Proxy

It was almost 5.30pm when she walked across to the staff room, her papers in hand. The college was empty, save a couple of staffers and peons who sauntered around majestically. After-college hours they turned into lions in a national reserve. Rajshekhar, the economics lecturer, had asked Sakshi to stay back for some clarifications regarding her paper. She'd requested to meet him the next day, just before college began, but he had refused. Some work he'd muttered. How typical.

She stepped into the staff room and looked around. He sat on the far left, by the window.

"Sakshi. Come." He called out.

She walked over and sat opposite.

"So? How was your day?"

"Ok...sir," Sakshi forced the two words out.

He looked at her and smiled. She didn't like the smile.

"Nervous?" He asked poring over some papers.

"No. Why should I be?" She sounded confident.

"Good."

He bundled the papers into a stack and pushed them aside.

"Now then. Your paper."

She nodded.

He held out his hand. She handed him the paper.

He turned the pages, deep in thought.

"You know...Sakshi. These here, questions 10 and 11. Don't you think we had...actually I had in particular mentioned that you guys needed to pay special attention to this topic?"

Sakshi looked blank. She didn't like the tone in which he spoke now.

"Uhh..sir, actually..."

"See Sakshi. Let me be very frank with you. You are one of the brighter students. And I want to see you pursuing nothing less than an MBA from one of the IIMs. And this..this has got to stop."

"What sir?" She half frowned.

He looked over at the door. She turned too. She saw the door closing. She swung back and saw the jerk smiling now.

"Sakshi. You are intelligent. And you know how important these marks are going to be, for you. Don't you?"

Sakshi nodded, swallowing hard.

He smiled knowingly, his eyes doing most of the talking now.

He rose and walked over to her side. Her breathing got heavier now. She didn't take her eyes off the table. She could feel him standing close to her now. He was about to put his hand on her head. She brushed it aside and rose, pushing back the chair, which fell with a thud.

"Sir..no."

"Arre, what? I didn't even say anything." He had a puzzled look. But the smile hadn't gone.

"Sir. You know I can scream. Right? You can't do this.."

"What am I doing, baba?" He inched closer now. She was pushed to the window.

"Sakshi. Child. I just wanted to make you understand that I want the best for you. And you can be the best. Trust me."

"Just like how Disha trusted you, ten years ago?"

Sakshi suddenly didn't look so frightened anymore.

"Wha...?" Rajshekar said, his expression changing to one of bewilderment.

"Yes. Disha. Remember her? You raped her and you even disposed off her body in a way that nobody knew. Not even the cops could sniff you out. Smug about it, huh, Mr. Pervert? Oh..I'm sorry - Mr. murderer?"

Rajshekhar stepped back now, horror spreading across his face.

"Who..what..how do you know about...Who are you?"

*******
Dayal laughed out loud at another of Gopal's jokes. They sat on the steps, a few feet away from the staff room. Just then they saw the door opening.

"Huh, I thought I closed the door from the outside," Dayal said, rising.

As he approached the door, the girl stepped out. He stopped in his tracks. This wasn't the girl who had walked in. He turned to Gopal who gave him a quizzical look. Dayal turned back at the girl. There was something familiar about her. She wasn't the same girl, but she looked damn familiar. Her deep penetrating eyes forced him to turn away. He saw her slowly walk across the corridor and out the exit.

His heart beating wildly, he opened the door of the staff room and peered inside. He cupped his mouth and let out a muffled scream, his eyes wide with horror and repulsion.

*******