"Why aren't you eating?" Simran asked seeing Sweety making circles on her dinner plate while distantly seeing somewhere. "Yo!" She brought her to the present. "Finish it before Warden makes you to."
Sweety our the pieces in her mouth. She badly wanted to speak with Tessa but her mother's call disrupted her senses.
'Tessa is already gone Sweety. She left yesterday. I would have let you speak with her one last time but your father insisted not to stress you.' Archie Roulette explained her daughter. To fill the silence thereafter she mentioned positively, 'At least you both will be in Odisha!'
Yes they are in the same state but in different cities. Sweety knew the city where Tessa is sent to improve and focus in her studies is none other than the village.
Her sister was sent to village for improving focus! What sort of a development is that?!
"Hey," Sweety called Simran munching the items on her plate, "Do you know of anyone having Cell phones with them?"
"I have a phone."
Sweety tsked, "Not your phone. I mean if anyone sneaked it in here without anyone knowing-"
"Be quiet!" Simran urgently instructed. Sweety understood her reaction when an attendant passed behind them.
The entire meal she was on alert to grasp any signs Simran would give her but it was after the meal when she informed in whisper,
"Come by my room at 11."
Sweety was content at least she could speak with Tessa even if she had to do that by illegal means.
"Don't do it."
"I have to." The girl realised it was not her mind speaking to her but a voice beside.
In panic she turned to the person. "I don't have time to talk with you."
Rob held her hand from behind.
"You know, the next time we talk you leave first. I'm tired of constantly being dragged behind," Sweety commented turning to him reluctantly.
Rob stared at her.
"There are people watching. Leave if you have nothing to say."
"Did you read the brochure of IIM?"
"You came all the way leaving dinner to ask me about a 287 page book!" Sweety was surprised he would suggest that. "Wait, did you read it? Oh God that must be really.." She was searching for a suitable word until he spoke.
"I went through the pdf version. Seems like you hostel kids are not very unfortunate of the rules in this school." He replied earnestly.
"My father has an agenda to keep me under his control. Thus he made me study in school of rules!"
"Woah. So angry? Before I forget, the brochure speaks of monthly outing, cash deposit in school account to avoid being stolen-"
"I know all of that. Why else did I say it's a 287 number of trees wasted?" She shrugged one shoulder.
Rob continued, "Phone calls to and fro," he paused for the impact. At first Sweety didn't react but once the sentence registered her mind she looked back, "To?"
"Yeah that was the word."
The girl asked again, "The brochure said phone calls can be made TO our family? Not only FROM our family?"
"Yes." He nodded affirmative.
A second went still then she waved off, "Go and fool someone else."
Rob had opened his mouth to say wait! He didn't want her to use Simran's help as that could land her in trouble.
"Morning 11 am sharp." Sweety slowed her pace hearing that, he added, "You can call at the admin's office."
Sweety went inside with Rob left behind as he wished Sweety didn't partake in using those girl's ideas.
"Really? Then why don't you say it to her that she could be in trouble calling from unknown cellphones!"
"Don't you think I already tried doing that?" Rob was pressing his temple as Samuel came up with ideas one by one which he already thought through.
"No. You said it indirectly. She couldn't understand."
Rob rolled his eyes at the statement. Not that he could tell her- 'Oh hey, don't use those girls' phone rather take mine. I am a teacher and I can keep one with me.'
The prompt question from her side would be, 'How did you know I wanted a phone to call?!'
Oh good fuck!
The lies were mounting up to his throat.
"It's not like I am spy on people through lockets!"
"Did you say something?" Samuel asked the muttering guy.
"Yeah. Clean this mess now."
"It's your room. Why should I do?"
"But you messed it all." He showed the rumpled clothes on floor, blankets tucked below the bed and the study table, don't even ask.
"So? You also do that to my room and I clean It everyday! You should do the same."
Rob's hands closed in fist, "Clean it or don't come in my room again!"
Samuel pouted his French beard which somewhat gave him a groomed look but on closer look it appeared like bush. He went forward to tidy the room all the time promising to make Rob do the same the next time he messes his room.
Rob made the girly boy leave his room immediately after he heard some commotion in Sweety's surrounding.
Sweety thought through the plan Rob had in his mind. Of course there was no such rule available for the student's living in hostel, she read that book firsthand. It was him who wanted to help her. The care made her warm within.
But she couldn't miss the fact as to how he came to know she needed a phone call. Was she this perceptive that anyone could read her? Or did that faker sneak into hostel again?
For assurance, she checked if the windows were shut properly.
Then also, she had to go meet Simran.
"Come in," Simran welcomed her on one knock.
Sweety thanked her and her roommate, Pari. They both were in the same class as Sweety but never chatted much until now.
"Pari will guard the door and you may go to the corner there. Near the window. That's where signal is the best. You ready?"
She nodded in yes. Simran handed her a Nokia phone which was small and fit in her palm. So that's why they could sneak the small thing easily.
"Won't you cover the curtains?" Sweety asked seeing the window open and uncovered. The roommates eyed each other until Pari interjected.
"Don't you worry. That's the safe spot." She smiled at her with guarantee.
Sweety couldn't help but feel something fishy.
Pari was near the door while Simran had some tops sprawled out as if trying them out.
Five minutes passed and Simran was impatient. "You don't want to call or what?"
"The number is switched off." Sweety handed the phone back in Simran's hand who dropped the tops and immediately hid the device in her cupboard. Another look at the cupboard and Sweety couldn't find the talking device anywhere.
"Okay. Now what?" Pari asked to no one in particular.
"Did you check the number? It was a ten digit one?" Simran inquired with hands on her waist.
"Yes. I guess it was not my day."
Sweety bid them good night and thanked them again. Until after reaching her room did she heave a sigh of relief.
"What happened to you?" Kirell questioned looking up then returning back to completing homework.
"Do you know who all have phones with them?" Sweety wanted to badly talk about what she saw minutes ago.
Kirell raised her curly bun examining her intensely.
Sweety was unsure of such revert, then it dawned on her. "No no no! I don't have a phone! Really!!"
"Then what is with the questions?"
Sweety but her lip before revealing lowly, "Simran and her roomie has one."
"Don't tell me you used it!" Kirell yelled at her in accusation.
"No I didn't. And lower your voice, we are discussing a critical topic!"
"Good. What's the problem, then?"
"You didn't answer my question."
"There are nine rooms having at least one phone. Excluding the Warden obviously."
"Oh My!"
"At least," Kirell emphasised. "If there comes an investigation to check our rooms then they won't be very lucky."
"Why do they have it anyway? Phone calls are scheduled to arrive everyday."
Kirell sympathised with her roommate's innocence. "We are mostly fifteen year olds. Do you think it is easy to keep away from phones, network and sex?"
Oh.
"Then this school should have allowed us to keep one."
"Every school has its own rules. Rules more stricter attract expensive delinquents."