Proxy

Nita get up, it's already 9... Nita woke up with a sudden jerk and jumped into the bathroom as all she could hear was 9. She was out of the bathroom within no time. She was looking at her watch, which warned her to rush to college to avoid the scoldings from her lecturer. She barged out of the house without even paying attention to her mother's calling. She could see from the rear view mirror that her mother was holding the breakfast plate with a glass of milk. Nita felt sorry for her mother, but then she had slept late the earlier night studying for her exams, which she couldn't tell her mother. She decided she would apologize to her after coming back from college.

Nita slowed down a bit as she thought about Gitali, her best friend, who would always give proxy to her whenever she would be late, thus saving her from her lecture's scoldings, and she would also give her the notes to copy down which Nita would have missed, otherwise.

The class started at sharp 9.30, and Nita's lecturer started taking attendance. After answering her attendance, Gitali took out her hand key out and covered her mouth to give proxy to Nita, which she successfully did. Gitali's eyes were glued to the windows waiting for Nita.

Thud, Nita's bike was hit by another 2 wheeler. The passers-by took the help of her college ID card and had called the college authority to inform about the incident. One of the good samaritan called the ambulance service, which came immediately and Nita was admitted to the city hospital. The family was informed too.

Unaware of all this, the peon came running to Nita's class and informed her that she had to meet the principal immediately. The lecturer told the class to copy the notes and that she would be back within minutes.

On questioning about Nita's attendance for the day, the principal was relieved to hear that she was present. But, the lecturer told him that she would check once again in the class about her presence. Principal did not want to take any chance, so he accompanied her.

The class became quiet on seeing both the principal and the lecturer. Ignorant of the happenings, Gitali continued to copy the notes, which she was supposed to give it to her best friend, Nita.

The lecturer hurriedly took out the attendance and pointed out to principal where she had marked Nita's attendance. Principal was shrewd, how could the passer-by say Nita's name so confidently with the class and section. He decided, and called out, "Nita," came his loudest voice, which sent shivers down Gitali's spine. Gitali's pen slipped out of her hand. "Nita" once more he called out, and when nobody answered, he got worried and felt that this was not the right time to enquire and left the class in a haste. All the eyes were on Gitali now. Gitali could not take it, she ran towards her lecturer and apologized immensely and pleaded guilty. The lecturer was astonished and didn't know whether she had to blame herself for being inattentive in the class or scold Gitali for proxying Nita

Both of them went to principal's cabin who was rushing out to reach his car. The lecturer first apologized for the blunder she had committed. He was in no mood to listen to her. Gitali shed tears and was in distress, "I am extremely sorry sir".

"Shut up, the mistake you both committed is unpardonable, I will speak to the management about it." "Don't ask sorry to me, ask sorry to Nita who's in the hospital now, God knows what condition she's in." The principal was about to climb the car when Gitali dropped at his feet stating that she also would accompany him to see Nita as she was her best friend, which he couldn't refuse.

Both Gitali and her lecturer ran towards the hospital reception and enquired about Nita's whereabouts. The nurse directed them to the ward, where Nita was admitted. Both of them saw the family members were consoling and hugging each other. Gitali could not face Nita's mother. Densing something wrong, with tears rolling down, Gitali held her lecturer's hand tightly and entered the ward. To their shock, the bed was empty, all they could see was blood smeared bedsheet.

Gitali broke down and was crying in an inconsolable voice, her lecturer was trying to comfort her. Then came a pat on Gitali's back, which she could recognise instantaneously. Nita, exclaimed Gitali and was about to hug her when her lecturer interrupted Gitali and cautioned her against it. Gitali contained herself, wiping her tears off her eyes. Nita smiled at Gitali and her lecturer. The attendant nurse told them about how Nita had a narrow escape and had suffered from minor injuries. Thank God! exclaimed all the three.

" Nita" called out the principal, to which both Nita and Gitali answered "yes sir."

That day itself Nita and Gitali both promised each other that they would never put proxy to each other and the ward was filled with their giggles....