"But sir I did not go there." Shubman said in a bit shaky voice. "Then how this got there" one of the persons from the panel asked him to which Shubman did not have any answer. He was so scared that he could not say anything in his defence. His face had gotten pale.

"Ok then you can leave if you have nothing more see. You will be called again with our final decision and we will make sure no one ever repeats anything like this again. You had the audacity to go in girl's washroom and then plant crackers there. And you thought you would easily get away with this. I do not know which college you studied but this college does not bare any such actions. You will surely have to pay for them." the principal announced. By now Shubman had started shivering. His eyes were filled with tears. "You need to leave." he repeated again when Shubman did not react. He just quietly left looking down.

Shubman did not know what to do or where to go. His dream was getting shattered in front of his eyes. The principle's announcement of his rustication was the only thing that was roaming in his eyes. He was breathing heavily and his body was shaking.

______

Abhishek got free from his lecture but he was feeling something weird. He called Shubman to ask whether he got free or not. But Shubman did not answer his calls. He felt some uneasiness and thought to go and wait for him outside the office. He quickly went towards the office. But on the way only he saw Shubman. Seeing his devasted state, Abhishek was shocked would be an understatement. Shubman was sitting on ground with the wall's support. Tears were rolling down his cheeks. His eyes and cheeks were red. He was shaking because of all the crying. Abhishek covered his mouth with his hand seeing his condition.

Abhishek quickly ran towards him. He sat beside him and pulled him in his arms. Shubman understood who it was and started crying with muffled sobs burying his head in his chest. Abhishek's heart was breaking listening to every single sob of his. All he wanted to was find the reason of his best friend's such condition and destroy it but for now his first priority was to calm him down.

"Shubi" Abhishek said softly while caressing his hair when he felt Shubman had calmed down a bit. Abhishek pulled his face up and made him look at him while Shubman was still hugging him. "Shubi what happened tell me." Abhishek said softly. Shubman slowly told him everything and then agin started crying. "I swear I did not do anything Abhi. I did not even go near girl's washroom. And I was in library in that lecture. I told you right before going there? Please believe me Abhi." Shubman said more like pleading. "You do not have to give me any kind of explanation baby. I know you can't and won't ever do anything like that. I do not care what others say or believe. I have full trust on you. I do not need someone else to tell me about you." Abhishek said. 

"Thanks Abhi for trusting me always. But everyone thinks it was me. And my dreams are gonna finish now Abhi. They will rusticate me." Shubman said hugging him again. Abhishek sighed. This was something about even he did not know what to do. He was caressing Shubman's hair and kissed the hair on his head. He brought out the water bottle from his bag and made Shubman drink a bit to calm him down. "Let's go to our room first. Then we will see what to do." Abhishek said. Shubman did not say anything and Abhishek took him to their room. 

"You go and get a bit fresh." Abhishek said. Shubman went in the washroom without any objection. Abhishek was thinking if he could do something for Shubman but he could not think of anything. Suddenly he remembered something. "Oh my fucking God." he exclaimed and ran out somewhere. 'I know it is quite risky but I gotta do this for Shubi. He does not deserve all this at any cost.' Abhishek thought and was determined to do whatever he had to do.

Shubman came out and Abhishek was not there. He sighed and sat on his bed with his legs folded near his chest. He was damn scared about what was gonna happen and on top of that Abhishek also went somewhere. 'I am sure he must be having some really important work or he will never leave me alone like this when I need him the most.' Shubman thought. His mind would never believe Abhishek would leave him alone here without no reason. 

Soon he got a call from office and was asked to visit there as soon as possible. He shut his eyes tightly. Was this the end of everything? So the dream of studying in one of the esteemed colleges of the country really ends here. The dream for which he made every single effort. He literally united his days and nights to and it till here and this will just end like this. Seriously he did not know for which crime was he getting punished because the one was informed he definitely did not committed. How was he even gonna face his family after all this? What would he even say to them? They were so proud of him. They would be heart broken after they would no all this. Till this morning, he was the student of one of the most prestigious institutes but by today evening he could be kicked out of here.

He anyways got up from his bed and wore his shoes and walked towards the principle's office. He stood outside gathering his courage. He was not ready to open this door and enter just to see his aspirations coming to a dead end. But then he realized he did not has a second option. He has to go inside. Even if he left, he would be called again. If it is inevitable then why not it done how quickly it could be. So he raised up his hand and knocked on the door praying to God continuously in his mind. He heard a come in and entered inside. He greeted everyone waiting for them to announce their final decision of throwing him out of the college but still somewhere having the hope that they would show some mercy on him and leave him but he knew their minimal or no chances of that but still he had a hope.

"I really do not think there should be any lower punishment than rustication for an inappropriate activity like this." the principle said. "I would like say something." Shubman looked up. This was the trustee he assumed to be Ishan's mother, Suchitra Kishan maybe as he had heard from Abhishek. "See I understand the activity is not forgivable but we should not forget that this boy is extremely brilliant and is a huge asset for our college. We all know it is not really easy to enter this college but he also achieved scholarship purely through his performance. Other than that he is a special case we all know. We do not offer admissions in the middle but the panel was forced to give seeing how intelligent he is. I think we gotta make a special exception here for him." Suchitra stated in a totally calm and professional tone.

"I think more the all reason to take action. He know he was given an opportunity to study here because of his academic performance and what all he is doing. We do not expect all this from such students and if students like him do these activities what can we expect from others." one of the other trustees put forward his views. "Well if everyone wishes to rusticate him please go ahead. I do not have any personal relationship with him. It really does not concerns me. But yes remember one thing this can raise questions on our own reputation. Why do we need to give other institutes and media to raise a finger on us?" Suchitra posed the question in front of the panel to make them think deeply.

They agreed to what she said. "All right then Shubman. We are ready to give you one chance. This would be first and last warning and chance for you. Mind that if there is any complaint we again heard from you, then I am sorry. Your journey with this college would come to an end right then and there. And you got this opportunity completely because of your academics so we want your pure commitment to your studies. If you are asked to participate in any any competition, you can't back off. From now there should no compromise on your studies from your side." the principal announced while giving back his identity card.

Shubman let out a breath in relief. He nodded with a small smile and took id card. He thanked them and left. Although the allegations on him were not proven wrong but he was not rusticated. So that was enough for him. He went out and left the administrative block. He saw  Abhishek standing outside waiting for him with his fingers crossed. He smiled widely and ran towards him to hug him tightly. But he stopped after reaching near him and started punching him with a pout. 

"You are so bad why did you do that? Why did you leave me alone hnn? You know how scared I was?" Shubman said cutely making Abhishek smile. He finally got his happy and cute best friend back. He hated seeing tears in his eyes. 

"Ok now tell me what happened there?" Abhishek asked while they were sitting in college garden with Shubman lying on his lap and Abhishek was caressing his hair. Shubman explained him everything. "I do not who did  this Abhi or how he/she got my id card. But I am thankful I was not asked to leave. If Suchitra ma'am was not there I might have been rusticated Abhi. She is such a sweet lady. I wonder how can Ishan even be her son." Shubman said looking Abhishek who smiled sarcastically. 

"Ya sure she is really sweet." Abhishek said with sarcasm dripping from his voice that made Shubman frown. "Whatever she did no wonder she is Ishan's mother. Now I have no doubt." Abhishek. "What do you mean Abhi? She helped me." Shubman said defending her. "Ya obviously she did. But do you know who planted crackers and tried to frame you?" Abhishek asked. "Who? Do you know anything about it?" Shubman asked getting up from his lap with a jerk. Abhishek nodded.

Flashback

To be continued

Stay tuned for next chapter