Chichore – Scene 1

“Kya jaroorat thi Veerji, Papaji, Daarji, Mummy ji, Taya Ji, Taayi ji.. Chadd, sab ne sab”

She looked up to the sky as the driver dropped her on the gate of college

“Babaji… why had everyone forced me to join this college. Is this the last college on earth… nahi na” she pouted while complaining to her Babaji as she stepped towards the gate

“I know this is one of the best colleges in Delhi… but why Delhi? Was I not selected in Mumbai and Bangalore college… but No. They made sure to do what I exactly don’t want..”

“Family friend hain, toh yahi pardna hai…yeh kaisa rule hai ” She made an angry face but soon held her ears “Na na Babaji, I love Dadima, Uncle, Aunty… aur Annie toh meri bestie hai na… per Baabji, insab ke saath woo bhi toh hai… kyun… kyun hai wohh…”

She made a fake crying face

“That Chichore… he convinced everyone” she was so angry on him

“Why has everyone listened to that chichore.. Why can’t they see his romeo giri…No, everyone can only see his marks, that he is topper. Why can anyone not see how cheap and flirty he is.. Babaji.. Even you too, only support him… not fair.. I so wanted to enjoy my college life, first time out of Hoshiarpur, but everyone including you made sure to make it stressful for me” 

As Geet was busy talking her Baabji in sky, obviously she hit the stone and stumble

“Girrrriii.. Chchc…chhchh”

“Maan kaun Giri…. And who are you looking from binoculars? You have called this meeting and here you are enjoying the view seated on your bike.” Armaan scolded him

Maan removed his binoculars and moved his leg around the bike in style to turn his attention to the crowd

“I was looking at my target. Okay, now… is everyone who are interested in this ragging program present here”

“Yes!!!” several voices came from crowd

“Fine, anyone not present here and found participating in ragging, will have to face a hard time… spread the word..”

“Sure” “Done” again came in unison

Maan turned slightly to look at his target who had by now made entry in the campus

“So the rule here is… we final year seniors will select our target… and you all, second and third year, you will not lay your eyes or put your attention to the ones we have made our target. We, the most seniors select our target, rest are free for you guys and gals”

“Sure, Maan Sir.. per kuch bachenge na humare liye”

“Abbe yaar… don’t cry… we will just select few groups and rest will be all yours” said Maan shaking his head

“Oyee we have cherished our days with you guys… final year hai.. We will have some last fun.. Rest it is your time to enjoy” Added Armaan to Maan’s words

“And rule pata hai na sabko… No ragging on the first day… just select your target today, let the bachcha party enjoy their first day of college and action starts tomorrow” added Maan further

“Okay sir”

“And.. remember… no one crossing the limit set by us”

“Okay Sir”

“Okay now before dispersing… who in third and second year is available to report me about my target”

“Sir,  you already selected one?” asked juniors

“Abbey tune kab select kiya” Said surprised Armaan

“Maan, you already selected your target” Sammera, came and settle in style beside him

“Hmmm”

“Sir we will give you the report, show us who is he or she” came forward the excited junior followers of his

“Oyee ‘she’ hai” Maan declared. Sameera’s face fell. Maan always selected boys to trouble.. 

With that she believed he would not show his interest in any girl… What if he does not show that kind of interest in her today. But she, being his only female friend all college years, can easily become his girlfriend after college.

But why did he select a girl this time?

“Sir, can we see her?” Maan passed the binocular “Check that girl  near A-block, in light blue salwar suit”

“Sir woo..” came surprised yet low voice of the junior who got glimpse of her from binoculars

“Haan.. don’t be surprised… wahi behenji types.. She is my target”

Sameera sighed in relief. She immediately took the binoculars and turned to get relief that the girl was typically in behenji style and all tensed already.

“Maan, she is already dead, what fun will you have in killing the dead”

“No comment on my target.” He warned Sameera turned his attention to his juniors

“Guys, I want full report on her by evening”

 And he got down to attend his classes.

Geet entered the college premise, all worried to find him. But soon she saw a chirpy girl talking to someone. Their eyes met and Geet waived at her.

Within five minutes, Geet Handa and Pinky Manchanda were besties. And by the time she reached the notice area to check her classrooms, they were already a solid group of five similar talkative girls (Geet, Pinky, Pari Tasha and Meera} and one boy, Aditya, who was simple, friendly but a bit hesitant.

They were all students of computer engineering. That’s what most kids take these days. Unlike Maan, who was majoring in Architecture engineering. Of course, why not, he was passionate about his family business which was on top in the northern region in construction.

Maan, after doing all the bossing and ganging up in the morning, was sincerely attending his lectures and projects.

Geet and her friends, like the whole first year, were having introduction classes. This whole week will be just introduction and warm up classes.

First year students were super excited to be in college.

Geet was with her friends, in classes and roaming around in college but her eyes were always roaming around in fear of when she would bump into him.

“Chor de bilkul free, aisa toh ho nahi sakta” she wondered. 

Was he really different in college and she can have a peaceful year in college? It felt highly not true but her hopeful heart can think that way. Maybe he was decent in college, that is why he was the topper all through.

While many were excited, some disappointed with no ragging. They did not get a chance to meet seniors. Also, what story will they have to tell at home?

“Thorda thorda ragging would have been fun… yeh kya sukha sukha” cribbed pinky and Tasha

“Shut up you girls. It’s nice to have peaceful first day” scolded Geet 

Geet was in her own worry the whole day – he was not seen. Yes, it was good for her, she should be relieved. But how? He can anytime come in front of her and snatch away all her peace, because that is one big agenda of his life, taking her peace away.

In the principal’s office, all the lecturers and professors were gathered 

“Principal Sir, why did you allow ragging to take place? And you kind of gave official authority to that Maan”

“It is in his leadership that is why we have peaceful day one. Trust me, by giving him the indirect official responsibility, I have made sure that ragging stays in limit”

“But why allow it, in any case?”

“Because if I don’t allow it, students will anyway do it and then it will be uncontrolled. Maan is a group leader, people listen to him more than us. He will let kids have fun and also keep things in check. Any mishap, Maan will be rusticated, his brilliant career is at stake and also his university’s gold medal.. So rest assured, I have played safe by giving him the charge”

“Ragging is very sensitive issue”

“Yes, I know and that is why I want our college to come clean without any problems. Maan will ensure, seniors have some fun and juniors get to know their seniors and respect them.”

At 6 pm when all classes were over, Maan was seated on the gym area with all the ragging gang

They gave him and his gang the report on the new batch. Seniors declared their target, rest were left for juniors. Maan then called the group to report on his target.

“Sir, we thought she would be shy and dumb… but in a day she formed the whole gang of her own. All talkative kids but all very simple happy to go kids.. Completely unexpected”

“Hmmm.. why do you all think I selected her” Maan said with pride, well he knew all this about her

“But how did you know about her”

“What was I doing with binoculars all the while? I was watching her antics” he efficiently handled like a pro. Why do you think he was a gang leader?

“But sir, she was bit worried whole day, as if looking for someone”

Maan’s naughty heart smiled. Ohh that is what he wanted to hear from long

Sameera felt insecure but hid behind her comment 

“Behenji types as Maan said. We will enjoy making fun of her behenji style in Delhi”

Maan turned to Sameera “Not us. You select your target.. She is just mine” and he got off to head for his house, leaving Sameera to wonder what he meant by it.