Chapter 15. Scapegoat

🎶 Voh Dekhnay Mein

Published on 02.06.2022

| AUTHOR'S POV |

There wasn't much work to do on Monday. The major part of the project was done so they were just assembling the model and then reviewing the report prepared through Ayansh. The Dean alongwith the supervisor came later to check the progress and have a small talk with all of them. He was content with the progress and pace, appreciated everyone and thanked Ayansh especially for taking out his time and helping them all without asking anything in return.

"Another part that I wanted to talk about with y'all is about the whole programme apart from the competition. It's going to be a grand event so we want to make sure that everything is perfect. At the same time, we also want to experiment and serve something new wherever we could." The Dean speaks and everyone listens to him or atleast pretends to. Because let's be honest, nobody was interested in whatever ambitious things he was talking about. "Suggestions, participation is more than welcome. We need some unique ideas for the opening theme as well. We want to do something different than the usual calling out the guests names and then presenting them bouquets and clapping and cheering. Maybe dance or singing but that's common too. But it will do. We want to make the whole event engaging." He talked passionately about his vision while the students just seemed to be waiting for him to take the leave so they can leave too. "Do y'all have any ideas?" He asked with hope and enthusiasm.

None of the eight students reacted because neither were they interested nor did they've any idea. As if a bulb suddenly got switched on in his brain, Ayansh piped up, attracting everyone's attention.

"Inaaya plays piano. You can incorporate that if you want, Sir." He suggested in a small voice, looking at the Dean.

"What?" There was a sudden screech from the other side and everyone turned their heads to look at Inaaya. She coughed, choking on thin air.

"Are you okay?" Ayushi asked in concern, rubbing her back.

Samson who was sitting in front of her offered her water.

Inaaya snapped her head towards Ayansh, clenching her jaw and planning his murder in 101 different ways. Realising he has again messed up, he gulped inaudibly in fear.

"That's a great idea. Isn't it Inaaya?" The Dean chirps and Inaaya slowly turns her face to look at him.

She forces back a smile painfully. "If you think it is, then it is."

"We can give it a try." He responds, not sensing the underlying sarcasm in her words. "Piano music will set up such a pleasing and beautiful ambience."

Inaaya clenches her fist under the table. "Sure." She says in a formal tone. "We can try it."

"Great." The Dean clasps his hands. "You can meet with Mrs Rao tomorrow morning."

Inaaya nods. "Okay, Sir."

He then turns towards Ayansh. "Thank you for such an amazing idea. Have a good day everyone." He tells the students.

"Thank you, Sir." Everyone says and stands up as he leaves.

Ayansh thinks it's better if he leaves while everyone is grabbing their things and walking out of the door. He attempts to do the same when a cherry voice calls him out.

"Ayansh?" Inaaya calls out extra sweetly. "Can you wait for a few minutes? I need some help." She adds.

Ayansh dips his head low and sighs regretfully before turning back.

Ayushi who was leaving asks Inaaya. "Do you also need help with your studies?"

Inaaya blinks and then flashes a bright smile. "Ofcourse. After all, he's too good at explaining. I think I can use a little bit of explanation." She says the last line looking at him.

"That he is." Ayushi agrees heartily. "Anyways bye."

Inaaya waves at her and now it was just her and her prey in the class.

"Look, I- I didn't know you would be this upset by that suggestion. I was just trying to be helpful. I'm really, really s- sorry." He emphasizes on every word, his hands in front of him in defense. He hadn't moved from his place, standing at a good distance from her.

Inaaya crosses her arms and pins him with an icy cold glare. "Helpful?" She quirks a brow at him. "Ek gunaah maaf hota na mujhe toh khuda ki kasam maine tumhara khoon kar dena tha abhi." She grits and he cowers in fear. (If I'd a chance to commit a crime and be forgiven for it then I would have murdered you right now).

"It's- it's a good opportunity. You get to play piano and- " Ayansh tries but stops speaking when her glare hardens.

She takes a step forward. "Didn't I tell you that playing piano wasn't my hobby or passion? Forget about it." She shakes her head. "It's my last year before I graduate and move out. I'm already annoyed that I'm part of this project and my time is getting channeled into this when I just want to enjoy and be with my friends. And now, you push me into something else as well."

Guilt washes over him, as he stares at her helpless self. He takes a deep breath before speaking. "I'll- I'll try to talk to the Dean and somehow convince him- "

Inaaya shakes her head at his ridiculousness. "And what reason should we give? Sir, I'm least interested in the reputation of our institution or it's growth." She says with sarcasm dripping in her tone. "It's not happening. We're stuck." She sits down on the chair tiredly.

Ayansh comes near her and takes another chair, sitting across her. "I should have asked you before taking your name. I just got a little excited when that idea came in my mind." He sighed.

"Should've sacrificed yourself instead of making me bali ka bakra." She whines. (Should've sacrificed yourself instead of making me a scapegoat)

He laughs softly. "Told you that I'm good at nothing. Remember?" He raises his brows, pressing his lips together.

Inaaya rolls her eyes at that remark. "Just wait and watch, I'll take revenge from you soon." She threatens him and gets up to leave.

She walks past him, staring at him throughout and he holds her stare saying nothing.

Inaaya meets her friends waiting for her in the cafeteria. They sense her gloomy mood as she takes her place and keeps her backpack on the table rather harshly.

"So...... are we going to the Marine Drive or not?" Nikita asks carefully.

"Of course we're going!" Inaaya snaps. "Did y'all change the plan?"

"We didn't but your mood... ," Alisha drawls and points at her face.

"Yaar," Inaaya groans. "The Dean asked me to play piano on the competition day during the opening and this brilliant suggestion was given by none other than Ayansh." She fake grins.

"I can surely feel your excitement." Nikita laughs.

"There's no point in crying and ruining your mood over it. Let's talk about something else." Alisha cheers her up. "Tell me if something interesting has happened in the last few days."

Inaaya thinks for a moment and then a smile involuntarily makes its way on her lips, her eyes glimmering as her thoughts drift to the incident that happened on Thursday. A laugh escapes her and Alisha and Nikita look at her quizzically.

"On Thursday," she starts but again laughs. "You should've looked at him. With paint on his white shirt, he resembled a clown." Laughter bubbles out of her as she narrates the incident vaguely while her friends still look at her with confusion. "And his face when I spilled the paint on him?" she adds excitedly, "it was hilarious. He looked so done with his life there. And then- "

"Inaaya, one second wait." Alisha tried to cut her off looking at the person standing behind her friend who was laughing like a maniac.

" - he walked out just like that. I followed him till the men's washroom and he looked so scared as if we were doing something scandalous." She laughs more, propping her elbow on the table and covers her forehead with her palm.

"Yes, that was me."

Inaaya's elbow almost slip from the table as her laughter comes to an abrupt stop and her face loses all the colour at the source of the voice. She gasps and whips her head around.

"Do you always have to scare me?" She shrieks, her right hand flowing over her heart.

Ignoring that, he forwards his hand. "It's yours. You forgot it in the class so I just came to give it to you." He says without any emotion referring to the sticky notepad.

Inaaya's eyes widened and she quickly pulls it away from him. "You didn't open it, did you?"

Ayansh shakes his head and she takes a breath of relief. "Your name is written over it. Why would I open it?" He shrugs.

Inaaya had stopped writing diary when she lost the one she had. It wasn't as if she used to write how her day went and all but whatever it was, it was personal. And now this sticky note is something that's close to her and she writes down little, unimportant things which nevertheless are personal to her. She was glad that she had written her name on the front, a lesson learnt after she lost her diary.

Ayansh was about to go when Alisha stops him by taking his name.

Inaaya looks at the expression on Alisha's face and she knows in an instant what her friend is upto. "Alisha, no." She warns her.

Nikita looks between the two, puzzled.

Alisha darts her gaze at Inaaya. "What?" She asks innocently.

"Don't. Ask." She replies sternly.

A guilty looks passes over her but she once again turns her face to look at Ayansh. "I wanted to ask you something."

Ayansh subconsciously looks at Inaaya, partly in confusion, partly in fear and then looks back at Alisha. "Okay," he murmurs.

Inaaya facepalms herself.

"Is your brother single?" Alisha inquires, her face hopeful while Ayansh blinks at that question. "Asking for Nikita." She adds lamely making Nikita jerk forward.

She looks at Alisha in horror. "I've a boyfriend." She hisses.

"You have?" Inaaya turns her head to look at Nikita and asks in shock. "When? I thought you're just going with the flow and there's nothing concrete." She accuses Nikita.

Nikita squeezes her eyes shut in irritation. "Yes, I'm just going with the flow." She grits. "Half boyfriend maybe then?" She adds, scowling at Inaaya who simply nods in understanding.

"But I'm telling you this going with the flow thing will come and bite your ass one day." Inaaya chastises her as always and Alisha tosses her head back, rolling her eyes, witnessing Inaaya being a mom.

All the while, Ayansh looks at them with a question mark on his face. He has half a mind to just run away from the place while they're engrossed.

"No, he isn't... single." He interrupts them with his reply.

Alisha pouts, Inaaya grins and Nikita sighs.

"I told you not to ask." Inaaya mocks Alisha. "You keep embarrassing yourself." She looks at Ayansh and says, "I'm sorry for that stupid question on her behalf. She keeps doing this."

Ayansh's brows shot up. "She keeps doing this!" He exclaims in surprise.

Alisha's eyes widened. "Inaaya, no." She threatens. "I'll kill you. You better not do this."

Inaaya's mischievous eyes meets Ayansh's curious ones. "She developed a crush on my brother when she saw him for the first time. And then- "

"Fuck you Inaaya Rai!" Alisha yells but Inaaya ignores and continues.

" -when she came at my place for the first time," Inaaya giggles remembering the tragedy, "she thought maybe my brother too had a soft corner for her since he spoke so sweetly and was quite nice towards her. I warned her to not get her hopes high, there's nothing like that but she didn't listen." Ayansh was listening to Inaaya intently. "Kartik even cooked lunch for us and while he was serving us, he told Alisha, "don't be shy. Eat as much as you want, ask if you need anything. You're just like my sister." He sisterzoned her." Inaaya and Nikita, both were having a full blown laughter attack while Alisha looked at her friends with her face red from embarassment.

Ayansh's mouth falls agape. He clenches his teeth to suppress his laughter but the two girls, especially Inaaya laughing her heart out wasn't helping at all and a chuckle escapes him and he tries to disguise it as a cough but fails miserably.

Alisha snaps her head at Ayansh, looking at him with betrayal.

"I'm- I'm sorry." He tries to sound apologetic but ends up laughing.

"You- you don't need to be sorry. She deserves it." Nikita says amidst her laughter and that's the final nail in the coffin as Ayansh looks down and laughs uncontrollably while trying to muffle the sound with his hand.

When everyone's laughter dies down, they look at the offended face of Alisha.

"It's- it's alright." Inaaya says reaching out to hold her hand but Alisha pulls it back.

Nikita who was sitting beside Alisha, interlinks their arms and tries to mollify her. "Look at the brighter side. You made us laugh so much."

Alisha glares at her and pushes her hand away. "I hate y'all."

"Okay, okay. Tell us how can we earn your forgiveness." Nikita says dramatically.

"Yes, please tell us, Your Majesty." Inaaya adds.

Alisha pretends to ponder thoughtfully. "I'll let y'all know, peasants." She says smugly.

"Again, I'm sorry." Ayansh mumbles guiltily. Alisha dismisses him with a wave. "Okay then I'll leave." He says, looking at Inaaya.

Inaaya pushes her chair back slightly and stands up as he walks a few steps. "Ayansh," she calls out and he halts. She strolls towards him.

"I'm sorry." She apologises, twiddling with her fingers.

"For?" His forehead creases in confusion.

"You felt bad when I was laughing and telling them that incident." She said, referring to the moment he came to the cafeteria and heard her.

"It's okay I guess." He retorts awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.

"Maybe or maybe not. But I was just sharing it with them because it was funny. I wasn't making fun of you in the fun fun way." She blabbers again, trying to explain herself and again regrets for speaking things that don't make sense. Again it's him. Infuriating.

Ayansh looks at her with even more confusion. "Fun fun way?"

Inaaya sighs defeatedly and takes a deep breath, collecting herself. "I mean, my intentions weren't to demean you or laugh at you in a mocking way. And I'm sure that my friends too won't take the incident in that way. It was simply funny if we look back upon it and it has nothing to you becoming a joke or something if that's what you think. Me saying you resembled a clown was just for that instance if that makes sense and not generalizing you or looking down upon you. And if you still feel bad then I'm genuinely sorry. I mean it." She looks at him nervously, praying desperately he understood her point. She was aware that she still didn't make much sense but she hoped he could feel that she was sincere and genuine.

Ayansh looks at her with a void stare and then a soft smile curves up his lips. "Thank you." He says in a small voice.

"Huh?" Inaaya blinks and gives him a baffled look. "Why are you saying thank you?"

"Thank you for thinking about my feelings." He gazes at her tenderly as he says that, rendering her speechless. "Bye." He waltzes away.

And Inaaya is left wondering about his reply, about how did she go from wanting forgiveness in return to getting gratitude instead.

***

Kind of a filler chapter but hope y'all liked it :)

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