Priti woke up to a beautiful morning. Within an hours’ time she was ready and was on her way to college. She reached there and realised that she was an hour early. She needed to kill time before she can meet up with her gang.
She paused for a moment in the parking lot and then walked toward the main canteen in a hope that she would catch up with at least one of her group members who might have reached early…
As she entered the canteen there was a routine silence of growing heartbeats for a moment and then the buzz started again. Her eyes searched every nook and corner for a familiar face in her group. None of them had arrived.
Slowly she walked in and grabbed a chair beside an empty table in their normal corner. She took out her mobile and her hands quickly sent SMS to her group requesting them to reach as early as possible.
After a sandwich she was sipping a cup of hot coffee when the chair next to her got pulled and she looked up to see 3 unknown boys sitting at table she occupied and gazing at her nonstop.
“New admission?” asked one of them asked in his raspy voice. He smelt of heavy drinks possibly from the yesterday…
“Yes” she said moving slightly away from him when she heard another raspy voice on her left which also smelt the same way…
“Hmmm… What stream did you join and how come we have never seen you?”
“OH! My God! Such a beautiful babe in our college and we missed it?” and they laughed dangerously.
The guy sitting in front of her looked real mean and shady kind of character “The entire campus knows my name” he said proudly, “Vicky”, that’s the name to remember”
He looked a tough guy. He was dark in colour. He had a good build. He was wearing a sick combination of large red colour checks on a dirty white Turkish trouser. The upper buttons to his shirt were missing showing off his broad hairy chest on which he wore a very thick gold chain.
He looked what he was – College Rowdie “C’mon Sweetie, what’s your name?” he said lifting his collar straight & brushing his overgrown mismanaged hair, “Be my friend and everyone in this college will respect you. Nobody turns down my offer…” he said in a warning tone.
Priti looked desperately around and found nobody even thinking of reaching out to help her. She was now scared of this tough guy who was invading the peace of her lovely paradise. She kept mum as they continued to harass her. And she kept praying for them to disappear and her friends to appear…
“Hey! Sweetie… Why are you mum” they kept on pestering her
“Are you dumb?” another tried to rhyme and they laughed again recklessly.
“Hi! Priti!” came a cheerful voice of Payal as she, Chaps and Amit walked in…
“So your name is Priti, is it?” said Vicky licking his lips in gusto “At least, I now know a name to call you with…”
They approached her and they stopped in their tracks seeing her sitting tensely across the table to Vicky. Her face had suddenly lit up as she saw her friends around. Chaps waived Payal to grab another table that was empty and walked over with Amit to the table where Priti was sitting.
“C’mon Priti join us” Chaps said with authority and voice. Priti heaved a sigh of relief and obediently got up from her chair. As she moved across to join Chaps, Vicky put his hand between them.
“Let her go Vicky” said Chaps “She’s new to this campus and I think she has had enough for today” Chaps said adding on, “She doesn’t know you and I request you to please let her go…”
Vicky looked at Chaps for a moment and then at his friends “Should we let her go gang?” he asked them.
“We would let her go if she performs ‘Humpty Dumpty’ for everyone present here… after all Chaps what’s a college without ragging?”
Chaps insisted, “Vicky, please let her go she’s our in group and you can see that she’s had enough…”
Vicky flared up and grabbed Chaps by his collar, “We have left you and Payal alone now what are you trying to be Kishan Kanhaiya?”
In a moment the environment in the canteen was tense with people expecting a small melee of fisticuffs.
“I’ll perform ‘Humpty Dumpty’ for you Vicky… let your hands off Chaps” said Priti uncomfortably.
“No Priti, don’t try to demean yourself” said Chaps.
Vicky raised a threatening finger at Chaps who looked firmly at Priti and said “Payal take Priti and go to your department”
“Cut it off, you two” a voice boomed from behind. Vicky let off Chap’s shirt and as he recognised the voice.
Chaps turned around and said “Hi Lucky”.
Lucky walked in and hugged Chaps, Vicky and his friends “Guys! Chill!” he said pompously “Lucky is here and he needs a friendly environment.”
Vicky looked at him for a moment, then waived to his friends and they went off. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
“Hey! Lucky weren’t you on a project in Bangalore? When did you return?” Chaps asked him.
“Just landed” said Lucky pompously again,” and what was this tension all about? We decided two years back… no fights in the campus and we didn’t have any fights since then” he turned around and saw Priti sitting next to Payal. As he saw Priti his jaw dropped. She was looking absolutely fascinating in her pink top that she wore over an off-white track slack.
“What is Ms Patel doing in this campus?” Lucky could not resist asking the question loudly.
Priti taken aback looked at him, “Hi! Lucky… What on earth are you doing here?”
Chaps looked confused and said, “Priti? Do you know Lucky?”
“Of course, she knows me.” said Lucky enthusiastically.
“Yes. I know him” said Priti “We keep on meeting on and off at Dad’s parties he throws around to his business friends.”
“So what’s Lucky got to do with your dad’s business friends’ parties?” Payal was even more confused.
“His dad is a politician and one of the main suppliers of raw material to my dad’s factories and when dad throws these business parties, occasionally his business friends are invited with their families. That’s how I got introduced to him… Further, we studied in same class during my school in Mumbai. After tenth, I joined juniors at Mumbai & I did not know he was here” Priti explained and turned to Lucky, “Lucky, I did not know you were studying here. But what’s all this project business at Bangalore?”
“Well Priti, I’m studying computers and during the course we have to do software projects. My dad knew this person in SystemTech at Bangalore… that’s how I got the project”
“Good” said Priti, “at least you’ve started doing something worthwhile now. I always thought you were going to follow your elder brother’s footsteps and join your family business.”
“Who me? Naaaah! Someday I’m going to own a big software industry” Lucky was pompous again…
“But I’m surprised How come these rowdies listened to you and went off so meekly?” Priti asked
“You know, Priti, someone like me has to be friendly and have authority in this campus. Especially I am accustomed to winning college elections without opposition” he stood proudly and waived his hand at others in the canteen.
“It’s like he’s the ruler here and these all are his subjects and rowdies like Vicky are his law implementation soldiers” Payal whispered in Priti’s ears and chuckled.
Priti nodded her head in acknowledgement slowly understanding the scenario. So Lucky used his wealth to purchase strength from likes of Vicky and made friends with good people like Chaps to negotiate the electoral position.
“Rest assured, Priti, Vicky and his friends won’t trouble you from today” said Lucky, “I need to report to my HOD of the project, so I will take your leave” he left the canteen.
Priti looked at him from the window and saw him back patting and laughing with Vicky as they headed toward the Department of Computers…
‘How some people change’ thus thought Priti and joined others. Her sudden meeting with Lucky sent her wandering down the memory lane… back to her school days.
It was almost toward end of ninth standard and the children were growing up. They had started realizing that boys and girls were created different by nature.
There was attraction to the other side to know more about them however there also was awkwardness that prevented most of the interaction. The school administration was well aware of physical growth and had boys and girls sitting in separate rows.
Those who knew each other from a long time were still awkward friends with each other and Priti and Lucky shared similar awkward relation with each other.
Priti used to pity Lucky. He was timid and tougher boys used to push him around a lot. They used his colours to sketch their own drawing books and give him back the empty colour bottles. They used to beat him up and as he covered his face to cry used to steal his expensive compass box.
During sports they used to play cricket and Lucky was kept on the farthest boundary point waiting for his turn, which never used to turn into reality. They used to tease him, beat him, torture him and he used to bear it all without a word, because he knew, one word of resistance, would mean more exposure to torture. He used to let it out silently, crying in a corner.
Priti looked out of the window. ‘How some people change’ she wondered again ‘The Lucky’ she knew in school was totally different than Lucky she met few moments back. ‘What could have made this difference’ she continued wandering down the memory lane to find the answer.
As standard tenth academic year started, Lucky invited the class to his birthday party for the first time. Only boys were invited. After the weekend, Priti saw a distinct change in the behaviour of the toughies. They suddenly were sweet to Lucky. Almost fell head over heels to please Lucky.
Priti could notice this change as could the other girls. Every girl wondered ‘How was this possible?’
Curiosity – that’s another virtue and sometimes vice of all girls. Priti made it a point to meet Lucky and asked about this transformation. “Money Power, my dear” said Lucky beaming.
‘My! My!’ thought Priti, ‘he it is a long way since then… right from a small treat at Pizza Hut to school rowdies. Lucky now had graduated to hiring rowdies to get what he wants. He can now graduate to a successful politician’ she concluded.
Towards later months in standard Tenth most of boys & girls had come to terms with nature. They had started shedding their inhibitions and become friendly with each other. Now they had girlfriend-boyfriend culture emerging.
Since every girl in the classroom had a boyfriend, it was imperative for Priti to get a boyfriend to be one of them and not be the odd one out.
None of the boys in the classroom were good enough so Priti decided to play safe and the only boy she knew ‘Lucky’ she got attached to him as his girlfriend in the eyes of her classroom. She had no feelings whatsoever for him though…
Tough young, Priti looked cute and one could tell that she would definitely bloom into a beautiful woman as she grew. So Lucky thought he really was lucky to get Priti as his girlfriend. She was quite comfortable flaunting herself as his girlfriend…
As the days passed he got fonder of Priti and she used to like him for the respect he used to generate from others. The final exams were done with and it was time to say Good Bye to school and as a norm the school hosted the Farewell Party for them on the Valentine’s Day before they left the school for further education…
That was the only day when these students were allowed in clothes other than the uniforms that they had been wearing for all these years. It was a different feeling for the students to come to school without uniforms, in the clothes they preferred to wear otherwise…
As the school auditorium filled up, one could notice the colourfulness in the atmosphere. Everyone wanted to look best since it was their only chance to show their colours off – No Uniform!
It was the first time that Priti experienced the silence that followed wherever she entered. For the first time the school saw her wearing a pink top over a white flowing skirt that just touched her knees. Even as she entered the school auditorium there was a sudden silence. She could hear numerous hearts beating fast. Then after a moment the buzz started. It was a wonderful feeling to know that she had a stunning appearance.
She stopped and looked around… all girls were sitting next to their boyfriends.
She looked around and saw an empty chair in the first row. She walked toward the chair. As she approached the chair, the boy sitting next to it suddenly got up. He was clad in a glamorous expensive party shirt. She looked at him and he bowed to her, said “Welcome Sweetheart.”
That was a moment and Priti thought Lucky did look smart and attractive in that outfit. She smiled at him and took the seat offered to her graciously and the auditorium clapped.
The entire auditorium spent two hours of agonising speeches from the teaching staff to these emotional students who wanted to say many things that were irrelevant for the moment. Priti’s heart started beating faster as Lucky reached out tenderly touching her hand and then holding it firmly.
Finally, the announcement that all were requested to go to the ground where music, dance and food were arranged was made… After few rounds of dance Lucky slowly edged his way holding her hand toward the quietest and empty corner of the ground.
“What are you doing?” she asked and Lucky stood square facing her, “Today every boyfriends and girlfriends kiss. Won’t you kiss me?”
She paused for a moment feeling odd and then innocently nodded her approval – awkwardly her lips touched his lips.
Soon she was lost in his kiss. It was first time she was experiencing the feeling of womanhood. He was gentle at first and she started responding to his kisses. Priti felt she was to heaven as Lucky held her softly and kissed on. She started gasping for breath soon. The gentleness in Lucky was gone. He was pressing down on her lips very hard. His body was more than warm and he was no longer holding her. He was clasping and clawing at her body.
“Ouch! Lucky! What are you doing? You are hurting me. Let me go…”
But Lucky was beyond that to understand, his hands desperately groping to reach out to her breasts…
“Ouch! Lucky! Stop it. Stop it I say” Priti was almost hysterical now. Somehow she managed to break free of his grip and ran out of the school sobbing uncontrolled.
Next day Lucky called her and said “Sorry”— she hung the phone before he could say any further. Lucky kept on trying to call her for few more days before giving up.
A huge bouquet of roses broke her train of thought and she came back to present. Payal, Chaps, Amit, everyone was looking at her…
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