Arohan - The Ascent

The Fall

Urvashi watched Vicky, as he moved closer and stepped back, away from him. She turned to look at the class full of students, who looked at both of them by turns, waiting in anticipation to see what their teacher will now say. If word got  out of the classroom, the whole gossip cycle would start all over again. 

Urvashi turned from the children to look at Vicky. 

He was watching her closely, his eyes narrowed to thin lines as he waited for her reaction. As he stood watching, he saw her face soften into a warm smile. The smile that was blossoming on her lips did strange things to his insides.

Urvashi looked at Vikram and said, "thank you so muck Vikram," then turning towards the children. "Did you see how convincingly he acted. I want you all to come up with a play, where you will act your roles just like this. The audience watching you must believe that you are the person you are playing and forget the real you." 

She turned to Vicky then. "Wait for me in the staff room Vikram. I need to talk to you," and she turned around, back to the lesson.

"Madam!" Vicky called out, not moving from the classroom. "GO NOW!" ordered Urvashi, her eyes wide, her voice only just losing control.

Vicky scratched his head and looked at her unsure, before walking out of the classroom.

A Few Minutes Later – Staff Room

Urvashi walked in briskly into the staff room, as Vicky paced the empty room, waiting for her to appear. It had been over 20 minutes and when she still had not come, he was just about to step out of the staff room, when he heard her footfalls.

She came in and she stood in front of him, with her hands crossed at her chest. Vicky looked at her from head to foot. "I love..." he began, as soon as she stood before him.

"What new tricks are you up to.Is this Narottam's order?" she asked, keeping a safe distance from him.

Vicky's eyes caught fire as her words provoked anger within him. "I am telling you that I am in love with you. It's love at first sight for me. What has it got anything to do with Narottam or anyone else," he asked, trying to step closer to her.

Urvashi stepped back immediately. "You will leave right now. And you will stay away from me, henceforth," she said, turning away from him.

"I was in your house, sleeping there for a few hours. If my intentions were wrong, I could have done anything," he said, as Urvashi turned around to look at him. "ANYTHING," he repeated, as her face tightened in anger. "But I didn't do anything. You know why? Love..." he said, a smile curving at his lips.

Urvashi stood observing the impudent man standing in front of her. She was very nearly tempted to slap the smile off his face, but she knew better than to provoke him that way.
Urvashi brought her phone to her line of vision and dialed some number. Vicky watched with curiosity, what she was trying to do.

"Narottam JI?" she asked, after a few seconds.

"Are you serious?" asked Vicky. "Do you think I will fall for such juvenile tricks?" he asked, looking away with the smirk intact on his face.

"Yes, Its me, Urvashi. I have Vikram here with me and he is talking some nonsense , here at the school. Could you please put some sense into your man, not to cause trouble anymore?" she said, as she observed Vicky.

"Yes... I am talking about him," she said, looking down at the ground.

"Here.." she said, offering the phone to Vicky. "Your boss wants to talk to you," she said, giving the phone.

Vicky's smirk vanished from his face. He took the phone, slowly, apprehensively and put it to his ears.

The loud barks from the other side, were audible even to Urvashi.