We were in workshop for our practical. Soon we saw Shruti & Radha coming. I asked to Sameer, “What’re they doing here?” Sameer called them loudly, “Hey Shruti! Anything urgent?” Shruti said, “Our job is pending.” They took their incomplete jobs & started filing it. There was a boy Mayank who was continuously looking at Shruti. Some time passed & he started passing comments, non-veg comments on her with his friends. I switched my lathe machine off so that I could listen what he was saying. Sameer came to me & said “Let’s complain to Professor.” I stopped him & looked at Shruti. She was feeling so uncomfortable. I went to Mayank & slapped him badly. Shruti & Radha looked at us. Mayank slapped me back. We held each other & started fighting. Rest of students came to hold us. I pushed Mayank away & he dashed to a bench vice. He got injured. I Kept looking at him. Next moment, I was in principal’s cabin. Workshop’s professor said, “I had gone to B.E. building when this happened.” Principal said to me, “I’m issuing a warning letter to you. Please sign it.” I didn’t say anything. I came out of the cabin & sat on a bench. Soon Shruti came there. She looked at me once & then went into the cabin. I was thinking about how it happened. I Shouldn’t have any problem with a strange guy who comments on a girl. A girl! I remembered that I had argued with Aisha in the college bus. That wasn’t my matter too. Why was I behaving so? Was I changing? Shruti came & stood up in front of me. She asked, “Is there any reason behind your fight with that boy for me?” I didn’t respond. Shruti said, “Thanks! But please don’t do such violent things again as they will affect your career.” I didn’t respond. She said, “Okay, bye.” & she left. I removed cotton balls from my ears. Soon the bell rang. Sameer came to me & said “Did you meet Shruti?” I asked, “Why?” He said, “She has convinced principal sir. Principal Sir has forgiven you. No warning letter is gonna issued.” I just smiled. Soon Shilpa & Aisha came. I said “Sorry guys. I don’t know how it happened.” Aisha said, “Yeah! You won’t take it seriously. That poor fellow is badly injured.” I said rudely, “Didn’t that ‘poor fellow' tell you what he did with Shruti? And if no, then asked him first then talk to me.” & I took a leave. Soon Aisha started laughing. I turned to her. Rest everyone also started laughing. I didn’t understand. I looked at Shilpa. She controlled her laugh & showed my back to me. The bench I was sitting on was just painted & the paint was wet. My trouser had become dirty because of it. I instantly snatched a notebook from Shilpa & tried to hide my back. I said to Aisha, "Keep quit." She kept laughing & I ran to the toilet.
Aisha hanged her bag on her back & came out of the classroom. A boy named Alok of her division stopped her & said, “Aisha, It’ll take some more time to complete the notes you’ve given me. I hope you don’t need them in urgent.” Aisha said, “It’s okay, take your time but you need to finish them before Monday. Professor will demand them on his class.” Alok said, “Yeah, sure. And listen, principal sir wants you to meet him in his cabin tomorrow. There is a meeting regarding upcoming annual gathering.” Aisha nodded head & left. I was watching everything from a corner. Alok blinked his right eye to me & left. I followed Aisha. She went to campus. There was a group of boys. They started laughing at her. Aisha looked at them. They kept quit. Aisha went to the canteen. Professor Nikam was coming out of the canteen. He said to Aisha. “Are you being ragged, Aisha?” Aisha stopped & looked at me. I just smiled. Shilpa, Radha & Divya came out of the canteen. Aisha asked them, “What’s going on guys? Why is everyone laughing?” Radha looked on the back of Aisha. She found a note pasted on Aisha’s bag. The note was, “I’m donkey!” She showed that paper to Aisha. Aisha came to me & asked, “You did this?” I just smiled. She shouted, “How dare you?”
There was off period so I took my notes & left for chemistry lab. I came to stairs & suddenly slipped from third stair. My head dashed to wall. Professor Tiwari saw me. He ran to me instantly & held me. He said, “Oh God! You’re injured, Karan. How did it happen?” He tried to stand me up but my right foot was swollen. I saw some sticky thing on my right shoe. Professor tiwari called someone for help.
Shilpa, Divya, Shruti & Aisha came to me when I was on a bench in my classroom. Sameer was near me. Shilpa asked, “How did it happen, Karan?” I looked at Aisha. She looked down. I said, “I lost my balance.” Aisha kept looking. Shilpa asked, “When will you care for yourself, Karan? Didn’t you see the stairs? Be Careful brother, at least for us.” I took a long breathe. Shilpa asked. “Is it paining?” I said, “I’m alright. You gotta go.” She exhaled. Looking at me, she said, “Take care.” & they all left, except Shruti. She looked at Sameer. Sameer said, “I’m outside.” Sameer left & Shruti turned to me. She asked. “Aisha pasted foil paper on your shoe. You know that?” I smiled & said, “I know. All the problems I’ve faced in my life are because of girls. I just hate girls.” Shruti said, “I wish you could understand Karan, all girls are not the same.” Soon the bell rang.
( To Be Continued... )
