Department of Sanskrit, UBH, 12.30 p.m

"I'm not getting this one!" An annoyed Labanya dropped her pen.

"Since last night I'm trying to get the meaning of this verse but..." She pursed her lips, shaking her head in impatience.

"Which verse?" Kadambari leaned forward. "Let me see."

"This one. Hidimba vadha Parva." Labanya pointed to the book. "Actually this particular couplet can have at least two meanings. Which one is correct?"

Adjusting her specs, Kadambari narrowed her eyes to look at the lines for a while.

"It's Southern version of Mahabharat, right? That Sanskrit is too hard. Need to ask Kinshuk sir."

"I was thinking the same. But..." Labanya glanced at her wristwatch. "It's lunch time."

"You don't know Kinshuk sir?" Kadambari chuckled. "He's available for his students' queries 24×7."

"I know, Bari. But it's not fair to take advantage of his over-dedication to us!" Labanya threw a piece of paper as bookmark between the pages before closing the book.

"But we have no break after this." Kadambari reminded.

"That's true too." Labanya agreed. "Ok let me go then. A single verse won't take sir more than 5 minutes."

***

Teachers' room

"May I come in, Sir?"

"You may!" Kinshuk replied without moving his eyes from the laptop screen. Only one cup of his favourite coffee was there on the table at this lunch hour. But he forgot that too, immersed in the article submitted by a student.

Himanshu sighed, shaking his head. Dadabhai will never change!

"Sir it would have been a huge favour if you could kindly listen to me once!" He innocently said.

Kinshuk lifted his gaze. "You here?" He straightened himself on the chair. "Anything serious? Your leg is alright na?"

"I'm fine. But the problem is very serious." Himanshu tried to make a grave face. "Because Dr. Kinshuk Chowdhury has forgotten his lunch box today!"

An embarrassed Kinshuk sighed. Thank God all his colleagues were in canteen right now.

"Now will you kindly eat or I have to feed a professor?" Himanshu crossed his arms. "Remember, CCTV is on!"

"Sir may I come in?" It was a girl's voice.

Both the pairs of eyes turned to the door. Kinshuk quickly goaded back to his formal professor's aura while Himanshu's eyes stuck there only.

He had not expected to see Labanya here!

"Sir what's the meaning of this..." Labanya rushed in, quickly opening the book in her hand. The bookmark fell down but she didn't notice.

Himanshu simply watched, smiling to himself. Labanya's arrival felt as if a whirlwind had just entered the calm teachers' room.

"You are reading southern edition? Good!" Kinshuk praised his student.

"Excuse me, Ma'am!" Himanshu intervened. "Can this be done after lunch, please? Sir hasn't eaten anything since I have just brought his lunch box."

Labanya turned to Himanshu.

"You...here?" She asked, but then quickly guessed it from Himanshu's wide grin.

"I missed my first class today for bringing his lunch from home. I'm not going to let him skip his meal today." He said. "Hence, could you just wait for a few minutes?"

"Himanshu you go to class." Kinshuk gravely glared at his brother.

"It's ok, Sir. I'll come later." Labanya turned to leave.

"Finally! Some peace!" Himanshu said in a teasing tone which made Labanya turn back again, glaring at him.

"Don't you think that both of you're wasting much more time thus?" Kinshuk looked at both. His brother and his dear student seemed to have some spark between them which made the serious professor suppress a smile.

"Labanya, the verse means: 'Hidimbaa confessed her love for Vrikodara with tears in her eyes.'" Explained the teacher.

Labanya's eyes softened as she heard her favourite character's name. She turned to her teacher, eager to hear next. But some invisible power drew her gaze back on Himanshu's smiling face. Almost unknowingly, both silently stared at each other as Kinshuk read out the verse. 

"The Rakshasi said, if you accept me, o mighty warrior, I shall be yours in all my births, in all the yugas.'" He finished translating.

Labanya looked away, realizing that it was too odd to stare at a boy thus.

"Thank you so much, Sir!" She quickly said. "This particular line is not there in the northern versions so I wanted to get it checked."

"I'm glad that your study on Bheem is going to a research level, Labanya." Kinshuk said, returning her the book. "Soon I expect you to join the Mahabharat scholars. We do need someone to do a paper on mighty Vrikodar."

"I shall try my best, Sir!" Labanya beamed. "It'll be my honour if he chooses me for this work! Thank you again for all your guidance and support!"

As she left the room, Labanya heard Himanshu calling her.

"You're forgetting something, Miss Labanya." Himanshu returned the bookmark to her. "I think it's important." His eyes sparkled in amusement.

Labanya saw it and chuckled. The bookmark was a menucard of her favourite restaurant.

"I guess you love Chinese?" Himanshu narrowed his eyes.

"Not just that. Every cuisine available in Kolkata." Labanya smiled.

"A foodie?"

"Without a doubt!"

"Wonderful!" Himanshu remarked. "Let's go to canteen then? I didn't have my lunch yet. And I think you didn't either."

"Sure." She nodded.

***

New Town School

Deepika rushed to her class. She found the sick student had regained consciousness but still seemed week. Class monitor Akansha Chattaraj was nursing the sick girl.

Deepika breathed easy. Akansha seemed to have a magical healing power in her very presence. Some people have an innate feel good charm in them. This girl was exactly like that. Any responsibility given to her had never remained unfulfilled. Whenever Akansha was around, class teacher Deepika felt free from worry. Such was her level of obedience and dedication!

"She's better now, Ma'am." Akansha assured her class teacher.

Deepika patted Akansha, smiling.

"Thank you, child! But she cannot be kept here thus. I'm sending her to the sick room." Deepika glanced at her wrist watch. She had class now. But this was urgent.

Akansha understood. "You go to class Ma'am. I'll handle."

"I have complete trust on you." Deepika admitted. "But you're not allowed to take your friend to sick room without permission. Let me talk to Principal Ma'am first. Till then," she handed over the lunch box to Akansha. "Feed her this. She seems hungry."

Akansha nodded, taking the box.

"Take care!" Deepika said before turning to leave.

"Ma'am!"

Deepika turned. It was Akansha.

"You need something?"

Akansha hesitated a little. Deepika knew that she wanted to tell something but wondering whether it would be right or not.

"Tell me without a doubt, Akansha." The teacher encouraged.

"Ma'am, will you skip the lunch today?"

Deepika smiled. Her favourite student was such a kind heart. Being the only child of the biggest business tycoon of the city, she was unbelievably soft-hearted and down to earth. Everyone in the school used to wonder how such a noble soul was born to Mr. Shamik Chattaraj who was infamous for his antisocial works.

"You don't worry for me. I'll manage." Deepika said.

"Ma'am if you don't mind, may I please share my tiffin with you today?" Akansha requested. "Everyday I'm given too much of food which I alone can't finish. It will be good for me too."

Deepika gave up, shaking her head. "You won't stop without feeding me, right? Ok fine! Let's see in the lunch time. Now go and attend your classes."

"Thank you, Ma'am!" Akansha beamed.
___________________________________________

Author's note: Akansha is one of the major characters of this story. Hope my regular readers will remember that she was mentioned earlier as Priyanshu's love interest. This short intro isn't enough for her. Her character will be developed as the story progresses.

As of now, did you like her?