The Rules Of Pursuit

55. Surprise

After nearly four months, Avinash and I were once more sitting beside each other, in the dimly lit auditorium.

Along with our Mentors, who for a change were dressed in crisp formals, there were three other men on the stage. I recognized one of them to be Arjun Mathur.

Mentor Kavya walked up to the podium on the stage, and spoke into the microphone.

"Good morning students." She greeted us, "Today marks the beginning of your final trimester of this academic year. I am proud to announce that each of you did brilliantly in your previous trimester and the experiment of pairing improved each of you in a different way. Your results will be out before next weekend. But like all good things must come to an end, so must this arrangement we started on November."

I felt a pang of grief. This meant I and Avinash won't be having our classes together. I hated the idea of separating from him. I never realized how time had flown by. Obviously, it was just for one trimester and eventually he would have to resume classes with his batchmate, but the thought of not having him beside me, cracking silly jokes or passing seductive comments made me feel sad.

I guess he must have felt the same, since he squeezed my hand with his.

"Each pair was marvelous in their own way, but yet one pair outdid everyone else." Mentor Kavya smiled pursing her lips. "They did something, which even experienced spies often struggle to achieve. Meenakshi Banerjee and Avinash Chauhan, can I have you two on stage." Our group started to applaud like maniacs as I and Avinash made our way to the stage, still holding hands.

"I would request Jeevan Sir to take it from here." Mentor Kavya said allowing Jeevan Rathore to take her place behind the podium.

"I have been the principal of this college from the day of its inception." Jeevan Rathore began, "Yet I have never come across two people so different from each other, like these two." He turned to smile at us. We were timidly standing in the corner of the illuminated stage.

"I have known Avinash for more than a year. Even though he wasn't that good in the traditional theory subjects, yet he was the best when it came to Gadget Studies, Art of Deception, Sports and Agility. Whereas Meenakshi here," Rathore pointed his hand towards me, "has the mind of a genius, but is, what do call it...Yes, a Couch potato. Most of us thought they would probably bring each other down. However, proving us all wrong Avinash's grades in all the theory subjects improved drastically. Meenakshi though continued to struggle with sports, and most of Agility." He sighed.

"Do you know the most important attributes of a spy?" He waited to see if anyone had the answer though no one responded, and Rathore resumed his speech. "They have to be fearless yet calm. These two may not have those attributes individually but as a pair, they do. That is what made them bust the biggest fresh and drug trade of Uttarakhand."

I was sure none of our college mates knew about our endeavor last night except our 'Indian Avengers'.

"That is why the Home Minister and the Secretary of Research and Analysis Wing have together decided to award them the SUBHASH CHAKRA."

Jeevan Rathore's words were followed by a thunderous applause. We even heard whistles, I had a faint notion it was either Zoro or Mandy.

I looked at Avinash who was grinning ear to ear, which made him look adorable and younger than usual. I wanted to embrace him, and give him a peck on his cheek, but obviously couldn't.

"As you all know Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, was a master of disguise who had managed to escape from house arrest right under the nose of the colonial rulers. The Colonial rulers had no inkling that Subhash Bose had built his own army, which eventually managed to overthrow the Colonial rule gifting India the Independence for which many freedom fighters had sacrificed their lives." Rathore took a deep breath.