1967, Calcutta University

This was not a good year for forensic sciences. Only four institutions across India offered the course and people were still sketchy on what is exactly a forensic expert does.

"You kidding? This is like studying to become Byomkesh Bakshi!" said Vaibhav excitedly, as he made his way to the classroom with his friend.

"Actually, Byomkesh always favoured the human factor of things!" his friend was convinced that his career was over."Whatever, doesn't disprove my point!" Vaibhav took a pause, "This is an academic shortcut into learning how the world works!"

"But you see it does! Look around you, people don't base life on a molecular understanding! The mere fact that you understand the world means that you will have to explain it to others over and over again! It is exhausting and not to mention people don't like other people if they're smarter than them!"

"You're a very negative person!" said an exasperated Vaibhav, "as you said, we're smart, it's our job to make them believe!"

The two of them entered the class to be greeted by their new batch mates inexpressibly seated in the hall.

"Hey both of you," shouted a shrill voice from the podium in the back, "come closer, let's examine you!" The girl sat on the chair with her legs up the chair. Her flannel pants were not helping her look mean.

The girl stood up and put her hands inside her pockets. She walked to the edge and began, "So this is the new forensics department. You know you are the reason, the college authorities took our rallying funds this year!?"

The girl stopped and turned, as her fellow seniors whistled behind her. They lauded Vaibhav's courage and he seemed to enjoy the attention. The girl wanted to answer but she couldn't decide between being mean and being inhuman. Vaibhav smiled turning to his friend, who simply looked back and forth, having trouble deciding if he has to take a side.

"You know what!" the girl said turning to her friends, "sit right there, on the floor!"

".....so the forensics department, they say you're ought to change the role of medical sciences, almost made me believe that original scientific methods are used in this discipline. But this department was made from the money meant for student body elections. You people stole our rally funds, no election this year means we need something else to focus our attention on...," She looked directly at Vaibhav as if She could eat him whole.

"Then again...," another of her gang came forward, "it's not a welcome without a party!"

Suddenly stickers and confetti popped up all over. The class instantly became a wild zone, "It's Swarnali's treat!" said the guy pointing at the girl.

Vaibhav spoke after sometime, "we're not supposed to be here!"

"Chicken much!" his friend said mockingly, "afraid of a girl who gave us a tough speech instead of ragging! Come on, man!" his friend grooved a little more violently to the music to make a point.

"She hijacked the class!" Vaibhav said quietly, "I don't feel okay on her turf, at a senior's party."

"We are surrounded by first year students!" his friend said sipping from his cup, "stop being such a girl!"

Vaibhav was not convinced, the small classroom packed with seniors who seemed to have forgotten civility in wake of having fun, really made him wonder how did first years like him, survive.

"Vaibhav!" Swarnali suddenly came up and held Vaibhav from the back. He froze, only able to smile back at her, "Where are you sneaking off to? No matter, come let me introduce you to everyone!"

"I really don't need...," Vaibhav ran his hand over his back to find hers and remove it. Swarnali was adamant, Vaibhav looked back and his friend was nowhere to be seen.

"So this is Raju," Swarnali was tripping, "oh the gang is there....", Vaibhav simply smiled and nodded at the person Swarnali introduced hin to. He laughed back at him.

Vaibhav kept looking around and half his energy was going into holding his escort steady. He kept directing her through the crowd, lest she hit someone and attract attention. Vaibhav was just about to wedge her out between two men when Swarnali suddenly stepped back. She kicked Vaibhav over with her shoe and he lost his balance.

The world seemed quiet for a moment and then the shock resonated from Vaibhav's left shoulder. Steadfast on the ground, Vaibhav tried to stand up, he looked around to find that the whole room was looking back at him. There was a new center of attention. Vaibhav tried to smile slyly before getting up holding Swarnali's hand instinctively for support when everyone started laughing.

"Oh dude, were you hitting on her!?" the person called Raju came out of nowhere, "cope a feel perhaps..."

"Another martyr after Swarnali!" a senior announced to the whole room, "this one really did fall in love!" he came and held up Vaibhav, smiling slyly. The whole room laughed, no one tried to analyse what happened they just laughed.

"I didn't," Vaibhav tried to speak, but his voice was drowned in laughter. He looked at Swarnali who looked back at him with confusion and embarrassment, "we didn't...," Vaibhav tried until his voice died inside him. The laughter was too loud and too alive.