Warrior High-Vibarth (continued CHAPTER 3)

Warrior High-Vibarth:Chapter 3

Vibha sat down, taking a long sigh. It had been a long day. First of all, the classes were canceled due to snow. The weather forecast informed that they were to expect more snow this evening. Because, the classes were canceled, Vibha had to go to the girls' dormitory and get a headcount of the girls. Next, she had to make sure that every girl was doing something productive in their day off. This meant, making sure the girls ate at mesh(some girls were in the habit of starving themselves to maintain their impossible dress sizes), checking the girls were studying or doing their homework, and not bickering with each other. Vibha practically babysat these bunch of estrogen fueled teen girls who loved nothing more than a good gossip. Snow or no snow, in Warrior High, teachers were on the clock year-round. On top of that, the cold weather made every task difficult tenfold. The acting principal, Ms Urmila Rajput was away, that meant everything rested on the handful of teachers, and Ms Kamini Ma'am, who was the school in-charge at the moment. Ms. Kamini Ma'am wasn't exactly an easy person to work with. In fact, when Vibha had first arrived in Warrior High, Kamini had made sure that Vibha be kicked out of school. However, Vibha had persisted, and taken each snide comment with a smile on her face. Eventually, Kamini had gotten tired and given up entirely.

"Vibha, everything alright?"Mr Rishab sir asked, walking in with a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Yes sir. Thank you." Vibha replied back.

Just then Ms. Kamini Chitralekha Singh, walked in, much to both Vibha's and Mr. Rishabh's disappointment.

"Kya baat chal rahi hain yahan, aadarniya Rishabh aur Vibha-ji?"

Kamini Ma'am had a tendency to make everything sound like an accusation. Even now, her upturned nose, and snobby attitude, made Vibha instantly dread that moment.

"Kuch bhi to nahi, Kamini ji. Hum toh sirf aaj ka weather ki baat kar rahe the. Sunne mein aaya hain ki, aaj shaam ko aur barf parni wali hai," said Mr. Rishabh, immediately jumping on Vibha's defense. By now, every faculty knew of Ms. Kamini Maam's not-so-veiled dislike for Vibha.

"Achha toh thik hai. Rishabh ji, kripya kya aap ek karya kar sakte hai? Woh library mein ladko ka jhund padi hain, aap waha jaakar pata lagaye ki woh ladke kya kar rahe hain. Mujhe yein ladko ka bilkul bhi bharosa nahi hain, pata nahi is chutti mein woh kya yojana bana rahein hain."

"Ji bilkul, Kamini ji."

Having said that, Rishab sir immediately set out for the library. Vibha's heart sank as she watched Rishabh sir leave. Kamini had waited for them to be alone before pouncing on her.

"Toh Vibha ji." Kamini purred, like a cat playing with the helpless mouse before the final kill.

"Aap kain liye bhi kuch karya hain mere paas. Aasha karti hu ki ye karya aap atyanta imaandaari ki saath karenge."

Vibha nodded, lost for words. She had no idea what Kamini Ma'am had in store for her.

"Vibha ji aap pichle hafte aap ki kaksha ke sath bhraman karne gayi thi na? Toh aap aur aapki kakshya ne vidyalaya ki kuch samaan bhi saath main layethe. Main sahi bol rahi huna?"

Vibha gave a cautionary nod.

"Par ma'am humne woh jitne bhi samaan laya thein, woh humne sab school k storage mein rakh diye hain."

Kamini snorted, sending a chill down Vibha's back.

"Vibha ji, maine toh apni baat puri khatam bhi nahi kiya aur aap bich mein hi bolne lagi. Aap ko sunna pasand nahi hain kya?"

Vibha gulped. Shit.

"I'm sorry ma'am."

Kamini smirked, clearly relishing the sight of watching Vibha whimper.

"Chalo koi baat nahin. Toh main kya baat kar rahi thi? Ha, wo pichle hafte aap ne jo samaan laye thein bhraman mein, un samaanoka suchee mere paas hain," Kamini stated, handing out the list to Vibha.

"Toh mein soch rahi thi ki aap kripya bhandara mein jakar sunischit kare ki sab saaman unki jagah mein hain."

Vibha's heart sank even further as she went through the list. Kamini Ma'am even had "2 Printer Papers" in her list. She came to an awful realization that Kamini Ma'am had never quit trying to make her life miserable. Vibha had been too relaxed, too carefree, she had let down her guard, and Kamini had pounced right then. Vibha cursed inwardly, why had she ever thought that Kamini would ever give up?

"Par ma'am, is list mein diya huwa sab samaan ko check karna hai toh raat dhal jaayegi. Waise bhi hamari storage room, school ground se kitne door hain. Aur aapko to pata hi hoga, weather aur bhi kharab honi wali hai."

Kamini smirked again, wearing a "I told you to be wary of me" face.

"Vibha ji ab tak toh aap jaan gaye honge ki is vidhyalaya mein, sikshako din raat kaam karte hain. Aur jo shikshak mehnat nahi karsakte hain, un sikshako k liye yeha koi jagah nahi hai. Ye ek taar bahaana dekar, kya aap mujhe ye batana chahti hain ki Warrior High mein aapki koi jagah hi nahin?"

The nerve of this woman! Vibha screamed inside.

"Thik hain ma'am, aap agar kehti hain toh mein abhi nikalti hun. Waise bhi aap hamari SENIOR hain, toh aap ki baat maanna meri duty hai."

It was evident on Kamini's acetic expression that being called "Senior" didn't go down too well with her. No woman wanted to be called aged and wrinkled.

Vibha headed for the door, muttering a silent prayer. She hoped she could make it back to the school compound before dusk. She didn't want to get caught up in the snowstorm.

"Vibha ji, suniye. Jane se pehle aap kuch garm kapade pehan lijiyega. Is mausam mein, aapko ko sardi lag sakti hain."

Vibha shook her head and headed for the storage building.

******************************************************************************

"Achha Utkarsh tujhe khane mein kya pasand hain?"

Parth and Utkarsh were in their dormitory along with other boys they shared their room with. It was after dinner and the boys were preparing for bed or whatever they were planing after lights out. Utkarsh was sitting on Parth's chair, fiddling with the Rubix cube, which once belonged to Parth's dad. It was all part of Parth's grand scheme to help Utkarsh recover from his assault. Parth hoped that asking his mom to send whatever food Utkarsh liked would please him and stop him from brooding over things. Even though food was not exactly a solution to the problem, it was at least a step towards the right direction. And anyway, ninety percent of all Utkarsh's problems could be solved with food.

"Khana!!! Tujhe kya batao Parth. Khane k liye toh mein jeeta hun. Pata hain anath ashram mein jab bhi kisi ka birthday hota tha, toh hum sabko ek ek rasgulla milta tha. Woh rasgulle ki taste tujhe kya batao Parth. Aisa lagta tha ki I've died and gone to heaven. Ab bhi un rasgulle ko soch kar, mukh mein paani aa raha hai yaar."

Rasgulla. Duly noted.

Parth made a mental note to ask his mom to send some of those, next time she called.

"Hahahahahahahahaha."

The rest of the boys in Parth's dormitory erupted into a gleeful laughter in something they were talking about. Parth shook his head. They were always discussing about things that were absolutely unenlightening. Parth had long ago given up the idea of befriending any of those spoilt rich brats.

Siddharth Rajput, Sid as he liked to call himself, aka "The-Guy-I'd-Like-To-Bash-His-Head-In", according to Parth, aka "The-Guy-Whose-Head-Is-So-Far-Up-His-Ass", according to Utkarsh, was the one who was telling the joke that made the rest of the boys erupt in raucous laughter.

Utkarsh stared at them with pure disgust. Parth shook his head, and asked his friend to not pay attention.

"Waise tumhe hamare class ki ladki oh mein se, kaun sabse hot lagti hain?"

Retarded Punks. Parth said in his head.

"Isha yaar. Upar se niche tak kitne hot hain yaar," said one of the goons.

"Simi ko dekha hai tune. Yaar kya lagti hain," said another.

"Mujhe toh koi interesting nai lagi," Charlie, joined in.

"Aur Sid tu, tujhe toh Krisanne hi hot lagti hain na, am I right?"

"Ha, hot to hain woh lekin Siyali..."

Paarth could sense Utkarsh tense below him.

" Kuch toh hain usme. Makeover karale toh woh, she can look good."

"Grow up guys. Trust me. Short skirts se hot sari hoti hain. Seriously. Aur hamari Vibha

ma'am..."

Parth's head immediately jerked towards the group of boys as soon as he heard her name.

"Kya hain woh. Unke lambe lambe baal. Kya figure hai yaar unka. Kya lagti hai yaar. Dekha hai tumhe kabhi yaar."

It all happened in split seconds. Later, Parth would only recall bits and pieces of the episode like mental snapshots that were blurred out. Utkarsh and the boys would remember Parth, walking up to Rahul in two swift strides, forcefully turning him around and throwing an uppercut, that made Rahul's head snap straight up. Rahul did not have time to react, instead, a series of punches rained down on him. The boys, and Utkarsh, stood transfixed, unable to register the gravity of the scene before them then once that moment had passed, the boys came to Rahul's rescue. There were shouts and screams, as they tried to restrain Parth, who was lost in a trance. The scariest part wasn't the blood on the floor, or Rahul's wrecked face; it was the steely look on Parth's face, the hollowed out expression as if Parth had disappeared, and instead, a machine had taken his place, designed to kill. For the first time, Utkarsh could see real fear in their faces. The lone wolf. The hunter. Parth didn't need anybody. He was enough.

Parth's knuckles were red and raw. The animal rage he had felt earlier had yet to be dissipated. He was breathing so fast that he could feel the room spinning. Somewhere, he could hear Utkarsh's voice. It sounded terrified, almost hysterical.

Parth needed to get out. He needed to leave the scene or he would end up doing something worse. His anger had begun to terrify even himself.

"Parth! Kya kar raha hain? Tujhe pata bhi hai tu kya kar raha hain?"

Parth headed for the door, still trembling. He'd begun to hyperventilate.

"Ka jaa raha hai? Tune kya kiya tujhe pata toh hai?" Utkarsh screamed at him, attempting to block the door.

"Jaan lunga mein, agar kisi ne unke bare mein is tarah se baat kara."

Having said that Parth got out of the door and into the cold air. He was still breathing heavily. He needed to walk, to get away from that motherf**ker. It took every fibre in his body to restrain himself from going back inside and beating the living crap out of him. Parth climbed down the staircase and headed towards the football ground. The night air was chilly, his breaths came out in wisps of cloud as he walked. The white expanse of snow illuminated in the dark night as Parth walked wordlessly. The only sound he could hear was the snow crunching in his boots as he walked. Weren't they expecting a snowstorm tonight?

f**k it. He'd walk anyway. As Parth walked in the soundless night, his rage gradually began to calm down. Little by little, his senses came back to him, and Parth instantly regretted the fight earlier. He shouldn't have hit Rahul. He should have controlled his anger. He was probably going to be kicked out of school again. Shit. His poor mother. Her mother's husband, on the other hand, would probably gloat in happiness.

Parth had no sense of direction. He had no idea how far he should walk or if he should just go back. After the incident earlier, he was in no mood to go back to his dorm.

Flakes of fresh snow began falling from the night sky, and grew larger as Parth walked. Yep the storm was definitely coming. Parth could see the storage building in a distance, isolated from the main school compound. He'd have to spend the night there because he was too far from the school compound now, and the snow was coming down hard and fast. Parth increased his pace to almost a jog. He'd deal with the consequences of his actions tomorrow. Reality could wait.

As the weather grew worse, Parth started running towards the storage building in full sprint. The wind hit his face as icy specks of white continued to descend from the sky in full force.

Parth finally reached the building and opened the door. Thankfully, the door was unlocked. It had not occurred to him, in his rage, that they might lock the door.

Parth closed the door behind him and stood there, resting for a while. He was exhausted. The fight and the run had physically drained him. He could hear something on his right. It must be a mouse or a cat or both. No human would be stupid enough to come here at this time of night. Besides him, of course. Parth stealthily walked towards the source of sound, hoping to catch it. The floorboard creaked treacherously beneath him. There was a sudden movement and a shriek and then,

"Vibha ma'am?"