I go over to Naina, to check on her. 

"So how are you feeling?" I ask her. 

"Umm exhausted, but pretty great," She answers with excitement bubbling in her voice. 

"And what about you?" she asks looking at me keenly. 

"Well, I wasn't the one on camera, so I pretty much got to enjoy the view. Plus, you know I love doing anything that involves a camera, especially with a killer view like this," I say looking around us, taking in the lake's view at night. 

"Girls, hurry up. We have a whole route to shoot," Ria yells from the other end and we pace up. 

As we get down from the boat, I catch visuals of the road below. The lights of the shops on the Mall Road, as it is called,  emits a soft glow. Naina is soon in the frame and she talks about how we can get everything from cute candles to textiles here. I watch as she picks up a colourful shawl and drapes it stylishly around her, on the camera. 

She is probably cold and did this to keep herself warm. 

I stroll around as Sid offers to shoot the remaining part. I go to capture the scenic view of the lake and how the mall road looks running parallel to it. The shops weren't crowded and I am able to get clear visuals of them for my video. I go to a wooden artifacts shop to shoot a few scenes when a beautiful artifact catches my eye. I remember my mom having a similar one when I was young. 

It looks exquisite with the minute detailing and the realistic flowers on it. It looks like a bouquet carved out of wood. I pick up to carefully observe it and soon old memories flash by. 

I remember going shopping with her when I was a kid and how we'd end up spending too much time going from shop to shop. I remember how she taught me to haggle with the shopkeepers whenever I wanted to buy something. 

"Hey," whispers someone in my ears. 

I turn around to see Hitesh standing beside me with a grin on his face. 

"So where are you lost?" he asks.

"Umm nowhere," I say shaking my head.

"That's pretty. Are you buying that?" he asks, referring to the wooden carving in my hand. 

"Yes," I say and turn to the vendor.

"How much is this?" I ask him in Hindi. 

"500," he says, getting up. 

"Okay, how much will you give it for?" I ask, hoping he reduces the price.

"Madam, best price. You will not get it for less than that," he says, starting the routine process of haggling. 

"If you give it for 400, I'll take it," I say, standing firm. 

 "Ma'am that's too less. We can offer it for so low." 

"Fine, 420. Last," I say.

After another 10 minutes of bargaining, I buy it for 450. I spend a little extra on it, but it's worth it. 

"Wow, you sure know how to bargain," Hitesh replies as I wait for the shopkeeper to wrap up the carving.

"Haha, well. I learnt it from the best," I say, and take the parcel from the vendor, thank him and leave. 

"So you didn't finish your story," he asks, hinting at the unfinished story from the boat. 

"Umm well," I say looking around. I see that the crew is still shooting and we probably have some time left before we head back. 

"So why don't we discuss this over a cup of chai," he says, taking me to the nearest tea vendor and order two cups of tea along with the famous Bun Tikki. 

Our order soon arrives and the Bun Tikki seems like the desi version of burger, stuffed with aloo patty. One bite into it and I'm lost in the heavenly taste of it. 

 "Ahem, you know I'm still waiting," Hitesh says, from beside me.

"Don't ever disturb me when I'm eating," I say, not even raising my eyes to look at him. 

I hear a laugh but ignore it. This Bun Tikki is too good to be left alone. After finishing it within a few minutes,   I look up to see him still enjoying his food.

"So, wanna know what happened?" I ask. 

"Yess," he says, putting down the Tikki.

He doesn't know the value of food. How could he ignore that?

"Okay, finish your food first. I'll continue once done," I say.

"No no. I'll eat, you tell," he says. 

"Why are you so interested?" I ask curiously.

"Umm, I don't know. It just sounds interesting," he says, grabbing another bite.

"Okayyyy. So umm.. it was just another day. I was walking to school, as usual."

**************

I take the route by the woods and the greenery calms me. I reach school and things seemed strange. The usual crowd by the parking lot wasn't there, and the back route which I take by the grounds was crowded.

Damn! Shouldn't have taken this route.

I am out of time and going back to take the alternate route wasn't possible. I squeeze myself through the crowds and take one step at a time. There were murmurs and whispers amongst the crowd. The anxiety and tension is palpable in the air. The crowd pushes me in different directions and somehow I end up on the other side of where I wanted to be.

Groaning, I try to take a step towards the school when our school mascot Sandy the Shark catches my eye. He was in pieces on the floor, his head was torn apart and his body was also missing pieces. This meant WAR.  

Who did this?

I'm sure it's someone from DAV public school from the opposite end of the town, but how did they enter our premises?

Before I could think of anything, the warning bell rings, signalling that we will have to reach our classes. Everyone immediately scurries away and I struggle to go in the opposite direction. People running in different directions and yelling makes the ground chaotic. I manage to step inside the school on time, but the students running around and pushing each other here looked scary. I end up carrying all my books to class as I couldn't make it to my locker.

"Attention dear students. It has come to our notice that Sandy, the school mascot has been disfigured. And the school property has been vandalised. Whoever did this will be punished and if we find out anyone helped them do it, they will also be punished. I request you all to come and confess if you've done it. Or give us any information that you might know regarding whosoever did this. Have a good day!"

The minute the announcement ends, students around start whispering and everyone is trying to figure who it was. Our maths teacher silences the class with great difficulty and proceeds with today's topic- Trigonometry.

I try not to dose off in the class and pay attention. I see people passing papers and probably discussing about "the person". Everyone thinks they are Sherlock and they go around throwing accusations.

I somehow finish my first two classes and when the third class for the day - History begins, another announcement goes off.

"Vanessa Ryder, please come to the principal's office."

Damn! What is it now?

The minute I get up to go to the principal's office, people around start whispering.

They don't even know why was I called.

I roll my eyes at their stupid antics and look up to see my teacher nodding her head signalling me to go ahead. I silently grab my bag, books and make my way out.

Why did they call me? What did I do now?

As I drag my feet to the principal's office, I have this bad feeling in my gut. I knock in twice when I hear a very gruff voice say "Come in". I slowly step in and remember the office to be exactly how it was the last time I was here, when I was a kid. I was here to complain about how this one kid was annoying me.

The leather chair and the wooden table looked a little worn out but are the same. A photo of our principal meeting the Chief Minister hangs proudly behind him. The glass windows shattered, probably a side effect of the 'Sandy Incident'.

I look around and see Sandy placed in a corner with the stuffing coming out. Who did this?

"Miss Vanessa, do you know why are you here?" asks the principal bitterly.

"No, sir," I answer, but I have a feeling I am supposed to.

"Have you heard that someone destroyed school property?"

"Yes, I've heard that Sandy was destroyed,"

"Not just Sandy. Someone sprayed very crude graffiti on our school walls,"

"That's brand new information," I say and somehow think this was not what I was supposed to say.

He looks at me suspiciously, before ringing the call bell signalling the secretary to come in.

"Ask him to come in," he says.

Ask who?

The door opens and I see the janitor walk in.

"We meet again," he says sneering at me.

"Unfortunately," I say, under my breath.

"So Vanessa you know our Janitor, Mr Biswas, right?"

"Yes," I answer hesitantly.

"Great. Mr Biswas here says you stayed back in school on Friday and were in the Janitor's room that day with an unknown guy. Is that true?"

Damn! It was him? That guy!!! He did this? That is why he wanted me to stay quiet, Now what is he going to do.

What will these people think of me? Would they also think I'm a betrayer?

"Vanessa," he says a little loudly.

"Hmm," I answer, getting out from my mind.

"Is it true?" he asks again.

"Yes but I did--"

"Okay, so you knew him and you did this with him?"

"No, I didn't," I answer as I slowly realise where this is headed to.

"I saw them in my room. They were making out," the stupid janitor chimes in.

"Eww what? I fell on him when you pushed the door," I say as anger courses through me.

"So you were in the room together with him?"

"Yes, but I didn't know he was there,"

"So you didn't know he was there, but when you saw him you did nothing?"

"I didn't know what would he do."

"Well now you know and looks like you are also involved in this," the principal says, looking at me with disgust.

"But I didn't do it," I yell. " I didn't even know who he was!!"

"Enough! You are suspended from school for a week. And who was that guy who did this?"

"I don't know his name. Believe me, I'm not involved in this!" I plead with him not because I wanted to come to school but because I don't want to stay home plus it might affect my chances of getting accepted into a college, the chances of which are already thin.

"So you don't know his name, who he is but you were in a closed room with him? What do you take me to be? An Idiot?"

Well, looking at how you are not even allowing me to explain you could be an idiot for all I care.

"No, but I wasn't involved in this. Do you have any proof?" I ask, but feel like I'm digging my own grave.

"Biswas here did see you. That is enough proof. Now you may leave. You are suspended for a week and I hope you realise what is it that you did,"

"Nothing. I did nothing,"

"Please don't cause a ruckus and leave now or else I will have to call your parents," he says with such a firm tone that I am sure he'd call my dad.

"Please don't do that. Sorry sir," I say getting up.

I add a sorry hoping he doesn't call my dad. If he does, I'm probably dead.

What do I tell my dad? He will kill me if he finds out I'm suspended from school. I may have had a few complaints from teachers in the past, but I never was a rule breaker. 

**********

"So that's how they ended up calling me a traitor, even though I wasn't guilty," I say, sipping the tea.

"Oh man, that's bad. Did you ever find out who the guy was?" he asks, watching me curiously.

"Actually yes," I say as the crew joins us. 

"So how did it go?" Hitesh asks as they settle down.

"Pretty good. Naina did a good job, even though she was nervous," Adarsh says smiling at her.

Wow! That's a first.

After another round of tea, we head back to the hotel.

"Guys, we are going to do the Ropeway and the view from Tiffin top tomorrow. So be prepared," Ria says in the lobby as we part ways. 

"Hey, who was the guy?" Hitesh asks me on the stairs. His face full of curiosity. 

"Another time," I say laughing at his face. 

"You are so mean," he replies feigning hurt. 

"Good night," I say and walk up the stairs where I see Naina waiting for me. 

Author's Note:

So I'm experimenting with my writing styles and would greatly appreciate if you guys could give me feedback about it. 

If you liked it please do hit the star, comment maybe and keep showering me with your love. Maybe a new chapter will be posted quickly :P

Until the next chapter. 

Lots of love
            ~ Vaishnavi.