Chapter 15

Liza: Sakshi chal?

Sakshi(unwillingly): hmm

Sabke jaane ke baad Arjun kehta hai: Riya, tumhe apni school ki padhayi yaad haina?

Riya: ha sir, sab yaad hai. biology mera favourite subject tha aur fir textbook dekhkar details bhi yaad aa jaayegi, aap fikar mat kijiye

Arjun: hmm, lekin tumne Atharv ko dusre shehar se kyun bheja hai?

Riya: dusre shehar mein jaa kar cross check karenge toh time lagega, aur agar koi aisa kare toh hume pata chal jaayega ki banda pahunchi hui cheez hai

Arjun: par Priti kisi aur shehar ke teacher ke baare mein kyun jaanegi?

Riya: Priti originally Mumbai se nahi hai, Bangalore se hai. isliye maine Atharv ko bhi waha se laaya hai, batch mates

Arjun: okay…and are we supposed to know each other?

Riya: nope!

Arjun: theek hai…main ye sab yaad rakh lunga

Riya: aur kuch?

Arjun: nahi

Dono uthte hai. Riya apni file samet kar bag mein rakh deti hai. Arjun uske liye wait karta hai aur fir dono saath mein office ke baahar jaate hai.

Riya: main ek baat puchu?

Arjun smile karta hai: tumhe permission ki zaroorat kabse padne lagi?

Riya: nahi…woh actually maine bas notice kiya toh isliye

Arjun: kya?

Riya: woh Sakshi aapke saath itna flirt kyun karti hai?

Arjun: mujhe nahi pata ki uske dimag mein kya hai aur na hi main jaan na chahta hun

Riya sar hilati hai: sir…I’m sorry

Arjun(confused): kyun?

Riya: woh subah mere wajah se aapke aur Rathore sir ke beech…

Arjun: Riya..tumhe kya lagta hai tum kuch nahi kehti toh humara jhagda nahi hota? I told you it’s not your fault. Don’t fret over it.

Arjun uska haath pakadta hai. uski grip mein Riya kuch unusual mehsoos karke use dekhti hai lekin Arjun kuch aur hi soch raha hai.

Riya: kya hua sir?

Arjun presence mein aata hai: huh?...nahi…ku…woh…main…

Riya apni grip tight karti hai: Arjun sir, aap kyun itna hichkicha rahe hai? kya baat hai?

Arjun apni nazre jhukata hai: I…I love you Riya, sach (Riya confuse hoti hai) mera Sakshi se koi…

Riya uski thought process samajh kar rukti hai.

Riya: Arjun sir maine toh bas yuhi pucha tha. main jaanti hun aap mujhse pyaar karte hai aur main yeh bhi jaanti hun ki aapke dil mein uske liye kuch nahi hai. maine sirf isliye pucha kyunki woh jis tarah se aapke peeche padi rehti hai woh aapse pyaar karti hai ya fir sirf attraction hai? mujhe jalan nahi ho rahi

Arjun: par…par agar ho bhi toh..toh tum mujhse vaada karo ki tum mujhse baat karogi na ki khud kisi conclusion par pahunchogi. Vaada karo ki tum mujhe chod kar nahi jaogi

Riya smile karti hai: main aapse vaada karti hun, main aapko chod kar kahi nahi jaungi!

Arjun finally shant mehsoos karta hai.

Riya: ab chale?

Woh nod karta hai aur dono ghar ki taraf nikal jaate hai.

As planned ETF jaane ke bajay, Arjun seedha subah 7 baje DAV school pahunchta hai. first bell nahi baji isliye bache abhi bhi ghum rahe hai. raaste mein use football aur basket ball court dikhta hai jaha par school ke athletes practice kar rahe hai. woh ek peon ko rok kar puchta hai.

Arjun: principal ka office kaha hai?

Peon use dekhta hai: aap kaun?

Arjun(irritated): jitna pucha jaaye utna jawab do!

Peon use khunas se dekhta hai: administration building second floor. Aur chala jaata hai.

Arjun glances around. In all there were 5 buildings in the premises. Two of them were secluded form the other three. Girls were coming out from one and boys from the other. His gaze shifted to the  other three. He could see the little kids playing in the open corridors and balconies of one. The second was occupied by the elder kids. They were standing in groups in the balconies gossiping and chattering excitedly. The third one had staff moving in and out of it. Guessing it must be  the administrative building he walked towards it.

He sprinted on the steps and climbed to the second floor. A number of offices were lined up on both the sides. Reading the labels, he recognised the Principal’s and was about to enter when he suddenly remembered formal decorum. Grumbling mentally, he knocked the door.

A voice answered from inside: come in

Arjun entered inside. A man in his late fifties sat on the chair. A golden plate with his name Devraj Patil was placed on the table.

Devraj looked up from his file when he heard the knock. A turbaned Punjabi man who appeared to be in his twenties appeared.  

The man places a file in front of him: Atharv Singh! Priti…

Devraj: Priti ne apne badle Maths ke liye bheja hai right?

Atharv nods: ji

Devraj: bataya tha usne mujhe, aap baithiye.

Atharv takes a seat opposite him as Devraj starts reading all his qualifications.

Devraj: acha Mr. Atharv, aapka record toh kaafi acha hai. waise Priti ne shayad aapko bataya hoga lekin fir bhi, aap 9th aur 10th std ke teeno division ko handle karenge

Atharv: ji

Devraj checks his watch and then glances at the door wondering where the other teacher had gotten lost. Arjun too wondered why Riya hadn’t reached yet but maintained his composure. Just then there was a knock on the door.

Devraj: come in

Devraj and Atharv were spellbound at the young lady who entered with a hand-embroidered file in her hand and a small purse on her shoulder. They immediately stood up. Devraj looked at her from top to bottom.

Lady: I’m so sorry for being late, actually meri Taxi raaste mein puncture ho gayi.

Devraj smiled: ko…koi baat nahi, ye sab toh hota rehta hai. ab is par humara control thodi hai?

He tries to shake her hand but her hands were full. She smiled warmly.

Devraj: please have a seat

She took the second chair beside Atharv and introduced herself.

Lady: Main Shivangi Singhania, biology…

Devraj: Anurag ne bheja hai?

Shivangi: ji

As Devraj talked to her, Arjun was continuously staring at Riya. Only he knew the amount of self control he was using to not pull Riya into her arms and kiss her as he saw the astounding look of her being draped in a saree for the first time. He could only wonder if the floral embroidered georgette saree was enhancing her beauty or was it the other way round. She had let her long tresses loose, her soft, gentle curls rested on her left shoulder. A small dot sized bindi decorated her forehead. Her usual kohl laced eyes were as beautiful as ever. Long earrings hung from her ear lobes. A simple chain adorned her neck. Her wrists were graced with a small bunch of glass bangles which clinked melodiously every time she moved her hand. He was completely lost in the ethereal beauty in front of him.

Devraj’s excited voice brought him out of his trance: That’s Great!! Ek kaam karte hai, main aapka introduction karwa deta hun. I’ll send you the details later.

Shivangi: ji sir jaise aap kahe

Devraj suddenly remembered Atharv sitting there: oh ya, Miss Shivangi, ye Mr. Atharv hai. Bangalore se aaye hai. ye bhi aaj se join kar rahe hai temporary basis par…Maths. Aur Mr. Atharv ye Miss Shivangi, biology teacher

The couple looked at each other and shook hands as a greeting: hello/good morning!

Devraj stood up. The other two followed.

Devraj: oh and ha Miss Shivangi, Anurag 10 A ka class teacher tha. Since you’re following his subject, I was hoping you could take the responsibility too.

Shivangi: of course sir

Devraj: great! Ayiye main aap dono ko baakhi ke staff se milwata hun

He led them outside. As Riya followed Arjun sighed mentally as he saw her backless blouse mv “had hai yaar! Yaha toh bodyguard giri bhi nahi kar sakta.” He silently followed the other two. Devraj took them to the senior building on the third floor where the staff room was. Both of them saw two armed guards at the entrance of that building.

All the teachers left their work and turned to the door the second the principal entered with the new comers. Two of the professors slipped into a dreamland as soon as they saw Riya.

Devraj: good morning! Aap logon ke liye ek buri khabar hai aur ek achi khabar hai.

One of them: kya sir?

Devraj: buri khabar ye hai ki Mr. aur Mrs. Mehra ko kuch urgent personal kaam se out of station jaana pad gaya aur achi khabar ye hai ki un dono ne hi apne bajay naye teachers bheje hai. (gesturing towards the officers) ye Mr. Atharv Singh hai, ye Prity ke bajay Maths padhayenge aur ye Miss Shivangi Singhania jo biology conduct karegi aur (turning to the other teachers) ye Mr Sahil, Mr. Shashank, Miss Aarti, Mrs Pallavi, aur Miss Varsha.

Riya greets everyone warmly whereas Atharv is only in Arjun mode…that is a non-socializing human being. However, that didn’t mean there was nothing which had stimulated him in the room. He had immediately noticed Shashank and Sahil’s gaze when it fell on his Riya. He knew she would identify it too but nevertheless he decided to warn her later on.

Devraj: Miss Aarti aap, Miss Shivangi ko class-in-charge ki duties samjha lijiye

Aarti: yes sir

Devraj rubbed his hands: well then, main chalta hun (looking at the new comers) I hope you have a pleasant day.

The first bell rang just as the principal left the room. All the students scampered to their classes. The teachers picked up their books and files and headed towards the classrooms. Aarti offered Riya to show her the way about which she gladly accepted. Riya went with Aarti as she explained her all that she needed to know for the time being.

Riya entered her class, the students fell into pin drop silence. Riya felt amused and lost for a moments. A few years before she was in the same spot as the uniformed kids. Back then she had never thought she would be on the opposite side of the class and now? As she glanced at the class, her gaze fell on the one student she was there for…Jasmine.

Riya: Good morning

Chorus: good morning….ma’am.

Their words died down at the end unsure of who she was. They exchanged glances amongst themselves asking the same question.

Riya: okay so, Anurag sir is unavailable for a few days (the class erupted into a cheer thinking of all the free periods, Riya felt like laughing but composed herself) are ruko! ruko! Itna khush mat ho, I’m replacing him till the time.

The cheer died down and the faces turned sad.

Riya: don’t worry, aaj nahi padhaungi

They cheered again, already liking the newcomer who was going to give them a free period.

Riya: ab thoda sa Introduction ho jaaye?

One by one the students stood up and introduced themselves and Riya tried to memorize all the names. When they were done a boy asked her.

Boy: ma’am, What’s your name?

Riya smiled: Shivangi

Dusra: miss aap yaha se pehle kaha padhati thi?

Riya: Patil International, Delhi

Ladki: then why did you shift here? Anurag sir hasn’t left right?

Riya mv “ye bache toh principal se bhi zyaada interrogation kar rahe hai.” : yes, but I want to pursue a Ph.D and it’s better here. So I shifted and before I could search for a proper job for part time, this came along my way.

Another: then miss, after Anurag sir comes back, will you leave and get a job elsewhere?

Riya: yes, I will

Boy: What if you’re so good the school doesn’t let you go

Riya laughed: they can’t do that…legally

He frowned and sat back. The class time got over as the kids continued to ask Riya questions about this and that and with Riya answering everything according to the background she had created whilst keeping an eye on Jasmine and specifically the way she interacted with her and her friends.

As the school bell rang she caught their attention again.

Riya: okay, how much of your portions are left?

The boy answered: two chapters Miss Shivangi, Circulatory system and Nervous system.

Riya felt surprised: both major chapters are left? When are your prelims?

Boy: December miss

Riya: okay, I’ll work on it…thank you class!

The class raised to wish her and at that moment Atharv entered. Riya gestured him silently about Jasmine and he reverted in the same way. On the other hand, the class was surprised to see another newcomer and unfortunately a boy dared to ask.

Boy: sir who are you?

Arjun: remove your maths books and get to work!

The class gulped in fear at his authoritative tone. Riya shot a pity look at the class and left as Arjun turned to the board with a chalk in his hand. The poor kids didn’t even know what had happened to their Prity miss and let alone her they didn’t even know the name of their new khadoos teacher but something told them disobeying him was going to bring dire consequences and they quietly started studying……………………………….