Five Point Someone Read online

  “Sir, we almost made it. Alok made this phone call…” Ryan said.

  “Almost made it?” Prof Veera interrupted, “is that what it is all about? You think I am calling you an idiot because you got caught?” The tone of Prof Veera’s voice had become firmer. This was the closest he got to being real mad.

  “You, Ryan Oberoi, I thought was one of the most brilliant students we had ever had. Your lube project was the best work I have seen come out of a student. I don’t care about your grades at all. But you were stupid enough to risk your future for a stupid letter on your grade sheet.”

  Ryan hung his head.

  “And the three of you are best friends. But none of you was able to stop each other from this madness. You know Cherian would have thrown you into jail.”

  “Sir, we’ll say we are sorry sir. Maybe they will be kind,” Alok said.

  “Kind? This is the Disco, not Mother Teresa’s home. You saw Cherian’s face,” Prof Veera said.

  The three of us became silent. We could hear the clock ticking in Prof Veera’s office. It was nine-thirty.

  “So what is your plea to the Disco? Guilty or not guilty?” Prof Veera said.

  “Guilty. They caught us red-handed sir,” I said.

  “Hmm. I think the first thing you have to do is get the expulsion stuff out of the way,” Prof Veera said.

  “You mean there is a chance?” Alok said.

  “Not too high, unless Cherian is hell-bent on it. What are you going to say about the keys?” Prof Veera said.

  “I don’t want to bring Neha into this. I thought we’d just say we collected lots of keys and tried them until one worked,” I said.

  “Why not tell them the truth? You have told me everything,” Prof Veera said.

  “I don’t want Neha to know,” I said.

  “Listen boys, I am trying to help you here. I think you are in a big mess but if you can twist this a bit, you may save yourself some trouble.”

  “Like how?”

  “One, we should try and present some alternatives of punishment. I will be there, so I can suggest an F in the course, a public apology and hundred hours of community service.”

  “What is community service?” Ryan said.

  “Just helping around in the campus – painting cycle parks or planting trees - that kind of stuff,” Prof Veera said.

  “I hate that stuff,” Ryan said.

  “Shut up Ryan. That is fine. Please continue sir,” I said.

  “Two, I want you to twist the story a bit. I hate lying, but you won’t have much of a chance other wise. So, instead of saying you tried different keys, say that Neha gave the keys to you,” Prof Veera said.

  “What?” all three of us said in unison.

  “Listen, if you say that you know Neha, and somehow she was upset with her father and gave you the keys to get even, it will get personal. The Disco committee will think you didn’t actually break in. I don’t know, they may see right through it, but I think you should take a chance.”

  “What will Neha think when she finds out?” I said, “No way we can do this.”

  “An upset girlfriend is better than a tainted degree and no jobs after college,” Prof Veera said.

  “Prof Veera is right Hari,” Ryan said, “you bring Cherian’s family into this and he may withdraw. Last thing he wants is everyone to know that you are his daughter’s boyfriend.”

  “But this will let the whole world know,” I said.

  “You don’t have to tell the whole story. Just say Neha is a recent friend of yours. I am sure Cherian will not dispute that,” Alok said.

  “Alok, even you think this is the way?” I said.

  “Yes, we have to save our ass right? C’mon, it is just a last-ditch survival strategy. Last-ditch survival,” Alok said.

  I hated myself for agreeing to that story. What would Neha think when she heard what I said? That she helped me by giving the keys? She’d probably hate me forever. The clock struck ten, and it was time to go to the departmental committee room.

  Romance was secondary to survival right now.

  20

  —

  The Longest Day of My Life V

  THE IIT DISCO IS ABOUT AS FAR AWAY FROM DANCING AS it can get. Here the lighting is dull, the room dead silent and almost everyone elderly. Around ten profs sat around a semicircular table, while the accused students were bang in the centre. Profs fire questions at students from all directions, the location placing us at minimum distance to each one of them. It is essentially a more efficient design of a courtroom, I guess, Indem-inspired.

  Dean Shastri asked us to take our places. Dean Shastri, Director Verma and Prof Cherian formed the co-chairpersons. Prof Veera was one of the other seven profs who mattered little in the scheme of things. A lot of them yawned, probably used to being in bed at this time. Of course, for their students, dumped with another set of assignments, the night would have just begun.

  “May the disciplinary committee begin, fellow co-chairs,” Dean Shastri said in what I felt was a complete waste of courtesy.

  “You may begin,” the Director and Prof Cherian said. I guess this formality gave them an extra sense of power.

  What if I was speechless today, I thought and sweat broke out all over me. All the profs opened the special Disco file, which contained a description of last night’s shenanigans.

  Ryan noticed my nervousness. It is amazing how people who know you well can sense everything. “Hari,” he whispered.

  I looked at him.

  “I know what you are worried about. Remember, this is not a viva. If you don’t open your trap here, you will be in deeper crap than a bloody zero. You understand, don’t you?”

  “Uh, yes,” I said.

  “And I want you to know that even though I hate to admit it, you are a bloody stud,” Ryan said.

  “Why?”

  “Because, in front of you lies a man who controls your future right now. Yet, whatever he may do, he can’t take away one fact.”

  “What?”

  “That you went and slept with his only daughter in broad daylight. That my friend is a true stud,” Ryan said.

  “You think so?” I perked up.

  “I do. I salute you man. I am proud to have a friend like you,” Ryan said.

  I beamed.

  “No talking amongst the students,” Dean Shastri said and looked up from his file.

  “Sorry sir,” I said. Ryan and I pointed thumbs at each other. Damn it, I could answer these old bozos any time.

  “Mr Hari Kumar, the files here state that you were found in Prof Cherian’s office last night with two friends. Is that right?” Dean Shastri said.

  “Yes sir,” I said.

  “Ryan Oberoi, we learn that security found you with a candle, wax seal and the packet of major papers in hand. Is that right?”

  “Yes, sir,” Ryan agreed.

  “Alok Gupta, we learn that it was you who was making a call from Prof Cherian’s phone last night.”

  Alok nodded.

  “Do you boys realize the gravity of this incident?” the director said.

  “Yes sir, we got carried away sir,” I said. Man, I was surprised I was taking the initiative to answer these questions.

  Other questions were part-rhetoric, part-moral in nature. I can’t even remember all of them now, it was about integrity and strength of character and all that stuff. We just apologized, probably a million times. Ultimately they asked the question we were waiting for.

  “How did you get into my office?” Prof Cherian said.

  “We had the keys, sir,” Ryan said.

  “How did you get the keys?” He looked baffled.

  “Sir, we sir…” I said and turned silent. No, I couldn’t do this.

  “Hari’s friend Neha gave it to us,” Ryan supplied.

  “Who is Neha?” Dean Shastri asked.

  “Neha Cherian is Prof Cherian’s daughter. I know her as a friend for the past three months,” I said.

&nbs