Chapter 32 (b)

         

          Vicky was speechless. The behavior of his friends in the morning had totally put him off. Since the dance camp, Vicky had been somewhat insecure about his position in the gang. Everybody was talented and sure of what they wanted to do in life. Everybody, except him. And that always put him on the edge. He didn't want to turn up at Swayam's house at all, but changed his mind last minute. He never could have imagined in his wildest dreams that his friends could plan something of this kind for him. Overwhelmed by his friends' affection, he became emotional.

"Abbe! Ye to thenti hogaya!" Amar exclaimed.

"Abbe kuch toh bol! Dekh agar tu silent hogaya na, toh main vi...vi", Bharat tried.

"Violent", Amar supplied.

"Haan wahi...main violent hojaunga", he completed.

"Thanks guys! Ye sab... mere liye..." Vicky choked

"Haan haan bohot hogaya tera emotional atyachaar. Baaki ka session cake ke baad. Bohot bhookh lagi hai yaar", Rey joked.

Vicky cut the cake and fed everyone in turns. Then Aashi, the ever-excited and always hyper one screamed, "Time for gifts! Chalo sab apne apne gifts nikaalo!"

Rey, Nil and Swayam stepped forward and gifted Vicky an Xbox. "Taaki tere games ki supply kabhi khatam hi na ho aur tu humein kabhi bore na kar paaye", Nil joked. Everybody sniggered.

"Kya yaar!" Vicky was about to start complaining when Swayam hugged him. "Happy birthday yaar! Hamesha aise hi smile karte rehna".

"Thanks yaar."

"Abhi hum girls ki baari", Aashi said pushing Rey and Swayam aside. Rini, Simmi and Aashi gifted him the latest Gear Fit. Vicky could barely stutter a thanks.

Neha gifted him an album of all the moments they shared together, both good and bad. "You making Neha strong. Aaj what Neha is, you being responsible, Happy birthday Babu."

"You deserved everything Neha. I have told you this before and I still believe it." Looking down at the album he said, "Thank you for your gift. Main hamesha ise sambhaal kar rakhunga."

Sharon gifted Vicky an expensive wrist watch and wished him.

Bharat produced an alarm clock and placing it in Vicky's hands said, "ye isliye taaki tu kabhi bhi college late na pohonche." After the laughter that had erupted died down, Bharat and Vishakha gave Vicky a pair of sports shoes claiming the Sports Captain must always have a spare.

Kria presented Vicky with a big box of chocolates. "Mujhe pata hai tumhe sweets kitne pasand hai, isliye apne friend se request karke ye sab chocolates maine New York se mangwaaye."

With a show of great self-control, Vicky managed to take those chocolates from Kria in a civil manner and not start tearing and gorging them down like a savage.

Surprising everybody, Niyati stepped forward and presented a T-shirt to Vicky. On opening it, there was a picture of the whole gang making funny faces at the camera. "Mujhe ye bhai ke album se mili. I think ye Dazzlers aur Weaklings ki ladai khatm hone ke baad ki hai. Something to remind you that you have amazing friends who will always stand by you. Har koi itna lucky nahin hota."

Vicky, who always had a bit of a soft spot for her since she shut Nil up the first day, was surprised that she got him anything at all. And it was a thoughtful gift. Thanking her, he assured he would always treasure all their gifts.

          While everybody was busy giving their gifts, Amar was setting up the home theatre in the hall. It was time to give his gift. Either his work was going to be appreciated or he was going to be laughed at. Today was the test of his newly found ability and he could sink or swim. Trying to focus on the positive and not let his fear overwhelm him, he pressed play before he could change his mind and dimmed the lights. The chattering stopped the moment the video began and the gang watched on spellbound. Throughout the whole three minutes of the video, nobody dared to blink, leave alone speak. As each clip morphed onto another, everybody was gripped with a strange amalgam of wistfulness and affection. Everybody loved one another, but sometimes they needed reminders, like this video dedicated to Vicky, to reinforce their friendship and appreciate each other even more. By the time the video was over, there was not a dry eye to be seen. Vicky hugged Amar and held on to him for quite sometime. That is until Nil started singing.

          "Maa da laadla bigad gaya, maa da laadla bigad gaya!", making exaggerated gestures and blowing a flying kiss at Vicky. He immediately released Amar, who looked ashamed and relieved at the same time.

          With the gifts delivered to their rightful owner and most of the cake gone, everybody decided to order pizzas and gang broke down into two groups. The boys went to try out their new games while the girls pulled Vishakha onto the sofa and began their never-ending catch up session. Niyati busied herself in setting the cutlery.

After a while, Simmi asked, "Hey Sharon! Jab tum teenon aaye the, you all looked worried. Baat kya hai? All okay?"

"Actually no", Sharon replied. "VP sir ne humein ye inform karne ke liye bulaya tha that College Board ne hamara dance budget half kardiya hai."

"What?" Everybody asked together.

"Haan! Usually hamare college ke extra-curricular activities ke funds mein se ek portion types sirf dance activities ke liye hota hai", Aashi explained. "Since last year Dance Team kuch khaas types nahin kar paayi hai toh College Board ne decide kiya ke apne Dance budget ka kuch portion doosre activities ko develop karne mein use hoga."

"The bottom line is ke ab hum har event mein participate nahin kar sakte", Sharon said wistfully. "Agar Board ki approval nahin mili toh humein khud spend karke competitions mein part lena hoga. Local competitions phir bhi manage hojayenge. Jo kaafi door hain, wahan bohot problem hogi."

"Tum logon ne sir ko convince karne ki koshish nahin ki?" Vishakha asked completely aghast.

"Ki na yaar. All the three of us tried. But decision sir ka nahin trustees ka hai", Sharon said.

"Teen kaun?" Vishakha asked.

"Main, Aashi aur Niyati."

"Tum donon ka toh pata hai, GS and CS ho. Woh wahan kya kar rahi thi?"

"Arre maine bataya nahin na tumhe, Niyati hamare college ke Accounts Department ki head hai", Neha said.

"Oh then it makes sense", Vishakha, said sarcastically

"What do you mean? "Rini asked.

"Jab Niyati accounts manage kar rahi hai then tum logon ko dance funds ki shortage toh hogi hi."

Niyati who was incidentally passing behind the sofa seating the girls, halted in her tracks and listened in.

"Vishakha what you telling? Neha not understanding."

"Arrgggh! How can you all not see? Jab bhi humein koi dance related problem hoti hai, us mein kahin na kahin ye Swayam ki sisters responsible hoti hai!"

"How so Vishakha? Zara please mujhe bhi samjahayiye", Niyati asked making all the girls jump out of her seats.

"Arre Niyati! Kuch nahin Vishakha toh aise hi mazaak kar rahi hai", Simmi tried covering up.

"No Simmi! I'm dead serious. And use bhi pata chalne do na. After all, main kuch galat toh nahin bol rahi hoon".

"In that case please proceed", Niyati said in a crisp tone that brought on very uncomfortable looks from all the other girls. Niyati's stance screamed danger and they were afraid of where this argument might be headed. The boys were oblivious to the heated discussion yet, but if it got any louder than their present tone, which very well could happen knowing Vishakha, they were bound to find out.

"Okay. As you wish. Shall I start with Taani first? Sabse pehle toh use dance aata nahin tha phir bhi woh jhoot bolkar Team Weaklings ki 6^th dancer bani. Woh hum sabne accept karliya, ye sochkar that woh seekh jayegi. Then out of the blue, woh suddenly resign kardeti hai, leaving us all stranded. She didn't even consider discussing with us. Discuss karna toh door, use itni courtesy bhi nahin thi ke humein inform karti. Uski is haan- na ki wajah se hum sab friends ke beech first time ladai huyi." By now Vishakha had gotten very loud and the boys sensing a commotion, left their game. "Phir during Dance Ban usne GS ki post accept karli, ye jante huye ki hum authorities ke against the. Poore time AVP ma'am ki chamchi bani ghoomti rahi. Aur ab tum."

The entire room had gone so quiet; you could hear a pin drop. "Tumhare aate hi dance ka budget cut down hogaya aur phir se dance par restrictions lag gayi. How do you explain all that?"

          Swayam was about to say something in defense of his sister, but Niyati beat him. In a calm, cold voice she began, "Hogaya? Thik hai. For argument's sake maan lete hain ke aap sahi keh rahi ho. That aapke saare accusations bilkul sahi hai. Then please care to explain this tiny fact, pichle ek saal se na main yahan hoon aur na Taani. Phir aapki ye so-called Dance Team koi kamaal kyun nahin dikha paayi? National events toh door ki baat hai, ek local competition bhi jeet nahin paaye aap log. Are you trying to imply ke main aur Taani Jodhpur mein baithe koi kaala jaadu kar rahe the taaki aap na jeetein? Really? Because it's the most implausible accusation I have ever heard."

         

To be contd...

[MEMBERSONLY]