The question is so unexpected such that I am not prepared to come up with anything to say.

My mouth works faster than my brain. “No, they are held up on a business trip.” I babble.

She glares at me with so much skepticism. Her eyes dart away from me before she speaks again.

“Funny that have never met your parents for the entire period we have been on the campus." She says.

I know what she means; in this institute, the surname is what gets you known and respected. Almost all parents are deeply involved in school activities except the few hapless kids that get admitted here on a...