Shanthi Girls High School

The Shanthi Girls High School was more of a college than a high school since most of the students were at least 18 years old. This school catered to all those girls who were weak in studies due to laziness, low grasping and retention power, missing school due to unexpected circumstances etc. Now, Sahithi belonged to the last category as she had lost two precious years due to the death of her family, having been kept away from school by her scheming relatives. She was brought here to continue her education since it couldn’t be avoided any more.

 As Sahithi walked along the corridors, she felt fear pervade her bones. There was something grotesque about the place; the chilly corridors, the bare walls devoid of any paintings one would see in a school it was uninviting for a prospective student. Each turn in the corridor was marked by an arch held together by two stone sentries that looked like gods with their well-sculpted bodies and scanty clothes.

The Sign board Arnold M Drekker, Principal, hung proudly from the twin nails that looked suspiciously like b*****s. The door was so heavy it required a strong man to open it. Two attenders in white uniform sat on either side of the door. One of them sprang up as Sahithi and her uncle drew close to the principal’s chamber.

“We are here to join my ward in this school.”

“Write your name on this paper.” The attendant said handing a note pad to the man. He took the note inside and returned after a few moments. “Please wait. Sir will see you in a few minutes.” As they waited, Sahithi observed that the walls here had paintings that depicted the greatness of men. There were a few quotes on the importance of education and the importance of discipline. The door opened and a girl came out crying, Sahithi staring at her, wondering what had happened. “She got what she deserved.” Her uncle remarked. “No need to look so puzzled.” Sahithi now wondered what the true intent of her uncle was; she already knew it would be something not good for her. The bell rang putting an end to her thoughts. The first attendant ushered both of them into the principal’s office and closed the door.

“Good Morning Mr. Drekker.” The man named Drekker looked up. He was a man of 40 years, well built, with a clean shaven face, a handle bar moustache, thick eyebrows, looking so serious as if he had some axe to grind with everyone. He gave an aura of absolute authority; an air of someone in complete control of everything. He was obviously not a man to be offended.

“Good Morning. Please.” He indicated the lone chair in front of him in which her uncle sat. The student/s would be standing obviously. “Yes?”

“I am M. A. Aditya, legal guardian of my brother-in-law’s daughter here.” He indicated Sahithi. “She was orphaned in a road accident two years ago. You must have read about the ORR tragedy.”

“Ah, yes of course!” the principal replied. “It was a very sad affair. So, she is the sole heir to the property.”

“Yes. We need to get her educated so that she can inherit the property. There is an education fund that has been set aside for the purpose, so expense is not an issue. I only request that you give her the education she needs.”

“That is what we are here for, Mr. Aditya. I hope you have read our rules?”

“Yes. She is a bit stubborn at times....”

“Nothing we can’t handle.” He picked up the intercom and dialled a number. “I am sending a new student with Ramesh. Take her in.” He rang the bell bringing the first attendant. “Take her to the warden of Anusha house.” He ordered. “Thank you, Mr. Aditya. It was nice meeting you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Drekker. Nice meeting you too.”

Ramesh, The attendant, took them to the right side of the castle that looked a bit better, for it was brightly lit, had colourfully painted walls, the corridors were an architectural marvel, it was what a new student would wish to have in a hostel. “Why would anyone want to give a creepy look to the administrative building?”

“That is because, the principal resides there and he doesn’t want students barging in as they like.” Sahithi realised she had spoken out loud. Her uncle was looking around trying to remember the way out since all the corridors appeared similar. It was going to be quite a challenge to remember the right corridors, the right class, the dorm etc. Now, imagine a passageway in an ancient palace in an ancient fortress with long winding corridors that snaked in at regular intervals in the most unexpected manner. It was maze that required lot of effort to navigate. Yet, Ramesh led them as if he was walking through the lush green grass of a freshly mown lawn.

At every intersection, there were statues of women placed in such a way that one had to touch them in a particular place to gain entry. So far, it had been the hands, the face and the legs of these stone statues. She wondered what they would have to touch to gain entry to the warden’s office or their own dorms. After crossing what seemed to be endless intersections, they finally reached the warden’s office.

“Rajesh, M.Sc. B.Ed, Warden, Anusha House” the name plate declared in front of an office barred by two stone sentries. One was a female while the other was a male statue. Both of them were naked. “Sir,” Ramesh spoke. “You press the female statue between her legs and your ward will hold “it”. He indicated the stone p***s of the male statue. Her uncle did what he was told while Sahithi blushed fiercely, unable to move. She had never touched a male in her life, let alone hold the most private part of a male. It was preposterous. But Ramesh dragged her to the statue, took her right hand, placed it such that she was ‘holding it’ and held her hand like that for a while. Sahithi felt the smooth texture of the p***s, almost as if it belonged to a live male human and not a male stone statue. Was it her imagination or was the d**k becoming stiff in her hand?

The statues straightened to allow the uncle and niece to enter the warden’s office. It was a large room with a table near the east window where the warden’s computer was plugged in. The table was placed in such a way that it was out of harm in case of an attack. The windows appeared to be made of unbreakable glass. The AC in the room was the only thing making a noise. When these two entered, the warden was busy speaking to someone on the phone. He signalled her uncle to sit while the former finished the call. Sahithi looked at the part of the office that was hidden with curtains. She was wondered what was in there behind those curtains.

The warden finished the call in the meantime and was speaking to her uncle explaining something. Her uncle nodded as if he understood and signed some forms that had been placed before him. A man of 22 years came in; he looked like a tailor, a pencil behind his ear, a note book peeking out of his shirt pocket, a measuring tape round his neck, all indicating what his job was. The warden nodded at him and he simply held Sahithi by the hand and led her behind the curtains. Sahithi was taken by surprise and was too shocked to say anything.

Waiting behind the curtains were three more men all 22 year olds. As soon as the curtains were drawn close, they set to work on her; one held her hands, another held her legs, while the third stripped her of her clothes. It was done so swiftly and so efficiently that before she realised what was happening, Sahithi found herself standing naked in front of four young males with her mouth tied up with a cloth to prevent her from screaming. A fourth man, who had been hidden from sight when she had entered, held the notebook and pencil ready while the tailor measured her.

“32....”

A flourish of the pencil in a stylish way broke the silence.

“28...”

Sahithi found herself becoming hot with embarrassment and anger.

“34....”    

This is ridiculous she thought struggling to escape. But, the men held her firmly while the tailor now started measuring each of her b*****s very extensively. It continued till he had measured every inch of her body though why he needed such detailed measurements was out of her comprehension. She wondered if anything could be stitched using such measurements; for, she felt that they were simply to cause as much embarrassment to her as possible. Finally, the ordeal was over when the fourth man took a bag and handed it to the second man, who took a dress – a skirt and a shirt, and got them over Sahithi, restoring her dignity again. When she came out, her uncle had disappeared.