Anyone Else But You... (13 page)

“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. Besides, there were separate forms for the rich Daddies like that of
Jai
who’d sponsor the entire banner that was being put up. And it’d be unrealistic to say that students couldn’t really find good sponsors, a famous liquor brand named
Royal Hag
was ready to pay up to twenty five lakhs but much to the disappointment of many – they were refused by the image conscious
Bindu
Kalsi
.

The program for Socialact Wave included performances by Western music bands from twenty schools in and around the National Capital Region. Apart from that there was usually one professional band that would play some of its suckiest songs for exorbitant prices. Follow it up with a boring speech from the Chairman and an encore performance by the previous year’s school band- that was Socialact Wave for you. But, somehow amidst the head-banging, foot-tapping and screaming
,
lay tremendous interest that had been generated over the years in favour of the event.
Be it the food, the official beverage which included Pepsi or the unofficial one which included bottles of Vodka within the cisterns inside the bathroom, Wave had unparalleled acceptance all over the school.

Veer
Chauhan
scribbled something on a form that seemed like his signature. “Thank you for this opportunity
Bindu
,” he said. He lifted the glass of water lying right in front of him and took a few sips.

“Anytime Veer, anytime,”
Bindu
Kalsi
said. “It’s really kind of you to be generous enough to contribute towards the school’s progress. Parents like you are highly appreciated.”

“It’s as much my school as it is yours,” Veer
Chauhan
replied.

Bindu
Kalsi
coughed a bit. She didn’t want to share anything, let alone her Kingdom.

“Yes, yes…” she superficially said.

“So, once this token amount is encashed, do I expect some good news regarding my son?” Mr.
Chauhan
said trying to be humble and in a way insulting the six zeros that had been put next to the digit 15 on the cheque that he had just signed.

“We are definitely trying to work things out,”
Kalsi
said. “We will see what can be done in the best interests of your son and the school.” Diplomacy was being used at its best no matter how sore it sounded to the ears.

“You do know
Bindu
that my son’s interests lay in the interest of the school,” he chuckled.

Late to catch his sense of humour,
Bindu
Kalsi
laughed for the sake of laughing.

“Is there anything else I could do for you?” Mr.
Chauhan
asked.

“No, your help is tremendous. Thank you for that.”

“Then I shall take
your leave,” a firm shake of hand and
Jai
Chauhan
’s Super dad was gone.

*

“Socialact Wave, add all the murk around you and then triple it – you’ll still not manage to add up to the dirt this event brings to our school,”
Siddhant
Dalvi spoke in a circumspective tone.

Rishav nodded. “Is it true that it’s going outdoors after five years? Is it that big a deal?” he asked.

“Yes it is, my friend. A lot of excess money enters the school through events such as these. It’s very important.”

“Hmm…. does anyone even bother to monitor these funds? Seriously I heard that brands like the
Royal Hag
were willing to pay for sponsorship. What’s left of an educational institution these days?”

“Nothing really,”
Siddhant
said as he knocked on the door of Ms. Veenu Sharma. “Come in,” the call came from inside.

Siddhant
entered with Rishav closely following him.

“Good morning ma’am,” Rishav and
Siddhant
said in unison.

“Morning, morning,” Ms. Sharma smiled.

“Ma’am, the sponsorship amounts,”
Siddhant
handed over a cheque.

“How much is it?” she asked.

“Ten thousand,” he replied.

“Ah hmmmmm….so what are your plans?” she asked out of nowhere.

“Erm ma’am, are you asking me?”
Siddhant
asked.

“To both of you, heheheheee…” she laughed unnecessarily.

“Oh, ma’am, well…um, plans regarding?” Rishav asked.

“Plans regarding what you want to do for the school. Council interviews next week,” she said.

“Council interviews? Really ma’am?”
Siddhant
asked.

“Yes,” Veenu nodded. “We will be giving out the forms shortly. It’s going to be a couple of days before Socialact Wave.”

“I see,” Rishav said. “Ma’am is there any criteria to apply? New students too can, can’t they? For the top posts?”

“Yes, yes they can. You have a lot of backing from teachers and what’s your name again?” She answered Rishav first and then looked at
Siddhant
trying hard to recollect his name.

“
Siddhant
, ma’am.
Siddhant
Dalvi,” he seemed slightly offended.

“Yes yes,
Siddhant
. What do you want to do? I haven’t really seen you much. How long have you been here?”

“3 years ma’am,” he said proudly.

“I see, but your contribution has been useless,” there was bluntness everywhere.

“Okay ma’am,”
Siddhant
replied. “…but I do intend to apply for the Council as I feel that I have had considerable contributions to talk about,” he added.

“You feel? Huh!” she scoffed.

“I know ma’am,” he replied.

“
Accha accha,
I am busy now, wait outside – I need to have a word with Rishav,” Ms. Sharma seemed to have got reminded of her busy schedule all of a sudden.

Siddhant
nodded politely, wished her, turned around and left the cabin.

“What’s with this Sahana girl?” Veenu asked.

“Ma’am, who?” Rishav was flustered.

“This girl called Sahana Vajpai, I’ve noticed both of you hanging out a lot lately. Your girlfriend?”

“No, not at all ma’am. Just a friend,” he maintained his calm.

“I have got reports of seeing you guys
at
places, avoid okay? I see you as a potential Head Boy candidate this year.”

“Right ma’am. I am glad you could share this with me,” he mumbled.

“I have other news too, but ensure to keep it to
you
.” She lowered her voice.

“What ma’am?”

“
Jai
’s dad has got a deal done in order to make him the Head Boy, you have very stiff competition,” a concerned Veenu Sharma spoke.

“And why do you tell me this?” he was inquisitive.

“Because, I don’t like this Jai guy. He’s a person of double standards and I don’t like this two-faced Muskaan either. I am just warning you, motherly advice. Be careful of what you are getting yourself into.” She sounded stern till the point a lot of bitterness took over.

“Muskaan ma’am seemed very sweet…” Rishav began and he was quickly interrupted.

“She seems sweet to everyone. Just be careful okay?”

“Okay,” he nodded unknowing of what to do.

“Good,” she smiled again, opened her drawer and took out a Kitkat.

“Take this,” she said. “….have it yourself and
don’t
share it with Sahana, hehehhehe…!” her trademark laugh followed.

“Ha ha, thank you ma’am.” Rishav said as he accepted the small bar of chocolate without a complaint.