"Pain and guilt tore through him. His soul was bleeding to death. He stood there, waiting to die. But such wounds were not fatal." - Diana Francis.
Remember, no wound is fatal. No matter what you think, you can be saved. :)
Chapter 5
The Abhorrent
Both of them refused to look away.
Randhir noticed how her eyes held fire in them. Already a shade so light, hazel, her eyes were shining in the sunlight coming from the window, making them golden orbs.
And it was unsettling... how hard it for him to stare back into her eyes. Like trying to look into some brilliant, blinding light...
But he wasn't going to look away. No... looking away was submissive. There was no way he was going to do that.
Just then someone close by cleared her throat.
"Randhir?"
It was Grace. When he didn't look or answer, she questioned him again. "Umm... is everything alright?"
Randhir finally looked away from Sanyukta, at Grace, but didn't say anything. He noticed that she was looking at him warily. Like she was scared he was about to break into a fight. She was standing with two other girls whom he knew to be this Sanyukta's friends. They were in the sick room with her.
Grace touched his arm.
"Kya hua?" she asked him softly.
"Nothing." Randhir told her. His eyes then met Sanyukta's again and were back to being ice cold. "It's nothing." He said again through gritted teeth, looking into her eyes. With a glance at Tami and Ela, he walked away.
"Can we sit first? Please?" Sanyukta was in no mood to discuss what had just happened. But Ela and Tami wouldn't let it go. The whole way from the class to the locker and to the Great Hall... they kept looking at her, expecting an explanation to the sudden change in her demeanour. Sanyukta was irked.
They walked up to the last row of tables and took the seats. The moment they sat down, Ela spoke.
"Fine... We are sitting. Now will you tell us what happened?"
Sanyukta didn't say anything. She began serving them food.
"Sanyukta?" Ela started again.
"Don't act like you guys weren't watching us like a hawk." Sanyukta said rudely.
Ela frowned. "Yeah, we saw... but we didn't hear a thing. Sanyu-"
Just then Tami nudged Ela sharply on her arm and shook her head, asking her to stop. She spoke then, "Sanyukta, we want to know what's wrong. We haven't ever seen you behave this way. With anyone. Not even with bitches like Vidushi. This is the first time we have seen you give such menacing looks to a person. Why are you so pissed off? Aisa kya kar diya usne?"
Sanyukta made a face.
"Wo... Wo..." Sanyukta searched for a word right enough to describe him. "Wo... Itna badtameez insaan maine aaj tak nhi dekha!" She finally spat.
Ela and Tami's eyes widened.
"Badtameez? Kya kiya usne?" Ela asked.
"Kahin usne tere saath kuch..." Tami started but Sanyukta shook her head. "Nahi nahi... waisa kuch nhi hai... but..." with a deep sigh, she finally began to replay her conversation with him.
"Hmm..." Tami said after listening to the entire thing. "That still doesn't justify the anger though. You guys could have ignored each other and just walked away instead of standing there and giving each other those killer looks."
When Sanyukta thought about it, she realized that in any other situation she would have done exactly that. She rarely argued with anyone... if she didn't like what she heard she chose to ignore it or walk away. Why couldn't she walk away from him then?
"Yeah it was like you guys were having a glaring match or something." Ela said. "Quite a few people in class were watching it with interest."
Sanyukta didn't say anything.
"By the way, did you guys see Grace with him? It's obvious there's a connection there." Tami said.
Yes, Sanyukta had noticed it too. After Randhir had walked away, Grace had given them an apologetic look and rushed to him. Her stance was protective . Like she wanted to protect him from whatever it was that was upsetting him.
"Oh no! Are they dating?!" Ela whispered dramatically.
"Oh no?! Forgotten Vaibhav already?" Tami smirked and nudged her.
Ela blushed. "No... Not for me! For you... Oh no for you... and Sanyukta."
Tami just raised her eyebrows and Sanyukta scowled. They began eating then. Sanyukta was glad that her IPCC classes wouldn't begin in another couple of days. They had their next period free.
The bell rang and just as the three of them got up, somebody came up from behind and caught Ela by her waist and twirled her around. Ela squealed and Tami and Sanyukta laughed.
"Vaibhav?! Oh My God! You are here?" She asked him, her eyes dancing in excitement.
"Yeah, I am!" He told her. Both of them hugged. Tami and Sanyukta smiled at each other.
"But you were going to come back tomorrow?" Ela asked him.
Vaibhav raised his eyebrows. "Fine ... I'll just go back then." He said that and began walking away. Ela pulled him back and hugged him again. Vaibhav was a popular, good looking guy from their batch who was kind and funny. He was also good friends with both Tami and Sanyukta.
Sanyukta smiled wider. It made her happy to see them so happy.
"Guess, we should just leave you guys alone then." Tami suggested snickering at the couple.
Vaibhav then broke away from Ela and hugged Tami. She asked him about his holidays and stuff. He looked at Sanyukta then, but made no move. Sanyukta smiled and said a polite hi to him. They began talking about his trip and all the fun he had had. He had gone to Singapore with his family for a vacation.
After their conversation, Ela excused herself and left with Vaibhav. Sanyukta and Tami went upstairs to Tami's dorm.
Sanyukta was checking out Tami's new wardrobe and looking at all her new clothes and accessories.
"Maine suna hai that this year's Fresher's Party is going to be amazing." Tami said. It was clear that she was really excited.
"What's so special about hundreds of students crammed in a reeking gym?" Sanyukta asked.
Tami puffed out her cheeks.
"Gosh! Tujhe pata nahi?! This isn't going to be like intermediate. College students apni Freshers Party alag se bhi manate hai! In a night club." She spoke as if she doubted whether Sanyukta would know what a night club was.
"Oh. Right." She remembered. The perks of being in college.
"School ki pheeki Freshers Party ke baad... weekend pe a real Freshers Party will be organised. It happens every year. All the batches celebrate the beginning this way."
"Haan haan pata hai... Waise who organizes them?"
"Yoyo. And this time ours will be managed by Adi." Tami answered.
Just then Ela came up. She was smiling in the way only Vaibhav could make her smile. Ela had harboured a secret love for him for ages. It was just 5 months back when she finally mustered the courage and told him about her feelings. She has been on cloud nine ever since.
"So where did you guys make out this time? Under the bleachers?" Tami wiggled her eyebrows. Ela reached out and slapped her shoulder.
"Aisa kuch nahi hai.." she told them blushing. "Vaibhav just wanted to give me this." She held out a package which was unwrapped.
Sanyukta quickly took it from her and examined. "It's beautiful." She said.
"Mujhe dikha!" Tami snatched it away.
"I know right!" Ela was giddy with joy. "He's so amazing..." She said dreamily.
Vaibhav had gifted her a beautiful studded bracelet. Tami wrapped it around Ela's wrist and Sanyukta clasped it. All three of them examined the jewellery on Ela's hand with smiles.
Bimbos...
Randhir saw a couple of senior girls looking at him and whispering. It was dinner time. He had been annoyed throughout his day. He didn't know why, he just was. Everything about the place was tedious. The teachers were so... regular. They came, they lectured, they left. Hardly interesting. Everything seemed dull and boring. It was his first day here and he was already feeling the monotony set it. Even the food. It was good, but again, regular. He couldn't remember a moment when he had felt... challenged.
Except when...
Suddenly Sanyukta's eyes flashed across his mind.
What the hell?
He immediately chided his brain. None of the people here were of any importance to him. They were nothing, they didn't matter.
"I'm seriously going to have to end things with Tanya." Karan sighed while picking up his spoon.
"You are going to break up?" Nick asked him incredulously.
"She's acting all weird. The day I told her I was coming here... since then she has become like my mom or something. You don't know the girls there... You need to be careful... they are this, they are that...'" Karan mimicked his girlfriend's words. "She keeps calling and messaging every waking moment of the day." and just then, as if to prove the point, his cell phone buzzed. "See?" he showed the phone to Randhir and Karan. It said that he had received a new message from Tanu.
"Getting on my nerves."
Randhir scoffed. "She was always like that, wasn't she? Why don't you just say that you've found someone closer here ... instead of making excuses."
Karan looked at them innocently.
"Oh please..." Nikhil said rolling his eyes. "That look might work with Tanya, not with us."
Karan snickered then. "Yeah you are right. I'm just making excuses. But we were over a long while back. And anyways, this Vidushi... the girl from West Tower... she has been showing interest... and she's hot!"
"Wow. That's so gentlemanly of you Karan. Way too subtle man!" Nick taunted him. "You dump your girlfriend of five months for a hot girl you only just met?... that's our brother!" He said thumping his back, his voice laced with sarcasm.
Karan shrugged his shoulders.
"Kamina, tu nahi badlega..." Nick told him.
Karan laughed. "Kamina toh main hoon. Ab har koi Randhir jaisa Maryada Purushottam' toh nahi ho sakta na! And by the way, Tanu and me have been together only for four months, not five."
"That's a lot of time, considering this kameena's standards." Latika laughed.
"Hey RD? Why you not eating?" she asked him from across her seat when she saw his food untouched.
"Because I'm not hungry?" He said, making it obvious.
"No, because you are annoyed."
"Yeah, I wonder why?" He said eyeing her.
Latika ignored his jibe and continued smiling. "Why though?"
Randhir didn't answer.
"Is it because of Sanyukta?" she asked. Randhir dropped his spoon and glared at her.
"Can you for once mind your own business?" he asked her.
"Oh, you are my business RD! I am your best friend, remember? I happen to be the first girl, apart from your sister, you ever talked to. And-"
"I still regret it you know."
"Oh, don't be a grumpy guy!" She said in mock exasperation. She always spoke in a sing-song voice which made her even more annoying than she already was. "Tell me what happened. Grace here tells me about some sort of a glaring match between you and Sanyukta? Why the hate... Jesus!"
Randhir turned and looked beside him at Grace. She shrugged apologetically.
"She's a nice girl you know." Latika told him as a matter of fact.
"Then perhaps you should eat with your new, nice roommates instead of sitting here and annoying the hell out of us." Randhir suggested.
"Oh common RD. Don't be so jealous." She smiled at him.
Randhir frowned at her.
"Waise, your girl is kinda pretty man! Try your luck..." Karan said.
"Okay... can we please not have this discussion..." Randhir narrowed his eyes.
"I have to admit he's right Randhir. Aur waise bhi, it's all really filmy don't you think?" Nick put in.
"Okay, if you guys really think so... well then I hope you enjoy disappointment because-"
"Hey... Edward Cullen!" Latika said excitedly.
Grace almost turned around. "Where?"
"No... what RD said... that's what Edward says when Bella asks him about how he saved her from that van Tyler was driving on that snow covered-"
"You are so annoying Lats. I think I need to take you to the doctor or something..." Randhir said.
"Arre! But aisa hi-"
"Tum kuch keh rhe the...?" Grace asked Randhir, stopping their banter.
Randhir sighed heavily.
"Tum logon ko kya lag rha hai... ki kal maine usse bacha liya toh mere andar uske feelings jag uthegi? Pyaar ho jayega mujhe usse?"
Karan and Latika shrugged.
"That's what happens in all those TV shows Rids and Nimi watch..." Nick told him.
"This isn't a TV show. This is freakkin' reality. I don't do all that bullshit." Somehow this simple teasing was annoying him more than it should have. His temper was rising.
"Aur... waise... I don't think... I mean, Love is not an accident." Grace said hesitantly trying to side with Randhir. He looked at her.
"Love is nothing. It's just a stupid excuse for losers who mess up their lives. Iss duniya me koi kisi ka nahi hota." With that Randhir got up and moved towards his room upstairs. He heard Nikhil scold Latika for irritating him and spoiling things. But this wasn't Latika's fault. This is who he was. This was what he knew.
He reached his room, shrugged out of his jacket and sat down on his bed with a thump.
Almost immediately he started feeling guilty for behaving so obnoxiously. The self loathe he was filled with began to surface. He wished he wasn't so complicated. He wished he was normal and his friends could be comfortable around him and tease him like everyone else's... without having to bother about his issues.
He wished he was any other person on this planet. Anyone else other than Randhir Singh Shekhawat.
His cell phone buzzed and he absentmindedly picked up the call without looking at the id.
"Hello?"
"Hello mere bhai!"
"Bhaiya?"
"Waah... do din hue Dilli se nikle hue aur, sahabzaade hume bhool bhi gaye?"
Randhir rolled his eyes.
"Bhaiya..."
"Uske aage bhi kuch bolega? Kaise hai tu?"
"Main theek hoon. Aapne Riddhi se baat ki?"
"Haan... she seems very happy. She's loving the place."
"Yeah... she is."
"Aur tu? Tu khush hai na?"
Randhir didn't answer.
"Dekh main tujhse bada hoon aur iss naate keh rha hoon... apne life ko jo tune iss taraf kaid kar ke rakha hai na... tu ye theek nahi kar rha. Don't let the past ruin your present Randhir. Kab tak apne aap ko ek hi baat ki saza dega...? Remember, you can't drive well while looking into the rear-view mirror."
Randhir didn't know what to say. The past, the present... everything... he had ruined all of it a long way back. He didn't even like the idea of someone calling the meaningless events involving him, a life. He didn't deserve a life. He didn't have one. But he knew that saying that to your elder brother would not be such a good idea.
"Aap bataiye... kaisi chal rhi hai aapki training?"
His brother on the line just sighed. Randhir was back to feeling guilty. All these people cared for him, even when he didn't deserve it, and yet he couldn't give them the slightest amount of happiness. He knew his brother was upset that he chose to ignore what he had just said.
"All going well... I'll be ready to fly very soon."
Randhir smiled for what seemed like the first time in the day. It was his brother's dream to be a pilot and it made him happy to see that he was so close to it.
"Randhir, mom dad puch rahe the tere baare me... tune unse baat nahi ki kya?" he asked in a disapproving tone
"Call kiya tha... to inform them that I was here-"
"Randhir unse baat kar... baat karne ke liye... kuch inform karne ke liye nahi." He told him gently.
Randhir realized his mistake. "Haan bhaiya..." he said feeling ashamed of himself yet again.
"Chal I need to go. Take care of Riddhi and yourself."
Randhir laughed.
"What?" his brother seemed shocked.
"Wo... aap itne responsibly baat kar rhe ho... sunne me ajeeb lag rha hai." Randhir explained smirking.
His brother scoffed.
"Yeah whatever. Remember what I said. Take care. Bye!"
"Bye..."
Randhir looked at his phone and Dhruv Bhaiya's photo in the caller id. If there was any person in this world he was closest to, it was him. He always listened to him. And so, now, he needed to call his parents and have a relevant conversation with them.
As he was about to call, he saw the time. It was 9:30. They would be in flight now. Tomorrow morning, he decided.
He heard a bell ring somewhere. Dinner time was over. Wishing he had eaten something, he changed into his pajamas and prepared to sleep. Students had begun filing into the room.
"Dhruv Bhaiya ka call tha?" Karan asked him.
He and Nick had just entered the dorm.
"Tujhe kaise pata?" Randhir asked him surprised.
"Kaise hai wo?" Nick asked him, ignoring his question.
Just then they heard a hi' somewhere close by. Randhir turned in time to see the guy standing near them with a polite smile.
"Hi... we didn't get a chance to introduce ourselves last night. I'm Parth. Parth Kashyap." He said smiling kindly. Though Randhir knew that this guy probably knew his name already, he still said it.
"Randhir Singh Shekhawat."
Parth nodded. "This is Sahil." He said pointing to a guy standing beside him. The guy smiled and nodded.
"I am Karan Singhania."
"Hi... Nikhil Oberoi."
Just then Jignesh came rushing towards them.
"Hello... Myself Jignesh." He said excitedly, adjusting his thick glasses.
"Main St. Laurels se hoon. Randhir bhai ke school se. Hum log pehle se hi friends hai." He said giving Randhir those lovesick looks that made him want to puke. Karan and Nick looked at each other and winked, inwardly laughing at his expense.
"That's really nice..." Parth smiled. "I thought that... now that we are sharing the dorm, we should be better acquainted. Hey Mayank! Idhar aa na!" He called out to the other guy. The one who, like them, was new here. Randhir hadn't seen him interacting with anyone even once. The guy looked up nervously and came forward. "This is Mayank Jain." Parth introduced him and then looked at him wanting him to speak.
"Hi..." he mumbled. The guy was tall, fair and his face was almost childlike. But what was most striking about him was his expression. His face seemed to have fixed itself in a permanent set of lines which always made him look afraid.
"Where are you from?" Karan asked him.
"Ahmedabad." He answered silently.
All the 7 guys then stood there looking at each other. Nick broke the silence and asked Parth something about the Supreme Council. He happily began explaining how the whole thing worked. It seemed to a big deal. There was going to be a special assembly' the next day for the announcement of Supreme Council Members. All the posts were decided upon by the teachers. That is, except the School President. Only the fourth year students were allowed to stand for this post and all the other intermediate and college students would vote for the candidate they wanted to see as the Pres. For this year's President voting has already been done the previous fall. They will announce the name along with the entire Supreme Council.
What meaningless drama! Randhir thought. There were even House captains and there would be competitions between these houses and a house cup at the end of the year. Really? Like how old are we? Twelve?
"Hamara South Tower Captain toh Parth hi banega. Everyone knows that the teachers will choose him. It's like this open secret." Sahil said while patting Parth's shoulder.
Randhir mentally scoffed.
This is worse than high school.
Mayank by then had left and settled in a corner all hunched and scared. All the guys made some small talk. Randhir was frequently questioned about how he liked this place and everything which irked him a lot. As if he could actually answer and tell them how boring and stupid he thought this place and its people were. He told them that it was all fine'. Everyone soon drifted off to their cubicles.
Randhir laid awake for quite some time thinking about his first day at MCA.
"You still awake?" Latika asked her from her own cubicle.
"Shh... The others will wake up!" Sanyukta whispered.
"What are you doing?" She whispered back.
"Nothing. Just reading..."
The lights had been out long back, but Sanyukta wasn't able to sleep... so now she was sitting under the bed sheet making it a tent and reading a novel with the help of the torch light in her mobile.
"What are you reading?"
"Dan Brown." Sanyukta answered distractedly.
"Oh. Cool. I think Dan Brown-"
"You have read Dan Brown's work?"
Latika didn't seem the books and reading type.
"No... I don't have the patience to read an entire book. I prefer watching movies."
Sanyukta smiled at her guess being right. To each their own.
"But I love watching suspense and thrillers. Dan Brown writes mysteries right?"
Sanyukta realized that Latika wasn't going to let her read in peace. And anyway, she had already read this book. Besides, she sounded weird. She was worried about something.
"Yeah." Sanyukta answered. She asked her then "Is everything alright?"
After a pause she answered, "Yeah... why?"
Sanyukta didn't push it. "Nahi... just aisehi..."
She sighed then. "I was just thinking about Randhir you know..." she said in a sad tone.
Sanyukta's heart began thumping erratically. Feigning disinterest she mumbled an "Oh."
"Yeah... I'm just worried about him. What he's doing to himself..."
It seemed like she was talking to herself, but Sanyukta heard every single word. What is that supposed to mean?
"Umm... I think I should just sleep. Goodnight Sanyukta." She said hurriedly.
What he's doing to himself'?'
What?
"Here are the pamphlets. Ye le." Tami took a bunch of papers from the girl handing them out and passed them on to everyone on their breakfast table.
~~!*Freshers Party for MCA's brand new 1st year college goers.*!~~
All the students who have had the fortune to begin their college in Mount Carmel Academy this year are cordially invited to the 1st Year's Fresher's Party.
Theme: Men in Black. Ladies in Red.
Venue: MCA Gymnasium {Univ. Campus}
Day: 11th April 2014 Friday.
Time: Evening 7pm.
Please dress appropriately.
Organisers: Supreme Council 2013-2014;
Navya Upadhyay {Cultural Secretary}
Helpful Volunteers: Aditya Randhawa, Parth Kashyap, Vidushi Kumar, Tanvi Sharma, Aditi Gupta...
There were a bunch of other names on the list. When it came to parties and celebrations the students of MCA were always quite helpful.
"Men in Black? Ladies in Red? How original..." Tami rolled her eyes.
"This was all we could get. The teachers didn't agree to any of my suggestions!" Adi replied with mock sadness.
"And... what were they?"
"Umm... Shirtless guys, bikini clad girls in a pool party? Something around those lines!" he replied cheekily.
All his friends on the table cheered him with hoots!
But don't you guys worry! Iss baari school Freshers Party bhi dhaasu hogi!" Adi grinned.
"And what about the real freshers Party?" Ela asked him.
"Ela... lets just say that the real freshers party will create history. It will be remembered for a long, long time." he told her dramatically.
"Dekhte hai..." She raised her eyebrows.
Just then Sanyukta looked up and saw him. Randhir Singh Shekhawat, getting in from the main door into the Great hall.
Where had he gone this early?
Soon Sanyukta realized that she wasn't the only one who was looking at him. Quite a few girls on the table were watching him with obvious interest. She quickly averted her eyes. She wasn't going to worship this guy like all the other girls.
A loud gasp interrupted her thought and she immediately looked up. Latika was holding on to Randhir by clasping both her hands on his neck from behind and almost dangling by his tall figure. He was bent a little to his right and looked shocked for a second until realization dawned on his features. He rolled his eyes and caught her hands on his neck and freed himself from her clutch. He turned around and told her something in a disapproving expression. She smiled back at him sheepishly and then with a sadder expression said something to him. His features softened and he shook his head, disagreeing with what she had just said. He added something else which made Latika smile brightly. She opened her arms and was about to hug him by his waist then when he held both her hands and stopped her. Latika sighed shrugging her shoulders and resolved by holding his arm as they walked and then sat down at the table.
Sanyukta looked away then. Tanvi, Ishika, Priyanka had hurt expressions on their faces. They all probably thought that Randhir and Latika were lovers. Well, she for one didn't really care.
The bell rang then. All the students quickly stuffed last bites into their mouths and rushed for classes. Grace and Latika came up behind them making their way. Just as Sanyukta, Tami and Ela were walking towards the class corridors a small girl came up running to them, out of breath.
"Elakshi Rao?"
"Ela." She corrected her reflexively. She didn't like it when people called her by her full name.
"And Latika Mehra?" Sanyukta and Tami turned to see a surprised Latika stop in her tracks.
"Yeah..." she answered the girl furrowing her brows. Grace was standing next to her looking confused.
"Professor Vijaya wants to meet you both in the staff room." With that she left the place.
Ela looked at Sanyukta and Tami in doubt. Sanyukta racked her brain. Had she done anything to upset the ill-tempered teacher?
"I didn't do anything!" Ela answered her unspoken question. Sanyukta would have laughed if this wasn't such a serious situation. Pr. Vijaya loved torturing students, specially the three of them. She didn't leave a single opportunity to get them busted. This definitely was trouble.
"We'll come with you." Tami said.
"Did you do something to get yourself in trouble?" Grace asked Latika sternly.
"Nothing that I'm aware of."
"Its fine. Common... lets see what is it that she wants." Sanyukta motioned the two to join them.
"Yeah... lets get this over with." Ela sighed.
They reached the staff rooms and were about to enter room 1 when they saw Pr. Vijaya emerging out of room 3. On seeing them she hurried towards them looking angry as always.
Without letting them enter she stopped infront of the Staff room window and faced them.
"Arrived with an entourage, have you?" She asked Ela scornfully. Sanyukta and the girls had thought that Ela and Latika would enter the staff room and the others would wait outside for them. Who knew that mam wouldn't even let them step inside.
None of the girls said anything.
"I called only Elakshi and Latika... but as you three have very nicely accompanied them... it would be good if you understand me too!"
Uh-oh.
"Miss Mehra, I would like to address you first... I saw you today morning with Mr. Shekhawat."
Oh... So this is what its all about. Sanyukta almost rolled her eyes. She immediately imagined what she was about to say next.
"Let me warn you that this is strictly against MCA's rules and cultures." She stopped and waited for Latika to say something... but she looked clueless.
"Umm... So? I mean what is against MCA's rules and cultures?" she asked the teacher innocently.
Sanyukta tut-tutted mentally. Never question back an angry teacher when she's questioning you.
Pr. Vijaya looked flabbergasted. Her expression then turned to one which indicated that she was highly pissed off. Sanyukta had an urge to shield Latika. But to her surprise she saw the teacher compose herself and take a deep breath. Something she hadn't ever see her do in eight years.
"Well... Miss Mehra... it is against MCA's rules to have relationships and date and display it publicly. It is-"
"What?" it was Latika's turn to look flabbergasted.
"Excuse me?"
"NO!... I mean no. Ugh. Really... nooo. That's like... Chhhiii. Really... I mean its not like that. That's like... so gross. There is nothing between me and him. Nothing like thaaat. That's like... Ew. It'd be gross on so many levels. Yeah... I mean we are best friends. But I practically know him since we were in diapers. The whole thing just sounds so damn-"
Grace nudged her. Latika looked at her and then back at the teacher. Sanyukta was having the hardest time controlling the laughter threatening to explode out of her. This was hilarious. And the expression on mam's face was priceless. Sanyukta didn't dare look at Ela and Tami... she knew that looking at them would totally ruin her control and she would burst out giggling.
"Well... whatever it is... you are not allowed to hug boys like that. You are a girl... you should know-"
"Jeez! Relax. It was just a hug... a friendly, apologising hug. That's it. Nothing else." Latika replied and then added in an undertone. "RD was right. He had guessed these people will..."
Sanyukta was quite surprised that Pr. Vijaya hadn't shouted till then. Whoever Latika's dad was... was really quite influential.
"You may leave." She said.
Grace and Latika walked away from them. Mam looked at Ela then and the fury returned back into her eyes.
"Are you going to give the same excuse Miss Rao? What were you doing yesterday in the Great Hall with Vaibhav Roy? This is a school. Not a club! Don't you have any dignity that a girl should possess? Girls need to know their limits... they need to understand..."
This is what always angered Sanyukta. Girls should know... Girls should understand...' Why? Why always girls? What is it with these people? If two people are in a relationship, why are only girls given the talk'? Why is it that boys are never scolded or given lectures? Aren't they to be equally blamed, if not more? This is what is the mentality of this society. If dating is against rules then shouldn't the boys be made aware of that as much as girls? Most of the time its them asking girls out. Why are girls blamed always? Why are women held responsible for everything?
Sanyukta knew better than to argue or say anything. She has been there, done that. Arguing never sorted out anything. With teachers, it only made things worse. She had suffered a lot for it a couple of years back. It was better to hear out things from one ear and let them out from the other.
"Where were you both?" Randhir asked Latika and Grace as they met the guys in the Great Hall for lunch. Latika grimaced. "You were right... about this morning." She told him everything about her meeting with the teacher in the staff room. Randhir tried hard not to lose his cool.
"Kya kaha tha maine?! Tu samajhti kyu nahi? Kaha tha na..."
"Randir please... aur waise bhi... I wasn't there alone. Sanyukta and friends were there too. Mam probably scolded Ela too. Her boyfriend came back yesterday and she probably hugged him or something. I mean how stupid is this? Which era are we living in... Pathetic...This is so not..."
Randhir looked over to the other table at Sanyukta and her friends. They all had sombre expressions on their faces. Randhir looked back at Latika and Grace. "Let it go... what the people here say or think doesn't matter. Eat." Nick and Karan agreed and together they diverted the topic. This was a new place. He knew it would take time to set in the crowd. They all ate in comfortable silence till the bell rang. Randhir had his economics class. The five of them reached to their lockers and took out their necessary books and headed for class. Karan and Grace accompanied Randhir.
Randhir entered and sat down on the second bench today with Grace. Karan sat down behind them. The girl, Vidushi came around smiling and sat down next to him. Just then Sanyukta and her friends entered class and rushed to the last seat. It was probably settled as theirs for nobody else ever sat there.
As the three hurried behind, Sanyukta's pencil and books fell down on the way. Her pencil landed right and Randhir's feet. Their eyes met and in that instance he felt the same pull he had felt yesterday. He had difficulty in staring back... but at the same time he couldn't look away. She broke the gaze this time and bent down to pick up her books. Randhir, who was seated, bent a little and picked up the pencil. His gaze then landed at Sanyukta's neck. On the side of her neck, just below her hairline... there was a faint scar. A thin, bent line paler than her skin. It was almost white in colour. Usually it would be hidden by her hair or cloth, but right then he could clearly see it. Oblivious to Randhir's staring, without speaking or looking at him Sanyukta opened her palm, demanding her pencil back. Randhir, finally averting his gaze, looked at her palm and silently dropped the pencil in her hand. Just then the teacher entered the class. Sanyukta quickly stood up and rushed behind.
What was that?
The image of the scar floated in Randhir's mind.
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Edited by Na1na - 11 years ago
Debate Mansion
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