Gowrigaatha - A love story [Completed](The story of Gowri)

5. The unlikely heroes

4 years ago (cont....)

Anand was coming out of the common computer lab when he noticed the commotion at a distance. Right in front of the lab was the first year workshop class. Most of the students have left, only a few who were struggling to finish the class were there. At the end was the smithy section, with concrete hearths and charcoal burning bright to heat the metal rods. Students had to heat the circular rods to white hot temperature so that they could beat it into a square prism. There he saw Gowri getting scolded by the smithy instructor and none of the lecturers were in sight.

"How could you be so stupid, looking at you itself I can understand that you are good for nothing" he was shouting at her.

Gowri's eyes were red and shining with tears as she looked down at her own feet.

The instructor said, "Because of you I have to stay beyond the office hours. I am going to the canteen, by the time I get back from tea, this should resemble a square prism", he shouted at her and left.

Anand understood the reason well, she wasn't the only student left in the smithy struggling to complete their task, but she was the only dark skinned one and that man found great pleasure in targeting dark skinned students. Anand walked to the side of the hearth that was separated form the other rooms by the pipe that brought air to the hearths. In the light of the burning coals he saw how sad and teary eyed she was, a line of charcoal ran over one of her cheeks. She looked scared of the fire, which he understood was the reason why she was struggling with it. She looked at him and their eyes locked. He had deliberately avoided her since the graphics class. She dropped her eyes back into the burning coal, a tear slipping down her cheeks.

The next thing he knew, Anand jumped over the pipe and got next to her.

"Move", he said to her.

"What?" asked a confused Gowri.

Anand took the tongs and hammer from her hands and said, "Move and keep an eye on the moron and tell me if he gets back".

"But this is not right", she said.

"Just move", he said and took the white hot iron rod out of the fire and examined it. She hadn't done badly. It was just that she was a bit too timid to properly hammer the metal, so she was taking too long to do it. He set the metal on the anvil and within two minutes had made it into a satisfactory square prism. After handing the things to her he turned to her classmates who were still in the section, "If any of you rat on her, I swear you will regret it for the rest of your lives". Then he turned around to her and looking into her sad eyes he said, "Don't listen to him, he is an asshole. You understand that he has his own prejudices." he said to her.

Gowri nodded and dropped her gaze, her eyes still red. That man's scoldings had really made her miserable. Anand did not understand why he felt so upset and angry, but he composed himself and left the same way he came.

When the instructor came back she quickly submitted the square prism and the tools and then rushed out to find Anand. He wasn't in his class or canteen. As she walked out of the college she spied Anand, Niyaz and Harsha in a bakery opposite.

She went there and stood in front of him and extended her hand, "Thank you for helping me. Please give me the assignment, I will finish it".

Anand smiled at her and said, "I already submitted it. By the way, this is Niyaz and Harsha". He then turned to them and motioned them to go to the next table. They got up and smiled at her and went and sat at the next table.

"Sit down", he said to her. After a few moments of hesitation she sat down next to him.

"What will you like to drink?" he asked her.