PARADIGM is the Annual Alumni meet of Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management , held on the third Saturday of the month of December organized by the Events committee and Alumni Committee of the Bschool. Most of the incidents mentionedfor the years 2009-2011, in the story are true , except for the characters Avinash Sharma , and Ansuhka Chaturvedi . The story as a whole is completely fictional .Some names have been changed just for the heck of it . The character of Prakarsh Tiwari is based on…. it’s anyone’s guess.

THE WAGER FOR PRICELESS .

Three things he did on PARADIGM , one thing he did not .

Chapter 2

PLACE : IISWBM

DAY : PARADIGM 2009 . Time : 8.35 pm

Prakarsh skewed his face and looked at Koumudi’s Chakraborty , “What are we doing at the bar counter ?”

Paradigm, the alumni event of IISWBM , was a party to help the current students interact with the alumni of the BSchool . And any corporate party was incomplete without two things , alumni who arrive late , and Booze .. loads of it. This year too was no different. The Events team which organizes PARADIGM had allocated a separate room to station the Bar counter. Prakarsh was surprised that more than the food counter the crowd was beelining the Bar room. The students were perhaps more excited than the alumni. Every student was given two coupons, in exchange for which they got two glasses of beer . The events team took full responsibility of the counter. 8.30 pm – 9.00 pm was Prakarsh and Koumudi Chakraborty’s turn to man the counter. Prakarsh hated booze. The smell, the nausea , the froth .. It made him feel miserable .

Suddenly a hand popped out from the crowd, “ Two hard beers “ . It was Avinash Mishra . Prakarsh found it difficult to think what was worse, his duty at the Bar counter or Avinash Mishra.

“Why the hell do you need two for ?” , Prakarsh enquired?

“What the fuck is your problem dude ? I have given you the coupons haven’t I? “

Prakarsh was about to retaliate when Koumudi galred at him . The argument ended. Prakarsh asked the bar tender to give Avinash two glasses. As soon as Avinash disappeared, Prakarsh followed him .

The crowd at the bar and then the corridor obstructed him, but he found his way . Where had he gone ? He found Avinash in the lounge, and sure enough the second glass was for Anushka . She was reluctantly trying out the beer, her first time . Avinash was egging her on .

Prakarsh was livid. Why the hell was that goat encouraging her to booze? And why the hell was she drinking it.

The entire week that followed Prakarsh avoided Anushka , he just didn’t want to talk to her . The entire college was abuzz with rumors that something was seriously wring between the pseudo couple of the Bschool .

Finally Anushka stormed into the events room one day . Prakarsh was sitting with Noor , another events team member , wondering where to keep the left over booze. Noor rose and left. Before leaving he winked at Prakarsh and closed the door behind him .

“Why are you not talking with me Prakarsh ?” she demanded.

“I am a little busy.”

“It’s because you saw me drinking that night , didn’t you ?”

He didn’t reply.

“Tell me one thing. Are you angry because I drank the beer, or because Avinash brought it for me?” she asked.

“I am angry on myself. I should have broken his teeth when he was asking for the beer itself. One thing for sure if he ever asks you to drink again, I will kill him.”

…………………….

PLACE – ITC SONAR BANGLA, KOLKATA.

DAY: PARADIGM 2015, Time : 12.35 pm .

“You know it surprises me how a man can change and change so bad?” remarked Anushka Chaturvedi as she saw Prakarsh pouring himself a glass of wine.”

“Things are never what they seem.” he replied.

Prakarsh wanted to tell her what this was all about but he refrained. The last few hours had passed in a trance. At six in the morning Prakarsh had received a call from Avinash with instructions so specific and immaculate, Prakarsh marveled at how diligent Avinash was.

“Now that you have agreed to the wager remember, first Anushka lands at 10 am at the Dumdum Airport to attend the PARADIGM party tonight , You will take my car , meet her there . She has a room booked at the ITC , you will take her there . There you will be messaged about the first wager.”

Prakarsh was perplexed, “But she will be expecting you at the Airport? We have not talked for eternity. How can I just crash in and ask her to accompany me to the ITC hotel .”

Avinash replied, “First things first, I will not show her my face for today. I will message her that I have an important meeting with an investor. And as to the second part , does it look like any of my problem if she doesn’t accompany you to ITC ?But remember smart guy , everything that you do will be reported to me and a single smart move from your side , the wager will be void.”

Prakarsh had somehow managed the first part of the wager. Anushka had been livid when she saw him , but he begged her to accompany her to the hotel . On their way she didn’t talk. As they entered the hotel lobby, Anushka turned back, looked at Prakarsh and remarked, “ Now please leave .”

Prakarsh was about to turn back when his Blackberry beeped . The message was from Avinash . The first wager. “YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE HER DRINK WINE. I hope it reminds you of the past”

Prakarsh took a moment to realize what was to be done. It did remind him of the past. For a moment he had no clue what to do. Then he thought of something. He looked around. A plump guy wearing a tweed jacket and a panama hat was looking at him. No wonder Avinash was kept informed twenty four seven.

Avinash messaged Anushka . He just hope some of the feeling that she had for him, was still there .

“CAN I HAVE LUNCH WITH YOU ONE LAST TIME . FOR OLD TIMES SAKE. AM WAITING FOR YOU AT THE DINING HALL NEAR THE LOBBY .”

Now as he sat with her , he felt how different things would have been if ..

The waiter brought lunch for both of them . He then looked at Prakarsh . Minutes later , he came back with a bottle of wine .

Prakarsh took the wine and poured two glasses . He pushed one of the glasses towards her .

“What the hell is this ?” she asked.

“ I think we need to celebrate our meeting . “

“ I can’t believe that you are asking me to have wine . Remember on that night..”

“I remember everything.”

Anushka still was dumbfounded.

“Very well then. Let me drink it.”

Prakarsh looked at the corner . The man with the panama hat quickly turned around .

“Trust me on this one Anushka .” Then he took his glass and raised it . Anushka didn’t react.

“To faith.” He remarked.

And Prakarsh gulped the drink in one go . Anushka sipped the drink .

Almost immediately there was a flash followed by a click . Anushka however didn’t notice that . She stared at Prakarsh .

“ Prrakarsh , this is not wine . This is Pepsi. “

“ I know . Just wanted to show that it’s not always what it seems . Had you realized that , things would have been very different.”

…………..

In one of the ITC washrooms, Raman Singh, the cleaner at ITC was peeing when his eyes fell on a bottle of Pepsi at the corner of the loo. He quickly looked around . Nobody . He grabbed the bottle and drunk it . Two hours later, the manager suspended him for a week on the imputation that he had been drunk . Raman Singh kept pleading “ Par sir main toh sirf Pepsi peeya tha .”

……………………………………….

At 1.30 pm the dormant fax machine of the chairman’s office sprung to life . Avinash quickly looked a the paper that it had blurted out . Anushka Chaturvedi , drinking wine with the man he hated most .

“Bitch .” he muttered .

He then typed something on his Blackberry .

Minutes later , Prakarsh received the second message of the day from Avinash . He smiled.

“ BASTARD .DNT BE TOO HAPPY . YOU HAVE NO CLUE WHAT YOU HAVE GOT YOURSELF INTO.”

Prakarsh just remarked to himself, “Even you don’t.”

……………………………