To the Professor, with Love (Complete)

Chapter 3

Sidharth enters a dark hall. The end of it is a stage lit with a few Gobo lights. A lady in a white salwar suit with long sleeves stood there. Her long wavy hair is left open, reaching her waist.
"A dear happiness to women: they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that: I would rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me."

He smiles and walks towards the control in the front. He turns on the spotlight that falls on her. She covers her eyes with her hand and the bangles on her wrist make a beautiful melody. She removes her hand slowly and tries to see who is in front of her.
"I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap and bury in thy eyes.."
Sidharth recites the dialogue as he walks up to the stage.

Shehnaaz raises her eyebrows. She smiles at him,"Professor, welcome to the stage."
"It's nice to see you here, reciting Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing."
"I remember the dialogues by heart."
"Being a History professor, never thought you would still remember Shakespeare."
Shehnaaz walks towards him, 
"Well, I had an incredible English professor in college, who made me fall in love with Literature and Shakespeare."
He nods his head,
"Right..right.."

Shehnaaz smiles,
"You still remember me. Never thought you would."
"Why wouldn't I?
"5 years is not a short time and you must have come across thousands of students during this period. It's not easy to remember just one."
Sidharth looks at her  
"Well, I believe I have a good memory power. And not all students are like the famous Shehnaaz Arora. How could I forget you? I kept you in my mind just like you asked me to."
"But you couldn't keep me in your heart."
Sidharth takes a step towards her,
"Shehnaaz, I have so much to.."

"Hello Sir! Mam!"
Sidharth's words trail off as they hear a few students greeting them as they enter the theatre. 
Sidharth steps back and smiles at the students.

"We really don't understand which one we should perform."
One of the students says.
"First you need to decide on the genre. What kind of play do you want to perform?"
Shehnaaz says.
"We can't decide on anything. Some of us want to do romantic comedy while others want tragedy. "
"Why don't you do Much Ado about Nothing?"
Shehnaaz stares at Sidharth as he says that.

"Shakespeare?"
"It is not easy, Sir. It's extensive. "
"Can we do it? Rehearsals ke liye time chahiye. "
"We won't be able to carry it off? We need to get more people."
"Will you guide us? Shakespeare is tough. Thee, thy mein confusion hota hai."
"Yes Sir. We need your help."
Students throw volleys of questions and their views.

Shehnaaz smiles,"Of course Sir will help. Right Professor? "
Sidharth smiles and she says,
"Just ensure that he doesn't disappear. He can make you fall in love and then go away. I mean he will make you fall in love with Shakespeare's works, help you in everything and then vanish before the actual play."

Sidharth could sense something in her words. She is angry. She is angry as he left like that. She fell in love with him and he left. Actually she feels he made her fall for him and he abandoned her after that. Her words pointed to that. He stares at her, trying to understand if he is right or wrong.
Shehnaaz lifts her gaze and their eyes meet. 
"Professor, I mean you are a busy person. Can you give them ample time? Like they said Shakespeare is tough, they need you. Can you be with them till the very end?"
Sidharth smirks,
"Yes, I am busy. But I don't leave any of my students in the middle."
"Really?"
Sidharth gazes at her and she could see he is hurt.
"Sidharth Sen doesn't leave without any valid reason. He doesn't leave his students unless he feels his presence is not required or could hamper their lives. For him, his students mean the world."

He turns towards the students who look confused.
"I am not asking you all to do the exact play. I am talking about the story only. Do a modern version of it. Keeping the gist of the story the same, change everything else. Make it about the present time. The characters Claudio can become, Hmm.. Chitesh, Hero can become Hrishita, Benedict will be Bharat and Beatrice can be Bani. Chitesh and Bharat work for their friend Don Pedro or Dharmesh. They arrive for a business deal with Hrishita's father Lalit. Love blossoms between the two couples but a rumour creates misunderstanding. How they finally meet will be the rest of the play.."