Chapter 16

PART 16

Vardaan was physically with the CM, but mentally he wanted to go to Sanyukta and congratulate her. His eyes were searching for her. But, she was not to be seen. Moreover, the CM was sticking to him like an adhesive. It was irritating him to the core. Finding a good opportunity, he went backstage and searched for her. But she was not to be seen. He searched for her in the entire auditorium. But, his attempts were a failure. He thought that she might have left. After wasting some more time with the CM, he finally bid him good bye.

Sanyukta reached the campus and to her dorm. Kaustuki hugged her. All the girls including the warden had come to her room to congratulate her. They were clapping for her. The warden wished her good luck for the future. The girls decided that they should celebrate this occasion. The warden gave them the permission. Sanyukta thought of giving them everybody a treat. She ordered pizzas, ice-creams and soft drinks. All the girls were partying till 4 AM. So, obviously they couldn't wake up early. As a consequence, all the girls were late for the lecture, Prof Vardaan's lecture. Vardaan entered the class. He was surprised to see the girls missing from the class.

Vardaan: "Kya hua? Aaj ladkiyo ne mera lecture nahi attend karne ka hartaal kiya hai?"

Yoyo: "Pata nahi sir. Main bhi kab se bore ho raha hu, Kaustuki ke bina. Aisa lag raha jaise yeh class nahi, koi registaan hai!"

The boys started laughing. Vardaan smiled at his silliness and started with the lecture. After about 20 minutes, 3 to 4 girls asked for the permission to come in. He allowed them. After some time, more 4 girls came. He allowed them too. He was pissed off with the girls coming in groups. Afterwards, a huge group of girls stood outside the class and asked for permission to come in. Sanyukta hid behind all the girls. She was damn sure that if he spotted her, he would blast her off. Vardaan put the marker down and asked the girls.

Vardaan: (Surprised) "What's up with you all? How come all of you are late today?"

Kaustuki: "We are sorry Sir."

Vardaan: "I want to know the reason Kaustuki."

Kaustuki: (In a low volume)"Woh sir, actually, yesterday Sanyukta won the kathak competition and she got an award from the chief minister. So, we thought about celebrating it. So, we were partying and we slept late at night in fact we slept in morning. Hmm...so that's why we were late."

Vardaan was searching for Sanyukta in the group. He saw her hiding.

Vardaan: (Telling to all the girls) "Hmm...OK. But, only this time, I am allowing you all in. Don't make it a habit. You may come in."

One by one, the girls entered. Sanyukta was the last. She was proceeding towards her seat when Vardaan called her,

Vardaan: "Umm...Sanyukta."

She turned back. Vardaan approached her and put his hand forward for a handshake.

Vardaan: "Congratulations."

Sanyukta was lost in the moment. She couldn't believe that Vardaan Sir actually called her by her name and not Roll no-27' and he is congratulating her. Vardaan again called her to bring her back to the situation.

Sanyukra: (Surprised and smiling) "Huh...Thank you Sir."

She shook hands with her. While the lecture was going on, Dean entered the class.

Dean: "I am sorry Vardaan to disturb your lecture. But, I have some good news for FITE."

Vardaan: "It's OK Dean. What's the good news?"

Dean turned towards the class and started saying,

Dean: "So, class not everybody might be knowing that there was a huge kathak competition in the city yesterday. Many eminent personalities including the CM were present. And one of our student, Ms Sanyukta Agarwal was also a participant there. I am really proud to hear that she has won the competition. Congratulations Sanyukta. Well done. This proves that you are an all-rounder."

Sanyukta had become red due to blushing. Everybody started clapping for her. She thanked the Dean and the entire class.

Dean: (Smiling) "OK guys. Enjoy the lecture."

Vardaan continued with the lecture. He finished it in 30 minutes. He rushed to his cabin. The newspaper was on the table. He picked it up to read it. He turned the page and there was the picture that cheered his soul. Sanyukta holding her trophy standing beside the CM. Her eyes filled with happiness and some tears as well. He read the article following it. Every sentence contained appreciation for Sanyukta. He was gratified with her achievement. Sanyukta came out of her class, when everybody in the college started congratulating her. Yoyo came running to her.

Yoyo: "Oye Sanyukta. Aaj ka newspaper pada? Tumhara photo chapa hai"

Sanyukta got scared.

Sanyukta: "Kya mera photo phir newspaper mein chapa hai? Ab maine kya kiya yar? Us haadse ke baad toh main elevators ke taraf dekhti bhi nahi hu."

Saying this she rushed to the library to read the newspaper. She turned to page 2 and she was delighted to find her picture holding her trophy, along with the CM. She also read the article. Everybody in the library also, congratulated her. Vidhushi came to her,

Vidhushi: "Hey Sanyukta, congratulations."

Sanyukta: (Smiling) "Thanks."

Vidhushi: "Did you read the article? (Holding the newspaper and pointing to a statement) See, is mein likha hai ke Vardaan Sir bhi chief guest the? Who bhi aaye the tumhare saath?"

Vidhushi was now evilly smirking looking at Sanyukta. Sanyukta was stunned hearing this from her.

Sanyukta: "No. Vidhushi. Vardaan Sir had come there with the CM. I did not know he had any such plans. Why would he share his schedule with me? And I had gone there to perform. Now, who bothers who are the chief guests. I hope you are now done with your interrogation."

Vidhushi nodded, but she was not satisfied with her answer. Vardaan headed home at night. He cooked food, ate it and sat on the couch to listen to the news. Every news channel was displaying the same news of communal riots taking place in different parts of the country. There was an ad break. Katrina Kaif wearing a TITAN RAGA watch was dancing on the screen. Seeing this, he suddenly remembered the gifts he had bought for Sanyukta. He went to the wardrobe to take the bag. He looked at the dress in it and also the watch. He thought, "Now how will I give this to her. Kisi ko pata chala toh, phir se wohi drama repeat hoga. I really don't want her to go through all of this again." Thinking this, he kept the bag back in the cupboard.

There was an extended weekend approaching, all thanks to the two government holidays that fell on Monday and Tuesday. So, now the students had a holiday on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The students were very excited and the professors were tensed as they had to complete the syllabus. In the corridor, Sanyukta and Kaustuki were talking to each other.

Kaustuki: "Sanyu, I am so happy that we are getting a 4 day holiday. You know what, I have already booked my flight tickets. I am going home. Finally! Yay!!"

Sanyukta: (Laughing) "Kya idea diya hai Kaustuki! Is weekend main bhi ghar jaati hu. Sab ko surprise karungi."

Vardaan heard their conversation. He thought of an idea of sending the gifts to her house through a courier service. On Saturday, evening he gift wrapped the stuff and went to a courier office to do the formalities. He was now relieved that Sanyukta would receive the gift, as well as she would never come to know about the sender. Sanyukta reached home. Her family was surprised seeing her. Everybody hugged her and congratulated her. Her father actually saved the newspaper cutting which had her picture with the trophy. She was tired of the journey, so she hit bed after dinner. Next morning, Sanyukta woke up at 5 AM, thinking she was in FITE. Then after a few minutes, she hit her head with her palms and mumbled, "Sanyukta, tu apne ghar mein hai. FITE mein nahi, joh tujhe Vardaan Sir ke lecture mein late nahi hona. Chal wapas se soja." She again hit her bed, thinking of getting up very late. It was 11 AM. Her mother was shouting at her to get up and have some breakfast. She also screamed that there is a courier for her. Sanyukta finally opened her eyes. She took a bath and headed towards the dining table to eat something. Her mother got the courier. She took it and turned it.

Sanyukta: "Mummy, yeh kisne bheja hai?"

Mother: "Pata nahi beta. Address bhi nahi likha hai. Kholke dekh le."

Sanyukta carefully removed all the tapes of the gift. Her face sparkled to find a very beautiful anarkali dress. She picked it up, raised it and held it in front of her eyes. "Woww...kitna beautiful hai yeh!", she exclaimed. She then looked at a box. She opened the box. It had a beautiful and an expensive watch. She wore it to see if it suits. Yes, indeed it suited her.

Mother: "Bohot accha hai. Par kisne bhejha hoga?"

Sanyukta: (After thinking for a while) "Umm...shayad Kaustuki ne. Uske alaawa aur koi nahi lagta mujhe joh yeh bhejega. (Smiling) Hmm...good choice Madam. I'll wear this while coming back to the campus."

She was super busy on all the four days. Guests had arrived to meet her and to congratulate her. Some of the ladies were even marketing their so called good looking sons to her. After sometime, there was small tiff between the 2 ladies on the topic of whose son is more suitable for Sanyukta'. Sanyukta felt like puking but she meekly smiled at all of them. The 4 day holiday was coming to an end. She again packed all her stuff. Once again her brother got her a new play station. He asked her, "Oye, who joh pehle wala tha, uska kya hua?" She answered, "Woh woh toh maine apne hostel ke entertainment area mein install kar diya hai. Toh girls jab bhi bore hoti hai, khelne aa jaati hai. Par haa, jeet toh meri hi hoti hai. You know na, I am the best." Her brother offered to drop her, but she insisted that she'll go by bus. She wore the dress and the watch that she thought, Kaustuki had gifted her. She was looking pretty, beautiful, graceful and elegant. The dress fitted her perfectly. Neither sticking to her body nor hanging on her body. She bid everybody good bye and went to the bus stop. She had booked a ticket for a private bus. She saw the bus that she would be boarding. There were other passengers who were boarding it. She quickly ran towards it and boarded it.

It was a 6 to 7 hour journey. Sanyukta was enjoying travelling in a bus. She smiled at the lady sitting next to her. There were mini fans above the seats. The windows had curtains to it. The music was playing in full volume. There was a small TV in the front as well. The winds were blowing on her face. In a short time after the commencement of the journey, her eyes felt heavy. She rested her head on to the windows and slept. After some hours, she shot open her eyes hearing people shouting and screaming. Somebody threw a stone on one of the window pane. A man was injured due to it. The driver was made to stop the bus, by some men who stood in front of the bus holding lathis in their hands. Sanyukta couldn't understand what was going on and she was scared. She asked the lady next to her who was equally scared. She replied, "Arey danga ho gaya hai. Aise bohot saare gaadiyon ko ruka rahe hai kuch log. Maar peeth kar rahe hai. Aage nahi jaane de rahe hai. Police bhi nahi hai."

The men who had stopped the bus, now got into the bus. They looked like goons from some Bollywood movie. They were scanning each and every person. A man came near the seat where Sanyukta was sitting. He eyed her top to bottom. She felt disgusted.

Goon 1: "Aur Madam, kaha jaana hai?"

Sanyukta: (Gulping her saliva) "Roorkee."

Goon 2: "Kaha se aayi ho?"

Sanyukta: "Delhi"

Goon 3: "Chalo neeche utro."

Sanyukta: (With a stern voice) "Nahi. Main nahi uthrungi. "

The goon pointed a gun towards her and ordered her to get down. She had no other choice. She was constantly praying God, hoping that this be some dream. She took her bag and followed them. She got down the bus. There was blood everywhere on the road. Glass and glass pieces of the various busses were scattered on the road. Some bags of the various passengers were open with the things out in the open. Some other goons were doing the same with other vehicles also. There were a few dead bodies too. Sanyukta felt like puking seeing the sight. She kept her palm on her mouth to avoid it. The bus which Sanyukta was travelling in was made to go. She looked at the bus with tearful eyes. She had no idea, if this would be her last day on planet earth. The goons circled around her. She could see that all of them had guns in their hands. She could also see lust in their eyes.

Sanyukta: "Dekho, mujhe jaane do.Umm...badle mein yeh, mobile phone le lo. Kaafi expensive hai. Aur yeh gehne bhi le lo. Aur yeh paise bhi rakh lo. Par mujhe yaha se jaane do."

She removed her gold earrings and braclet. She even took out her wallet from her bag. One of the goon grabbed it.

Goon 1: "Yeh toh teri marzi ke bina bhi hum le lenge. Par tut toh mast cheez hai yar. Tujh pe bina haath saaf kiye, aise kaise jaane de. A goon came close to her and held her face tight. She tried to free herself, but it was no use."

All of them started approaching her. Suddenly, the police arrived with full force. The goons turned back to look at them. Taking this opportunity, Sanyukta ran from the spot. She ran endlessly. She had no clue about where she was heading. She just ran without looking back.