Professor Patrick Gabriel frowned at the three sets of parents sitting across him with their despondent offsprings. Day recounted the events that led to the Fresher's Welcome party being called off. Jay Zacharia sat with his feet crossed, an impenetrable expression on his face.

"Professor, we impounded a video from one of the freshers. Here it is," said Day with relish.  He handed over his phone to Professor Gabriel.

Day was upset that the efforts of the Student Council had gone to waste and he wanted the three girls responsible for his misery to receive the worst punishment possible.

Professor Gabriel's face darkened with anger as he watched the entire video twice, unable to fathom how the discipline in his famed university had deteriorated to this extent. He passed his phone to his friend without comment.

Jay watched the video impassively until Gia poured red wine on his daughter. After, his eyes took on a dangerous glint. He returned the phone to Day who replayed it for the benefit of the assembled parents. Gia was horrified as were Cherry and Flora. They had been far too drunk and dimly remembered the events of that evening.

"Call Rachel in," instructed Professor Gabriel.

Day dragged in a reluctant Rachel.

"Sawasdee ka," said Rachel as she wai'ed.

"Do you wish to bring forth charges against Gia?" asked Professor Gabriel. "She did throw that bottle at you to hurt you."

Rachel shook her head. "Getting justice for Sarah and all the others affected by the subsequent cancellation of the party is enough."

Professor Gabriel clasped his hands thoughtfully. "Was alcohol served by the Student Council?"

"No, Sir. It wasn't," denied Day.

"Is it against the rules to consume alcohol on the university premises?" continued Professor Gabriel.

"As per section 45a, serving alcohol or its consumption on university grounds is strictly prohibited," stated Rachel.

"Perhaps alcohol was smuggled in by the other students," remarked Professor Gabriel.

"No, Sir.  I welcomed the students at the garden entrance," defended Day vehemently.

Professor Gabriel blew out a breath. "Then it is safe to conclude that these three brought the bottle of red wine into the university premises. In the video, they confessed to consuming it in the car park before smuggling it into the party. They then proceeded to bully a fresher and attack a classmate."

"How could you do this?" asked Gia's distraught mother shaking Gia's arm. "What face shall we show to society?"

"Is this the result of the freedom we gave you?" questioned Flora's father slapping her. Flora's mother quickly stepped in between, pushing her husband back to his seat.

"If we had known your cousin would negatively impact you, we would never have admitted you here," retorted Cherry's mother as she glared at Gia's parents.

"This is the University President's office. Kindly maintain decorum," reminded Professor Gabriel mildly. "Given the serious offenses committed by the three girls, they are suspended for the rest of the semester. They will be allowed to attend the semester exams but will not be graded for the lab practicals or assignments. Also, this incident will be reflected in their university records."

"It will ruin my daughter's life. She will be unable to apply for a job in a good company or pursue higher education," protested Gia's father.

"Since this their first offense, I am letting them off lightly. A second offense will lead to rustication," warned Professor Gabriel.

"How is this light? My daughter's overall GPA will be negatively affected. She is in first year," groused Cherry's father.

"So is my daughter Sarah, a first-year student. They should have thought of the repercussions before doing what they did," stated Jay calmly.

"Kindly forgive them," pleaded Flora's mother. "We will apologize to Sarah on their behalf."

"I am already kind enough not to call in the police," snapped Jay. "Though that is more to save the university's reputation than show kindness to your ingrate children".

Flora's mother shrank back from Jay's cold gaze.

"Enough, you may leave. Continue your drama outside my office," ordered Professor Gabriel rudely, gesturing to the door.

The distraught parents stormed out without sparing a glance at their daughters who were left to trail behind.

Jay rose to his feet, buttoning his coat. "Rachel, you have my gratitude for helping out Sarah again. If you hadn't intervened in time, they might have attacked her with the empty bottle."

"Sir, I cannot take all the credit. Sarah's classmate warned me in time," replied Rachel respectfully.

"Patrick, it is a wonder how the discipline you pride yourself on is failing so spectacularly in this university," rebuked Jay. "I have work to do, so I shall take my leave".

Professor Gabriel leaned back in his seat as he watched his old friend leave. He knew Jay was raving mad at the moment though it was well hidden behind a perfect poker face. The belligerent parents would face the consequences of messing with Jay's daughter.

"Sir," called Rachel, shaking Professor Gabriel out of his thoughts. "Night is the mentee of Flora. Her suspension will affect him badly."

"Who else has not been assigned a mentee from your batch?" asked Professor Gabriel with a sigh.

"Ben was on medical leave so he hadn't been assigned a mentee. But he has rejoined classes today," replied Rachel after much deliberation.

"Rachel, inform Ben that he has been assigned Night's mentor. Also, ask Professor Peacock to make the appropriate changes in the records," instructed Professor Gabriel.

As Day turned to follow Rachel out, Professor Gabriel called him back. "Day, explain to me how it went unnoticed by the Student Council that three drunk girls had smuggled in a bottle of wine?"

Sweat broke out on Day's forehead as he began to stammer an incoherent reply. Rachel swiftly made her escape before Day roped her into explaining.

..........................................................................

Flora and Cherry flounced away, exiting Professor Gabriel's office together; leaving Gia alone. Lost in thoughts, she failed to notice the crowd that surrounded her.

"Look at that vixen. She is so shameless," commented a girl viciously.

"I feel ashamed that I once had a crush on her," lamented another boy.

"You are not alone. We were her fans; we gave her so much love and she didn't even deserve our respect," muttered another.

"I hope she never returns to this university," shouted another.

Gia glanced around uneasily as the angry students continued to yell at her.

"Stop," commanded Rachel. "Return to your classes, you are violating the university rules."

"You would defend a bully like her?" yelled an emboldened girl.

"Yes, I would. Bullying is prohibited in the university. Return now before I am forced to inform the Student Council".

Seeing Rachel's determined expression, the gathered students dispersed.

Rachel turned away from Gia and began to walk towards the basketball court, before stopping abruptly. Fishing out her phone she sent a WhatsApp message.

"Why did you help me?" asked Gia softly. "Especially after the way I insulted you."

"You were never like this. You even stood up against Hans, but now you are repeating the behavior you once despised."

Gia stumbled back, her eyes widening in surprise.

Rachel's phone pinged. She read the message and hurried off, uninterested in anything Gia had to say.

Gia was filled with self-loathing as Rachel's honesty opened her eyes. Had she been targeting Sarah because she lost her class presidentship or was it because she was irked by Danish's continued ignorance of her? When had she become a monster like Hans?

........................................................................

Ben slouched in his seat as he casually flicked through the pages of the library book he loosely held in his hand, his bandaged left foot raised on the opposite chair, his crutches resting by his side. He sighed with boredom, dearly missing the basketball court. When his phone pinged, he quickly unlocked the lock screen.

One new notification

WhatsApp message from Rachel

Hi, where are you? I need to talk to you.

Ben straightened in his seat, flush with pleasure. So, Rachel had heard of his return and wanted to see how he was doing! Ben messaged her back immediately.

Hi, I am in the library now. I'll wait for you at the entrance.

He slung his bag around his shoulders before slowly putting his foot down, wincing in pain. Then he carefully held the crutches under his arms.

"Do you need any help?" asked the sympathetic librarian.

Ben shook his head in denial. "Thanks for asking."

"Allow me to hold the door open." The librarian hurrying forward.

Ben grinned at her as he hobbled through. Dazed by his sunny smile, the librarian stood a while, the door handles in hand.

Ben didn't have to wait long as he sat on the steps of the library building.

"Hi," greeted Rachel breathlessly, as she doubled over.

Ben squinted up at her. "Hi back to you, catch your breath first".

Rachel sat down beside him, careful to tuck her skirt in. "How's the leg?"

Ben laughed, "I broke it in two places. I am officially off the basketball team for this semester."

"That's rough," commented Rachel. "How did it happen?"

"The last university game didn't go as planned and the boys got into an altercation with the opposing team. I tried to separate them, but I got tackled instead."

She pushed her hair behind her ears. "How is it going for the team?"

"The coach is giving them a tough time. Kane has replaced me as the new captain."

She was deeply concerned. "But his elevation to the captaincy is temporary right?"

"More like permanent."

She gasped, "How could they take away the captaincy from you? You were injured."

"I failed to control the boys. Hans was another example of my failure as a captain".

Rachel patted his back sympathetically.

"It's okay. I have been laid up in bed, contemplating," smiled Ben. "Honestly, I don't think the captaincy thing was for me. I enjoy the sport more than the responsibilities that come with the captaincy. In the future I would like to focus on my form instead".

"Things haven't been good in the university either."

"I heard about it," he acknowledged grimly. "I can't believe Gia would do something like that. She has always been so sweet".

"People change."

"If I had been present on Awards Day, things wouldn't have gotten this bad."

"I don't know, if all this was a simple mentorship problem or something deeper." She stared into the distance lost in her thoughts.

He looked at her questioningly. "What do you mean?"

Rachel shook her head. "Let it go. It's all water under the bridge now. I have a question for you instead."

"Is the question along the lines, will you have dinner with me?"

She burst out laughing. "Professor Gabriel has asked you to be Night's mentor, can you take him on?"

Rachel wasn't here to meet him rather Professor Gabriel had sent her, realised Ben. He faked an enthusiastic smile. "Sure, thing"

"I will call Night to the Council room. You can meet him there." Rachel glanced at her watch.

Ben as he struggled to stand.

"Come, let me assist you." Rachel picked up his bag and helped him to his feet.

"I know a good Chinese place," quipped Ben hobbling.

"Good. Send me the address."

"I could take you there," he suggested.

"I would need to drive you there so technically it would be me taking you there", she corrected.

"I don't mind. I like independent women ." He winked, causing her to laugh again.

Engrossed in their banter, the two failed to notice the weird looks sent their way as passersby stopped to gaze at Rachel's smiling face.

Hi guys, hope you are enjoying this story as much as I am. Do vote and post comments. I swear these characters live rent-free in my mind!