The Zeroth Law

CHAPTER 12: THE TWO SIDES

"Still not done?" Karan asked me when he, Vaibhav and Ishaan reached us, "Weren't you peeling Sandesh's skin off for being short on display boards?"

"He started working yesterday morning and suddenly sprouted up this attitude", I told Vaibhav who chuckled, "All fine on your end?"

"Altitude has been a huge hit, as always", he informed, "and Contraption did well too, if you ignore one small controversy about marking system and have you walked by the arena of Robowars?" he asked us all, "It's hard to hear voice of someone walking by your side; the audience has been in such an ecstatic uproar."

"None of the events' success is your effort", Arpita said to an enthusiastic Vaibhav and he immediately subdued, "All you do is some boring paperwork in a room."

"Does she hate me or something?" Vaibhav asked me as all of us walked away from the tent of refreshment, "Everything I am enthusiastic about, she has a problem with it." Vaibhav and Arpita were classmates.

"Ignore her", I consoled him, "she is still three. Where's Rudraansh then?"

"Missing him already?" Vaibhav teased and I grunted, which ironically sounded like the grunt Rudraansh gives all the time, "Altitude's been falling short for chairs for spectators so he went to help the organiser with it. I just hope he doesn't end up knocking him with one of the chairs." Altitude was an aerodynamic event which involved RC planes.

"Why?" I asked amazed.

"You remember that guy from the other day when you came to Events room? Tall, hooked nose, light brown eyes", Vaibhav didn't have to explain so much, I immediately knew he was talking about Mandaar, "He is Altitude's organiser. Apparently he and Rudraansh have some old scores to settle", sighed Vaibhav, "I don't know much about it and don't understand half of it but what can I do?"

"Rudraansh won't act so irrationally while we have students from outside", I assured Vaibhav.

"I know", he said and I smiled, "alth-"

"Adira", Vaibhav's words were cut short because Ishaan had called me. I turned around to see Shayoni looking green while Ishaan rolling his eyes, "Would you mind even in the slightest if Shayoni ditches you and joins me for a match of Robowars?"

"Since when did she need my permission to do stuff?" I asked looking at her with my eyebrows raised, "You should have told me earlier I had that sort of control over your life, I would have exploited my authorities."

"No need to be so sarcastic", she grimaced, "I was just worried that you would be burdened with the amount of work you got."

"She has me so don't worry", Karan assured her, "Go ahead and report back to us if you come across something interesting that we can share with the magazine committee."

"Okay", Shayoni said still not looking completely convinced, "Call me immediately if you need any help", she said to me.

"I have you on speed dial", I guaranteed her, "if you don't reach me within five minutes of my call I will cut off your life support."

She rolled her eyes, waved at me and left with Ishaan.

"Well then, I will leave too. You better complete the thing you told us you would", Arpita said with a meaningful glance at me before leaving and I glowered after her. Damn, she has such a big mouth.

"Can I come see your exhibition?" Vaibhav tagged after Arpita and walked away too.

"What thing?" Karan asked me and despite knowing that this was a chance I chickened out.