CHAPTER-32
SILENT RIOT
Chapter Highlights…
“Sexy! It is said that one doesn’t have to explicitly utter the three magical words to their special one. One can, instead, show it, through one’s actions. And I have understood your heart, Naomi”, said he.
I opened my eyes and turned about to face him.
“What?! Are you serious? Kiku, I just want you to get justice. Bye! I will return to focus on my demand.”
I blushed secretly, as I walked away. I could hear him chuckling behind me.
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Naomi’s POV
“Justice for Akshat sir!”, I roared, sitting in the front row. I sounded like a gang leader leading a revolution such as the Chipko movement. Vyomi and Tanvi sat to my left while Diya and Karan sat to my right. When I recollect the incident, I find it incredible, even today. It was the first time I not only participated in a strike but also led it! It's all for you, Kiku. I can’t zip my lip like all others, at the unfair treatment you experienced. The very thought hurts me worse than being stabbed by a sharp knife.
My friends repeated the slogan after me, followed by the others sitting behind us and shouting. Akshat sir has always been every student’s favorite. Within minutes of circulating the matter of injustice that happened on our campus, early that morning, students from our law department, including juniors and seniors gathered like flocks of birds. I suggested that we could protest, for Rishabh didn’t agree.
“Ahimsa hardly works in the contemporary world. If we want something, we won’t get it unless we fight for it”, said a senior representative, after which the entire Law department decided to sit outside the block. There wasn’t a single student who desired to attend a single lecture that afternoon. Lunch was our second priority too. However, the three musketeers were an exception once again.
I am not sure if I led a hunger strike! Perhaps, it was coincidental as we began yelling for our demand as soon as the long bell rang for the lunch break.
“We want justice! We want justice! We want justice!”, we cheered the conventional slogan aloud, in chorus.
The brown-tiled landscape in front of our block wasn’t empty, as usual. A student crowd of around a hundred students or more shouted for justice, at the top of our voices. A few other students stood with their eyes on us. Some of them giggled at each other while the others bulged their eyes out of curiosity.
“Retake Akshat sir in the photoshoot!”, yelled Yatheesh, our senior, as he stood up from the last row, looked up at the sky, closed his right fist, and swung his right hand like a professional protester.
“Retake! Retake!”, we cheered to emphasize our point. I turned back, nodded at Yatheesh, and stood up.
“Partiality! Partiality!
Destroy partiality!
Akshat sir is a gem
Is a gem-is a gem
Justice for Akshat sir!
Justice for Akshat sir!”, shouted I, launching a new slogan.
Karan grinned and nodded readily. He too stood up and repeated my slogan. The others shouted along and the protest continued. We manipulated the lines and created different versions over time.
I smiled at the enthusiasm portrayed by our fellow Law students. I was glad that we were all sitting together with unity, at one final point, although the occasion was for a social cause! But, is there a better reason to bring future lawyers together?!!
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Around a quarter of an hour or so, Akshat and Shreyas were seen rushing downstairs to the venue of our protest. No doubt it was the first time a strike was provoked within the university premises to demand justice for a wonderful lecturer!
Kiku looked around with his meek and hesitant light brownish eyes. Aww, he is so cute when he lets out a blank stare. I blushed to myself yet continued shouting in chorus with the others. I couldn’t take my eyes off Akshat who stood dumbstruck hearing his name over and over. His eyes roamed hither and thither restlessly. I guess he was looking for me.
He shrugged as soon as he spotted me. I raised my eyebrows and nodded. He hurried to stand in front of me.
“Guys!”, said he, at which we shook our heads and continued shouting. He shrank his face and shook his head like a cute boy to me. I shrugged at him, meanwhile, gesturing for others to carry on.
“Guys! Stop it!”, roared Akshat sir. We stopped at once. Akshat frowned at me. Shreyas ran to stand beside him.
“Don’t forget that you are a student. You ought to be disciplined. What’s this idea of protest? See, I don’t want justice. I am fine. Got it?”, he asked. The others turned puzzled faces at each other wondering at his words. He neared me. He caught my hand and dragged me to the corner.
“Sir…sir!”, I exclaimed, with no response from him.
“Naomi, why are you making a big fuss? I don’t care. Shouting my name like this…who gave you permission to protest? Do you think you are a cool gangster? You’re ruining your studies and career by triggering such riots within the university. Don’t let anything including me come in between your goals. Got it?”, asked he, in his meek and hesitant voice, tuned to sound commanding, this time.
“Sir, aren’t you too a final-year faculty member? How dare Rishabh sir exclude you from the photoshoot? I can’t turn blind eye to such a pure form of injustice, especially to you, Kiku. This is just not fair. Perhaps, I am not so open-minded as you, to neglect…”
“Come on, Kiku. Thanks for your concerns. But, it's trivial..”
“No sir, not at all. Anything bothering you isn’t trivial at all. I don’t mind waging World War III for you. After all, this is a mere protest within our own department…”
He chuckled and blushed a little. He patted my right cheek. “Trust me, Kiku. I’m happy. I don’t mind his attitude. I’m accustomed to Rishabh sir…”
“Oh, I see. Then, why were you restless back in the staffroom?”
His innocent eyes looked cluelessly into mine. I shrugged and cackled out a frustrated smile. I placed my hand on his chest.
“Look, it affects you. I know you can fight back. You aren’t scared. But, you shouldn’t be very sweet as well. Anything crossing the limits is taken for granted. Let's not act very mature either, Kiku.”
“Naomi, but…”
“If at all the biased Chairman threatens to suspend or even dismiss me, I would walk away happy. I’m heedless of the battle I have broken out to fight for your self-respect. You are a faculty here. Above all, you have always been my well-wisher. A new problem due to this decision of mine will mean repaying your kindness”, I concluded, with a wide smile.
Akshat returned a smile. We blushed at each other as I felt my heartbeat freezing along, as we were lost in each others’ eyes. My cheeks turned pinker. I swallowed my heartbeat, observing my hand upon his chest.
“Oops, sorry!”, said I, withdrawing my hand, at once. I looked down and shrank my eyes at the floor. Of all our interactions together, my timidness knew no bounds that afternoon. I left without turning back at him.
“Kiku, wait!”, he called. No Akshat sir, no. Let me go. I feel awkward. I closed my eyes and stood numb.
“Sexy! It is said that one doesn’t have to explicitly tell the three magical words to their special one. One can, instead, show it, through one’s actions. And I have understood your heart, Naomi.”
I opened my eyes and turned about to face him. “What?! Are you serious? Sir, I just want you to get justice. Bye! I will return to focus on my demand.” I blushed secretly, as I walked away. I could hear him chuckling behind me.
As we continued our protest, Akshat meddled with his black tie having tiny white dots on it. He leaned on the pillar. Shreyas sir couldn’t stop patting Akshat to discuss their next best action towards our protest whereas Akshat couldn’t stop staring at me shouting first followed by the others around.
Sir, I can’t concentrate. Stop looking at me. Rishabh sir ought to come out of his cabin and listen to our voice. Akshat continued staring at me. I let my fingers through the hair and hid it behind my ears. I blushed to myself but couldn’t gather enough courage to face Akshat sir.
Oh, Lord! I was feeling very shy, very shy at that moment. What’s happening to me? Have I fallen for Akshat sir? I have never been this close to a guy ever before.
“Dude! Oh, he has been staring at you for quite a long. Do you know or pretend to ignore it? See! See!”, Vyomi teased me, as she dashed my shoulder. I shook my head. I looked down to face my lap. I covered my face with both hands and chuckled.
“Oho! Protest lead is blushing. What’s the matter? Oho!”, cried Karan, bursting out a round of his usual whooping cough. I placed my finger on the lip and gestured for my friends to stay quiet.
“Guys, please. As such, I’m losing myself. If you tease me, I’ll lose all my control. Rishabh sir, our other lecturers or the HOD may turn up anytime. I’m sitting in the front row. Do you think it's a good sign? We ought to be serious…”, I instructed, at which Vyomi saluted amiably and Karan nodded. As they continued cheering, I looked hither and thither. Akshat was nowhere to be seen.
I threw my mouth open as he waved, peeped, winked, and revealed himself hiding behind his fellow lecturer. They chuckled among themselves as I shrank my eyes and returned to focus on the protest. I happened to see the three musketeers standing on the ground floor corridor to my right. They laughed among themselves, mocking us. They hardly believed in protests or in Akshat sir’s happiness. Ruhi has been rude to Akshat directly. Fuck her! Let me focus.
“Aha! But, is your fight just to adhere to the law of equality or beyond it?”, Tanvi whispered to me. “Who would dare to take such an extreme risk? Do you love him?”
“Dude, Akshat has fought for my seat. How can I forget his great help? Now, it's my turn. It's the university’s duty to respect every faculty member around. If it doesn’t, it's our duty to remind. None can take my Kiku for granted…”
“My Kiku?”, she blushed, raising her eyebrows up and down playfully. I looked away and blushed. I turned back only to face her with an awkward silence.
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“Students! Silence!”, roared a dark stout man, overloaded with a beard. He frowned at every face participating in the silent riot. He was Mr.Karthik Desai, our HOD.
“What do you want? We can’t postpone exams. It's already a short semester.”
We chuckled at each other.
“What nonsense? Get back to your classes otherwise, you will be suspended. Do we look like clowns to hear you? We are busy if you aren’t”, he roared again. I raised my hand. He gestured for me to get up and speak.
“Sir, firstly, I agree that everyone’s time is precious. Secondly, we smiled because you hadn’t listened to our demand carefully. Postponing exams wasn’t the cause of the outbreak”, I conveyed.
“Fine, so what else is your demand?”
I chuckled wondering how he had hardly paid attention while we kept taking Akshat’s name.
“Sir, justice for Akshat sir”, said I, at which the others cheered our slogan once again. Karthik gestured for them to stop.
“Is this my university or the public park?”, shouted Rishabh, finally entering the scene. Karthik greeted him while I folded my hands and raised my eyebrows at him.
“Hey, Naomi”, Akshat interrupted me, as he hurried to stand right next to me. I shook my head.
“We need to talk, sir. And I have already spoken to our honorable Chairman. He didn’t seem to agree with my demand. So, I had to spin the cotton into a saree else nobody cares. Am I right, Rishabh sir?”
The others shouted our slogan, to the peak of their voices, one last time:
“Partiality! Partiality!
Destroy partiality!
Akshat sir is a gem
Is a gem-is a gem
Justice for Akshat sir!
Justice for Akshat sir!”
Although Rishabh frowned, we refused to stop fighting.
“Naomi, why are you putting yourself and all others in unnecessary trouble? Back off…”, whispered Akshat.
“Sir, what’s wrong with you? Our arrow has, at last, hit the fruit. You’re pulling me away when our target is about to fall on our hands. I’m sorry I must oppose you here.”
Yatheesh stood up once again. “Rishabh sir, we have always respected you. But, if you ill-treat a faculty by excluding him from the formal photoshoot, what will be our situation tomorrow? After all, we are mere students here.” He raised his voice, demanding, “Justice for Akshat sir!”
Our prime slogan repeated once again. There wasn’t a last time when it comes to my favorite Akshat sir. What? Urgh! Naomi, Guru Devo Bhava! Your Kiku? At which angle do you call him yours?...
Karthik and Rishabh sighed at a few silent participants jumping in and sitting along to cheer for Akshat sir. Students passed on water bottles not to quench their thirst but to energize their exhausted vocal cords. Tanvi grabbed her guitar and started playing it as Diya began singing our slogan.
I too sat back and continued while Akshat stood beside me, breathing hard. My security was more important than his own justice. Aww, if the very feeling isn’t called love, what else is referred to as love?!
“Sir, I really doubt if students will stop.”, Karthik whispered to Rishabh.
“But, sir, won’t it mean students can do anything to get whatever they wish for? Universities shouldn’t yield to their trivial requests…”, opposed Rishabh.
“Sir, what’s trivial? Is the strike essential for such a trivial matter as the photo shoot? Janki University is a prestigious university in India. If we ignore the situation, I’m afraid students from the other department too will come forward. The riot will transform into a powerful revolution. Further, the protest can be a great gossip matter for the media. Our reputation will be questioned. I hope you understand, sir…”
“Fine! Whatever let's call the photoshoot again”, Rishabh declared to Karthik. He was about to leave when the HOD requested to announce it by himself.
“I really doubt you are scared of silly students”, said the Chairman.
“Students, hear me!”, Rishabh began his announcement, “The faculty shoot will be organized once again sometime today.” He shrank his eyes at Akshat, completing, “Your beloved Akshat sir will be a part of this. Satisfied?”
I smiled at Akshat followed by my gang of famous five. A ray of hope rose in our hearts after sitting under the scorching Sun. The others whistled and danced. I nodded at Rishabh sir. He was about to leave when I called him. I began walking towards him.
“Thank you, sir. I hope you don’t repeat this sort of injustice to Akshat sir. Please put your vengeance aside while working”, I said, just to him. Akshat pressed my right hand hard. He gestured for us to leave while I shook my head and turned back to the furious Rishabh.
“Are you lecturing me on how I must run the university?”, asked Rishabh, gnashing his teeth at me. I smiled and looked away.
“No, sir, you know it pretty well. I’m just teaching you the law, as a responsible future lawyer. Simple!”
He was about to leave once again. I insisted he stopped.
“What now? The photographer will be here soon. My PA will keep the faculty informed including your Akshat sir…”
“That's not yet done, sir. You need to apologize to Akshat sir.”
“Kiku, stop this. What’s wrong with you?”, Akshat whispered to me while Rishabh frowned at us. He was restless giving glances at me and then at Akshat and repeating the same.
“Naomi, mind it. This is too much. You’ve already done enough”, Rishabh emphasized.
“Oh, I didn’t know that someone apologizing to someone whom they hurt is considered to be too much. Is it, Akshat sir?”, said I, replying to Rishabh and then faking a smile at Akshat sir.
“I know that it's only after one repents for their deed that one apologizes. However, in your case, it's vivid that you will never realize that you pestered Akshat. So, just say sorry to him privately and end the matter, sir….”
“What do you think of yourself, Naomi?...”
“Guys! We forgot something”, I announced to the crowd which was about to disperse. My fellow classmates shrugged with blank faces at each other.
“Sir, why are you aggravating it? Just put an end to it with a sorry. Who cares?”, Karthik advised Rishabh. The latter bulged his eyes and sighed hard. He kicked the ground a bit and frowned at me who chuckled to myself.
“I’m sorry, Akshat Malhotra”, said Rishabh. I nodded while Akshat shook his head.
“Thank you, honorable Chairman”, I thanked him. I gestured for the others to leave. I grabbed my bag, informing my friends that I will join them in class.
I took a step forward near Rishabh, the Chairman.
“Remember that Akshat sir isn’t alone. Even if you happen to think of hurting him once again, remember me, remember this protest to recollect what I can do for my…our Akshat sir.”
Akshat blushed as I took a strong stand for him. As soon as Rishabh and Karthik left us behind, I looked around to see none around. Kiku couldn’t take his eyes off me. He hugged me firmly-firmer than ever before. I felt my pupils dilating as he let his fingers through my hair.
“Kikoooo!”, he exclaimed aloud, in my ears.
“Sir! My poor listening tools!”, said I, rubbing my ear.
“Thank you very much, Kiku. Whatever you did means a lot. I could have spoken for myself but I didn’t prefer to.”
He rested my cheeks in his cozy palms. “But, when someone else speaks for you, it's very special. I can’t explain how I feel at present. This is the happiest day of my life because someone special in my life spoke…in fact, fought for me!”
“Sir, it's my duty. I’m glad I could successfully speak up and satisfy my demands…”
He pulled me behind the wall. No sooner did we step onto the lawn that he closed his eyes and kissed my soft lips. He forced his tongue into my mouth. I hugged his tongue. Our special French kiss moment on the special occasion went on until we heard a footstep interrupt us.
Alas! Who caught Akshat and Naomi kissing???
Dear readers,
Thank you for following my series and reading the episode!!! Thanks a lot for your constant support and motivation!!! Please rate it, write your review, and share it in your circle whenever you are free. Your voice matters a lot to me.
