Ranjish | 𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒓𝒂𝒋

XI. lost number game

isha :

I was sitting in a lecture hall.
The sun was setting outside, painting the sky in a beautiful hue of orange and red.

Vanraj had attended the meeting with other board members, Rao Saheb did not attend it though.
After that, he left due to his office work.
There had been a brief moment of loud silence between us before he finally trudged out of the hall.

My evening lecture had been over half an hour ago, and now I sat in silence, staring out of the window.
A cool breeze entered the lecture hall on the third floor, I had asked the worker to open the windows for me, as I sat in silence.

The events of this morning played in my mind.
Mere baare mein jo bolna hai bolo, lekin Dr. Bhonsale ke baare mein ek bhi shabd apni gandi zubaan se nikala.. toh I swear.

The rage in his hazel brown eyes, the clenched jaws, the anguish in his voice.
I could not remember anyone taking a stand for me that way, to look in the eye of an enemy and protect me.

I straightened up.
I hated to think about him, but he forced me.
Why would he stand up for me?
Why would he even come to visit me?
This trustee-ship, I knew, he took for me.
Was he.. was he interested in me?

Ishu pagal ho gayi hai? Kya soch rahi hai? How does it matter if he is interested? You cannot be. So it doesn't matter.
I sighed as I looked down, holding my head.

In all these years, no man had sent me in such a frenzy with his actions.
I should have avoided Vanraj, but just like him, somehow I could not. I did want to see him, talk to him, annoy each other, laugh over stupid jokes.

Humari toh ranjishon mein bhi sukoon hai.
I thought as I looked up.

"Ma'am, may I come in?", I heard.
I turned to my side, towards the door of the hall, to find Pakhi Shah.
I nodded as I sat up straight.

"Ma'am, actually aapne mujhe notice period diya hai na, otherwise you said you would rusticate me..", She said, looking down.

Can I though? Can I rusticate you now? Your father has bewitched me so much, I don't even have control over my thoughts.

I nodded anyways.

"Ma'am.. maine classes ki nehi thi. And my friends.. they don't really know much. I don't know where to start.", She said, looking genuinely tense, "I don't want to get rusticated.. kuch seniors ne bataya that you help students who want to study. Can you please help me?"

I drew in a deep breath.

"I will be very honest to you, Pakhi. Had it not been for your father's earnest request, by rules, you should have been rusticated. But, since you want to study now, I expect full dedication from you. The students I have taught have all excelled in their respective fields, and you can be no different.", I said seriously.

"Ma'am, I'll give my hundred percent.", She said immediately.

"Hundred percent won't work Pakhi. You have to give up on all those parties, going out with friends, everything and completely focus on studying. You have a lot of backlog.", I said.

I watched her gulp nervously.
"I'll do it ma'am.", She said finally.
I nodded, and stood up.

"Theek hai. First thing that you must do is change your friend circle. I'll introduce you to a very good student, I'm sure he'll help you.", I said as we walked out of the lecture hall.
Pakhi followed me.