The Partham Chronicles

Part 22 - Frienemy

Tashvin was mostly happy these days. Everything seemed to be running smoothly. His resonance machine was on schedule; he was making a small tracker for Ava, and his school, too, was going pretty well. He realised that he was mostly calm.

He was on his way to the classroom,
" Hey, wait for me," he heard Shekhar's voice from behind him. He was a scrawny boy who mostly wore a loose t-shirt and baggy jeans, and looked more like a rapper than a maths wiz.

They were about to enter the classroom.

" Principal is going to call you to his office today," said one of the boys, standing near the entrance. Danish was a tall boy with a slender body long and pale face, and a long nose. And he liked to poke that nose of his in everybody's business at school. He was accompanied by a shorter boy named Hemant, who had rigid features and a blank expression; both of them worked for the school newspaper. Thought of themselves as true journalists.

" I heard him talking to your class teacher. Looks like you are in a bit of trouble," He said with a taunting grin on his face.

" You have no idea how many times I have been called to Princy's office this year. No need to worry, Dan, piece-o-cake." Tashvin shrugged. He was trying to sound as unbothered as possible.

" If you are looking for a story here you will be very disappointed," Shekhar said, smirking. And they walked away from him.

Danish always showed a special interest in Tashvin. Tash wondered whether he suspected him. But Tash had a normal life. Studies, projects, school work, homework, common stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary. Yet Danish always asked him questions and followed him at school most of the time.

After the first two classes were done. His class teacher called him to her desk and sent him to the principal's office. The teacher's expressions were plain, she didn't look angry or even happy. So, he wondered what it was that was waiting for him at the principal's office.

When he entered, he saw the head girl of his school standing near the table, Tilottama Kripakar. She was a perfect student, the one that your mom would be giving an example of. Neatly dressed in their school uniform, a maroon plaid skirt and cream shirt, two perfect plaits on either side of her face. A necktie and a maroon blazer. Straight-A student and head of the orators club of their school, and last but not least, the captain of the Scientific League, a team of students who represented the school at science exhibitions all over the country. Tashvin now had a faint idea of the reason he was called to the principal's office.

" Good morning sir," he said.

" Good morning my boy," Mr. Palloti said. He was a tall and thin man, in his fifties, with dark eyes and heavy eyelids, a moustache and receding hairline." I hope you already know miss, Kripakar here." He said gesturing at Tilottama.

Tashvin nodded.

" Her team is selected for a national science exhibit which will be held next week at Benson's high school." He said

" Yes sir, I know about it. Our school has been the undefeated champions for the past four years." He chimed.
And Tilottama has made a point to flaunt that victory at school every time she'd got a chance, he thought.

"Well, this year, we have had a bit of bad luck. Her teammate, Miss Purnima, has been diagnosed with typhoid and is on a recovery leave. So, she needs a competent teammate." He straightened up," and I am sure that you are capable enough to stand in her place. I couldn't think of any other name." The principal looked at him with eager eyes.

" Sir, I have no idea how the exhibition works because I had stopped participating in such events a long time ago. Even if I agree to participate now, I don't have anything prepared. It's-"