Campus story

The new paths

"Oh, she is the one who proposed our senior aloud." Ragini listens to the murmuring of students around her.

Wow, she is famous now! She gets annoyed. She wanted to be famous, but not in this way. Now, the whole college thinks her as a bad girl. And, most importantly what if her future marriage alliance get cancelled if they hear about this? 
(Ohh come on Ragini !! )

Her thoughts are occupied and then she hears a call from the peon,

"Are you Ragini? The HOD wants to talk to you!" he says.

"I'm doomed!" Ragini thinks and walks towards the HOD room. It is like a lion cave for her.

"May I come in mam..?" she asks stressfully.

The HOD starts shouting on her,

"I never expect this kind of behaviour from students!! Do you think this is a college or a fish market? How could you shout like that 'I love you..' to a boy..!"

Ragini trembles, "Mam, I'm so sorry. I didn't do it deliberately. Seniors have threatened me to do so.."

HOD:: in that case, you should complaint to the principal or me! Not whatever you like!!

Ragini:: the library book cost is 1500 mam, he threatened me to tear it if I won't do it.

HOD:: then just write the senior name here and call your parents tomorrow.

Ragini:: mam.. why my parents? Please mam, this is not my mistake..

HOD:: just do as I say!!

Ragini leaves the room almost tears rolling in her eyes. She wanted a good name before the HOD. But, her first impression turned as worst impression. Now what about her future internal marks, lab marks? Most importantly what if she is her future Mother-in-law?

(Ohh, again come on Ragini !!)

Ragini goes home thinking the second day was also a disaster. She almost want to cry for getting scoldings from HOD on second day itself, but no! She is supposed to be a strong girl who never cries. But, she cries after going into her room.

"I won't go to college from tomorrow!"

"Ladoo, come out. I prepared snacks for you! come and eat." Says Daadi from out.

"I don't want anything! Go away daadi!" Ragini shouts.

"What?" Ragini's mom Janaki yells for which Ragini trembles at once. "coming mom." she says and comes out.

Shekar was reading news paper and Ragini sits before him.

"Dad, My HOD wants to meet you." she says.

Shekar:: what great thing did you do just on the second day that HOD herself is calling us?

Ragini:: I proposed a boy!

Shekar and Janaki looks at her shocked. While Daadi closes her ears chanting, "shiva.. shiva.."

Meanwhile at Laksh's home,

Laksh:: mummy, that poor girl did it because of Sanskar. He scared her to do that. Why do you need to call her parents just for that?

Annapurna(HOD):: you don't tell me what to do! I'm the HOD not you. And, you are son just in home. Not in the college.

Laksh:: I know, Please leave her mom..

Annapurna just looks at Laksh for once and he remains calm. Just then, Laksh's phone rings. He remembers it as Ragini. He hasn't saved her number actually.

He goes to his room and lifts the call,

Rag:: sir, this is Ragini...

Lak:: yes Ragini..

Rag:: Sir, I'm really sorry. It was not a proposal. It's a treat...

Lak:: Don't be sorry Ragini. These things are common in Raging. And, I know Sanskar did it all.

Ragini remains silent.

Lak:: now don't worry and concentrate on your studies. bye..

Rag:: thank you sir.. bye..

Laksh smiles as he cuts the call and he saves her number as, 'Sweet girl'. Then he eraises it and puts her name as Ragini.

Ragini smiles as she cuts the call. "Such a nice boy!" she thinks.

"No no. No diverstions!!" she thinks again and involves in her books.

Next day, in the college..

Ragini's parents meets Annapurna.

Shekar:: actually.., Ragini is a nice girl madam. That senior has asked her to do so...

Annapurna:: no mr shekar ji, I haven't called you here about that. We have selected a group of brilliant students from first years and second years. And, Ragini is one of them.

Shekar looks happy. Ragini thinks, how come she is brilliant? she has joined college just now. and then she thinks about her marks in Eamcet and intermediate.

"Ohh that...." she thinks.

Annapurna:: every year the selected students will form a team and they do a project related on some topic. It's a competition national wide for all the Engineering colleges. I want your daughter to be in this team. For this Ragini have to spend some extra time in college and sometimes she has to go to other cities to give seminars. We will put her name only if this is ok to you both..

asks Annapurna to Shekar and Janaki.

Janaki:: but mam, what about her studies? Do they get any special job if they do this?

Annapurna laughs a bit, "they do! students who participate in different techno activities get more chance of placement in good companies. Don't worry about her studies, this competition goes on only for one month!

Shekar and Janaki smiles and agrees to this. Ragini didn't want to do this, as she only wants to study and get good marks. But seemingly, this is not avoidable.

Annapurna hands over a sheet to Ragini which explains rules and regulations and also the names of team members. She gets happy to see Laksh's name in it and she is also shocked to see Sanskar's name in it.

"No way!" Ragini shouts aloud in herself.

(The college campus classes will continue as the coronavirus has not yet started. (Let's assume))