Under the Cherry tree..

".. he is that kind of a person, you know. Non-sense. He always take girls students for Phd. Never takes boys."

"Makes some sense.Which department is he in?" asked I.

"He's in *********. But this thing isn't department specific, you know?. You can find this in all the departments."

"Moral corruption. How many kinds of corruption are there totally?"

"That I don't know. You can see him taking tea all the time."

"With?" I asked mischievously.

"Hey c'mon. Whom are we talking about?"

"Whom?"

"You haven't seen her?"

"I think I have"

"Arre, udar dekho kaun aarahi hain. Kaun hain yeh rati?"(Ask you neighbour for translation)

"Ohh, rati! kaha jaa rahi hain bhai? Kabhi dekha hi nahi isko!"

"She might be going to the canteen."

And across the corner 'rati' turned away and was invisible. We left the shade of the tree near the canteen and headed for the lab a little while later. The blue door of the lab was pushed open; only to find 'rati' inside.. waiting for someone.
First thing I did was look at my friend's face. It looked like he had the expression of finding a diamond ring on a heap of cow-dung.

He went straight in(i too went in) and ....

Amidst knowing that she too was from Lucknow, he also took her visiting card. We had also helped ourselves and her with chairs facing each other and had held a little round chair conference before she briskly got up and said "So, where will be our next meeting? Lucknow mein?" and ended up giggling unnecessarily.

All the time the word 'mental corruption' was ringing in my mind!