When Radha went back to college… (Part V)

I penned this story, When Radha went back to college… (Part V), as a Guru Dakshina to all my teachers and professors, some years ago.

When Radha went back to college… (Part V)

The next day was Rose Day in the college. The handsome guy came up to her and introduced himself as Shekhar, from the third year Bachelor’s. And he said that he lived in the boys’ hostel just outside the campus. Then, he offered her a red rose.

“Shekhar, thank you. But no. I know that you have a girlfriend and she wouldn’t like it. But, I would  have taken a yellow rose, which means friendship. This I cannot take. Sorry.”

Shekhar understood and before the day in college was over, he had brought her a yellow rose, which she accepted. From then on, they became good friends. But it took another few days for Radha to broach the subject of the murder with her newfound friends. She had to gain their confidence.

“If I’m not prying, can you tell me about a murder that happened recently here?”

All of them were reluctant to discuss the topic.

****

That afternoon after lunch, she was free and contemplated what to do next. She couldn’t think of anything, so she decided on going out of the girl’s hostel, which was located inside the institute’s premises. Her legs took her outside the complex, toward the group of shops outside. She was a few meters from a pan shop. She heard a girl talking audibly to someone over a mobile, standing outside the shop, excitement writ on her face.

“It should be of good quality. Can I be sure of that? I need good-quality joints. It’s my birthday today. The treat is on me. I hope you understand.” The girl was saying. And then she returned the mobile to the pan vendor, persuaded that the product was of good quality.

Now, as far as Radha knew, there was no medical college in the vicinity. Neither was there a science college that boasted a biology course. So ‘joints’ meant…

To be continued…