Voiced Whispers Part 8

"You'll have a lot of other people to do your work for you, but I really want this time to myself. I'm sorry."

"Okay then. Have a great time ahead."

"You too have a good time. Thanks for understanding."

I went back to my room, pleased with myself for finally getting the courage to quit. Quitting a society as famous as this one requires a lot of willpower, and a considerable amount of decision making. I was glad that I finally came to a conclusion, and was going to stick with it.

I called up Ayu to meet her in the library now. There were things that I needed to discuss with her, and decide now. I was just praying to G.o.d that the outcome of these discussions would be positive. Her answer on this was going to decide my life for the next few years, at least.

"Hey! Let's meet at the library in an hour? I'll show you the pictures from the trip, and there's something I need to discuss with you, so we can do that too."

"Sure. I'm done with my work. What about your a.s.signment?"

"I'll do it in the library. So, see you in an hour?"

"Okay!"

An hour later, I packed my bag and left for the library. Ayu was already there when I reached, and she smiled a wide smile when she saw me. She was doing some work of the research group that she was a part of.

"Too much work?"

"Yes, too much of it, and the deadline is tomorrow. But I can manage this. Show me all the photos now!"

I opened my laptop and showed her all the photos of the trip, carefully edited in Photoshop to look as close to the original as possible. She didn't catch any mistakes, and was pretty happy with the pictures.

"Looks like you had a great time there! I'm glad to know you had so much fun. I was bored at home for the entire duration of the vacation, stuck with this stupid project's work."

"Ayu, I wanted to talk to you about something else too."

"Go on. I'm listening."

I needed a steady source of income, and I needed it to come soon. I knew that the girls wouldn't be able to manage with that little money for too long, and I had to help them with whatever little I could do for them.

"I was thinking of starting my own company with you. We are both good coders, and I'm really interested in android application development. I think you'll like it too. It's a very interesting topic, and a lot of fun to work with. I know you're in a research group, but till when will you fool yourself? These people are glad their 'autonomous' car works with a remote control. You can buy what they've made for three hundred rupees at a market in Kolkata!"

"Okay, first of all, stop insulting our work so much. We've made great progress so far, and our vehicle came 9th at the International Compet.i.tion last year. We've been improving every day, and with the amount of effort everybody has been putting in, we're sure to do much better.

Secondly, though, even I was considering leaving the project. It's not because the work is bad, just that the environment isn't good enough. The people I work with are really strange, and they crack very awkward jokes and pa.s.s extremely s.e.xist statements. Being the only girl there, I can't really do anything about it either. One of my senior's laptop pa.s.sword is 'I hate girls'! So yes, I'm in this with you!"

"That's great! I'm so happy we're doing this. So this is my plan for the next month. I'll start working on the basics, while you learn android application development. We can then continue to work on the more difficult aspects of the application, and complete it and then launch it on the Play Store. We'll be generating revenue through advertis.e.m.e.nts on the play store, and we'll also launch a no advertis.e.m.e.nts pro version for a dollar on both the play store and the Amazon store."

"That sounds good to me. Let's get started on the work then!"

A month later, our first application, Math Bomb, was ready to be published. We published the application with a lot of spamming all over Facebook, pus.h.i.+ng our friends to download the application and review it. The application generated over a thousand downloads in the first fifteen days, but all of them were from the free version, and we were not gaining anything more than a couple of dollars in advertis.e.m.e.nt revenue.

"We need to work harder on this. We have to put more effort. This is not enough. We need to generate more revenue, and we need to do it quickly."

"Why are you pus.h.i.+ng so hard on earning money? We're in college right now, and have enough for ourselves. I think we should focus more on what kind of applications we are making than how much we are selling."

"You won't understand Ayu. We need to generate revenue too."

"Stop being so money minded about everything. We will generate revenue, but in good time. For now, we should focus more on making better applications and games."

"Okay, if you say so." Earning money wasn't as easy as I thought it to be. With the money I was earning by winning at debating tournaments I had won months ago due to arrive in more than two months, there had to be some other source of income. I couldn't find any at present, though.

The two months in college pa.s.sed quickly, with my exams going better this time. I would have the occasional chat with Aliya and Meira over the phone, though I as careful not to mention their names or anything that could compromise their present location.

I was scheduled to go back to Vizag in early December, and the date was not coming any time soon. I had never been this excited to meet someone before, and somehow, time was playing its cruel game, ticking as slowly as it could have. I had decided to tell Aliya how much I loved her.

CHAPTER 22.

It was the middle of November, and not my favourite time of the year. The examinations were due to start in a week, and I knew that my grades weren't going to be good this time. Given the spike in my extra academic activities, I was sure that my parents would ask me to cut down on them, and focus more on studying hard and performing better in my courses.

The IIT Kharagpur campus is one of the greenest college campuses one can find in the country. The entire campus is filled with trees, with most of the major roads having trees on either side. The campus manages to maintain a certain level of natural air conditioning, even if only to a minor extent. The rest of the temperature management is facilitated by the immense funding that the inst.i.tutes receive.

The campus has, among other things, a beautiful lake behind the students' activity centre, surrounded by a walking s.p.a.ce adorned with benches and patches of gra.s.s, providing the perfect setting to sit down and relax. Unfortunately, couples who found a lack of s.p.a.ce for certain activities on campus used the dark environment to frequent this place at night, which led to the imposition of the rule that students weren't allowed to come to this place after 11 p.m.

This, however, was the exam time, so there weren't many students, nor were there guards roaming around to drive the students away. Ayu and I could sit peacefully on one of the benches, as we talked like just another 'heart opening session', as she called it. I would freak out every time she said that.

We talked at length about the problems that were worrying her, the issues that she was having at home, her problems with her crazy roommate who had nearly descended into madness, among other things.

"I feel so much better after discussing all of this with you. Thank you so much Ansh. You'll always be my best friend."

"And you'll always be one of the closest friends I have. If you ever need to talk about anything, just let me know, and I'll be there for you."

"Ansh, can I ask you something personal, if it's not too much?"

"Sure, go ahead. I'm always open to your questions."

"I've always maintained that you're my best friend, and made it vocally clear that it is so. I've never expected anything, but always wondered why you've never called me, or anyone, yours. Ansh, you've taught me how to open up to people, but you've never really shown yourself to be one such person. Having several close friends is one thing, but having one best friend is another. Why have you never had one?"

"Ayu, I don't think you should know the answer to this, not right now. This is not the correct time for me to be telling you about this."

"But why is it not? You've always run away every time I ask you something that is difficult to answer. You need to trust me Ansh, if you want to be good friends with me."

"Ayu, you don't understand the gravity of the situation. It is not like this is one easy situation to explain, or to understand. You need to understand a lot of things, and I need an a.s.surance from you that no matter what you think, no matter what happens, you will not tell anyone."

"Ansh, stop talking like you are a secret service agent taking down Osama bin Laden, and tell me everything now."

"Ayu, promise me first. Promise me that everything I tell you will not go out, even if you think it's for my safety."

"Okay, I promise I won't tell anyone anything about this."

"Good, now I'm going to talk, and you will listen.

Over a decade back, when I was a little kid who had just joined school, I had a friend named Aliya. She was our neighbour, and the sweetest girl I've ever known. We played all day together, and back then I had no friends except her. We'd often fight, but those were little childish fights that would end in a minute.

Aliya and I were inseparable back then. Our parents didn't talk much, but then, her father didn't talk to anyone, and her mother had died giving birth to her. She would often spend a lot of time at my home, and we had the most amazing time ever.

However, G.o.d wanted something else. He probably couldn't stand her happiness, and so, a few days after Aliya's birthday, something terrible happened, something that I wouldn't have thought even a monster like her father had the capability to do.

Aliya's father dragged Aliya out and took her away, never to bring her back. He sold her off to a thug named Gujjar, and I saw him dragging her as she begged for mercy. I saw a little girl begging for her freedom, begging me to free her, with tears in those innocent eyes, as I stood still and stared at her."

I could see tears forming in Ayu's eyes. She looked at me, tears flowing down my cheeks, as I continued in a broken voice, "A few months back, I met a girl in a train. Her father was tricked into sending her off to the same thing, and, in a bid to rescue her, I found Aliya.

Aliya and the other girl are now hiding in another part of the country, free from that goon. However, they can't keep hiding forever, and I'm afraid that one day, he'll find out about her, and there may be too much trouble."

I wiped my tears and smiled a half smile as I looked at Ayu. "Ayu, the reason why I don't want a best friend is because I already have one. She's the girl who was with me since childhood. She's the girl who kept visiting me in my dreams, the one who I thought I found never find. She is my best friend, my oldest friend, and my closest friend. She is the friend I will always love most dearly. I will always have many close friends, but never a friend like Aliya. I'm sorry if that hurts you."

Ayu smiled, and said only five words, "I want to help you."

"As much as I love the gesture, I cannot risk your life in this. These are dangerous people I am dealing with, and they have to be dealt with by just me. I cannot let you get into any trouble for me."

"You can't push me away from this one Ansh. I will help you, no matter what happens."

"Okay. If you want to help me, then there's something you can do for me."

"Anything you ask for, just name it."

"I need to go to meet them next month, and was planning to go during the time that you are going to the IIT Bombay Debate. I was wondering if you could ensure I am marked present there even though I won't be going there."

"Consider it done, sir," she said. "Are there any other orders that I may execute for you?"

"That's all I need from you. Thanks a lot Ayu!"

"I'm honoured to be friends with someone like you. I'm always happy to help you. Take good care of yourself. Keep away from harm as much as you can, and you'll be just fine. Good night!"

"Good night Ayu. Sleep well."

"Aye aye, cap'n!"

CHAPTER 23.

"And that's another tournament that you want to go to! Why do you want to go to so many tournaments? You've been to two of them already!"

"But mom, this is a very prestigious tournament. A lot of people from the debating society are going to it. It's going to be a great learning experience and a lot of fun too! Also, it's in the vacation period, so I won't be missing anything at all."

"Alright, go. I don't understand why you want to go out with your friends so much nowadays. Your JEE preparation time was good. You didn't talk to most people, and utilised whatever time you had!"

"Oh come on mom! Even you know this was going to happen someday. I need to grow up, get out there, and see things for myself. Thanks a lot for letting me go though. See you at home in a few weeks!"

This conversation had happened a month back. I convinced mom to let me go to Mumbai for the IIT Bombay Parliamentary Debate. She didn't need to know that I wasn't going to Mumbai, and I needed to ensure she didn't find out. Everything was set, and I was packing for my weekend at Vizag. I was to leave in a few hours.

The thought of seeing Aliya again in less than a day made me as excited as a little child. I was skipping and jumping as I packed my bag, slipping in some chocolates along with everything else that I needed for the journey. I was going to tell her how much I loved her, and I so hoped that she would be as excited as I was.

"I still don't understand why you're stopping over at Vizag. It's pointless to go somewhere so far away," mom asked as she walked to the platform with me. The train was to leave in 20 minutes, which meant mom would be there for at least 18 of them.

"Megha's parents weren't letting her go alone, and Chas is in Kharagpur. Both of us decided to go together. It's just a small train journey mom. We're flying from Vizag anyway. Megha's parents will drop us to the airport, so relax!"

"Okay. Take care of yourself..."

"And don't eat anything unpacked on the train. Keep calling me regularly, and keep me updated with your progress. Don't forget me-"

"Anything else that you have to say?" I cut her in the middle, joking about it.

"Stop doing that now, or I won't let you out again. You don't know how scared I get when you go out."

"I do know. Now let me go!"

She stayed with me for a while, and then left when the whistle blew. The train started towards Vizag. I was heading to my destination.

I slept for a while, but woke up when I heard movements in my compartment. I saw a man standing in front of me, but couldn't make out his face in the dark. He moved away and slept on the berth below mine when he saw me waking up. I was too sleepy to react, and went back to sleep.

I woke up the next morning as the station arrived. I got down with my bag and left to take a cab. Fifteen minutes later, I was standing at Aliya's doorstep.

"Hi! It's so great to see you here!" She exclaimed as she gave me a warm hug. The apartment looked much better than what I had left it at. It was a lot more furnished than before, and the general cleanliness of the area was much better than what I had seen, but that was probably because I lived in a hostel.

"Your home looks brilliant! How did you people manage so much with...umm.."

"Manage this with such low salaries? It's okay, you can say it. I don't mind. You see, after Meira read the book you gave her, she got so interested that she started to read a lot more, buying books at much cheaper rates, most of them second hand. She learnt a lot of things quickly, and applied for a job at a cyber cafe as an a.s.sistant there. She used the internet there to do some things online, and her salary is now around Rs. 20000! She is really intelligent! We even bought a second hand laptop for Rs. 5000. Come inside and have a look! She taught me some things so that I could help her in her work."

I looked around the house in utter disbelief. These two girls put together were earning more than what an engineering graduate from a private college earns. Turns out that a degree doesn't necessarily impart an education, but the desire to know does. Meira and Aliya had together shown to me what willpower could do to one's life, and that was a lesson I wouldn't forget.

"This is amazing Aliya! But why aren't you at work?"

"I quit the job at the restaurant. I work full time from home now. It brings more money to the house."

"Where is Meira?"

"Meira is at the cyber cafe. She has to work on weekends too. She has holidays on Mondays."

"I see. I'm glad you both are doing so well. I'm really happy for you!"