Part 3 Email

In the meanwhile, Khushi searched for Arnav's details on Google. He was the batch TOPPER. Delhi was his native. His father was a retired police officer and his mother was a homemaker. He recently got his first posting to a small district.

Khushi read them and lay to sleep, thinking about getting Arnav's personal ID.

The next morning

Khushi got ready and came out of her room.

"Khushi, come and eat breakfast"

"Yeah..."

She heard the school bell sound. There was a government school opposite GH.

"Oh, God... I'm getting late" She ate very lightly and came out of GH.

Starting her bike, she headed to Shyam's house. Anjali became excited to see Khushi at her place after a long time.

"Hi, Khushi..."

"Hi, Anju Didi... how are you?"

"Just now you remembered me?"

"You are so smart... before I ask you 'have you forgotten me?', you took the lead..."

Anjali bit her tongue.

"Now also, it's me who remembered you. Mind it"

"I surrender... I'm sorry" Anjali raised her hands.

"I came to the Shiv Temple. So, thought to visit you"

"That's nice to hear... how is Garima aunty?"

"She is fine"

"Did Shali go to school?"

"Yeah, she went"

"How is Shyam bhai?"

"Busy... like always..."

"Yeah... after all, he is a collector's PC"

"Wait I will bring you something to eat..."

"I just had breakfast"

Khushi took her mobile out and hit her own forehead.

"What happened, Khushi?"

"Payal asked me to search for important information on Google but I forgot to recharge my phone. Payal will call me in a few minutes and scold me for sure"

"No problem, use my phone"

"No Didi... I can't login in to your phone"

"Mmm... then, do one thing... search it in Shyamji's laptop"

"Didn't he take it to the office?"

"No... he won't take it to the office..."

"Is it? Please give me his laptop"

"Wait I will bring it"

Anjali went to the room and came with Shyam's laptop. Khushi switched it on and searched about the Green Revolution of India. Taking her notepad, she noted down a few points to make Anjali believe that she really searched for something about the Green Revolution.

"Khushi, you continue. I will bring you tea"

"Wow... go ahead..." Khushi said as she was waiting for the moment.

She made sure Anjali went to the kitchen. She opened Shyam's Gmail which was on a shortcut. She searched for Arnav's Mail in that but there was no mail in his name. She checked the sent list. Her eyes sparkled, seeing asrarnav@g... She noted it in her notepad and closed the Gmail.

Anjali came with tea cups and passed one to Khushi.

"Thanks, Didi" Khushi sipped it.

After five minutes of surfing, she logged the system out. She knew Shyam would check the browsing history if Anjali told him that she used his laptop.

"Thank you so much for your help"

"You are welcome"

Khushi took her leave and headed to a computer center. She didn't want to send a mail from her ID. She didn't want to get any problems. So, she went to the internet center to send the mail creating a fake ID. She didn't know in which name she should create an ID. Something clicked in her mind. She decided to create an ID with a name that gave the same meaning as KHUSHI. So, she created an ID with the name REJOICE.

She composed a mail and sent it to Arnav's personal ID. She smiled with satisfaction. She was not sure about the reaction of Arnav to the mail. Yet, she was satisfied as she had done her part perfectly. If the mail made a slight change in his mind, it was enough for her.

Collector Office

Arnav completed the VAO meeting and came to his cabin.

There were a few files on his table for his signature. He took the file and checked. It was about the transfer order. He kept it aside. He just took charge. Without knowing the officers' ability he didn't want to sign the transfer orders. He opened his laptop to send a regarding mail to the authority. He saw an email from an unknown name, REJOICE. He frowned, seeing that. His mail ID was highly confidential. Only a few authorized persons would have it. Who was Rejoice? How did she get his ID? He opened the mail with confusion.

{Respected Sir,

Our district stood like an orphan child in rags with no one to care for. Now, we can see a slight smile on the child's face...! The reason is YOU, sir...! You seem like a beacon to our eyes. I got to know you are the topper of your batch. You may think this district is not up to your standard but according to us you are our savior, sir.

There is a famous saying, that the director (GOD) would give the toughest role to the best actor... that's YOU, sir. Please take the challenge and show the world that you can give the best performance on even a broken stage.

This district is indeed a backward one. It's because none of the collectors before you realized their responsibility. They didn't realize what their duty meant to this district. This district has no basic facilities. No good roads, no water availability, no proper street lights, no sanitation in the government schools and offices...! Yet, we are living here...!

We almost lost our hope and started adjusting to it because we thought a dog's tail couldn't be straightened. We knew it was difficult to change our district.

Then, you came...!

The DARK STREET became a BRIGHT street in a day. That brightened many faces in the district. Is it a big deal to develop the district that's already developed? A full stomach can never understand the meaning of hunger but if you feed the hungry, he will never forget you. We are hungry sir...! We are expecting someone to feed us. Please be the one...! You will be treated like a God...! }

Arnav felt choking. The last few lines of the mail squeezed his heart. He never knew the condition of the district could be explained this way. Yes, what was the big deal if he showed improvement in the district that already had all the facilities? If he could bring light to this district's people, what else other than that would be a great achievement?

If he could get someone's trust to this extent for doing his duty for one day, why should not he do that his entire tenure?

He again read the mail. He stopped at the point where THE DARK STREET had been mentioned. He remembered the girl who blocked his way when he came to the district. She was the only one who saw him on the dark street. Was she the one who sent this mail? Maybe... she didn't leave the place, after crossing the drunkards. Stopping the bike, she thanked him and explained why she blocked his way. She apologized too. She could have gone without doing that but she didn't.

But... The name REJOICE sounded like a Christian name but the girl was wearing a Devi Maiya Dollar on her bracelet. He saw that when she tucked her hair while speaking to him. If it was not she, then who would it be? Who got his personal email ID? How? He had given it to only Shyam as he wanted to send him a GO (Government Order) who would get his ID from him? Was Shyam that irresponsible to give his personal ID to everyone?

Taking his phone, he called Shyam. He attended it.

"Come to my room" he disconnected the call.

Shyam rushed to Arnav's room, showing himself superior to all the other staff of the collector's office.

"Yes, sir?"

"I checked the GO... Don't give my personal ID to anyone"

"Not at all, sir... it's only my right to have your personal ID, sir. I won't give it to anyone. Any message will reach you only through me..." He showed his attitude as usual.

"Mmm"

"Anything else, sir?"

"We are going somewhere, get our team ready"

"Where, sir?"

Arnav threw a look at him that made Shyam gulp down and leave the place.

Arnav thought something and composed a reply to the Email.

{Thank you for your timing guidance, REJOICE. I will do my best. Thank you.}

He sent it smilingly and came out and saw Shyam, Davali, (official helper) and the driver were waiting for him with an Innova car with a siren. Arnav got in. The Davali occupied the back seat and Shyam sat next to the driver.

"Go to the Taluk Office" Arnav ordered.

Shyam looked at him weirdly and the driver geared the car up. Arnav was measuring the town with his eyes. The district needed to be developed from the start, he supposed.

Arnav saw a few guys planting trees on the roadside.

"Who are they?" he asked.

"They are a gang with no work, sir...! Useless fellows!" Said Shyam mockingly.

The driver looked at Shyam who gestured him to mind his business and it was not gone unnoticed by Arnav. He looked at the gang turning his face. The girl who planted a sapling stood up with mug-filled hands and a satisfaction-filled face. Arnav was surprised to see the girl. She was the same girl who blocked his way at the DARK STREET...!

To be continued...