The principal of the college had a fest every year. The students put up talent shows for the college and the public in general. It was a more of an annual day where the students could showcase their talents and then there could be a prize distribution. Most of the students ditched the show as it was just a waste of time. He college didn't lack any talent - but nobody was willing to display any of it. The principal Dr. Mehra was worried as the NAAC committee would be attending the function this year and he wanted a good turnout.
If students were unwilling to attend their own college programmes then it reflected badly on the college...this further led to a bad grade on the national scale and Dr. Mehra loved the A++ sign in front of his college's name.
He wanted to desperately to put up a good show with his star talents. He knew that his college was filled with the students who were brilliant. But, his frustration and tension was hampering his thinking process and he was just unable to come up with a solution as to how to get the students to participate.
''Sinha sir, iss baar ke show housefull hona chahiye aur uss main humaare hi bachche hone chahiye!''
Dr. Mehra was pacing in his cabin and talking to Mr. Sinha seated before him. Mr. Sinha was the senior most teacher of the college. Students were terrified of Sinha Sir and he was the only one after the principal , who was feared.
''Dr.Mehra , itne saalon se try kar rahe hain. Yeh bachche kuch sunte hi nahi hain. Aur hum unke marks cut bhi toh nahi kar sakte.''
Koi toh raasta hona chahiye-
The peon had entered.
''Sir ek naya student bahar ruka hain. Scholarship ke form par signatures chahiye usse'''
''andar bhej do''
NIkhil entered.
Good morning Sir. He turned to Mr. Sinha...''Good morning sir''
Mr. Sinha twisted in his chair and saw NIkhil,'' Arre NIkhil, tum yahan kya kar rahe ho.''
''Sir, form par signature aur stamp chahiye tha, sir. ''
''So son, are u participating in the annual function? You've made quite a few friends in the past one month. Are u going to perform. I've heard you dance and teach it too.''
''Well, sir, if students are expected to perform , then I'll certainly do so. How many people participate?
Dr. Mehra looked up and said,'' Not many NIkhil, but i like your enthusiasm. Despite being one of the famous colleges in India, somehow the students refuse to participate in the programmes for college. It's like the show is jinxed.''
Mr. Sinha turned to NIkhil, '' Son, do you think you can give any ideas as to how more students will come for the show?''
''Err, sir...me?''
''Yes of course...why not? Your part of the newer generation. Surely you'll know where we're going wrong. We've got to fix this somehow or our college is going to lose it's A++ grade with the accreditation committee.''
''Umm...Sorry sir I'm a bit clueless...Being new here I don't really understand how the college works.''
''try...what do you get off the top of your head?'
Dr. Mehra spoke up...''ok lets do one thing. You need this form to be submitted in 2 weeks time, don't you? I'll give you a week's time to discreetly ask around college and come up with some ideas. In one week, you meet me with some solution, and I'll try and speed up the process for your scholarship with my contacts.''
There was nothing NIkhil, could say. He had to agree. He left the campus
One week??
How can one week be enough? One month had been eventful enough. On his 1st day in college he'd messed up with the most happening and powerful crowd in college. Thanks to that he hadn't been able to mingle or mix with the students well. The only one who he hung out with was loner Ayush and that too cause he had the same subjects.
If it was just the matter of his performance, he would have done it happily and performed to the best of his ability. But getting ideas of involving people in a place where one was boycotted was not very promising! He walked to the parking lot and pulled out his bike and sped home.
Next day he was sitting in the psychology lecture waiting for the teacher. A few girls behind , were gossiping. The names that kept cropping up in their conversation were the usual popular ones ' Geet, Sid and Mayank. It was common knowledge that they were the 3 musketeers of college and everyone sought to copy them. The college followed them blindly, no matter what they did.
NIkhil, smirked...he didn't like the trio. As much as he tried , he couldn't avoid them. Even if they weren't around, everyone spoke of them. He had begun to get irritated by them. They were the ones who knowingly or unknowingly created all that peer pressure. Snippets of conversation kept coming from a group of three girls sitting behind them. Another girl sat quietly reading a book
''Sid ka shirt dekha...yar woh toh sirf trendsetter hain. No one carries those shirts off the way he does. My neighbour came to college the other day and saw one of Sid' shirts and he also bought one. Itna bada bewakoof lag rahah than na,''
''Yaar Mujhe toh Mayank pasand hain. Woh kitna dreamy hain yaar.''
''What's s dreamy bout him maan. He's lost most of the tym ya. Woh toh khud dream karta hain. ''(giggles)
''Dekh, Rekha, Mayank kya cheez hain , yeh tere comprehension range ke bahar hain, so don't even try to understand him, geddit.''
''Ok u two stop fighting ya.''said the third girl.'' What I don't get is ...what are two dishy guys like them doing with a thing like Geet. She's so arrogant and it's not like she's even girly. I mean she can easily beat most of the guys in sport-
''Not Mayank and Sid'', said the second girl.
''Thats only cuz she never play against them and neither do they let her!''
---ok, ok...but she's never worn a girly top let alone a dress. She drives that horrible jeep and she always wears such boyish vests and watches. Even her shoes...or boots...it's like she's gonna go hiking any minute, ya.''
''True, ya...life is so sucky ya. How is it that the nicest chaps get the horrible girls.?''
The fourth girl looked up from her book and quietly spoke, ''Maybe because they are in need of niceness the most. We don't get what's going on with them cuz we just view from outside. How can you judge that she's horrible?'' Saying that she turned back to the book leaving the girls stunned and speechless.
Nikhil turned and looked to see who had said that. The girl, realized that she was being stared at and looked at him. She smiled warmly and said, '' Hi, I'm Raina. You are?
'NIkhil.''
''Hi, are you new here?''
Nikhil replied, ''Yeah. I've only joined this year.'
'How're you liking it?'
'It's ok, haven't seen much as yet.'
But I did mess up with Geet n buddies on the 1st day...hehe. Nice for starters heh?''
''OMG , you didn't'', gasped Raina
''Yeah, well they were ragging that poor chap. He'd have wet his pants any minute. They're nothing but bullies, all of them.''
''Whoa, 1st day in a new college and you meddled with the 'It' things of college, huh'', she said smilingly.
''Why do I get the feeling that you're not as 'Three Musketeer crazy'' as these girls out here? I'm right am I not.?''
She smiled and said,''3 musketeers crazy-probably not...but crazy..definitely!''
''Hehe..right on'', laughed Nikhil.
The teacher entered the class so they ended the conversation there.
In the break Nikhil saw Raina again...eating alone in the cafeteria. He went up to her and joined her. They chattered non-stop. Suddenly the cafeteria became noisy - Geet and Gang enter along with their entourage. They seemed oblivious to the crowd around, just grabbed a table n seated themselves. A few of the boys and girls placed orders for the lot.
Geet turned and grabbed a seat next to Sid and they started playing a game on their phones. Geet looked about after some time and saw Raina. Raina and her eyes met. Nikhil all this while was watching their silent interaction.
Raina gave a tiny smile to Geet who nodded discreetly in return.
She turned her head to the food in front of her, while Raina turned back to the guys.
Nikhil :''Do u know her?''
Raina: ''Yeah, we're school mates''
N: Ok, so you're friends?''
R:''No really...just acquaintances!''
'Ummm ok.'
The bell rang and they returned for classes.
Nikhil was still clueless as to how to get students to participate in the annual day.
He'd managed to make friends with one girl, but he had no clue about her. He just prayed he'd come to some conclusion fast. He'd only got 5 days left.
Day 3:
History lecture:
Nikhil and Raina were sitting together, completing a crossword. The happening trio entered, Sid bragging about something as usual. Again Nikhil saw the silent acknowledgement between Raina and Geet. He didn't say much..but he did wonder what it was between the two girls. He knew that they weren't friends , but Raina didn't hold her in awe either , neither did Geet ignore her like she did for the rest of the college crowd, that had tagged behind her for the lecture.
What did register was that Geet did notice who Raina was sitting with. Her eyes narrowed the teensiest bit but didn't bother much after that. Sid and Mayank did notice Nikhil and were about to pick a quarrel when Geet stopped them and told them not to create a scene in Sadu Sinha's class.
Mr. Sinha took the class in his usual manner and commented how full the class seemed today. Everybody seemed to have attended just for the heck of it cuz only a few seemed to be paying attention.
As soon as he left the class the trio left and with them the rest of the class.
''I thought we have another class today?'' Nikhil asked raina.
''We do, but if these 3 aren't in class then the other students won't bother attending either'' smiled Raina.
''Why are you smiling? Isn't this a classic example of peer pressure? '' asked Nikhil a little annoyed.
''Sure it is, but there's only so much one can do to stop or prevent it. Plus I've never seen Geet or her friends do anything bad in college.''
''Yeah,'' scoffed Nikhil, ''Sure in college they haven't. But every night at least one of them is drunk and I've seen them leave the pubs late around 2 or 3 am.''
'Well, Mr. Goody two shoes , how do you know that?'' Asked Raina mischievously.
''Oi, I live close to the happening area...don't blame me for living close to the happening place,'' he replied defensively.
''Ok , ok!''
''So do you know Geet closely? I've never seen her acknowledge any girl the way she acknowledges you. Old friendship?''
N:So, you've just been school mates huh?
R:Yeah. Even Mayank and Sid are from the same school. These 3 have been friends since then.
N:They were inseparable even then?
R:Yeah I suppose.
N: what is your opinion of Geet? Was she always as arrogant?'' Something about her attracted him. He didn't know what?
R: what makes you think she's arrogant.
N: well, you know a person by the company they keep.
R: She's not that arrogant. She's actually quite mischievous. She just doesn't give a damn much.
It's only Sid who's arrogant and that too he's not like that with Geet. Neither is Mayank. They have this facade only for the world around them. I think they share a much deeper friendship.
N: you sound almost fond of them.
R: to be honest I don't mind Geet or Mayank. It's Sid who annoys me and gets under my skin.
But they do pamper Geet a lot and she'll do anything for them too. Even her grand mom is very close to them.
N: hmm.
Raina: u knw s school, every year, they used to perform for teacher's day. Geet would perform a solo dance, and Mayank and Sid would perform together. She had a very vibrant personality. Her mum's death change-...
N: wait a minute. Did u just say that Geet dances?
R:yeah. Very well. But I haven't seen her perform for quite a while. I wonder if she does perform anymore. She's changed a lot since I first knew her...but then who doesn't.
An idea was slowly forming in NIkhil's mind. He didn't really know how to get it to work , but he was desperate and time was running out. It was time to act and do something before he got himself into trouble.
The teacher entered and class began. But Nikhil's attention was diverted. He kept coming up with ideas how to fulfil his game plan. AS soon as the bell rang, he told Raina he was meeting the principal and ran off.
He entered the Prici's office panting.
''Sir I've got an idea,'' he panted
Dr. Mehra smiled and said,'' good to hear Nikhil''
He relayed his idea and though Dr. Mehra was a little dubious about the plan, he too was desperate enough too. He knew Geet well and Mayank too, the only trouble he expected was from Sid.
However he thanked Nikhil.
SO what do you think happens next?Any guesses?
Chapter 4 - https://india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1663833&TPN=3
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Cricket
