Chapter -4
To say that Jeevika was scared would be an understatement. There were only a couple of hours left till Mr. Vadhera's class and she was already ready to bite her nails.
"Jeevika? Are you okay?" Sahil enquired. Aditi and Shreya both turned to look at her.
"Yes. I am Fine."
"You don't look fine."
"No I am Okay!"
Just as Sahil was about to say something, Aditi intervened, "Scared of Mr. Vadhera's class eh? I take it you have never been thrown out of a classroom before?"
"Never. It was a first for me."
"Well not for me. I think I have spent more time roaming the halls in school than inside the classroom," Sahil Laughed. "Listen Relax! He won't eat you up. He's just a teacher."
"And a pretty good one at that too. After you two left he started teaching again. He maybe an asshole but I think he knows everything. Like literally everything!" Aditi cooed.
"Also he isn't bad to look at" Shreya continued with a wink.
Before she knew it was 3o Clock again. Even before Mr. Vadhera entered the class everyone was in pin drop silence. So much so that even though it was a room full of 50 students the tick tock of the clock could be heard loud and clear.
"Turn to page 394." He commanded as he entered the class and strode to the podium with long swift steps. "All phones on Silent and all eyes on me. There are pictures on that page of various historic figures. I need you all to identify each and every one of them. Mr. Mehta can you help me with the first one?" Viren directed his first question at Sahil.
"Mr. Abrahim Lincoln." Sahil answered. His voice loud and tone confident. She didn't know why but his answer made Jeevika smile.
"Perhaps you can help me with the second picture Ms. Chaudhary?" and that was it. All it took for her to forget every word in the English Dictionary and stare at him like he was an alien was a question that he directed at her. She couldn't even utter a yes or no in response.
"You know I would throw you out again but I doubt that'll do you any good. Maybe tonight you could stay in a study for a little while instead of going window shopping for hours."
Mr. Vadhera continued his class as Jeevika stared at her desk for the entire hour. When he dismissed the class everyone hurried out in rapid speed. While Jeevika was still collecting her books she saw Arushi walk over to the table next to the podium swaying her hips with extra effort and playing with her long curly hair.
"That was a great lecture Sir!" she batted her eyelashes at Mr. Vadhera who hadn't even noticed who it was. "Your point?" he said without looking up.
With one quick hop she sat on the desk swaying her legs back and forth and said "Sir! Could you give me reading list for tomorrow?"
"Everything is available on your online Portal for the tutor centre. You would have noticed had you taken two minutes off staring at yourself in the mirror." With that he walked out of the class without even turning to look at either Arushi or Jeevika.
As Jeevika was walking out of her classroom in a daze she saw Viren in the small shop next to the tutor centre buying a pack of cigarettes. He quickly took out a lighter and made his way to the same tree with a cigarette between in lips. Jeevika shook her head and walked away.
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For the next whole week the same schedule followed. Viren would enter class talk about some war or natural disaster or election or some other happening of the world, throw around a bunch of questions which Jeevika would never be able to answer and lean against a tree after class to smoke till nightfall.
Jeevika who was a brilliant student in every other class failed to understand why she always went blank the minute he asked her something. Any question any word or even any look thrown her way by him would all but mummify her in her spot. But she had also noticed how Mr. Vadhera who was cruel and mean to every other student in the room irrespective of their gender would never say a word to her despite her not being able to answer any of his questions. He would always just give her a small nod and move on to some other student. Nevertheless he never failed to ask her a question in every class.
Today's one hour had been exceptionally eventful. Had he not only yelled at Shreya for not answering even one of the multiple questions he had asked her, he had also thrown her and her boyfriend out of class after telling her to learn to be less annoying'.
Enough is enough!' thought Jeevika. This is no way to speak to someone.'
She stood outside his cabin and knocked. "WHAT?" he said without looking up. Jeevika took a deep breath and entered his cabin. She had fury emanating from her eyes. Shreya was her friend and she had left in tears after being insulted by this man. An otherwise meek Jeevika was confident and angry, a bunch of not-so-pleasant-words at the tip of her tongue.
"Do you want to say something or are you just hear to stare at me? Viren said as he looked up.
"How can you talk to a girl like that?"
"Excuse me?" these were the most number of words he had ever heard coming from Jeevika's mouth.
"She is your student. You have no right to treat her like that. If she knew all the answers she wouldn't be taking your class in the first place. She's a 21 year old girl who is looking for some direction. You yelling at her is not helping her. You're supposed to be a mentor. You're supposed to Encourage us, inspire us and all you do is crush us. Just because you are well read you think you can treat people like trash? I ..." Viren held up one hand.
With a stone cold look in his eyes he said, "LEAVE!"
And just like that all blood drained out of Jeevika's face. She stood there stupefied. He strode towards her. For every step he took towards her she hurriedly took a step back. At one point he was so close to her that she could see his blazing with fury and feel his breath of her lips. Jeevika felt like her knees were about to give away while her mouth went dry. Viren took a step back and closed the door of his cabin on her face. She hadn't even noticed when she had reached outside the room. But standing here looking at him through the glass door all she could see was his eyes and in that moment she knew that all she would be able to think about that night was his eyes.
Sorry about the delay guys! College is driving me crazy! I literally wrote this in the college library instead of doing the assignment due tomorrow.
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Love ( Extra love to those who commented) :*
Pankhuri!
PS: I know I have not been commenting on your stories but India Forums keeps saying I have posted 40 posts from my link. I am still trying and will comment as soon as IF allows me to. But I promise I have read them all.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
