“This room won’t cost more than two hundred rupees in
Delhi.” Mannu was silently watching as the conversation went on. He had a fear
inside. The deal, fair or bad, didn’t matter. He was more worried about this
secret to remain a secret and that he could safely meet Pia. He lied to his
parents that he was still in the hostel, waiting for the announcement of the Diwali holidays. His phone beeped again.
It was Mrs. K. He ran upstairs to find a silent corner.
“Not allowed...hello...payment karo pehle.” The receptionist started yelling. Again Nitesh made
him calm down, but in a tone much higher than his.
“Hello...Mummy...I’m in class. Will call back soon.”Mannu
lied again, felt the guilt come up his neck. But what else he could do. Any
doubt could create a big problem in the first year itself. He didn’t want to
lose the trust of his family. The truth
was that holidays had started from the past two days. The whole hostel was
empty and Mannu was forced to leave the hostel after the wardens had posed a
round of check to his room. The warden, a boxer in his young days, had warned
Mannu that he or the college management would not be responsible if there is
any ragging by the seniors. It meant taht the fresher’s were supposed to go to
home, or at least leave the hostel in holidays’.
After leaving the baggage, comforting Mannu that things
would turn out be better than expected, Nitesh left.
“Why was he so worried when you have to stay here?” The
receptionist questioned Mannu and without expecting a reply he handed over the
room key. Mannu preferred to remain silent.
“Please send someone for water.”Mannu requested, with his
bag half hanging from one shoulder. The receptionist pressed a bell. A man is a
vest, muddy and torn at places, arrived. Without a verbal exchange the man was
conveyed his duty. As he led the stairs to the second floor, Mannu silently
walked behind observing other rooms and the structure of the building. It was
patchy, spitted on sides and a faint smell surrounded the turns. The entrance to the room started with a five
feet long lobby. A single bed lay in one corner of the room with a TV facing
it. The sliding window, with glass panes broken in an irregular fashion from
all corners, was an easy way for the sunlight to warm it. Mannu checked the
fan, tube lights. The man, named Ali, kept the jug on a table lying on one side
of the bed. A jug was also placed on the TV cabinet. It was also filled with
water. Ali grinned as he picked it up. The ceiling fan rotated on the same
speed even when the regulator fell out of the switch box.
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