REVATHI BHASKER

Others

4.5  

REVATHI BHASKER

Others

The Sweet Revenge

The Sweet Revenge

13 mins
451


The train was crowded with students, students and students. They seemed to be all over the place. A few passengers travelling as families were finding the students to be raucous and disturbing their peace, but they did not dare to voice their protests. All the young crowd sported the Vallabhnagar NIT blazers and there were as many boys as there were girls. Though it was a reserved compartment, those who had wait-listed tickets had also occupied seats wherever they could and there was bedlam in the coach.

The college students were apparently returning from a tournament and all their conversation was about their victorious team. Another point of discussion was the forthcoming elections to the students’ council. It seemed that the outgoing batch of fourth-year had the largest number of girls in the history of the Institute. They proposed to have an all-girls team this year which found favour among the boys too. As was always the case, the tussle was between the third year and fourth-year students for the coveted positions of the Students’ Council – the General Secretary, Cultural Secretary and the Literary and Debating Secretary. 


The fourth and final year’s team had decided to field Sangita Gupta, Amita Sharma and Haasini Rao for the posts respectively. All three of them were towering personalities and had their own fan following. The third-year students were happy to be led by Beena Thakur who was formidable, unyielding and wielded financial and political strength in the Institute. Being the only daughter in one of the wealthiest families in Vallabhnagar, she was a localite and with her father being the MLA, was in the habit of throwing her weight around and getting whatever she wanted. Beena’s supporters thought no more beyond her – in their opinion, Beena could hold all three portfolios simultaneously to their satisfaction. Once Beena got elected as the GS, then anyone could be asked to fill in the other two vacant posts! Such was their conviction.

It was nearing nightfall and the cacophony lessened to a large extent. The youngsters had shouted their hearts out and were quite exhausted. Sharing berths with friends added to their discomfort.  The other passengers heaved a sigh of relief, but not for long. Beena intentionally got into a squabble with a senior and both of them started off once again. Fortunately, the train stopped at a junction where someone had come to meet Beena with a huge food hamper and the quarrel subsided at least for the time being. The rest of the journey was uneventful barring the commotion created by Beena’s assistants distributing food packets to one and all in the compartment, even waking up a few of them from their deep slumber!


The night was peaceful and early in the morning, the coach was practically empty as all the students had got off at Vallabhnagar. Beena’s father had arranged for two buses to take the students to their hostels and Beena won brownie points for that too!

Once back in the hostel, both groups started planning their strategies to win the elections. Beena had sought advice from her father who was a seasoned politician knowing the strengths and more than that, the weaknesses of one and all and had offered to manage the elections for her. 

In Sangita’s camp, however, it was a different story altogether. The trio frequently reminded themselves of the Class of 95 and the (really) stolen election and vowed to avenge the defeat of 95. Unknown to Beena, the present situation was much the same as that of the Class of 95. Sangita was Machhar’s (Rohit Gupta) sister, while Amita was Amit Sharma’s wife’s sister and Haasini was the niece of Srinivas Rao. All the three had been updated with each and every detail of the election and were waiting for the opportune moment to avenge the defeat of their kin. It was of course Godsend that all three of them secured admission in the same college, keeping their association from junior classes intact. On the other side, Beena's brother was Rahul Singh’s best friend. Both Rahul and Beena were quite similar to each other as regards lineage, wealth and aggressiveness. 

Sangita was smart and also full of guile like her brother Rohit – Machhar and had already devised a plan to keep the third-year students at bay on the date of the election. The trio had discussed the modus operandi of their plan and was confident of succeeding in their efforts. At first, however, they had conducted a headcount of all the batches to ascertain the number of votes they stood to gain. They were sure of the First Year students who were 88 in number since they had taken them under their umbrella when the Third Year students tried ragging them. Though Beena tried to woo them with homemade treats whenever the canteen food was not attractive, they swore allegiance to the Fourth Year candidates as they were more approachable, unlike Beena who would even bark at them for flimsy reasons. The election manifesto of the 95 batch seniors still held good and the trio vowed to improve canteen food and also ensure the cleanliness of the toilets. They also promised that the Annual Cultural Fest would be something unique and memorable involving a majority of the students. The fourth-year batch was quite affluent and could confidently rope in good sponsors for the fest. Since Sangita was beautiful, lively, friendly and radiating beauty all around, they decided to call themselves the Titli Party as against Rohit’s Machhar Party. They also unanimously decided to adopt the slogan “Actions speak, not words”. Amita and Haasini took turns in addressing groups of students of the second year to ensure that they would be able to have an adequate number of polled votes.

Beena’s father had already stepped in to woo the students to vote for Beena’s party who christened themselves as Mahashakti Party referring to Beena who oozed power and wealth. Their slogan too centred around her – “Beena hai to sab Kuch hai!” Knowing the vulnerability of the students to booze, hard drink parties were organized on the sly. Each voter was promised cash rewards too and the whole of the third year batch needed no further incentive.


The Titli Party faced formidable opposition in the third year batch which was the largest batch, numbering 108! The loyalty of the second-year students who numbered 79 was divided, and with a slight advantage to the third year batch. If only their plan worked, they would win hands down!

The date of the election had been fixed as November 12th. Till the previous day, though there were meetings, slogan shouting and cheering here and there, no disruption in the functioning of the Institute took place.

The voting was to take place between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and both parties had geared up their volunteers to ensure a smooth election. Beena, the two other candidates and chamchas were hovering near the Convocation Hall where the voting was to take place. Two professors had been assigned the task of overseeing the process and having the votes counted the same evening. All of a sudden, Beena noticed that there was some kind of commotion in their hostel and everyone seemed to be in a tearing hurry! She sent her party volunteers to find out what it was all about. They immediately returned with the news that a renowned multi-national company was hiring trainee interns and had scheduled their PowerPoint presentation at 11 a.m., and conduct the selection process immediately after that. This was one of the most favoured companies as their stipend was not only very handsome, but their job spectrum was very comprehensive, and if one performed well, their placement in any if not the same company was assured.


Beena looked at her watch. It was a quarter to 11 and an SUV arrived with the team from the company. They headed straight for the Auditorium and started setting up the projector for the presentation. Within minutes there was a stream of third-year students rushing to the hall. Beena tried to stop them, asking them to cast their votes and then go, but they were more serious in securing their internships. 

In the meanwhile, the other students started lining up for casting their votes. At the stroke of 11, the Convocation Hall was opened and the voting went on smoothly. By 1 p.m., all the students barring those who were keen on their internship had cast their votes. The company’s selection process was quite time-consuming as the presentation itself went on for more than an hour. At 12:30 the written test was conducted online. The results were to be announced only at 2:30 p.m., but in the meanwhile, the students had to submit a note on the Company describing how they could contribute to its growth and justify that they would be Value-add to the company. This was a novel addition to the selection process. All the students were glued to the seats with their thinking caps on, trying to excel in their write-up.  The selection process also comprised two rounds of Group Discussion followed by Technical and HR interviews. From the looks of it, there was absolutely no chance for any of the third-year students to cast their votes before 3 p.m.! 


Beena got restless and approached the Professors who were responsible for the smooth conduct of the elections. Sangita and others also insisted that their party would be present during the discussions. When Beena explained the situation to the faculty, they did not seem to consider the case favourably. The fact of the matter was that they did not approve of Beena and her political backing and were also apprehensive about the future of the Institute if the Student body had leaders like Beena. Sangita on her part reasoned that the future of the students could not be compromised for a simple election.

Not having succeeded in her efforts and facing failure for the first time, Beena’s reaction was atrocious. She mouthed swear words at the faculty members who were terribly offended and were even more determined not to let her have her way. Beena called her father who immediately rushed to the Institute but was not allowed to enter the portals, thanks to the Professors who had instructed the security staff appropriately. Unable to help his daughter, he too got frustrated and tried manhandling the staff. In the meanwhile, the clock was ticking and there were only fifteen minutes left for voting. Beena saw the writing on the wall – all was over. Her hopes of being a Supremo were dashed to the ground. She was terribly agitated, frustrated and red in the face and looked as if she would pounce on anyone.

Sangita moved away with her friends when the time was up. As if on cue, the selection team of the visiting company also emerged from the auditorium, followed by the third-year students, some of whom were jubilant having been selected as interns. None of the third year batches dared to come anywhere near Beena! They sneaked away to avoid her wrath.

Sangita approached the Company’s selection team and was all smiles while thanking them for managing their visit on that date as requested by her. So their strategy was a great success. Having kept the third year students away from the elections, the Titli party registered a clean sweep and a memorable victory. 


Ever since the “Stolen Election of 95”, the final year batch never got to win the elections and now, Sangita, Amita and Haasini had achieved the impossible! They were truly happy with themselves and while Beena was licking her wounds, approached the faculty for the official declaration of the election results.

The Titli party got into action soon and convened a Victory Party the very next evening. They got a few cards printed and made sure that Beena got one, but as soon as she received it, she tore it up on impulse. As planned earlier, the Chief Guests for the event were Rohit Gupta, Amit Sharma and Srinivas Rao. The Titli party wished Rahul Singh to be present at the meeting, and so Amita managed to get across to Beena’s brother who was Rahul’s close friend and got his confirmation that he would participate in the event.

Sangita went the extra mile to ensure that the Victory Party would be a resounding success. She was ably assisted by Amita and Haasini and the whole class. It was a great victory and very well master-minded by Sangita and the team. Unlike the “Kabza” of 95, none of the Titli party had obstructed the juniors from voting. The juniors of their own free will had preferred to seek placement as interns to elections – the matter was as simple as that!

Macchar and his two close associates drove down to Vallabhnagar within a couple of hours after the results were declared. They also got the news that Rahul had acceded to his friend’s request and had arrived at Beena’s house. Spirits were high in the Titli camp and in the Institute’s Guest House where the Chief Guests were accommodated, celebrations began with champagne bottles opened discreetly. They did not wish to jeopardize their success by being caught flouting the Institute rules, but at the same time, the occasion was such that it demanded special celebrations!

As the evening drew near, Sangita’s excitement too was at its peak. All through the years in the Institute, none of the three had let others know about their connections with the class of 95! She could not imagine how Beena and Rahul would react when they got to know of it.

Dressed in their best, the Chief Guests first met the Institute faculty, most of whom were new, but the few senior Professors who knew them were happy to meet them. A few minutes before the scheduled time, all of them walked into the Auditorium. Sangita and the Titli party candidates and volunteers escorted the staff to the dais and the function began. Sangita’s eyes were searching for Rahul Singh and Beena. Like a true politician, even after suffering a severe defeat, Beena appeared casual, though seething inside. Both of them occupied the front row, a few seats next to the Chief Guests, but did not seem to have noticed them. 


After the preliminary announcements and invocation, Sangita walked up to the podium amid thunderous applause. After it died down, she spoke. First, she invited Rahul Singh to the dais. He was taken aback as he had not expected it at all. One of the volunteers escorted him to his seat on the dais and greeted him with a bouquet. Then Sangita told the audience that she wished to take them back to 95 and relate an incident that was not well known. Rahul smarted on hearing “95” and wondered what Sangita was going to say! Within a second, the Stolen Election and his role in it flashed before him! His face was flushed and he could not understand the relevance of that incident to the Victory party. “And now, “ Sangita continued, “I present before you the Three Musketeers whose well deserved victory was snatched away from them by a scheming, plotting junior who forcefully held back a whole class from voting in the elections. We first have Rohit Gupta aka Machhar, then Amit Sharma and Srinivas Rao who were so decent even in their defeat that they chose to be silent and not expose the cheap tactics employed to win the Students’ Election. You may wonder why we have chosen them to be our Chief Guests at today’s function. It is because Rohit is my brother, Amit Sharma is married to Amita’s sister and Haasini is Srinivas Rao’s niece. For the past five years, we have nursed the pain and anguish within us. We consider ourselves truly blessed to have avenged the defeat in 95 of our dear ones. It is something like sweet revenge that we are enjoying today, particularly because after the defeat of the Fourth year batch in 95, we have created history today by bringing back the final year students to the helm of affairs and I am extremely grateful to all of you, boys and girls, to have whole-heartedly supported an all-women Student Council”.

She had struck a chord in everyone. The vile manner in which an assured victory was snatched from the hands of able seniors was unpardonable. There was no need for the Chief Guests to deliver their keynote addresses because the entire gathering rushed to the dais to lift their heroes and parade them about exhibiting their sheer admiration and joy! As for Rahul and Beena, they were nowhere to be seen.  


Rate this content
Log in