am telling u I didn't do it. Why is it so hard for u to believe me? Sabke samne bina kuch jane insult karna zaruri hain kya? Have u ever paused to think that maybe u r wrong? That maybe I am innocent? No. You are so full of urself that u think u can come and accuse me anytime u want, anywhere u want, anyhow u want. I may be a girl Randhir, but first I am a person with feelings. Kabhi usko bhi respect kiya karo."

And with that she turned and stormed out of the hall towards her hostel, finally letting herself succumb to the hurt, pain and humiliation that she was feeling.

And for the first time in his life Randhir Singh Shekhawat was left dumbfounded. The conviction with which Sanyukta defended herself hit him deep within. For the first time he regretted losing his temper, he regretted shouting at her in public. For the first time he questioned his jugdement.

But then, one thing still confused him...and he thought, "If it wasn't her, then who stole my robot? I don't believe a word u say Sanyukta Agarwal...not anymore. I know u are lying."

~0~

Meanwhile in Vardhan sir's office:

Prof Vardhan was sitting on his chair, eyes glued to his laptop screen, his face betraying no emotion. On his laptop screen flashed a hurrying Vidushi,entering Randhir's room quickly picking up his robot and tucking it safely away in her box.

-x-

Author's note: So that's a wrap for this chapter. Hope u guys liked the way the plot is unfolding. It's difficult to imagine a multi-chaptered fic and keep it flawless. I have tried my best not to keep any loop-holes.

Suggestions are always welcome!

Do read and review!

And for all the beautiful comments that i have received so far, a huge thanks and lots of love!!

-Anuradha!

federized22102014-01-20 01:20:12