5. The Forgery

The Inter College Fest was about to start, everyone was looking forward to it. I was too, it was going to be the first one for me. And i hadn't imagined it would be as eventful as it was.

In this place, there is a thing called I-card, yes, the identity card, but the similarities end there. An i-card, at best serves the purpose of establishing the identity of a person. Here, on the other hand, its a liability to the holder! Anybody and everybody, right from the security guards to the profs ask for your i-card as a first line of attack against you. And most of the time it works. Students do backoff once anything relating to their i-cards falls into their ears!

I was new, and thought it would be wise to get a "copy" made. So, off i went to a place i knew i would find someone who could do that for me, The RTO. Placing the Copy in my wallet, i kept the original in my drawer. A sense of accomplishment set in. No fear of losing it now!! I smiled and headed for my bus stop.

The rock band, Euphoria, was scheduled to perform later in the day, so seniors told me security checks would be in place. And as our bus entered the campus, i could see the extra security. Everyone was being asked for an i-card, that was the least of my worries, i had one, or so i thought.

"I-Card" asked the guard in a firm tone

I handed it to him

"Hmm..." with the card in his hand, he turned right, and gave it to the security incharge.
At this point, i could sense, something was not right.

"Come out of the line and stand here"asked the incharge looking at me and handed over the card to a senior prof.

The senior Prof was about 65, slim, and had a boyish smile. His shirt all tucked inside his trousers as if something was pulling it from down there. The defining traits were that unlike others of his age, he wasnt wearing a belt and a key chain was hanging from his left trouser pocket.

I could sense the focus of people around me shifting towards the 'bait'.

"Could this be the man?" I started thinking

"You think we are fools?" asked the Prof

He cleared the air for me, he was The Man, Prof.H.B.Khurana

I had so wanted to nod in confirmation.

"You people get these copies made and think u can get past us? No way, you never can"

I couldnt agree more. From what i had heard about this man, Khurana, he seemed like a psychopath. Seniors had told me, he was the one responsible for maintaining discipline in the college. I had often heard the Junglees joke about their encounters with him. I was having a strange feeling i was going to have one too!! Very soon!!