Outside the centenary hall, UBH

Deepika walked in measured steps, her eyes searching for someone in that crowd. But she had to pause as some lady from a local TV channel wished to take a short interview.

"Madam, you have raised valid questions against Dr. Banerjee's ideals and works today. Could you please spare a minute or two for our chan..."

"Ma'am! Deepika Ma'am!"

A sharp cheerful voice drew Deepika's whole attention before the lady could finish. Knowing well who was calling her, Deepika turned away from the mic that was put in front of her.

"Sorry, I have to go now." She quickly uttered. "It's urgent!"

"I won't take more than two minutes, Ma'am." The TV reporter insisted. "Please!"

Deepika frowned. She did not have even the slightest wish to waste her time for the same channel that had broadcasted Amitabha's one-hour long interview just a few weeks ago. These reporters were used to take a complete U turn according to situation, she was aware of that.

"I cannot even spare a second." She said. "Let's do it some other day." She tried to walk away but the lady called for her.

"Ma'am, your number please! I shall call..."

Deepika almost ran, pretending that she could not hear the last words. She ended up behind the third gate from her place, from where the voice came.

"Dityaa! How are you, kid?" Deepika exclaimed, love overflowing from her voice as she patted the girl.

"Very good." Dityaa grinned, touching Deepika's feet. "How are you, Ma'am? How are your new students?"

"Good."

"Are they better than us?" Akansha softly asked from beside.

Deepika chuckled. "They are as good as you are." She caressed Akansha's cheeks. "You tell, when did you come here?"

Akansha exchanged a look with Dityaa. The latter said, "actually we saw the banners of this seminar in our school. Since we knew you are here, Akansha insisted on attending it for meeting you."

"As if you didn't want to come here?" Akansha whispered, glaring at her friend.

Deepika laughed to herself. The same Akansha who could be so bold at times, was always shy with her. Deepika used to wonder whether she was so shy with everyone she loved. Or maybe, her father's unloving nature had made her like that.

"Thank you both for coming." Deepika said, bringing them closer to herself. "Your support within that opposition of entire hall meant a lot to me. It was much needed."

The girls' faces brightened.

"Ma'am, you only taught us to stand for truth." Akansha smiled now. "How could we not stand by you then?"

"You are the living truth for us, Ma'am." Dityaa bowed in admiration.

"And to us too." Labanya stepped towards them, smiling. "You saved the day, Ma'am. Without you, I hate even to imagine how the seminar would have ended."

"Has Professor Banerjee left?" Deepika evenly enquired.

"They have taken him to the sickroom." Labanya informed, frowning. "After all, he has to continue that acting of feeling unwell to get rid of his confirmed defeat."

"He is never going to come here anymore!" Dityaa chuckled. Her amusement was contagious. It drew a wide grin on Labanya's face. She nodded, sharing a grateful glance with Deepika.

"Hope so. He has been frightened enough." Akansha softly remarked.

"I could not have done this alone. Thanks to you, Labanya." Deepika said, patting her cheeks. "You led us from front today."

"It's duty of the commander to initiate the battle. But victory is always of the Queen." Labanya humbly said. "I'm honoured to be a part of your army."

"We have seen your fearless and witty counter." Akansha joined her palms to Labanya. "Nice to meet you too, Ma'am!"

"Aye no, don't call me that!" An awkward Labanya held Akansha's palms. "I'm nothing more than an ordinary student here."

"Then, may we call you didi?" Dityaa proposed.

Labanya nodded, smiling. "That's better." She pulled the younger girls to a warm hug.

Deepika gladly watched her past students joining hands with her present one, sharing the same ideology. Almost unknowingly, she could not resist herself giving her ownership right palm to strengthen their joined hands.

We are with each other!

The promise came out of the four women at the same time, to their surprise. A shock passed through their veins and  unnamed emotions chocked their throats as soon as their hands touched each other's. Even the boldest Labanya got her eyes moist.

It felt like it's not the first meeting! As if they have been together since ages for some noble cause. As if thousands of years had passed since they met last!

Co-warriors? Each of the four wondered. But for which battle?

"Miss Sanyal, the H. O. D is calling you." A sharp voice broke their trance.

"Go, Labanya." Deepika said. "And pray, keep your calm while talking to the H. O. D. Remember, I need you."

The last sentence did not just have a teacher's order. It held a friend's advice, and a loved one's demand. Labanya looked up to her teacher with a mix of admiration and love. She nodded with emphasis.

As Labanya left, Deepika turned to Akansha and Dityaa.

"Now tell me, how did you get the gate pass of..." Deepika stopped the midway, remembering that Priyanshu and Devanshu were now in Kolkata. A smile played on her lips.

"Hasn't Priyanshu come?" She changed the question.

Akansha looked down, her cheeks turning crimson.

"I have come! How couldn't I?"

Priyanshu's characteristic loud voice made Deepika turn. He stood there with a wide grin, almost covering Devanshu who stood behind him.

"I went to school but heard that you have left." Priyanshu kept on saying. "So we planned to meet you here."

"'We'?"

"Me and Akansha."

Akansha glared at Priyanshu, subtly shaking her head. He laughed in response.

"And where is your gate pass?"

"Pass?" Priyanshu scratched his ear. "Yes, I had, but..." He glanced at Akansha who again shook her head. "Well, I don't need a pass to enter my own college right?"

"You very much do!" Deepika scolded. "I can't allow my students to break any rule anywhere. Wait outside. We shall meet you after college is over."

Priyanshu helplessly looked at Akansha who just waved at him, suppressing a smile. A pouting Priyanshu groaned in mock anger as he slowly walked towards the gate. Deepika's eyes now moved towards a calm Devanshu, narrowed with question.

"I have my pass!" Devanshu quickly said. "After all, I have no girlfriend to give it away!" He shrugged, smiling.

"Ma'am, please keep my pass with you." Akansha said with a frown. "I'm going outside."

"I see, someone is so eager to meet my brother!" Devanshu chuckled. "Seems like you two are sharing one pass?"

Akansha threw a hard glare at Devanshu.

"Hello, don't pass comments without knowing the truth, okay?" Dityaa fumed, glaring at Devanshu. "We have collected our own tickets from our Principal. We do know the manners and didn't trespass here like you ex-students."

"Oye hello, I did not trespass." Devanshu glared back at Dityaa. "I have my one brother teaching in this college and the other one studying his final year. I can get the passes easily."

"Then why didn't your brother have his own?" Dityaa crossed her arms.

"Because he gave it to your friend."

"Wow, so it's he who didn't obey the rules. We definitely did. My friend has her own pass and she didn't share it with anyone. Your brother did."

"That doesn't make my brother a bad boy." Devanshu objected. "That shows he is more caring than his girlfriend."

"Caring indeed!" Dityaa rolled her eyes. "All the boys think same."

"All the girls too think same." Devanshu commented.

"It's not about boy vs girl. It's about fair and unfair."

"Well, I didn't bring the gender debate first." Devanshu reminded. "And it's not unfair to share something with your family."

"Is my friend your brother's family?" Dityaa put her hands on her waist.

"Would be. Could you say the same have they been already married?"

"Are you a lawyer?"

"You are intelligent. I'm studying law."

"What a quarreling lawyer you are going to be! I pity your future clients."

"Children, stop it." Deepika had to intervene. "This is a college premises. Not your courtroom."

"Sorry Ma'am." Dityaa apologised. "Please allow me to leave. I don't want to leave Akansha alone."

"Akansha is not alone there. Rather you're going to feel lonely within those lovebirds." Devanshu said. "Better stay here."

"I shall prefer feeling lonely rather than wasting my energy with a boy like you." Dityaa snapped. "I'm leaving."

She did not even look back for once. When the rattling sound of her stilletos faded away, Devanshu took a deep breath.

"Ufff! What a quarreling woman she is!" Devanshu remarked, exhaling.

"You both are same." Deepika suppressed a smile.

Why does it feel that these two are made for each other?

"Ma'am?" Devanshu blinked, not understanding in which sense Deepika was saying that.

"Go and see where she has gone." The teacher ordered. "She isn't aware of this area. You are. Don't let her get lost in this crowd."

Devanshu paused for a while to realise what Deepika meant. Then, he hurried towards the gate with much seriousness and responsibility. His teacher noticed the change in his behaviour and felt relaxed.

Her teaching has not been wasted!

The crowd inside the corridor was gradually leaving. A sense of exhaustion finally began taking its toll over Deepika's ever energetic mind and body. She took a while to close her eyes and regain her lost energy.

"Dr. Roy!"

The familiar calm voice had the perfect mix of respect and care that washed over Deepika's soul like a refreshing bath. She opened her eyes and turned back, sensing the voice coming from behind.

"Yes?"

Kinshuk paused, searching for words. He had so many things planned in his mind to tell this brave lady who had single-handedly fought for truth today. He had even prepared how he would begin a long speech in her honour. He had also imagined her smile of acknowledgement after he would finish. But now in front of her casual gaze, he just felt at loss of words. Completely. He forgot everything he had planned, even his breath had stopped for a while. Every single word deserted him as unnamed emotions filled his mind. From that state of half trance, Kinshuk could only utter, "Thank you!"

Deepika could not help smiling. "For what, Sir?"

"For the courage and power to speak the truth." Kinshuk slowly breathed in. "Especially when falsehood is all around."

"I consider it my duty. And duty cannot deserve thanks." Deepika softly replied. "I'm glad that I could give my best."

There was no trace of ego or pride on her face. Can humility look so beautiful? Kinshuk could not help admiring that apparantly simple face, glowing in wisdom and nobility.

"We are grateful for having you within us. But this can go against you." He said. "You yourself don't know what a huge risk you have taken on yourself."

Deepika nodded. "I can understand that. The H. O. D is not very pleased with me, I guess?" She smiled casually.

"He is an old friend of Professor Banerjee." Kinshuk informed. "Not only that, Dr. Banerjee has good connection with Minister D. Sharma, who has invited him to launch his book here." He paused and then added, "Krishna forbid, you might get suspended for talking against him in public." His voice could not hide concern.

Deepika smiled. "I don't mind even drinking poison for Yudhishthir's sake, let alone suspension!"

"You love Yudhishthir to this extent?" Kinshuk was surprised.

"I don't love him, Sir. I am one with him." Deepika replied. "He is there in everything I do, in every word I utter."

She paused as her voice chocked in emotion. An amazed Kinshuk watched this changed expression on her face.

Was she the same brave and strong woman whose eyes could erupt fire on liers? Now she looked completely different. Her eyes softened in deep love for someone who did not even exist in the present reality. Kinshuk did not miss to notice that her beauty had indeed hundredfolded in love, rather than the boldness he saw earlier.

"Do you think that it was I who spoke there?" Deepika continued after collecting herself. "No Sir! It's him! What power do I have to defend that man who is incarnation of Dharma, and dear to Krishna! I'm nothing in front of him. He himself has spoken his words, I was just a medium."

Deepika could not say what she felt during the seminar. Every moment she had strongly sensed that she was not alone. Someone's loving and supportive gaze was on her all the time. As if her Yudhishthira was staring at her. And...she could not explain it, but it actually felt like Yudhishthira was sitting close, very close to her! Even right now, she could sense, he was present around her.

Deepika got goosebumps. Only if she knew where he was!

The next moment, she controlled her emotions. She did not want to tell such things to anybody only to make people laugh at her.

"I sincerely hope that the person you love so dearly, equally loves you back." Kinshuk beamed. "May he protect you in the consequences of defending him."

Deepika looked at him with surprise.

He did not laugh at her emotions like every other person did! Rather he was wishing her to receive Yudhishthir's loving support! He was wishing the fulfillment of her lifelong dream! For the first time, Deepika stared at Kinshuk with genuine admiration.

All the teachers, students and guests left by then. Only the CCTV of university campus watched how two persons were looking at their respective opposite gender like they never did before.

"Don't worry for me. My Dharmaraj is dear to all Gods. They will protect me forever if I am by his side." Was Deepika's final reply.
________________________________________

So, how were the meetings?

Which one did you like the most?

Let me know if you want something special in the story. Though the upcoming scenes are already planned, I shall try to include one or two scenes as per readers' choice.

Please vote and comment if you liked the chapter. Thank you.