Short Story (2500 words) submitted to Ashwin Sanghvi- Times of India
I never wanted to become a professor in life not even in my wildest
dreams, but this impaired society and the tragedy that had struck me, forced me
to be one. I stood in front of the college, the name board “st. Christ College
of Engineering” the splendor had receded over the years. I looked across the
road, where stood a reclusive tea stall. The signboard seemed newly painted. I went
directly to the tea stall. Cigarettes and pan was hanging in front, with the
poster of a hindi film. A few people, seemed college students, were smoking in
a shed adjacent to the stall by a door.
5 years back, memories remained fresh. I still remembered during my
college days, in spite all the facilities like canteen, bakery shop present
inside the college, we had found it amusing to be in the tea stall; the fun
really started when the juniors had joined so for the next few weeks, our
cigarettes and juices had sponsors. Our
girls too joined us during the breaks and from there we take decisions on which
movies was worth watching.
“What do you want” a voice interrupted me as I turned around to see the
inadvertent face, I was expecting. Managal owned the tea stall and had no much
change expect his receding hairline and graying on the side but one could
clearly figure him out.
Mangal looked straight into my eyes and seemed lost in thoughts to identify
the face for sure he must not have forgotten.
“I know you before. Did u study here “ mangal inquired with his eyes
piercing
“Yes, Abhijeeth Singh. B.Tech mechanical 2010 pass out”
Mangal, in a sudden sprout of action, grabbed my hands and completely
in deference, pushed out words” How can I forget you Abhi..always ever since
you left this college, I always prayed
for your well being..”
I slowly took out my hands and
replied unrequitedly
“I have not forgotten either”
I walked away leaving him confused and stepped into the college, after
a gap of 5 years. My first plan was executed.
I presented the appointment letter to the principal Mr. Hegde, who over
the years had not changed except that his moustache now seems to grow at a
faster pace. Since, my time I have heard
students say that he roams around the college even at night to ensure all’s
well.
“I never had expected you would want to come back into this college.
But you had your masters with a good grade and being an ex-student, the
management decided to take your services”
“Thank you sir, and believe me I have come here to teach” My mind
filled the rest of the statement TEACH THEM.
“All the best” Hegde gave a warm shake and I got up to leave, when he
inquired
“ What was her name”
I didn’t turn back but with my eyes on the door “ Nithya “. The very
mention of her name had brought tears in my eyes and as I walked out of the
room without turning back; I had rushed into the toilet and throughout my
journey till the door step of the college ,I had suppressed my emotion, I had
let it out fully aware that the toilet was empty. I cried.
I never went to my department for my next duty after joining was to
meet the HOD of mechanical section. I started walking around the college and I
happened to find out the backyard wall, which was completely in a tattered
state during my years, now was rebuilt and stood firm. “ Have they changed” my
mind wandered as I walked to the canteen. That contained beautiful memories of
me and Nithya together for it was where we first met each other , the new girl
from IT department 1st year and she had no change to buy something
to quench her hunger(for she had been dropped in her college by her father with
a 1000 rs note). She wanted to ask her colleagues but before that I already
ordered, and asked the canteen boy to move the plate to her, she did not want
to accept but her hunger took the toll and that began our friendship, and as an
year passed by dating and by third year we were deeply in love. Ravi , the
canteen boy who was there and one of the messenger in our romance , although
failed to understand me.
I met George, one of my classmate who recommended me to take up the job
fully aware of the tragedy. He was happy to see me back after a few years and
hugged me; he was a supporting staff in the mechanical lathe workshop. I
informed my status as professor to my WHATSAPP group , and received a lot of
congratulations.
After a chat with the HOD of mechanical department, I decided to hit the
classes and being a professor was not my taste but I did have plans in my mind.
As I entered, the class room, I did not notice the students that stood up to
greet me, but the classroom which had not changed after all the years, the very
same posters and very same outlook.
“Good morning, I am your professor for thermodynamics and fortunately I
am one of the ex students of this college. So, I think the best person, who can
understand your emotions is me and I hope you all co-operate so I don’t disturb
you much” There was a smile on their face and as I turned to the black board I
said spontaneously” I will not be here for long”
I took room near to the college where there was a dormitory for the day
scholars and the students were surprised to find a professor take up a room in
there. As soon as I finished my dinner, I walked up to the backyard of the
college. It was pitch dark and there were a few rooms that were lighted inside
but I kept moving around keeping a close watch on the tea stall as well but to
my dismay I could not find anything.
A few days had gone by. I was busy in the mornings for the preparing classes,
as the previous nights I had less time to focus due to my night patrolling.
That night after the dinner I was getting my torch ready when I decided to let
my mind wander for a moment. I saw Nithya lying in a pool of blood at the
backyard of the college, stabbed from back, by the time we(my friends along) had reached
up.I took her on my lap, when in an intermittent voice, she pronounced “ All
star” and pointed towards the college. As she passed away on my lap, I didn’t
know who had picked me from there and how I had reached the hostel. I did go
through a very bad phase. All the years, I tried to recollect the words and
finally I understood; it was the same All star tea stall in front of the
college but her pointing towards the college seemed a mystery. Suddenly, I woke
up from my dream and looked into my watch, it was late and I moved out of my
room when I heard some students walking past by murmur” It is there tonight”
I ran downstairs and started running towards the college and in the
midst of darkness no one noticed me. The tea stall was lighted today and i
slowly went past the tea stall into the shed and hid in the corner, which I am acquaintained
with, as of our bunking location from college. I I remembered an incident prior
to Nithya’s death.
Nithya, had the habit of working part time in a local daily newspaper.
She used to write articles and basically she was interested in highlighting the
social evils engulfed in the society, typically influenced by films. Once we
had gone to meet a lady, who stayed a few miles away from the college. I was
surprised to see a small hut built of hay and leaves. When she had called out
loud by her name Ayesha, a lady came out with a disgusting look in her eyes.
“No madam, iam not interested in two some” she yawned. “Already, I had
enough with these college students, who come three and four together”
I was surprised to hear it from
the lady that I decided best not to stay around here and leave Nithya for
dealing with her, for now I understood her intention to interview a prostitute.
After a few moments, she had come back and looked sad. I asked her the reason
but she never said and asked me to drop her back in her hostel. Later, after the
incident, I went to the lady as I wanted to know what the lady had said that
made her worried, but to my surprise , she was dead. An old lady came up from
her hut and shouted at me” are you from the college. The same guy from the
college killed my daughter”. I was going through her words when suddenly, heard
some voices from outside the shed at the entrance of the stall.
“It is here, the kid will come and collect it.” the voice sounded
strange but familiar, and the person receiving a small cover was none other
than the stall owner Mangal. What was that in his cover and I was confused
whether to barge in when I heard the voice again “ Three days after at the same time” .I looked
my watch, it was 12 pm.
The next day, after a morning seesion, I rushed to the toilet, to find
some students sharing and distributing something inside the cabinet. At first, I
thought it must be some blue film CD, but I noticed a packet cover, the very same
type carried by Mangal yesterday night. I jumped onto one of the student, whose
name happened to be Ankhith.
“Show me what you have in your hands” I grabbed him and made him open
the cover to find a white substance ; suddenly I got a few punch from the back
that put me down, but I grabbed the leg of ankith and cried loudely” Who gave
you this” Two, three students started
jumping on me, but I never released his leg and I cried out loud for anyone to
rush in and to my delight a few lecturers came inside. The police was called in
immediately and they confirmed that it was drugs, and as per their report there
was a big drug mafia , that had vested interests in the college. I knew where
to start and the quest for revenge embroiled me; I decided to take them
directly.
I waited patiently that night inside the shed on the corner focused on the
door for I knew the time. I saw Mangal coming in from behind as I felt a hunch.
I observed him carefully as he walked to the door
between the shed and stall. I knew that the time was running out but suppressed
the urge to check my watch. I was sure that I would be able to grab the guy who
delivers the packet and who picks it up; Probably one of them will have to give
me an answer on Nithya.
“There was a problem inside the college yesterday” a new
sound but seemed familiar.
“ I know for it was me who made that blunder” . It was him,
the very same guy whose sound I had heard yesterday. I took a deep breath and
started counting in reverse under my breath. “ten,nine,eight seven.. and with
all the might I jumped out with a stick I had hidden inside my pant. There were
three people there as expected and stood frozen for a moment on finding me
inside. Mangal rushed to me. I hit him straight on his head, but by that time,
the strange guy who was in his helmet had already grabbed a gun and fired at
me..I knelt down and with that he started the bike and asked the ordered the
other guy to hold me. In the light, the guy who came to grab me was none other
than the canteen boy Ravi, the messenger for drugs inside the campus. I tripped
him down and threw the stick at his master, as it hit his gun and whisked away from
him. Seeing to grab this opportunity, I jumped immediately to grab the gun and
one shot on his leg, who had already gone a few distance on the bike, as it crashed
on to a tree nearby. I pointed the gun to Ravi and slowly moved to the bike.
With strong hand on the gun, I removed his helmet and finding
the most unexpected person incensed me further, it was george or George
Allistar. As the name puts in, Nithya had pointed her finger at george who was
standing beside me for she used to address him by his surname . I caught him on
his neck and wanted to kill him but hesitated to know what happened to Nithya.
George looked into my eyes for he was able to breathe properly once the helmet
was removed and petulantly started speaking
“I am not alone. You
cannot imagine the people tied to this string. Nithya knew it because her friend’s
boyfriend Ramesh had died due to over dosing. She came to know about this from Ayesha,
the prostitute who used to provide drugs to the students outside the campus and
also about Ravi, who helped us inside. She had come that night to catch me red-handed
with a few snaps, but we were already ready for her and I had to do that”
I cried empathetically
“George Allister,you bastard, How come you be in this shit?
He reiterated “I told you it’s beyond your imagination”.
Suddenly, a speeding car stopped by and as I turned back, from
the half open windows a gun stood out followed by the shot . It hit me right on
my chest and as the car came below a street light, I could see the thick
moustache and face became visible. “ Mr Hegde..” I cried out loud and pulled
the trigger on George at the same time. he deserved nothing short. Both Mangal
and ravi had escaped and the car drove off. I put my hands into pocket and grabbed
my mobile, which I ensured was in record mode all this time. I sent it to my
whattsapp group and slowly typed in the message.
they r
responsible..Hegde, Ravi, Mangal.. and many more
I closed my eyes as soon as I was able to hear the send
message ring, and I could see Nithya
standing there , smiling with her hands stretched ready to grab me in her arms.
