PART 14

He was going to meet the dean. He could notice the same stares. He heard some professor murmuring to somebody, that what kind of cheap pervert was Prof Vardaan.

Prof PK: "Arey bhai, aaj ki sensational news padhi kya? Kya zamaana aaya hai? Aur who ladki Sanyukta, usne toh Vardaan ke hi subject mein top kiya hai. Ab samjha ke usne kitni aur kaisi mehnat ki hogi."

Vardaan fisted his palms in anger. He turned towards Prof PK in a fury.

Vardaan: "Aap is college ke respected professors hai. Kuch bhi bakwaas karne se pehle, baat ki the theh tak jaaeiye."

He went to the dean's cabin. Sanyukta was already standing there. She was tensed. Her eyes were red and swollen. "She might have cried a bucketful of tears", he thought. She did not dare to look at him.

Dean: (Hesitantly) "I hope you know Vardaan, why I have called both of you."

Sanyukta: "Sir, I can explain. This image is not what it seems."

Dean: "Open your mouth only when I ask you to."

Vardaan: "Dean, she's right. I'll explain you everything."

He narrated the whole story of the mall and the elevator.

Dean: "Vardaan , I believe you, because I know you as a person. But, I am also the dean of this prestigious institute. There are many people above and below me to whom I am answerable. They require an explanation. And according to the procedures laid down for this institute, I have to call for an inquiry into this matter. Don't worry, both of you will come out clean."

Sanyukta carefully listened to each and every word that the dean said. She couldn't believe that now she has to go through an inquiry as well. What will happen if her parents come to know about this. The dean turned to her and asked her,

Dean: "Do have something to say Sanyukta?"

Sanyukta nodded her head left to right, indicating no. Vardaan turned towards her, hoping that she would look at him. She did not. She left from the cabin with tears in her eyes. She rushed to the washroom crying some more. She stood in front of the wash basin. She once again looked at the picture and was now very angry. She took out her notepad ad scribbled something on it. She went to Kaustuki and requested her to place the note on Vardaan Sir's desk.

Kaustuki: "Sanyu, have you gone mad? I don' think this is safe. Till the inquiry is over, I don't think you should do something like this. What if somebody sees you?"

Sanyukta: "Kaustuki please. I need to find out something and clear some matters as well. Look, I can't go, but you can. Please yar."

Kaustuki agreed. Sanyukta left to her dorm. She could witness the same stares and gossips. She felt like slapping everybody. But, she controlled herself thinking that she has to find out the truth. Kaustuki kept the note on Vardaan Sir's desk when he was not in his cabin. After sometime Vardaan came to his cabin. He drank some water from the glass on his desk. Never in his dreams, had he imagined that he would be witnessing such days. "What might be Sanyukta thinking? So many people, her friends, batchmates, professors might be doubting her calibre. I hope she is able to handle herself", he thought. Just then he saw a folded note on his desk. He opened to read it. It read:

"I could have directly stormed into your cabin and questioned you. But, I cannot. Everywhere, people are gazing at me. I know it is very difficult for us to face each other, especially now. I want to ask you about so many things. Please come and meet me on the terrace at 8 PM. It is really important. For the last time, please do come."

Vardaan crumpled the note and threw it in the dustbin. "Has this girl gone mad. What does she want to ask me? What if somebody sees us together? Oh god, she is definitely not helping. I am not going." Thinking this he carried on his daily routine work. After sometime, he saw the time. It was 8:05 PM. "Should I go? She might be waiting? No, why should I? OK, I think I should listen to what she has to say. May be she can provide some information, which can help our case", he thought. He proceeded towards the terrace. He opened the doors of the terrace and went inside. He spotted Sanyukta standing at the extreme edge. Cold winds were blowing and so was Sanyukta hair, flowing in the direction of the air. She was feeling cold. She was wearing a stole and was standing with folded hands, portraying enough determination. Vardaan stood next to Sanyukta, with his hands in his pockets.

Vardaan: (Looking at the night scene ahead) "What's the matter Sanyukta? Why did you call me here?"

Sanyukta: (Inhaling heavily and avoiding looking at him) "I don't understand where should I begin with?"

Vardaan: "Just speak out whatever is there in your heart."

Sanyukta: (After a pause) "OK. That day, honestly, I don't remember anything after I pressed the green button on the ceiling of the elevator. I think I passed out, after that. When I came to senses, we were in the Manager's cabin. So, now, I need an explanation for this. (showing the newspaper picture)"

Vardaan: (In thoughts) "What!! What is going on in her mind? Where is this conversation leading to?"

Sanyukta called him, breaking his thought process.

Vardaan: "Umm...This picture, right. You see, after you pressed the button, the elevator shook with enough force. I lost my balance and I left you. You came falling down and were about to fall. But, I again held you, thus saving you from the fall. And then the elevator doors opened up. A huge crowd was gathered there and a stupid girl from the crowd clicked this picture. Yeah...that was it."

Sanyukta: (Giving death glares) "Oh yeah...that was it. So, Mr. Vardaan, can you please explain to me, as to why the hell were you,...(pause)...were you...(pause)...were you holding me by my waist? (With tears in her eyes) And that too, so close?"

Sanyukta couldn't believe that she finally managed to say that. Now, she was waiting for answer, in fact demanding for one.

Vardaan: (Dumbfounded and her words still ringing in his ears) "What!!! What do you mean by that?"

Sanyukta: (Raising her voice a bit) "You very well understand, what do I mean. I think, I put it in the most simple words. Day after tomorrow, the inquiry panel would ask you the same."

Vardaan: "It was nothing more than a mere co-incidence and an accident. You are doubting me? My character? Seriously?"

Sanyukta: "Why shouldn't I? Last time, on this same terrace, on the same spot, if I am not wrong, you Mr, tried to kiss me!"

Vardaan was very heated now. "Why is she doing this? She very well knows that even that was an accident", he thought. He ruffled his hair in a fury and glared at Sanyukta. He held her by her arms. She winced in pain.

Vardaan: "Ab tum ne topic nikal hi hai, toh suno. Ya, you're right. I tried to kiss you. But, you know what, I wasn't the only one at fault. In fact, I controlled myself. Agar main aage bad jaata, toh tum bhi apne aap ko rok nahi paati. Even you were about to give in to me."

Tears rushed to her eyes.

Sanyukta: "So, this is what you think about me? Good going. At least now, I came to know about your true self. (Wiping her tears) Look Mr, right from this moment, you are just a professor in my college and I am just Roll no-27 for you."

She turned to leave from there. Her ankle twisted and she was about to fall. Vardaan reached to her help. But, she raised her arm to him, indicating him to stop.

Sanyukta: "Don't. (Pause) From day after tomorrow onwards, the inquiry will begin. I will do my level best to prove that I am innocent. You start worrying about your reputation...(pause)...Sir."

She left from there. She went to her room and started crying. She even skipped her dinner. She couldn't sleep at all that night. Vardaan was drinking the whole night. He remembered her silly talking of how she had tasted her first whiskey. Her venom filled words, that she had told him on the terrace were ringing in his mind.

Next morning, Sanyukta decided to go the mall to talk to the manager. She thought, that may be he could help her. She got ready and left to the mall. She asked the security guard the direction to the manager's cabin. The guard guided her. He advised her to take the elevator. But she straightaway refused. "Ek aur musibat mod nahi leni hai mujhe", she thought. She took the stairs instead. The manager was is his cabin. Sanyukta knocked the door.

Manager: "Yes Mam, Can I help you?"

Sanyukta: "Hi. I hope you remember me. I terribly need your help, Mr (she looked at the name plate), Mr Chabria. Look my reputation is in a mess right now."

Without wasting anytime, she explained in detail everything. She also told him, that the man with her that day was her professor.

Manager: "I am sorry, do I know you?"

Sanyukta: (Surprised) "Huh...yes, you do know me. The elevator was stuck. I was unconscious and was brought here to your cabin. There was a doctor as well."

Manager: "Look, I don't know what you are talking about. And don't waste my and your time as well. Please leave."

Sanyukta was furious now. She stood up.

Sanyukta: (Screaming) "What? You don't remember me? Stop lying Mr. I very well know the reason, why you don't remember me. You are scared that the news of security lapses in your mall would come out."

The manager called in the security guard and ordered him to throw Sanyukta out. Sanyukta felt like punching his face. She left his cabin and the mall. Outside, the cabin, Vardaan was hiding behind the door and he listened to the entire conversation. He saw Sanyukta leave in a fury. He thought,"Waah, waah, kya baat. Ek kaam bhi dhang se nahi hota. (Teasingly and repeating Sanyukta's statement) I will do my level best to prove that I am innocent. Itna bhi nahi jaanti ke laaton ke bhoot baaton se nahi maante. "

Sanyukta went to the hostel feeling disappointed. Kaustuki told her to look at the picture carefully. Normally, the photographer's name is also mentioned there. Sanyukta frantically searched her room for that newspaper. Finally, she found a crumpled paper cutting. She was happy that she finally found it. But, there was no mention of the photographer. But, nevertheless, she decided to the newspaper office to find out, who provided the picture. They googled about the newspaper's office address. It was very far from the hostel. She immediately left the hostel. Even Kaustuki accompanied her.

She reached the venue. But, she had no clue about whom to meet. It was a huge office. She went to the receptionist. She picked up the newpaper page. She inquired about who provided them the picture. The receptionist leaded them to the editor's cabin. She knocked the door and both the girls entered the cabin. Sanyukta again explained everything to the editor.

Sanyukta: "So, now you see Sir, my reputation is at stake. The man in the picture is my professor. The picture is not what it seems."

Editor: "Hmm...interesting story girl. But, we do have some policies. We don't disclose names of the people who work for us in public. Only if the matter goes to court, and the court orders us to do so, then we would."

Sanyukta thought that going to the court would be a lengthy affair and might ages.

Sanyukta: "But Sir, may I know that by whose permission have you printed this picture. This picture was clicked against my permission."

Editor: "So? You want to fight, you can go to the court. Waise looking at this picture, you guys might had a nice time?"

Sanyukta was infuriated now. She got up from the chair and slapped the editor with full rage. The echo was heard outside the cabin as well. "You are going to pay for this", she said. Both the girls came out of the office. Kaustuki told her that they should go the police station to lodge a complaint against the newspaper. "Arey yar, ab yeh karungi toh aur bhi fasoongi. And Vardaan Sir ka bhi naam kharaab ho jaaega. Par koi choice hai kya?", she thought. It was 8 PM. They had to reach the hostel as well. "It's late Kaustuki. I'll think about it tomorrow", she told her.

As usual Sanyukta couldn't sleep. Her parents did not call which means that they did not find out yet. She thanked god for this small mercy on her. She had been summoned the next morning by the inquiry committee of the institute. They will interrogate her. What kind of questions will they ask? Her mind was filled with such questions. She woke up at 7 AM and got ready. She was supposed to be in the dean's cabin by 9 AM. She was nervous. Right now, she didn't have any proof too. She reached the college. Taking baby steps, she reached the dean's cabin. Absentmindedly, she sat on Prof Vardaan's lap, who was sitting there waiting for everybody. For a moment, he was lost in her fragrance. For a moment, he felt forgetting everything and just holding her, never letting her go away from him. But, he shrugged himself.

Vardaan: "What the hell are you doing? Are you blind? Or haven't slept lately?"

Sanyukta sprang up from his lap.

Sanyukta: "Oh...I am really sorry sir. I was thinking about something else."

She took a seat farthest from him and was silent. He had never seen her, this silent. After sometime, the Dean along with the trustee and few other people entered the cabin. There was a lady as well.

Lady: "So, let's begin. Miss Sanyukta Agarwal, tell me about yourself. I mean, about you, your family, your academic background, your personal stuff."

Sanyukta: (gulping the saliva) "I am just an ordinary student at FITE. I hail from Delhi and belong to a very good family. My father is a businessman. My mother is a homemaker. Speaking about my academics, I am from an Arts background. Initially, I found it difficult to adjust to the subjects at FITE, but now, I have coped up."

Lady: "Hmm...how did you cope up? Can you please elaborate? I also know that you have scored the highest marks in Prof Vardaan's subject. Can you explain me how?"

Sanyukta: "I have scored the highest and it is because of my hardwork. You can get the papers get corrected again? Forget that, I challenge you to ask me any question about Financial Management, right now." She gritted her teeth.

Vardaan was proud of her, her audacity.

Man: "Hmm. You haven't mentioned anything about your personal life?"

Sanyukta: "What do you want to hear, Sir?"

Man: "Hmm...your boyfriends? How many boyfriends have you had?"

Sanyukta: "What? I didn't have any. And what does that question got to do with this inquiry."

Vardaan interrupted their baseless questions.

Excuse me, everyone. I have something important to tell or rather somebody would like to tell you something. Sanyukta was shocked to see, the mall manager and the newspaper editor walk into the cabin. They explained everything to the panel. The editor of the newspaper even apologised Sanyukta. He promised to print an apology in the newspaper as well. Relief ran through Sanyukta's body.

Dean: "So, I think, now it is crystal clear, that both Sanyukta and Vardaan are innocent. We have reached the conclusion here. And, I would like to reiterate that the students and the professors of FITE have high moral standards. They would never stoop to anything like this. I think, we should leave."

Everybody was leaving the cabin. Sanyukta was still confused. She thought,"Who brought them here? When I went to meet them, they did not co-operate at all. Phir, Vardaan Sir unhe yaha lekar aaye hai?" She turned to see Vardaan Sir. Vardaan wiped his specs, wore it and went away without even looking at her.