THE CONFLICT

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'Access Granted' flashed on his screen. 
The examination question paper of the course CSL999 flashed next. Pressing the print button, Rohan leaned back onto his chair as the printer got ready to print the document; his mind wandering down the memory lane.
Rohan had vast knowledge of computers and networking but his strong principles and values had never before made him do anything which was not righteous during his four year long stay at IIT Delhi as a computer science undergraduate student. This time it was different. On strong persuasion of Tarun, he had reluctantly agreed to hack the computer of Prof. Hari Verma, the course coordinator of CSL999.
This was the first time Rohan felt guilty of doing a wrong in place of the usual satisfaction of learning more and more through the skill of hacking. Tarun, his closest friend, desperately needed to clear CSL999 to prevent an extension of his degree; and Rohan was his only chance of survival.
***
It was the day before the exam. Rohan had practically forgotten about the whole thing when a friend ran up to him and told that CSL999 question paper had leaked and the authorities were closing in on a couple of computer science students. Shocked by the news, Rohan paced his way to the hostel.
On reaching back, Rohan received a letter from the Dean of students to see him the next day in the afternoon. Rohan gulped as he could feel his heart racing like never before.
'Have the authorities caught me or have they summoned me just for some investigation? What would they do to punish me? Would my future be dark because of this blemish? What would my family say? Would I have to suffer the ignominy of being thrown out from IIT?
No, No, No. This cannot be. I cannot be held responsible for all that has happened. I did not do it for my own personal good. I was just a tool used by... by umm...Tarun. Yes, Tarun. Tarun is the actual culprit. He was the one who needed the paper most. But he did not hack the computer, which is the offence under consideration. It was me; me all the time, who was the sinner. Oh God! I am the offender of the rules. I am the one who has actually committed the crime. And also, Tarun is my dear friend. I cannot bring him into the eye of the authorities. I, being the hacker, would definitely be punished and bringing Tarun into the picture would not make me not guilty to the charges of hacking.
But why I be punished for a crime I never benefited from. A crime, I neither planned nor extracted any good out of it. It was Tarun's brain work and the evil intentions rose from his brain only.
I have to protect myself. I have to be selfish in this lonely world. I have to project Tarun as the miscreant. I have to tell the authorities that Tarun was the one who had schemed the whole affair and used my computer for executing his intention. That would safeguard my future. Yes, that would be the ideal stratagem for me to adopt.'

The next morning Rohan woke up to find himself in a severe headache, because of which he had to miss the morning lectures. By the time he was fine, it was time to meet the Dean. Rohan confidently marched into the office as he prepared to wiggle his way out of the scandal. Though specks of sweat were beginning to fill his eyebrows, Rohan was confident that by telling a tale, he could get himself out of trouble.
On greeting the Dean, Rohan was surprised by a warm smile from the Dean.
"Sorry for bringing your name up in this tale of errors and shame. But everything is over now. Tarun has confessed guilty to the charges and told that you, Mr. Rohan, had nothing, nothing at all to do with the hacking case."

A tear rolled down his cheek.

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THE END