Anyone Else But You... Read Online Free PDF Page B

inquired.
    “Why would it not be? See, accordin g to me I don’t fit in anywhere . I have friends. I don’t care of whatever group they belong to. It’s a stupid concept. Although, it’s not like all these groups don’t talk to each other. They do. But they just don’t hang out with each other, ” Sahana explained.
    “Wow. I didn’t know that, ” Rishav said.
    “Why? Weren’t there any cliques in y our school?” Sahana asked.
    “There were, b ut not so much. Or maybe I didn’t notice, ” Rishav replied, trying to remember what it was like in his previous school.
    “I think this all started with watching those movies like Mean Girls or whatever. Some were so influenced by it that they also wanted something like that. And they di d. But now, it’s not that much, b ecause all such people have gone.”
    “Good for us, ” Rishav smiled.
    “ Yep! Good for us , ” Sahana replied.
     
    The teacher came and Sahana went back to her seat.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    SIX
     
    The tube lights of the conference room flickered to life. Next was the AC which started efficient cooling within moments of it being turned on. A beautifully decorated flower vase adorned the centre of the 50 seater conference table. The chairs smelt of polish and the room of vanilla. Just about then, the doors to the room creaked open and Madhuri and Kalsi walked in.
    Kalsi seemed sluggish in her walk. Her eyes reflected a kind of soreness that could have only been visible due to lack of sleep. Madhuri on the other hand displayed anxiousness. She was nervy and tense. They took two seats closest to the door.
    “When will the staff arrive?” Madhuri asked adjusting her spectacles.
    Kalsi stared back at her as though a highly insulting question had been asked, “I presume we discussed it yesterday itself Madhuri.”
    “Oh yes, yes, I remember now.” Madhuri recollected the timing in her head. “Do you have good news for me?” Madhuri knew that it was hardly plausible to ask Kalsi this question when the entire staff would be present . Hence, it seemed ideal to pop in the question now and let Kalsi have a feeler of things to come. Knowing Kalsi ’s habit of keeping things close to her chest, deep within Madhuri existed a feeling that she would not really get the answer she wa s looking for.
    “You need to understand Madhuri…” Kalsi started off with her squeaky and incomprehensive tone. “There are a lot of things one needs to take into consideration while appointing someone the post of the Principal. It is not really entirely in my hands you see…” Kalsi paused to notice the change in expression on Madhuri’s face. Kalsi had to be clever; she had to camouflage her autocratic tend encies with clear cut diplomacy. And it was as difficult as asking Hitler to let his daughter marry a Jew.
    “But Bindu dear, I think you are the supreme authority there at Greater Delhi High School . Isn’t the Director supposed to call the shots?” Madhuri tried to prod Kalsi ’s tremendous ego by reminding her of the powers she possessed as the Director of Greater Delhi High School which was located around twenty kilometers away. Madhuri thought that all Kalsi wanted was a reminder of her endless power and by boosting her ego, Madhuri would stand a chance of getting her work done.
    “It is not an autocratic setup. Running a school isn’t autocracy,” Kalsi ’s left eye twitched while saying this. “I have weighed my options very carefully and in the end I have arrived at the right decision and I hope I’ll be having your support on this Madhuri,” she gazed at Madhuri expecting some kind of an affirmative reply. She waited for a silent assurance that Madhuri would accept any decision taken in the right spirit.
    That assurance never came. Instead the door treated them to some loud knocking and an instant later, a head popped in , followed by the entire body. It was Veenu. “The staff is here,”