Episode 6: The Topic

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_____ January 25, 2018 _____

- niha -

He must be crazy! How can we even do that for a topic? It's long dead and we would be fired if the lecturers knew about this. We were told to do a Project on something that obviously is still existing!

"What's it Avi? Don't simply exaggerate!" T seemed too irritated with this behavior of Avi.

Avi had told me about T. A lot actually. How he misses him and all the fun they had and even about the girl. Damn! How can a girl even do something like that for a guy so good hearted. Some people. But when he called up Avi and met him the other day, no one was more happier than Avi. "I feel like a lost part of me is back in Action!" He told in excitement.

I met T only now. He mostly remained silent. It was like he's lost. Somewhere, in some place he would need time to come back. Well, at one point we all are there!

He had typical features of a heartbroken man. Especially the tiredness his face showed was clear. He didn't sleep for days! He had a plumped up face. And.. No! This wasn't the right time to talk about the looks.

"Yes! Sure. So, there is a small story I'll have to tell before I tell you about our topic." I came to the present with Avi talking. I still didn't get it, How can he be so stupid? He knows no one will say Yes!

"Start!"

"Okay. So, like 3 days back, our English lecturer was thinking of an example for her topic of discussion, Destiny! Then suddenly she got one. She went, "So, as you all know KITES is one of the top colleges in India. But 8 years back, in 2009 it wasn't. The higher authorities came up with a master plan to use the resources available in KITES, both for the betterment of everyone and for KITES. They set up KRI, The Kites Research Institute, where, major scientists from all over India were called upon to do a research. Two years later, there was a blast there. All the money, the research, the people were gone. It was in the headlines. Mangalore suffered the loss of such a renowned possession, the KRI. Two days after the blast, two reporters who went there went missing, forever. People claimed there were ghosts and evil forces in that place preventing any success. I say it's nonsense though. After the missing case, nobody even stepped into it as people got scared and no one actually knew what was happening there. No information was found. All of it, as the media said, burnt down with KITES. Though it was 60% KITES property, the downfall of KRI as people expected it to, didn't effect the success of KITES in a higher rate. Many questions arose as to if all this was a plan, but no! KITES had nothing to do with it. And there! CASE CLOSED. This, my dear students is the best explanation and finest example of DESTINY! KITES was destined to reach greatness. Nothing could stop it from being the best and nothing could even make it better. With or without KRI, KITES is still in the top. Also... Blah blah blah" She told even more." One breath Avi talk.

He told the exact words she told! Wow, the memory.

"Wait! So now you're planning on taking our project topic as KRI? You must be kidding me!" April was smarter than she acted.

Avi's wide smile was enough to make everyone talk together.

"Are you crazy?" said Hastha.

"No, no. Ill never be a part of it. It's dangerous!" Jake was furious.

"Actually, lets chuck this idea of yours. Okay?" said T. I actually could see a sense of fear in his eyes.

Everyone stared at me. "I was never a part of this guys! It was all him! We got the theme this morning for God's sake."

"Man! Let's talk about a serious topic, okay." T badly wanted to change the topic.

"No ways! Come on people, I think its going to be pretty amazing! Remember​? They said, "Be Creative!" So, we are being that. We are not only doing this for grades, we are also going to reveal the truth behind the KITES Research Institute case to the world. Besides I remember​ how the blast had affected people and all those lives that lived near it. I was one of those lives! Also, India lost many of it's best scientists in this. I think, KRI's truth at least deserves to be told now! The real truth. I mean, so many stories were made when the 2 reporters went missing. So many people accused, innocent were caught and who knows maybe the blast wasn't an accident! Back then I was in school. I remember the time. City suffered due to the blast. They lost KRI, the precious possession Mangalore thought was going to make it known to the world. Not knowing the names and the number of people who died or survived, not sure of what actually was being researched in that place, not bothered about how the people who made their effort to build it are even doing now, our life continued. Back then I badly wanted to know what the matter was, I was just thirteen! Now, the whole city, actually the whole world forgot about it, including me." Avi sighed. "All I'm trying to say is, I know people are still paying for that incident, unknown to us. I'm sure it hasn't completely been the way it's been told. And, now when I can actually find what happened as I have a team with me, I'm not alone, I thought maybe it was a good idea to, you know, propose this topic."

He always had this urge to help people. He liked solving stuffs even if it just was a little neighbor's grass stolen. He must have had this in his mind since three days! I remember, as soon as Ms. Rose told about the KRI example for DESTINY, Avi went to a different world. I even asked him what was wrong. He just changed the topic. It was like a shut door was opened again. After shifting to our apartment, I hardly could go to Navnik, as shifting works were a lot. I met Avi only in class and Nick sometimes in campus, though last Sunday both of them came home to help with the boxes. Avi was so cheerful back then. But right now, it's suddenly like he gave up. I never saw him like that. He is a strong and a determined person. But now! He seemed defeated. I couldn't see him like that. I had to talk. Maybe not today, but I have to talk to him about this.

"Actually. It isn't a bad idea." My mouth always opens at wrong time. Everyone stared at me. T frowned. "Obviously!" Side wicked smile. What's wrong with that guy?

"What Obviously?" I asked him.

"So you want to know about that dead place too! Anyone else?" T acted crazy, like a mad dog bit him. No wonder Avi warned me about him being restless for little things. He had told me thus was just one of T's recovering phase. Now I know what Avi meant. Actually I didn't raise my hand up for the reason T stated. I just didn't want Avi to feel sad. Anyways, wait, what?

Jake and April had their hands up. What.

"Everyone are going to do some really boring Institutes out there that only do one thing, Research! And they are going to select far off Institutes, maybe in the North, so college can let them travel. Also, people will make sure they choose the best RI First! The most beautiful looking and the one government has it hands on. There's going to be a lot of kick boxing here regarding the topic. 50 teams! Duh. So, I say, it's nice we do something that is dead and gone so we actually do a.. Wait! We actually Research a Research Institute! How cool does that sound? I am already excited for a Project for the first time in 18 years! Now don't tell me you're not in, guys!" April was so much of life. I liked her the moment she spoke to me when she got number 20, too. She was like thus small bundle of awesomeness. Her smile also was too too cute.

"She's right. At first I thought it was a bad bad idea, too. But now, I feel it will be nice. And besides, we still have three more days to submit our final topic. So, in 3 days we'll research as much as we can. If it leads us nowhere, then we could just change the topic." Jake popped in, in his perfect american accent. Damn! He was good.

I suddenly noticed how well Jake completed April's words. Ah! Stop fixing people, you idiot.

"But people, think over it. We cannot find a lot, as no books mention it and there is no phone number to which we can call. And travel, where? So basically, K-R-I is equal to T-R-O-U-B-L-E, trouble! I think we shouldn't do this. I'm out." said T. He was still irritated with something, his face read it out loud.

"Hastha?" She was shy Nerd.

"Umm.. I really don't know. I'm scared. I mean, after what you said, it is very dangerous. What if all of the hidden news was supposed to be hidden. I mean, what if people weren't told the truth on purpose rather tthannot knowing what happened. What if all of it was confidential? Then what? We'll be kind of caught, don't you think?" Everyone stopped smiling and stared at her, just started.

She was right! She was damn right! All this time I thought she was shy and didn't talk much. She was thinking, some real deep shit.

"You might be totally right there. So, what's the new topic?" It was like T was glad she pointed this out. He just wanted another topic. I really didn't like this guy.

"No! It wasn't confidential or anything, I know that. You think I didn't do researches? Wrong. Confidential informations are kept a secret, not born a secret. Here, there is nothing confidential, as all the files related to KRI were burnt down with it! And we'll know if it was confidential as we proceed with the work. We can just say it was a project topic and as students they'll definitely let us go. That is, if it turns out confidential and shit. For now, who are with me in this? It's okay guys if you don't wanna do this." There was something deeply related to this KRI and Avi. I could feel it. He was extremely sad and extremely confident about the topic. He wanted to know the truth. I didn't know why, but I did this.

"What say we give it a try? As Jake said, 3 days are more than enough to find out if we are in danger or not. So, I think, we should go with Avi?"

"Yess!" Three voices came. T was still silent. "T?"

"Mine's still a no. I am not involving in this. You want to find out? Find out. I'll stay out of this for 3 days. I already have enough to deal with. But, after that if you don't even change the topic to some sane stuff, I'm out of the team." Damn!

"Hey man! Why so serious, bro? We know you wanted a new start here. Your mind will definitely change if you engross yourself in this work. Yet, if you want to play the safe side, be it." Jake sat next to T.

"So.. We doing KRI?" Avi suddenly brightened up, like as if we gave him a toy he wished for forever.

"Yes.. But, if it doesn't make sense, we are changing the topic right? And are we telling about this to anyone?" Hastha had her questions.

"Yes. We will. And No, no one should know. Just tell we are waiting for many to chose so we don't choose the same." Avi smiled and God, how very happy he was. I should go to Navnik today and ask him why, why KRI.

He leaned his right hand forward, "So, team 20, ready for Project KRI?"

Except T, everyone put their hands in with a 'YES'.

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