Retribution

"Excuse me, where can I find the principal's office," asked a soft voice making Rahul turn around. The owner of the voice was a petite girl in pink shirt and blue jeans having the most beautiful eyes Rahul had ever seen. He kept staring at her making the girl conscious. It was only when his friend Tiwari nudged him that Rahul came back to his senses.

"Go straight then right," he told the girl in pink. "First year?" he asked. The girl nodded her head and got little perturbed thinking that she might get ragged again. However, Rahul extended his hand towards her for a hand shake. "I am Rahul, general secretary at VNIT. Let me know if you face any problem," he said emphasising on the general secretary part.

He used to flaunt the designation of general secretary as if he was the most important official in the college. The entire college knew he had won the election last year in 1994 purely by unfair means, but nobody dared say that in his face.

The girl smiled and said her name was Vaanya and that she was in first year computer science. His friends could see that Rahul was completely besotted with Vaanya and it was a first. Rahul's reputation was not too good with girls in VNIT and girls used to avoid him because of his rowdy image. Rahul too was not someone to get impressed with anyone and he always said that he didn't want to have a relationship while in college.

In the following weeks, he kept bumping into Vaanya in the canteen, corridors and in the badminton court. They used to exchange pleasantries but Rahul was falling in love – hook, line and sinker.

And then came election time. October had always been election time in Vallabh National Institute of Technology or VNIT. The election was held to form the student committee at VNIT and it was considered prestigious to be a member on the committee. The committee was responsible for all the cultural fests and other extra-curricular activities. Being on the committee gave you an edge.

Rahul Singh was contesting again this year and he was sure that his party would win it unopposed. He knew that the other party headed by a third-year student Gaurav was a loser. Gaurav was a very simple studious boy who Rahul thought was no threat. He was sure of his win.

As the date for the elections came closer, his friendship with Vaanya got deeper. They were always together. Rahul was completely smitten by Vaanya and was willing to do anything to fulfil her demands. He was bringing flowers for her, taking her for long rides on his bike and asking other students to make her notes. He had left the job of contesting to his friend Tiwari and others. Tiwari was not liking the blooming romance between Rahul and Vaanya. His attempts to try and wean Rahul away from Vaanya didn't succeed.

"Rahul, your party needs you during campaigning," Tiwari said. But Rahul laughed it off saying that his name was sufficient to win the VNIT election. "Just see, we are going to win again this year," he said and left the room to meet Vaanya. He failed to understand that this act of hubris would lead to his fall.

Rahul would share his campaigning strategy with Vaanya and he also told her his secrets. One day he also told her how he had won the election last year by defeating the Machchar party. "The Machchar Party would have won but I used my connections and didn't allow the first-year students to vote," he stated proudly.

On the day of election, Vaanya was beaming with joy as she greeted Rahul. "I know you will win the election today because you are the best," she exclaimed. Rahul smirked. All students came to cast their vote.

The counting began the next day. So sure he was of his win that Rahul had ordered food and beverages for the entire college. He was sitting in the canteen with Vaanya and few others, when the results were announced.

Everybody was shocked. Some could not believe while others were too happy. Gaurav's party had won the election and Rahul Singh's party had lost this year's election.

Rahul was shocked. "How is this possible," he shouted at Tiwari and his subordinates who were also shell shocked.

Suddenly, Vaanya started laughing. "This is called what goes around comes around."

Rahul looked at her with disbelief. She ran towards Gaurav and hugged him tightly.

"What are you doing Vaanya," he shouted angrily. At that precise moment, the loud speaker started and it was Rahul's voice – "The Machchar Party would have won but I used my connections and didn't allow the first-year students to vote."

Rahul was stunned. One look at Vaanya and he understood how he had been fooled. She was smiling. "I will never fall for a guy like you without scruples," she said. "I love Gaurav and it was my plan to keep you away from campaigning and I recorded you confession that you won the last election by cheating, which was enough to convince students to ouster you from the student committee."

She paused and said – "By the way Rohit Gupta -machchar- is my brother."

Rahul was speechless and he plonked down on his chair with head in his hands. In the background he could hear students feasting on the provisions gotten by his party. He was vanquished by Vaanya.

--Ends--