The touch of her skin made Rishav conscious of himself. He was careful not to move his knee too much in case he lost contact. It was the first time that they had been sitting so close and Sahana didn’t move away immediately. There was this urge to kiss her, to hold her close and tell her that he loved her. Rishav felt the warmth of Sahana’s skin; it was triggering off all kinds of chemical reactions in his body. All he wanted to do was hold her hands and just as his hands were crawling up to hers – they heard footsteps. Sahana immediately pushed her chair back.
A head peeped into the classroom, “Rishav, right?” the boy asked in a tone of urgency.
“Yes, yes, I am Rishav,” he said. Sahana turned to look at the boy. He was someone from Vanya’s class.
“Come quick,” the boy said. “Why?”
“Your friend, Siddhant needs your help!”
“What? Kya hua?” Rishav asked. “Just come, okay?” saying this, the boy turned around and made a dash for his section.
“Sahana, wait here, I’ll be back,” Rishav Sen made his way across the hallway towards the Commerce sections.
*
Muskaan Kaur studied Siddhant carefully. She narrowed her eyebrows and peered deep into Siddhant’s eyes. Hers were as cold as it could get, they contained no expression other than that of spite and hatred towards any student who she deemed to be unfit of being a Delhite.
“You scoffed at one of the members of my staff? How dare you?” she said.
Siddhant chose to remain silent. Even speaking hurt his jaws. Why the fuck doesn’t this lady get that? He said to himself.
Suraj Singh stood at one corner of Muskaan’s palatial room, hands on his hips – displaying great quantities of mock indignation. It was like one of those famous Hindi lines, kuch bhi karne ka lekin Suraj Singh ka ego hurt nahin karne ka!
Muskaan walked in exact concentric circles around Siddhant while she delivered a monologue on how important it was to respect ‘her’ staff.
“I got beaten up ma’am,” Siddhant protested.
“Well you deserved it!” “You think you could get away by being bold enough to scoff at a respected teacher? You are a moron and you rightfully deserve this treatment. I don’t want you to whine to every other teacher about how badly you were beaten. Is that clear?”
Yeah right, Siddhant thought.
“I want to hear it loud and clear Dalvi. You are not supposed to go and whine alright? You should know I have a lot of influence in this Managing Committee and Suraj has the right phone numbers in his contact list. You better be careful next time if you don’t want to jeopardize your career.”
Siddhant wanted to scream out in frustration. He wanted to tell them how big cunts they were but all that he managed was a faint yes ma’am.
Suraj Singh chuckled.
“You may leave Siddhant, Suraj can I have a word with you in private?” she asked.
“Zi Ma’am, why not? Sure,” he replied courteously.
As Siddhant turned the door knob, Suraj, who was within his hearing range hissed something that sounded similar to ‘aam-chutiya’. Siddhant turned a deaf ear and silently walked out.
*
Jai Chauhan smirked his way to the Physics laboratory. He found Suraj Singh sitting in one corner instructing a few students about how to go about verifying the Ohm’s Law. In between he was also making mentions of how he knew the bra sizes of X and Y heroines in the Telegu Film Industry.
“Morning sir,” Jai said.
“Mourning beta, mourning…not morning!” Suraj replied letting out a deep breath of air.
“Hahaha…I heard what you did to that nut. Good one sir!”
Suraj flashed a lopsided grin, “Thank you beta – it wasn’t a big deal at all.”
“Won’t his parents complain or anything?” Jai inquired.
“Arre nahin nahin, his dad has been dead for years now and his mom runs a small restaurant. They won’t want to get into this mess you know.”
“His mom runs a small restaurant? Wow. She paid a handsome ten thousand bucks for Socialact Wave yaa!” Jai exclaimed. “Surprising to know about this…”
Suraj interrupted, “Besides that, Muskaan ma’am has issued an order of suspension against Siddhant for fighting in the school premises. We’ve noted that these bruises are a cause of that.”
“Students sir? Students…? They saw it all happen. The entire school knows,” Jai replied.
“Yes indeed. They also know the big people I have association with. They will not utter a word against me. Dekh liyo.”
Jai nodded. He admired Suraj’s guts. “Bindu ma’am knows about this?”
“Of course she does. She knows how I stopped this fight from happening and Veenu is busy fixing her makeup, she took a half day and left and she’ll be back only tomorrow and then be off again,” he chuckled.
Silence descended upon them for a few seconds till Jai broke it. “You’ve got a problem sir.”
Suraj looked at him urging him to finish his sentence.
“Sir, there’s the dick-Head Boy, Rishav. He is Siddhant’s best friend, he’s got a lot of support from teachers. If he manages to make people rally around…”
Jai was cut short, “If he manazes naa? That won’t happen. I’ve heard how people find him arrogant and how your peers dislike him. He won’t be able to do anything about it. Trust me and if he does, I will manage.”
“Sir you will?” Jai’s eyes lit up with a lot of interest.
“Yes, yes, I will…”
“Sir, if he does complain against you – can you ensure that he’s stripped off his post?” Jai asked again.
“Stripped? I can get him off from his post for sure but I don’t have any idea how long. You see, that power lies with the Prinicpal alone.”
Jai nodded.
Jai had to meet Rishav. He had to meet him…now!
TWENTY-THREE
Veenu Sharma had taken a half day without notice and she was perhaps the only person Rishav Sen eagerly wanted to meet.
He clumsily packed his bag and zipped it up fast. The bell had just rung ending the day and it was his only chance to catch the Principal while she was doing her rounds.
Autocracy that seemed to be the only mode of functioning, as far as Bindu Kalsi was concerned- seemed to have gone for a six in Delhi High School as the well informed Principal had now become a titular head. Muskaan Kaur was dictating the terms to all and sundry.
The image of a sobbing Siddhant had moved Rishav tremendously. He felt it to be his duty to be helping that loner out. Besides most teachers were unaware of the atrocities that took place within the walls of the Commerce section last day and those who knew – be it students or teachers were all too afraid of Suraj Singh to be exposing him. And the person who was supposed to be aware of all the happenings, the Principal was lost in her own world: too busy in organizing Socialact Wave.
Rishav thought of all that Jai had told him. Jai seemed to be a nice person, he encouraged Rishav to take a stand and visit Muskaan Ma’am. Jai insisted on how Rishav should drive his point across by hook or by crook. After all, it was a matter of the students’ unity.
Little did Rishav know that Jai’s encouragement was a façade over his true intentions.
In moments, Rishav spotted Kalsi’s figure standing outside the entrance to the Multipurpose Hall. She was engaged in deep discussion with someone Rishav would have killed to not see there – Muskaan!
“Yes?” Kalsi asked seeing Rishav approach them.
“Ma’am I need to talk about something.” He said.
“Go on…” she replied.
“Ma’am, erm…uh…I need to speak to you,” he stammered.
“I wonder if there’s anything as urgent that cannot be discussed with me?” Muskaan asked.
“No ma’am, it is. I need to speak to the Principal.”
Muskaan broke into a fake laughter, Kalsi followed.
“It is okay Rishav, you can speak to Muskaan. I have pressing matters right now.
” Kalsi said.
“No Ma’am, I need to talk to you,” he insisted.
“It is okay son, Muskaan is me, speak to her. She will tell me whatever needs to be relayed.”
*
“That’s it then,” she said when she heard what Rishav had done.
“What? What do you mean?” he asked.
“We are done,” Sahana repeated in a dead serious tone.
He tried to come closer, but Sahana pushed him back vehemently.
“What the fuck are you doing, you son of a bitch? Stay away, forever. And I am not kidding,” she shouted out loud in the empty classroom they were sitting in.
“What the hell is wrong with you Sahana? Can’t you for once understand my position?” Rishav said defensively.
“Oh yes, baby. I have,” she said in a conspicuous sarcastic voice. “I have understood your point. Your position, it’s all crystal clear to me.”
She paused and took a deep breath, “You bloody bastard. All you care about is your effing position. Your ugly piece of metal…And you know what? You are the biggest hypocrite in this whole world. The biggest. I actually cannot think of an abuse worthy enough for you.”
Rishav was hurt. Badly hurt. He felt his anger burn up his insides but he tried to control it.
“You don’t know what it’s like, okay?” he began. “You bloody haven’t even talked to them. You don’t even own a badge. What would you know about how it feels to lose it? Well, you are the hypocrite here, not me. You bloody didn’t have the balls to even apply for the Council. So shut the fuck up. You just say things and never actually do it. So, please save me the crap. All your moral talk is of no freaking use, get it?” Rishav screamed, laying emphasis on the last words.
Sahana stood her ground, slightly taken aback.
“You know what Rishav? You are right,” she said in a cold tone. Her voice barely a whisper, “You are right, I don’t. But, atleast I don’t pretend to be someone I am not. Jai Chauhan is actually better than you. Atleast he doesn’t pretend to be good.”
“Sahana, listen…I don’t want to fight. So please, can we not talk about it?” Rishav asked, afraid that Sahana would leave his side.
“Yes, I don’t want to fight. But I can’t stand your face. Don’t you dare come near me ever again,” Sahana said.
“Sahana please. I am sorry. Don’t do this over a stupid thing, Rishav said trying to hold Sahana’s hand.
“Go fuck yourself,” Sahana said in his ear as she pushed him against the classroom door and stormed out of there.
*
Rishav lay in his bed, unable to sleep. It was two in the morning and he couldn’t even get a wink of sleep. All he could think about was what happened that day.
To say it was the worst day ever, would be a massive understatement. He had lost the only two people the only two people he cared about.
Firstly, Siddhant – who he had not lost exactly but not standing up for him and agreeing to turn a blind eye over a wrong thing, was all in all, a betrayal of sorts. Secondly, he couldn’t figure out what was it that he felt for Sahana. It was deep nonetheless but it was hard to understand what it was in reality. He had never in his life felt this way before. The thought of not talking to her, scared him. But now the thought of even seeing her was a distant dream. As much as he missed her, he was frustrated with her attitude. She couldn’t even understand his point of view. All she cared was about her principles. She was yet to know the difference between the real world and an idealistic one she lived in, he thought.
He tried to think of something else. But nothing would come to his mind except that he had lost the two people who mattered to him the most. He looked down at the badge he was holding tightly in his palms: Head Boy: Rishav Sen, it read.
He held it in the palm of his hand & shut his eyes.
TWENTY-FOUR
Rishav was late to school. He had woken up just fifteen minutes before school actually started. He didn’t bother to apply soap on his body. What’s the use? He thought as he quickly poured water over his body.
The guard let him in with a smile, since he knew very well who the Head Boy was. He had told Rishav about his village, his problems, his children’s schooling, his daughter’s favourite movie and what not. Rishav had not spared one man in DHS with his charm and good talks.
He rushed to his class with heavy steps. He walked towards his seat in the half empty classroom but stopped midway to think, it’d be better not to sit in Sahana’s range.
He chose a far cornered seat in the classroom as he had enough of a choice that day.
He took out his mobile and checked his inbox. No Unread Messages. He looked at his mobile with disdain. He went to check his Facebook, No New Notifications. When he turned on his Gmail, he saw an unread message from his publisher, reminding him about the deadline for submitting the manuscript of his third to-be-bestseller. He also noticed a few fan mails and some newsletters.
Rishav read all the fan mails in his inbox. He always felt good when he did that. It gave him the satisfaction that people still cared. When he looked up from his mobile screen, he noticed that the class was now almost empty as all had left for the library.
He got up and walked towards the library alone. As he walked through the corridors, he remembered the first day of school. It was all a big maze but now he knew every corner of it. Eight months seemed to have flown by just so quickly.
In the library, he took a newspaper and sat alone on a deserted table. He scanned the two floored library, he noticed things he seemed to have never noticed before. Like, he had never noticed the painting hanging on the wall or the door to the small terrace above, or the replica of the Eiffel tower sitting on one of the tables. He looked at all the people sitting nearby. It was a joint library period with the Commerce stream. Siddhant was nowhere to be seen, good for him, Rishav thought. Surprisingly, Sahana too was missing.
After the end of the period, he walked back from the library to the classroom – alone, yet again. He entered the classroom and saw Sahana and Vanya sitting together. Vanya’s constant detours to their classroom had begun to bother Rishav but he chose not to say anything about it.
He felt a pain stretching his arteries. He wanted to go talk to Sahana. But after a lot of consideration, he decided against it. He knew heart in heart that giving her time, enough to think about it was the best thing he could do.
Just when he was about to resume wasting his time on his mobile phone, an announcement on the PA system caught his attention.
‘This message is for all Council members. Please report to the outer-stage for the final run through of the Socialact Wave.’
He sighed, he knew that with the event being just around the corner – he’d be required to do a lot of running around. He geared up for it and dragged himself out of the class reluctantly.
*
It was six in the evening by the time, the final preparations for Socialact Wave finally winded up. The event was scheduled to be held in a couple of days and the sponsors had already poured in whatever money they had to. On the gala dress rehearsal that day, everyone was pretty high and most Socialact Club members were swimming in a pool of Vodka. It was like the party was yet to begin but the lead up to it had to be as exciting as it could be. They all headed to a famous hookah bar close by to enjoy the success of putting together one of the most tainted functions to have been ever organized in the history of the school.
Jai and his gang walked around backslapping the random Delhite when Jai’s Blackberry beeped. He had subscribed to the Delhi High School group page on Facebook. He smartly maneuvered his fingers to reach the link to that page. He read the update and couldn’t quite believe what he saw. He read it again.
He turned to Chintan, “Dude, this must be some kind of a prank. Just check any alternate group page of Delhi High School, please?”
“Sure,” Chintan said and started fiddling with his Blackberry. In matter of minutes, Chintan’s jaw dropped.
“What
the fuck man?” he yelped. Hardik who was right behind them got interested too and in just about minutes, his Blackberry beeped too.
None out of Chintan, Hardik or Jai could believe what they were seeing but they had no other option but to go there and verify.
*
After a long hard day of getting ordered by the members of the teaching staff, Rishav ambled across the hallway to reach the Reception Area of Delhi High School. He least expected it to be crowded especially it being the beginning of the long week when Wave would be held – it was a time when people would be preserving their energies for the main event as the organizing was already done. As he moved closer towards the Reception door, he heard loud voices. There was indeed a crowd gathered around there.
What luck! Rishav thought. Just when he was thinking of untucking his shirt and loosening his tie, he comes across a crowd in the Reception area. And generally a crowd in the Reception Area consisted of outsiders and no Council Member was allowed to be in improper uniform around that place.
He saw Veenu Sharma who apparently seemed to be crying. Bindu Kalsi sat nearby wearing a contemplative look while Muskaan Kaur paced the area around her. Besides them, there were around thirty other staff members sitting at different locations. Suraj Singh seemed to have attracted an abnormal number of them.
Rishav quickened his pace and walked straight upto Veenu Sharma, not caring a hoot about whether his actions would be dissected or not.
“Ma’am?” he asked politely.
She looked up. “What’s wrong ma’am? What is everyone doing here so late? Why are you crying?” there were so many questions in his head.
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