Anyone Else But You...

by Mallik, Ritwik; Verma, Ananya

  God. I so don’t like him. Or do I?

  *

  “Head Boy!” Jai sneered, on seeing Rishav approach.

  “Yes, Jai, I thought as much,” Rishav replied. “I was merely going to congratulate you on getting what you wanted and you spoiled my mood.”

  “I didn’t spoil anything Bengali, you are like a cone stuck up my ass, didn’t want this day. Trust me.”

  Rishav nodded, “We can’t really do anything can we? Guess, we have to work together.”

  “We don’t have to work together Rishav Sen. I won’t change my ways and I am very hard to share power with.”

  “I realized that already Jai. All that I am saying is that the school’s interests lie before our personal egos. Appreciate the fact that you are accountable to the school and not the other way,” Rishav tried hard.

  Jai started laughing. He mimicked Rishav in an uncouth manner. “Tu chutiya hai,” he said.

  Rishav smiled, “Thank you!”

  “Hahahaa…” laughed Jai as some of his ass-lickers came by to see the drama. “He’s such a cunt, I just called him a chutiya and he says thank you.”

  The people around him started laughing too. Jai landed a heavy arm on Rishav’s shoulder.

  “Dude, bad times are in store for you. I was always going to be the Head Boy and even though there’d be two badges this time around – my badge would be the one with the real power with it, okay?” Jai pointed out.

  “We shall see to that, don’t take tension so easily. After all, you too will have to work with me for a year now. Who knows what happens at the end of the day!”

  “Ha ha…I know what happens at the end of the day. Ever heard of Veer Chauhan, you son of a bitch?”

  “Yes, I have Jai. Your respected dad and the owner of Skytel, I know of him.”

  “Then you should also know where he stands and where his son stands,” he started scratching his head like an eight year old chimp.

  “As far as I know, his son is standing right in front of me and is no more powerful than what Rishav Sen is in this school,” Siddhant on seeing Rishav in a sticky situation, badly outnumbered, decided to stand up for his friend. And there he was, right next to Rishav, backing him up in this verbal duel.

  There were calls of aam-chutiya, the moment Jai’s friends saw Siddhant arrive.

  “Oh, look who’s here…aaam-chuutiyyaaa!” Jai’s comments ended with a roar of laughter and some high fives from his friends.

  “You know and so do I know Jai, what all you’ve done over the past few years to come to this place. If not others then just pity yourself for what you’ve become, you power hungry moron. And I am proud that Rishav Sen, Head Boy of Delhi High School is a friend of mine,” Siddhant spoke with a lot of confidence for a change.

  “One of,” mumbled Jai who was more interested in catching Siddhant saying something wrong that he could turn against him at any given moment.

  “I am proud because even without enough years spent in this school, without having Veer Chauhan as his father, without buying his way out of every tough situation in life, Rishav Sen would be standing right next to you when the oath would be taken. He will be sworn in as the Head Boy and you, your dad and his money can do shit about it. You can never be a Rishav, no matter how much you’d want to be one.”

  Jai did not respond, he chose to stay silent. Seeing him, so did his ass lickers.

  “Arre o Sambha, main toh senti ho gya re!” Jai exclaimed. His remarks drew large rounds of laughter and sniggered comments from those around him.

  “One chutiya joins forces with another chutiya,” Jai laughed. “Expect Kaun Banega Chutiya next, eh?”

  Rishav and Siddhant couldn’t come up with a reply quick enough. But someone else did.

  Tired of over hearing constant jibes at someone who meant a lot to her and fed up with Jai’s arrogance, Sahana couldn’t take a word more.

  She walked and stood in front of Jai with her hands tightly crossed in front of her.

  “You son of a dog,” she said in almost a whisper. “You are worse than the fungus that grows after a street dog pees on an electric pole. And don’t you DARE COME NEAR THEM AGAIN. YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND?”She screamed the last bit while pushing Jai violently.

  Jai fell back and tripped on a stone and landed with a thump on the ground.

  “He gets enough attention already,” Sahana said to Rishav and Siddhant. “I don’t think you need to feed that ego anymore. Bloody scum. Let’s just get out of here okay?” she tugged Rishav as she walked away from that place.

  Hardik whispered into Jai’s ears, “Tera toh katta ho gya!”

  Jai changed into a deeper tone of red after the initial redness due to those heavy slaps across his face. “Fuck you bhenchods!” he shouted and stormed off.

  *

  “I appreciate what you did for me but never ever do this okay?” Rishav curtly pointed out to a visibly angry Sahana.

  “Do what? That asshole deserved a kick on the crotch. But then I would’ve had to dirty my shoes you know. Had I stood there for a second more, I would’ve done that too, you know.” she said as though it was a matter of fact. But Rishav could sense how angry she was.

  “Calm down Sahana, it doesn’t matter.”

  “Maybe not to you, but for me, yes. My friend’s insult is my insult. For once, quit being such a girl and go and confront him.”

  “Why should I? Isn’t he miserable enough already? Can’t you see the freakin’ insecurity in his eyes? Ever since he’s lost his mom – he remains insecure about everything that money can’t buy. Sympathise with him Sahana,” Rishav plead.

  “My sympathies are not sold on the pavement; I have none for the likes of Jai and Co. who think that the world is under their feet because of fuckin’ money in their pockets,” Sahana had got hyper and that meant more swinging of arms and more neck movements.

  “I see your point, but…”

  “No, you don’t see my point. If you did, you would have supported me rather than being such a loser about it,” she said. She was pacing the floor of their empty classroom. It was a PT period and all but two of them had gone outside to sweat it out in the Sun.

  “I do support you but tell me something, the truth will always remain the truth wouldn’t it? Jai saying things about me that intend to hurt me would just be opinions and opinions in no way influence the truth,” he said calmly.

  “They do, you big dumbass! They make the reality appear differently. And that is exactly what you should challenge.”

  “Sahana, we clearly differ in our point of view, could we not talk about it? Please?” he asked.

  “No, if you want it to happen then clearly we need to resolve these issues. I don’t want to be seen around with a sissy. You can’t stand up for yourself, how would you ever stand up for me?” she charged at him.

  “Lower your voice…” Rishav hissed. “There are classes going on here and besides, I am the Head Boy right? Jai can do nothing about it, he knows that and everyone does. So why should I respond unnecessarily?”

  Sahana didn’t reply. She was still burning with rage. Some kind of silence transcended upon them and that silence sent both of them into realization mode and the much sought after realization did strike after all.

  “Listen, I am really glad you did that for me. But Siddhant was already there. Why exactly did you do that?”Rishav asked her in a sweet whisper as he put his hand on her arm.

  Sahana took his hand from her arm and placed it in her hand.

  “Get up,” she said.

  “Why?” he asked as he got up. He could feel the goose bumps on his neck.

  “Come here,” she said as she hugged him tightly.

  Rishav put his hands on her back and held tightly.

  They stood like that for how long, Rishav didn’t know. But he didn’t want to let go.

  “Now let me go, you idiot,” Sahana said laughing.

  Sahana kissed his neck and pulled out her arms. Rishav placed a kiss on
her cheek. He could see that her face was completely red.

  “Feel le li?”Sahana said, putting her tongue out.

  “Oh yes,” Rishav slyly smiled.

  NINETEEN

  “Sahana, I have been assigned duty today, won’t be in class. Mind taking down the notes for me please?” Rishav asked while he dumped his bag on top of his desk in haste.

  “What duty?” she asked.

  She had washed her hair; it was left open. Rishav gawked at her for a few seconds. She wasn’t conventionally the most beautiful around but wasn’t someone who wouldn’t catch your eye either. She looks stunning, he thought.

  “Yeah yeah, stop gazing at my pretty face. I know I look good today,” she teased. “What duty?” she asked again.

  “Some French Exchange programme,” he said. “I have to stand there beside A. Chandrashekhar, all the while he goes about with his long speech and then I also have to ensure that everyone’s on duty and that no-one’s making out in the green room.”

  He smirked when he said making out. Sahana looked at him with a wry smile, “I have a cold today.”

  “So?” Rishav asked. “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Just like that,” she replied. “I just wanted you to know.”

  “Hmm…so will you or will you not?” he pinned his badge that read Head Boy next to his name.

  “Of course not!” Sahana hissed.

  “You won’t take down notes for me?” he re-checked.

  “Notes? Huh?” she was thinking of something else. It was pretty evident to Rishav from the way she replied but he chose to act dumb for the time being. “Notes? Yeah of course, I shall take down your notes!” she fumbled while she spoke.

  “Then what was the no for?” he asked.

  “Umm…nevermind! So? You have to go right?”

  “Yeah, in about five minutes,” he said hesitantly.

  “Cool. Why five minutes? Go now,” she replied.

  “You have a problem if I wait for five minutes?”

  “Umm…for what exactly?”

  “I dunno. Just like that, talk to you maybe?” Rishav shrugged.

  “I see, couldn’t you realize that before you took up your goddamn duty? Huh?” she sounded pissed.

  “Sahana, it’s my duty, I can’t run away from it. I need to prove that I am better that Jai.”

  “Yes, that’s all you care about- proving to the world that you aren’t a loser. Eh?”

  “Oh God! Here you go again…Sahana try to understand my perspective.” He tried convincing her, but in vain.

  “Nopes, there’s no need. It’s okay Rishav. Your five minutes are up really and if you don’t mind I need to put my head down and sleep, so bye!” she rested her head on the desk. She looked in the other direction.

  “Sahana? Angry?” he gently caressed her hair.

  “No, just go now okay?” she pushed his hand away.

  “I’ll miss you, see you later,” he said as he retracted and turned around to leave.

  She didn’t reply. Women, Rishav thought.

  *

  “Hello Muskaan, how do you do?” the Chairman guffawed without any reason.

  “I am good Sir, how are you?” she bent her knees slightly to greet him.

  “Sit, sit,” said Kalsi, popping a biscuit in her mouth.

  “And you called for me? For?” Muskaan inquired.

  “Wanted to know about Socialact Wave, I’ve heard that we’ve got sponsorships double the amount this year?” the Chairman asked.

  “Indeed sir. We have. And thanks to the ever patronizing Veer Chauhan, he nearly paid up seventy percent of the total amount,” she took great care to ensure that every word that left her mouth was politically correct.

  “Old Veer eh?” the Chairman chuckled. “Came to me once searching for a job, his IIT degree was taking him nowhere. I got him associated with this Heeru Balwani guy. Now look where Veer is,” there was a hint of arrogance in A.Chandrashekhar’s voice.

  Both Kalsi and Muskaan nodded upon hearing what he had to say.

  “So, Veer’s son…what’s his name again, erm?” he tried recollecting the name.

  “…Jai!” He said. “Yes, so is Jai being well looked after?”

  “Yes he is. He is one of our Head Boys this year,” that often missing smile was now Bindu Kalsi’s face.

  “Head Boy, that’s great news. But two? Why Bindu?” he asked her directly.

  “It’s partly my decision Sir,” Muskaan intervened.

  “Your decision? How? You weren’t even in the Selection Committee,” he said.

  “But you do know how things are when it comes to me,” Muskaan looked into the eyes of the Chairman.

  “Yes, but what’s the idea behind this then?”

  “You see…” Kalsi began, only to be interrupted by Muskaan.

  “It is about how we want our school to be seen to the outside world,” said Muskaan. “Jai is a symbol of the aristocracy in our school; he represents the rich and the influential. DHS is proud to have the elite of the society within its walls. On the other hand, Rishav Sen is the symbol of hard work and determination. He’s a dedicated young idealist who wants to change the world; he has made a name for himself despite not having an equivalent backup system like that of Jai. And that’s what makes these two contrasting people so interesting. Their cases will be a talking point in years to come and this decision was a part of the agenda to make DHS a more viable brand.”

  A.Chandrashekhar changed his posture slightly and carried on to listen with intent.

  Muskaan paused briefly and continued, “Representatives of two different sides makes the scenario far more interesting than what it already is. The meritorious will see Rishav to be a symbol of hope, someone who can stand out despite all the odds. While, the rich and powerful will see what a little bit of support did to Jai and the same could happen with their sons and daughters too. You see, this makes the parents want to die to put their children into Delhi High School. All this hoopla and hype, it benefits us immensely. Increase the fees, demand donations, do whatever you want to – the brand goes on. And by ensuring that both sides are equally happy, we have actually taken the first step towards ensuring that we meet a long term goal – dominance.”

  “You mean to say, all of this was discussed before you all selected the Head Boy, boys in this case?” he asked.

  “This information was restricted to just Muskaan and I. And now that you know, I hope that you do realize that it’s in the best interests of the school that it doesn’t go out,” Bindu Kalsi sounded guarded in the way she spoke. “This was an idea of sheer brilliance, wasn’t it Sir?”

  “Yes indeed. It was a great idea,” the Chairman exclaimed. “Muskaan, sharp mind you’ve got here. Eh?”

  Muskaan Kaur took a superficial bow which was far from displaying humility.

  After a few moments of silence, the Chairman spoke again. “What do you say Bindu, we need a Vice Principal for DHS International, what about Muskaan?” he looked at Kalsi while he spoke.

  Kalsi let the sentence register before she replied, “Why not? I think it is a great idea!”

  Muskaan grinned, “It’s going to be an honour, truly grateful!”

  “But…?” said Kalsi.

  “But what?” the Chairman asked.

  “Wouldn’t it be an issue that Muskaan has held absolutely no position of administrative authority till now? How will you convince the board?” Kalsi seemed concerned.

  “Hmmm….” The chairman went into deep thought. “Unless, we provide her with some experience, for the sake of showing it on her bio-data. What say?”

  “That is an interesting idea. I have been wanting to replace Veenu for a long time now, her jokes and self-applauses have become annoying now,” Kalsi said with a sigh.

  “We cannot replace Veenu, she is the safest, most gullible and clean people around. She does no harm to others, we won’t get much by replacing her,” Muskaan butted in.

  “She is right,”
A.Chandrashekhar said out loud. “Don’t we have Madhuri’s position empty?”

  “Yes, we do. So should we put her there?” Kalsi asked.

  “Yes, yes, go ahead. It’s an internal decision and we’ll call it a stop-gap arrangement so that it is away from probing eyes. Once the session is over, we can immediately shift Muskaan to DHS International as its Vice Principal. What do you think?”

  “Brilliant idea!” said Kalsi.

  “And I second her,” said Muskaan.

  The Chairman took out his cell phone and dialed a number. “I am going to send you an email from my mobile, within ten minutes. Forward it to all members of the board, get me?” he waited for the person’s reply before hanging up.

  TWENTY

  Siddhant was unsure about what he had just done. Taking on one of the most influential faces in the school wasn’t the best thing to do. But he did what he felt was right and that was something that kept him content.

  He crossed the road in front of DHS, took a right and started walking towards his house that was a few hundred meters away. The stress of approaching exams, constant jibes from his peers and added workload had made his life terrible. Add to that, the annoying heat – life was difficult.

  As he made his way, barely a few yards away from his house, a car stopped by. The window panes rolled down, Chintan flashed a wry smile. “Abbe o kutte,” he shouted out.

  “Motherfucker, do you even know what you say these days? And to whom?”

  Siddhant ignored and started walking again.

  The car caught up with him again, in no time.

  “Running away loser?” Chintan asked.

  Chintan threw an empty Diet Coke can at him. “Next time motherfucker, it’ll be something harder. Beware.” The window panes rolled up again and the car sped past.

  Siddhant turned around to spot a few juniors cracking jokes on him. They stopped immediately on seeing him. He shook his head in disgust and chose to ignore them.