Gajju winked.
“Gajju, but why did you come out? I was calling Angie and she could’ve saved us,” Ansh intervened, obviously to avoid their collision.
“I know Ansh! Even Angie offered us to hide in her room, but what after that? The hostel was already on high alert and if anyone would have caught me, Harsh and Angie together, then you can imagine how much trouble it could bring for her. So I sent her back and told her not to respond to you at the moment. I would never risk any girl’s reputation to save my ass, and Angie? She is my beloved ‘Bhabhijan’, so how could I?” He chuckled. Ansh couldn’t manage to respond, however, he wanted Dhruv to keep teasing him, and somehow Dhruv knew it too.
“But why did you call your father this soon? I mean you played a safe side for us, but you can get rusticated for this. We should have faced the consequences together, not you alone,” Shilpan said apprising his faith in team work.
“Let him come. You will understand why I called him. He will surely have a word with me, admonish me for not getting involved again, but he will save us for sure. And my passing grades will play agonists in this too,” Gajju’s faith in his father was playing the role of Glucon-D for the rest.
Meanwhile, Ansh saw Mr. Gajjar coming and poked Dhruv. Dhruv suddenly changed his position and sat quietly – staring at his toes. He saw Ansh and smiled. He too greeted him with his eyes. He ignored Dhruv. As the warden saw him through the glass, he came out to greet him; they shook hands and went inside.
After about ten minutes, the warden came out and asked Ansh to come inside alone and he followed.
“So tell me Ansh, what happened? What was Dhruv doing in the girls’ hostel?” Mr. Kaushik asked.
‘How do I know uncle! I don’t even know what I was doing on the football ground.’
Ansh thought, but he knew this answer of him would confirm their involvement in property loss.
“There was a bet between them uncle, for who can climb it! They had no intention to harm any girl, sir!” He looked at the warden and he was smiling too, along with Mr. Gajjar. Ansh too knew that there was no way on earth they would have believed him.
“I told you, sir! This must be one of his mischiefs. He has been mischievous from childhood. Besides, he means no harm to anyone ever. You can ask Ansh. He is Dhruv’s friend since the day they both marked their first step in school,” Mr. Gajjar defended his son’s actions.
‘Are they convinced? Seriously? No way, I bet I would find uncle’s cheque-book in his pocket.’
“But stepping into the girls’ hostel without permission is a criminal offence, Mr. Gajjar!” the warden said. Ansh thought to increase the amount of his argument.
“Well, I think that should be settled sir! You want me to call our dean and talk about this? At last he is going to be the one to take a final decision.” Then Ansh began to understand why Gajju called his father. Few more cheques and Dhruv might get a room inside the girls’ hostel. Well, he wouldn’t mind joining him there. No one would.
“It is okay, Mr. Gajjar, but there is one problem. I can save them from legal actions, but your son will have to leave the hostel,” Warden said.
Kaushik uncle looked at Ansh and smiled.
‘Yes, it worked uncle. Bingo! No more cheques!’
“That won’t be a problem sir! I already have an unused property in Vadodara City, which is just ten kilometres away from here. They will shift there, and I’m sure that property damage you are talking about, they are not involved in that.” Ansh lifted his gaze at the warden; he wasn’t happy, wasn’t even smiling. He was sure that warden wasn’t happy with what he had to get settled with; lack of evidence, thank you.
Three of them came out. All friends were looking at Ansh with a big question mark expression. He just had to smile and wink; it was enough for them to understand they all could sigh in relief.
“Dhruv and Harsh, you
Learning to Kill: Stories