When the Culprit Became the Victim

I can hear the sound of someone’s sandals against the floor. I slowly open the door and go back to my chair. Taking a deep breath, I think, “Alright, let’s start my work now.”

Hello everyone, I’m Aashruti. And right now, I’m at my office.

Just like every day, the cleaning staff comes in to do their work. Oh, great… I’ll have to get up again because first they have to sweep and then mop the floor. Well, what can I do?

I pick up the register, take my pen, turn the pages, and start checking the data of the students who have shown interest.
Yes, because I work as a receptionist at an institute.

I spend the day doing my usual work—scheduling classes, checking registers, handling students, and taking care of everything else. Before I know it, it’s evening. Students start arriving, and the classes begin.

That day, Arbaaz Sir is taking the class. He is a CA and also the Academic Director of the institute.

He is a very good person, by the way.

I am quite comfortable around him. He often asks me about my studies, my future plans, and what I want to do with my life. Whenever I talk about my problems, he listens. I have always looked up to him as a mentor.

The class ends around 7 in the evening.
And then, of course, it starts raining.

I want to get back to my room early because finding an auto becomes difficult for me when it rains. But I decide to wait a little longer. Maybe the rain will slow down. At least I won’t fall sick.

I sit there waiting. After some time, Arbaaz Sir asks me,
“So, what are you planning to do after graduation?”
I tell him,
“Master’s. And then a Ph.D., of course.”
He looks at me and asks,
“A Ph.D.? You’ve already planned that far?”
I laugh.
“Of course. I have to.”

We continue talking about my studies and what I want to do with my future. Somehow, the conversation turns towards my financial situation. I tell him about the problems I had faced just last month. Things had become really difficult for me financially, and I had to borrow money from one of the female teachers at the same institute.

“Things were really difficult that month,” I tell him.
He listens to me, just like he always does.
Almost half an hour passes. I look outside at the rain and then tell Arbaaz Sir,
“I think it’s going to be difficult for me to find an auto in this rain.”
He immediately responds,
“I’ll drop you. Don’t worry.”

See? How kind and supportive he is, I think.
I say yes and wait. I don’t have to worry about finding an auto anymore. I think the rain will slow down soon, and he will drop me.

Just then, Atharva Sir comes out of his cabin.
Oh, let me introduce you to him.

Atharva Sir is one of the co-founders of the institute. Almost everything that happens in the office is under his supervision, and most of the work here is handled under his direction.

He sees me and says,
“Aashruti, I’ll drop you till the chowk. You can go from there.”
Before I can say anything, Arbaaz Sir says,
“I’ll drop her.”
Atharva Sir looks at him and then leaves.

And now, there are only two of us left in the office.

Me and Arbaaz Sir.