Free Anyone Else But You... by Ananya Ritwik; Verma Mallik Page A

shall be the grandest Wave ever and it shall so happen under your leadership. Isn’t that a proud occasion?” Muskaan ranted.
    Bindu Kalsi ’s chest puffed up with pride, “Yes indeed.”
    “Veer Chauhan has agreed to provide unconditional help in the form of cash and kind but in return all we need to do is tweak the rules a bit.” Muskaan paused. There was silence all around.
    “… Jai Chauhan needs to be made Secretary of Socialact Club despite not being of the permitte d class and…” she spoke in a low tone.
    “And…?” Kalsi moved a little forward.
    Muskaan took in a deep breath, “…and Jai also has to be given first choice preference when the Council is nominated and the Head Boy is selected.”
    Kalsi looked at her in disbelief, so did the accompanying teachers who had no inkling of what Muskaan had to say.
    Muskaan got up from her seat, Kalsi still hadn’t spoken a word. “We need to decide on this Bindu ,” she said. “…we need to decide on it soon. You are on the path to becoming the greatest Principal in the history of DHS and all that separates you from that tag is a petty post that needs to be given to a boy whose father….erm, whose father is perhaps one of the most generous people you’ll ever come across . And he doesn’t really demand much in return and it’s nothing that you can’t provide. ” Muskaan curtly nodded as she rounded off her sentence and got ready to leave.
     
    Bindu Kalsi pushed herself back on her reclining chair. In a contemplative mood, she thought of all that Muskaan had said. Some things made sense while others still remained ambiguous in her head. On one side she had her principles while on the other side she had instant success. She lifted her intercom and dialed for her secretary. A couple of rings later, the secretary was on the line.
    “Connect me to the Chairman,” Kalsi said and put the receiver down. She looked at Muskaan and gave a semi affirmative nod.
     
    Though unspoken, Muskaan knew word-to-word what Bindu Kalsi ’s nod suggested. She was a happy woman and why not!
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    TWELVE
     
    Who cares about school events like special assemblies, academic workshops, usual festival oriented occasion s, it’s time for Socialact Wave.
    This was perhaps the most overused line in the build up to Socialact Wave. Delhi High School seemed to have been engulfed by the father of all waves of activity. Students, teachers, office staff and employees alike – everyone was seen where they were not supposed to be seen. Teachers were no longer within the walls of their Staff Room sipping their hot cups of tea, instead were seen doing a variety of tasks that included designing contingency plans, assisting the Heads with the invite list, coordinating with the Office Administration and all. Students who never really enjoyed the comforts of their classroom finally got a chance to smell the fresh air again – the air of the corridors. Varying in shapes and sizes, students could be seen all over the corridors. Most were accompanied by a Socialact Club member, who’d be appearing to be in a lot of work yet not be in any. The students were involved in work that ranged from designing posters to helping in transferring decoration items from one end of the school to another. Other students including His Highness Jai Chauhan went about ordering people, flaunting his influence and doing things that would be included under the broad sub-heading as chutiyapanti.
     
    Every year, Socialact Wave was an event that was highly anticipated and people would actually look forward to it due to its tremendous glamour quotient. Unlimited caffeinated drinks and food to those who paid up sponsorship money was an incentive. And since, sponsorships were compulsory that year, everyone was entitled to the food and beverage. Crisp circulars had ensured that all students, willing or unwillingly had to pay up four hundred rupees towards sponsorship for Socialact Wave.