Page 171 - The World's Best Boyfriend

college is from both sides, it will look bad on the college and we can’t afford
that.’
‘With all due respect to you, let me get this clear. If I tell you I’m the person

at fault, you will make me put in my papers and leave. And if the girl’s at fault,
she will have to leave the college.’
‘Precisely.’

‘It’s clear in your proposition that you want me to leave the college, don’t
you? What I fail to understand is, why are you taking the step that you are?’
asked Raghuvir, his eyes narrowing. Leaving Aranya behind, unguarded, was

terrifying but necessary. So was letting Mitra know that others aren’t fools.
‘People talk.’
‘That’s very reassuring coming from the dean of an esteemed institution.

People talk? That’s your argument?’ grumbled Raghuvir, barely managing not to
get swept away by anger.
‘Don’t teach me my job, Mr Raghuvir. I have been running this college since

you were a child,’ said Mitra like every old person when they run out of
defences.
‘Then pray tell me, if that student were a boy would you have taken the same

step?’ asked Raghuvir.
The dean looked uneasy. He looked at his watch, at his cup of tea, his tongue

floundered. ‘You don’t get to ask questions.’
‘What do I get to do then?’
‘All you need to do is to choose between you and her. I have other matters to
attend to, Mr Raghuvir.’

Raghuvir leaned back in his chair and brought forth the crumpled resignation
letter he had typed out that morning. Mitra read it with suspicion and kept it

under the paperweight when satisfied.
‘Your accounts will be cleared within a month.’
‘That won’t be necessary. But I do expect you to be nice to the girl.’ he said
before leaving.

Back in his room, Raghuvir dumped his sparse belongings into a big leather
suitcase. He felt hollow. He had never liked being here in DTU; it was always

supposed to be a stop-gap arrangement, something that would serve its purpose,
some place he could move on from without attaching any nostalgia to it. But
now that he was leaving . . . A few more days couldn’t have hurt.