"The president of the club, Ms. ... Anuradha Ray?" she called. 

"Yes, Ms. Yardley"

"Ms. Ray, why am I getting the news of our college name isn't in the list, the last?" Tiffany asked.

"I'm sorry Ms. Tiffany but I remember you said not to bring matters of any clubs to you as you are not free to handle all these" Anuradha answered back. Reminding Tiffany on her last semester speech she gave in the auditorium when the college's soccer team had a problem with their coach.

"That_ that was last semester. You are supposed to be a responsible president to come forward and inform me about this no matter what!" Tiffany's voice raised.

"Ms. Yardley, as a president Anuradha had done her part. She gave heads up to me soon after she knew about this matter" Mrs. Gracie explained.

"And we are yet to settle this issue" Anuradha added.

"It doesn't matter Gracie! I should be informed about this too" Along with Anuradha and Gracie, those present in the hall were surprised with Tiffany's sudden interest on the club's whereabouts.

"We are trying to fix this, have resubmitted our entry _"

"Don't give excuses Ms. Ray. You failed to be a responsible president for not informing about this earlier" Tiffany interrupted Anuradha.

Anuradha wasn't able to speak any further, Tiffany's words were rekindling the old memories she wished to keep them buried. "You FAILED to be a responsible president"

Tiffany then proceed to make a call to the committee regarding the matter and wanted to fix it for some reason.

"Why Tiffany is showing so much interest in our club?" Cameron whispered to Christopher.

"I doubt if we will ever find out why" he replied.

"Anu? I spoke to the guy from the organising college regarding this, according to him all entry data is being handled by David alone and none of the organising member said a word against him." Christopher whispered to Anuradha.

"He also said that probably David has some issues with the three colleges" he continued.

"Issue?"

He nodded.

Handing over her phone to Anuradha, "the committee wants to speak to you" Tiffany said. 

Anuradha explained how their process of entry and also mentioned about the other two colleges who isn't in the list too. The committee has promised to handle the problem from now on and told her to resubmit the entry again directly to the committee.

Tiffany left the hall soon after Anuradha spoke to the committee along with Mrs. Gracie.

Silence prevailed in the hall. They waited for Anuradha to speak.

"I'm sorry guys if I have disappointed you for not informing about this earlier" she apologised.

"No, you didn't disappoint any of us", "we are not upset at all", came many voices making her feel better.

Anuradha wanted to be alone for some time, she instructed Christopher and Cameron to explain about the new script to the members, Manohar and Manoj to call those members who aren't present to be there soon while she and Shika sat and did the resubmission for the entry.

"Cam? I need a time out. Can you handle? I will be back soon" she informs Cameron and left the hall.

It was a rainy day, Anuradha wasn't in the mindset to care about the rain. She walked and walked till she found herself a bench under a tree not too far from the hall.

"You failed to be a responsible president" kept ringing in her mind. It wasn't because she was hurt by Tiffany or that she said it in front of her club members, it was because unwanted memories were being rekindled.

Memories started re-emerge. 

At the tender age of seven, Anuradha was left alone in her parent's room with her four-year-old brother Ajay. Leaving the sleeping Ajay on the bed while Anuradha on the floor entertaining herself with toys, Kavitha walked out of the room busy on a phone call.

Ajay's loud whine called a horrified Kavitha running into the room to see Ajay on the floor. Carrying the boy who had toppled down from the bed, Kavitha stare at Anuradha with burning anger.

Ajay in her arm, she yanked Anuradha up on her feet, "Don't you know he will fall? Why weren't you next to him? Where is your responsibility as his sister?!" Kavitha yelled at the seven-year-old.

Innocent Anuradha knew nothing about responsibility nor she was able to pronounce it properly looked at Kavitha with a blank expression and welled-up eyes.

"What does this little kid know about responsibility, Kavitha!?" Madhulekha ran into the room, hearing the loud scream of Ajay. Running to the little girl, Madhulekha pulled Anuradha into her arms.

"She knows, ma. She knows that Ajay was about to fall! I saw her, Anuradha was watching him fall" Kavitha cried and left with Ajay.

Madhulekha Ray, mother of Kamlesh Ray had been the only human in the house that was showering unconditional love to Anuradha ever since the birth of Ajay. Though the house was running under the queen control, Kavitha somehow was scared of Madhulekha. Thus, controlling Kavitha to some extend. 

Anuradha was protected like the costliest possession Madhulekha had.

That was the first time Kavitha said those hurtful words yet was unknown to little Anuradha but it didn't stop there.

On a particular day at the age of ten, Anuradha was engrossed in doing her homework when Kavitha yelled at the girl for not looking after her seven-year-old brother while she wasn't around.

"You are an irresponsible sister!" she spat in anger.

Anuradha begun to understand the meaning of those words that's being said repetitively and it had started to impact on how she feels about herself. Yet the naïve girl wanted to see her mother happy and want Kavitha to love her the same way Kavitha does to Ajay, Anuradha begin to take care of Ajay.

Anuradha lost her strongest support at the age of twelve, hence gave more opportunity for Kavitha to emotionally hurt Anuradha.

"Aren't you supposed to be with your grandmother, take care of her. Where have you been? Such an irresponsible granddaughter Madhulekha ma cared for!"

The twelve-year-old girl learnt many valuable lessons from her grandmother but never thought she would ever need those lessons because her mighty grandma was always by her side.

Anuradha was wrong, Madhulekha was right. "I won't be with you forever, laado. You have to learn to fight. Speak up if you are right"

Wiping of the shedding tears, it was time for Anuradha to put her grandmother's wisdom words into action.

"Where were you? MRS. KAVITHA RAY. Are_"

"How dare you call me by my name?" Kavitha interrupted but stopped from continuing as Anuradha held up her hand.

"Aren't you supposed to take care of her when dad wasn't around? Don't you even have the courtesy to pay back all the love she showered on you after the death of your mother?" Anuradha retaliated.

Despite trying to burry and hide all those painful memories, it kept on re-emerging.

It was pouring, pouring heavily yet she sat there, tears camouflaged. Anuradha stare at the muddy ground with a small pool of water rippling to every drop of rain on it.

Manohar, stood outside the hall entrance. The only lamp in the small lawn in front of the hall gave enough illuminance to see where Anuradha was.

Seeing Anuradha drenching in the rain, something twitched in him. Not bothering to get an umbrella, Manohar ran to Anuradha.

"Radha, are you going to sit here all night?" he asked continuously wiping the water from his face.

"Leave me alone, Manohar" she said weakly.

"No, I won't. Not going without you" he objected.

"Why?"

"Don't ask. Come" he pulled her weak form up.

"Manohar. Am I an irresponsible person?" she asked, as he turn to look at her who was waiting for him to reply with puffy eyes.

"Have you been crying, Radha?"

She shook her head. "Answer me." She demanded.

"Why were you crying?"

"Answer me Manohar!"

"I don't answer to stupid questions!" he pulled her but she refused to move.

"Then get lost" yanking her hand, she walked back to the bench.

He sighed, "are you upset because Tiffany said you are an irresponsible leader?" she shook her head side to side.

"Just answer me Manohar" she pleaded.

Why she needed to know? Hearing the same phrase from someone else makes it seem like her mother was true all along. Anuradha needed to know that it's not true.

Manohar stood in front of her and cupped her face making her look at him.

"You are the most responsible and diligent leader I have ever met" he said crouching down to her level.

Anuradha simple closed her eyes tight and let the tears stream down. Though his words were somewhat calming her yet it did not help the memories fly away. Manohar sat next to her until she was ready to leave the place.

At least accompanying her would make Anuradha feel better, he thought

*************************

Thank you reading!

NO SON IS GREATER THAN A DAUGHTER.  Just thought of sharing :) 

On a happy note, penfolk has made these beautiful moodboards for Consolidating Harmony on my request. Have a look and drop your comments on what you think about it.

https://youtu.be/b9GDK6T_rrw