The Partham Chronicles

Part 26 - Darwin Vs The World

The room was filled with all sorts of people. Students from various schools had flanked around tables and were laying down their projects. Some of them had models of topics that Tashvin knew about. Then some students had huge charts and presentations plastered on the wall behind their tables.

It had been years since he'd been in such a place, the memory was blurry but familiar. The last project he had done was with Shekhar on the hovercraft which had also earned him a patent. The environment felt like his own, felt close.

He heard murmurs behind him as he was arranging their project on the table and waiting for Tilottama. Who, had disappeared immediately after they had received their table number.

" Your name is Tashvin Akin right?" a voice behind him asked.

He turned around to see two boys looking at him intently.

" Yes," Tash said.

" Told you it was him, " one of the boys said to the other with a broad grin.

" So, the rumour was true... You really did take part in the exhibit..."

Tashvin was confused.

" Wow, what is your topic?" One of the boys tried to crane his neck and look at the project on the table.

Before Tashvin could answer.

" Human genetic history," said Tilottama while walking towards them.

Both boys stepped back a little and apologised.

" Are both of you on the same team?" One of the boys asked.

Tash nodded.

" Shit, I don't think we have a chance this year either," he said looking at the other boy.

" I didn't expect these two to be on the same team." The other boy exclaimed as they walked away.

" Best of luck," Tilottama said, smirking in their direction.

Tash was confused, " What was all that about? Why were they acting so weird?" he asked her.

" You have lots of fans, you are quite famous among the crowd here."

" Don't be ridiculous, fans? Seriously?"

She nodded and shrugged. " Even the girl at the registration desk couldn't believe it when I told her to cross out Poornima's name and write yours instead." She held his arm and turned him around towards the entrance door. " You see those three girls, over there?"

Tash nodded.

" They want me to introduce them to you."

" Quit bullshitting," Tash didn't think that this was even possible. " Are you trying to pull some kind of a prank, because I am not falling for it." He turned back around but felt his cheek flush red.

" Don't believe me?" Tilottama said and called out to the three girls standing at the door.

" What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?" Tashvin tried to stop her but it was too late.

" Hi, my name is Sara," said one of the girls, waving at him.

Tash gave a half-hearted smile.

" My name's Ruhi and I am from St. Michael's Sch-

" Hi, my name's Sandy, short for Saadhana," interrupted the third girl.

" Hey, Sssandy...I am Tashvin..."

" I know..." the girl giggled," I read about you in an article about young inventors in VIT's Scientific journal, last month's issue... I really like it, I would..."