Stand in My Shoes

6. How it all started

At the chemistry lab

Students wearing white coat and polythene gloves were conducting experiments and recording their inferences. A strong acidic smell hung about in the air and the whole lab was covered with a thin layer of foam, emanating from the testtubes. The professor was not around.

Riya was conducting an experiment using hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride and solid calcium carbonate. She carefully poured the acid into the glass flask using a thistle funnel and closed it with a double bore cork. Susan was trying to help her.

Riya: Hold it properly you butterfingers!

Susan: Shut up! I'm holding properly can't you see?

Riya: Don't make me pay fine for it like the other day.

Susan : I won't. Now record the inference: Ca2Co3+2Hcl-2Nacl+Co2+H2O

Nila and Alex were  doing the experiments together. As the tests were going on, a loud voice hit her ears.

NILA!!!!!

The whole lab was taken aback for a moment. Riya and others sucked their breaths as they recognized the voice. Heart thudded loudly inside Nila's chest but she maintained a calm haughty demeanor.

Riya (perturbed): How did he find out?

Susan: I had warned you before!!. We'll be expelled from the college for sure. (She clutches her head)

Sooraj barged into the lab and stood before Nila who wasn't able to meet her eyes with his. Her friends were shivering from head to toe. But she stood calm, hiding her anxiety

Sooraj: You!! You witch!!! How dare you....How could you do this to me??

Nila: Mind your filthy tongue you brute!! How dare you call me that?

Sooraj: Of course you are a conniving witch!! You ruined my hard work, the project I had been working for three months!!

Nila: What the heck? How can I ruin your goddamn work?

Sooraj: Don't lie ok. I'm sure it's your doing to fail me in the exam!!

Nila: See, my mind is not as diabolic as your's. You are the one who goes around, spying others, snitching on them.

Sooraj(with eyes red in anger): You can't wash your hands out of this!! I'll report this to the principal!!

Nila (shouts angrily): Do you have any proof to show that I've done it? Show me if you have. I'll myself lodge a complaint against you for your false accusations.

Sooraj goes silent for a moment but retorts back.

Sooraj: I don't need any proof to establish that.

Nila: Of course. You didn't get anyone else to put this blame on rather than me. Your intention is to trap me again as you are running out of opportunities right? Suits yourself.

Anger bubbled up in Sooraj's  veins and steam was escaping out of his ears.

Sooraj (snarls): You are just...

Nila (shouts) : Shut up and get lost!!!

She shouted at the top of her voice and the students were startled by her tone. Sooraj was trying hard to control himself, inorder to avoid a scene. There was pin drop silence inside the hall. He mumbled in a voice audible only to him and her.

Sooraj: You'll repent for this!!

He stormed out of  the lab and Nila collapsed on her seat, clutching her head. She had anticipated for a wave of satisfaction to wash over her but she was left with a hollowness in heart, which was filled with grief and culpability in no time.

During the lunch hour..

Sooraj and his friends were having lunch at the canteen. Sooraj was so engrossed in his thoughts that he hadn't touched the food in his plate.

Avinash: Stop worrying and have your lunch.

Sooraj (gets up): I don't want.

George (pulls him down) : Hey man, let go of that crap.

Avinash: How can you be so sure that Nila is the one behind this?

Sooraj: Of course! She's the one. She has done it. I'm sure...(guzzles down a glass of water)

Avinash : On what basis are you telling that? And even if it is, Do you have any evidence? Don't falliciously put the blame on others.

Sooraj glares at him

Sooraj: Are you on my side or hers?

Avinash: Of course I'm on your side. See, just because you have enmity towards her, it's wrong to put a blame without proper evidence. I meant that.

Sooraj: I don't have evidence. But my heart says that it's her doing. I don't know whether her friends are involved in this.

Avinash: Hey! Don't suspect my Riya!! My baby is too innocent to do such a horrendous thing!

Sooraj : I know I know and I'm sorry I didn't mean her. But I'm sure that the one behind this is Nila only.

Morgan: That doesn't pay the bills. We can't go and complain against her without proper evidence.

George: He's right. Just leave this topic and have your lunch.

Sooraj: I can't leave her like that. I'll surely make her pay for this.

Avinash: Fine, now don't start over again. Pass me the salt.

In the library..

It was a large colossal room, with massive cupboard, stacked with a wide variety of books. The cupboards were so tall that one needed a ladder to reach them. Library also had an exquisite and splendid reading room where students did their studies and research.

Riya, Catherine, Judith and Susan were sitting on the couches, watching videos in the name of reading. Jennie saw them and they made space for her to sit.

Riya: Wanna sit with us? Or do you have classes?

Jennie: No I'm free senior. I'll sit with you.

She turned the pages of a random book while a sudden thought came into her mind. She turned towards Riya.

Jennie: Sis, can I ask you something?

Riya: Sure. Ask anything.

Jennie: that...uh...Is there any problem between Nila mam and the students of the CSC dept?

Riya: Well not exactly. The problem is between her and the head student of the CSC department.

Jennie: You mean Sooraj Sir?

Catherine: Yeah

Jennie: But why?

Riya: Not just a problem, but a long lasting enmity. The enmity which started one year before. We know Nila, and the reason behind her hatred towards him....

Judyjennifer

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