Anyone Else But You... (29 page)

TWENTY-NINE

<
Rishav winced as the studio lights shone onto his face.
“Oh G
od!
Switch’em off!”
Vanya shouted as the lights hurt her eyes.
“You can’t
,
it’s
a part of the show,” Rishav whispered. “And don’t shout for G
od’s sake. It’s a studio.
And you’ll get used to it. Just wait for
a few seconds.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know,
”
Vanya dismissed him as she covered her eyes with her hands.
Rishav and Vanya were the first to reach the sprawling Headquarters of
DNN-IGN located at Sector 16. The journey to the office, which usually
took an hour or so f
rom where Rishav stayed, seemed
abnormally longer.
The thought of facing all those eminent people and Bindu Kalsi was
nauseating. Or
,
so
Rishav felt. He was glad that Vanya was sitting
beside him. If there was one person you’d want to be with when in need
of support, it was Vanya. She could frame the world’s most illogical
arguments, yet
defend the worst of your stands. Although he wishedthat she would talk less. Already he was nervous and her incessant
questions about
how she looked made him more restless.
“Chill yaaa. It’s gonna be fine. We’re gonna rock this studio. And rip
BK’s clothes off,
”
She laughed.
“Yeah right,
”
Rishav said sarcastically.
“My hair looks fine?”
She asked for the umpteenth time.
“Oh G
od. Yeah. You look amazing ok? Now let me be
,
”
Rishav forcefully whispered.
“Pretty boy, why do you get so annoyed?”
Vanya slurred.
Rishav chose to not pay attention to her anymore.
When they had reached the office, the guard made their passes for
entering into the ten-storied office space. The logo of DNN-IGN shone
brightly from whichever corner you viewed the building from. Right
behind the building was a vast open space which was more than often
used for hosting the parties (if one ever happened) and for the coffee
vendor and canteen people to set up their stalls for the evening
snacks.
The two seventeen year olds walked past the number of satellite vans
that were stationed outside the
entrance to the building. There was
also another building, slightly smaller – adjacent to the one that
they were entering. It was the Newspaper division of DNN-IGN, which
was where Runjhun worked.
 
The Big Stand was a hugely popular show which aired at 8 pm every
weekday. Hosted by famous
journalist, Vikki Chandra, the guests who
were invited to speak on various motions comprised of the crème de la
crème of the society. That specific day, a special motion for a
moderated debate on Siddhant Dalvi’s life and death was chosen after a
lot of cajoling and coaxing by Runjhun, in front of the Ed-in-Chief,
Dilip Desai. Although, the TV people were pretty tightlipped on the
names on the guest list, Rishav had a fair idea of whom to expect and
who not to.
Bindu would be there for sure, he thought.
It was a live event that would reach over 250 towns and cities all
over India. The article on Dalvi’s death had already created enough of
a furor in the city. The Live telecast of this debate would feed more
flame to the already blazing fire, driving the nail straight into the
coffins of the DHS management.
Rishav and Vanya were part of the ‘interactive audience’. The
organisers of the show had decided to put them in the audience instead
of having them as a part of the panel since they were only students.
But they knew what an integral part both of them would play in this
controversial debate hence they put them in the front row of the
audience.
The assistant producer of the show was there to greet Rishav and Vanya
with a big smile. Fakeness, Rishav thought. He warmly escorted both of
them around and showed them their production and editing units.
Rishav and Vanya sat there in silence in the dimly lit, empty studio
of The Big Stand. Some spot boys kept moving things from here to
there, apart from that there was no activity whatsoever. Rishav could
see the five podiums that were arranged on the stage, the centre one
was obviously for the host, Vikki Chandra. The other four were yet to
have name plates on them and apart from the obvious choice of
expecting to see Kalsi there; he raked his brain to think who else
could be invited that day. There was a good hour left for the telecast
to begin and Rishav had started to feel a little uncomfortable sitting
there with now-so-silent Vanya, all alone. He forced himself to not
think of Sahana. To be near Vanya and not have Sahana around was
making him restless. Both of them were always together. And now that
she wasn’t there, Rishav was finding it difficult to talk to Vanya. He
thought about whether Sahana would be watching the show or not. Vanya
had told him that Sahana knew about the live telecast and she had told
her to watch it. He wondered if she would care to listen about what he
had to say. Hell, I am going to make her listen to me and the rest of
the bastards, Rishav resolved. For you Siddhant, this is for you.
*
“We will be on air in …three, two, one…!” the producer said it out
loud in the background.
There was a red signal that flashed ‘Applause’ as everyone other than
Rishav started clapping while the host Vikki Chandra, impeccably
dressed made his way through the audience and positioned himself right
at the centre of the stage and smiled.
“Good evening all my viewers, welcome to another edition of DNN-IGN
Big Stand,” the line followed another round of applause as it was
directed on the large screen right in front of the audience.
Chandra in his composed self, started speaking as the cameras rolled –not even a hint of nervousness in his voice. “It has truly been a sad
week for the people of this city, if not the country. 17 year old
Siddhant Dalvi decided to end his life as a result of the alleged
harsh treatment that he had been meted out at school. The big question
here today is and that is exactly what we’ll be discussing for the
next hour or so – Who killed Siddhant Dalvi?” He paused to let the
question sink in to the minds of the audience.”It’s popular belief
that schools are becoming institutes of commerce rather than education
and the casual, unaccountable nature of its’ managements. Is there any
truth to it? We’ll find out in this hour.”
This time around, no ‘Applause’ sign flashed.
 
“To begin with today’s
show;
I’d like to introduce four very involved
and eminent names in this controversy. We have the Honorable Education
Minister of India, Mr. Chris D’Souza.” There was a loud round of
applause as a short heighted, white haired man in his seventies,
walked up to the stage with measured steps. He folded his hands in
Namaste as he received the applause. He walked up to the podium and
stood behind it.
The c
amera focused on the next guest.
“Now, we have the lady who is at the centre of this entire
controversy, her actions have been much dissected and spoken about.
But one must commend her bravery to decide to come on National
television and clear the air, ladies and gentlemen, please let’s
warmly welcome Mrs. Bindu Kalsi, Principal, Delhi High School,”
Chandra concluded as there was another round of applause. Although it
died down far quickly than it had for D’Souza.
Rishav scowled as the people applauded seeing the sign on a huge black
screen above that said “Applaud”.
Fat-ass
, Rishav thought, as Bindu positioned herself behind the podium.
Nothing ever seemed to have an effect on her self confidence. “Welcome
ma’am,” Chandra said as Kalsi smirked and took her place behind her
podium.
“
Kutti
,”
Vanya whispered in Rishav’s ear.
Rishav smiled at her.
Chandra took a deep breath, “Okay then, we have two other people who’d
have a lot to say about the education system in India and especially
about the running of Delhi High School in general. Please welcome the
award winning ex-Principal of DHS, Mrs. Meena Singhal and ex-Vice
Principal of DHS, Dr. Madhuri Singh.” There was a thunderous reception
for both of them as Rishav and Vanya exchanged confident glances. They
weren’t expecting this, but surely the arrival of two of Kalsi’s arch
nemesis could never be bad. Rishav smiled slyly as he knew how
mindfucked Kalsi would get at the end of the show.
 
Good luck with that
, he thought
 
span aid="F5T" class="calibre13"/>