C19 Problems

Arka University was a Private Un-Aided University run by Professor Kumara Sarma. There were 15000 colleges all over the planet that were affiliated to this university. Each college was required to ensure the right education to students following the guidelines issued by the university from time to time. The focus was on all-round education that could churn out ideal citizens. Literacy was not equated with education – education, intelligence, literacy – all three had been clearly defined and strict rules and regulations had been set up to ensure the right education to students so as to bring out the best from them.

Rules get broken from time to time by individuals sometimes; some even bend the rules as much as they can to suit their needs. This has been a situation faced by every administrator/ruler in every era. It’s easy to catch those who break rules but what to do with those who bend the rules but do not break them?

Professor Sarma was chairing the disciplinary Committee meeting that day. He had to deal with a new trend that wising rising alarmingly in the colleges affiliated to his university.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a very grave issue on our hands. I am sure you know that discriminatory rules are being enforced almost everywhere. Our university is the only university apart from the Royal Shakteya Education Trust that has managed to stay positive. But I feel that is going to change very soon.” He took a deep breath. “I am faced with two options – the first is to merge the university with the Royal Shakteya Educational Trust; the second option is to follow the diktats of the current government.” That brought a look of dismay on the faces of the 8 directors of which half were women. “I am also thinking of a third option – to close down the university and sell off the assets. I want you to help me make the right decision.” That brought a collective gasp from the directors.

“Sir, we didn’t think it was that serious.”

“Yes sir, we should do something about it.”

“We can’t allow anyone to dictate terms to us.”

“We can’t compromise our values!”

“Well, that is exactly what will happen if we don’t make haste. The government has introduced a bill granting it powers to take over any institution that doesn’t follow its discriminatory laws. We are the only institution left in the empire that hasn’t bowed yet. I am not sure I can manage that for long.” Kumara Sarma looked at the others with pain in his eyes. “I have nurtured this institution for the past 235 years watching it grow from a one-story building to a great university famous all over the planet.” He stared at his hands. “Ideally, I would have wanted it to continue like that, but my hand is forced. I need to make a decision today. And this decision will decide the fate of this esteemed university.”

The directors broke into a serious discussion. No one was happy that such a vital decision had to be made in such a short time. But what choice did they have? If the second most powerful man in the empire was feeling helpless, what could they hope to do?

“Sir, on behalf of the directors, I suggest that we merge with Royal Shakteya Educational Trust. They have constitutional immunity from all laws. So, we will be able to follow our core values even if the new bill becomes a law.” The others nodded their agreement to this suggestion.

“Then, shall we put it to vote?”

“Yes Sir.”

“All in favor of the merger with Royal Shakteya Educational Trust, raise your hands please.”

All eight directors raised their hands.

“Motion passed unanimously in favor of the merger with the Royal Shakteya Educational Trust. The process for the merger will be completed on a war footing as there isn’t much time left. The board of directors will ensure a smooth transition in the shortest time possible. Let’s get to work.”

The board room was cleared slowly as the directors left the room to put the plan into motion. They would have a lot of sleepless nights before the deal was finished successfully. Professor Kumara Sarma smiled. He had got them to do what he had wanted to do. He picked up his phone and dialled a number. “Connect me to His Highness, Ugra Hemantha Raya.”

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Sri Latha was embarrassed. She had had one of the most unusual dreams in her life. She had heard of men having wet dreams and had dismissed that as men were pigs by nature and always craved to see women naked. But her views had received a serious jolt with that day’s dream.

Why would a woman have wet dreams? Was she becoming bad? Was she turning into an undesirable woman with no morals? What was happening? God, please save me. She thought as she went into the bathroom to wash and change her clothes.

How am I ever going to explain this to anyone? Will they even understand? The bed sheet and her clothes needed to be washed by the dhobi and what would he think? What would the housekeeper think when she changed the bed sheet while making her bed? Would the staff still treat her with respect, or will they look down upon her?

She came out of the bathroom and found the bed made. It was as if the bed sheet had replaced itself with another one by magic. ‘I am dead’. She thought as she dressed. She drank a glass of water that had miraculously appeared on the bedside table. She tried to compose herself as she lay on the bed. She never knew when she had fallen asleep again. There were no wet dreams again, thankfully.

“It’s working sir.” a voice whispered, over the phone, observing the surroundings carefully in a furtive manner. “Yes sir. It shall be done.” The voice stopped speaking and a shadow slunk along the walls cautiously moving towards the fifth room in the fifth floor. The door was opened quietly, an indication of the quality of maintenance in this house.

The shadow peeped into the room, found the sleeping figure, and waited, counting off. When it had reached fifty, it raised a hand and was joined by three more shadows. They crept into the room as quiet as a mouse and surrounded the queen size bed. One of them placed a gag in the mouth of the sleeping figure while two more tied the hands and feet. Then they lifted the sleeping figure and put it in a sack securing the mouth with a rope. Then the sack was put in a wooden box that already had another sack in it. The lid was closed, and the box was taken out without anyone being the wiser.

“Phase 1 accomplished captain.” One of the shadows that seemed to be their leader spoke as the vehicle sped away from the mansion. Another shadow closed the gate behind it making sure no one had observed the unusual activity in the dead of the night. Then, it slunk away into the darkness.