Supporting Her In Front Of All
"She was with me", Shravan says, coming in front of me. "Shravan. Why are you supporting this teacher's pet?", one girl from his gang shouts and tears fill up my eyes.
Shravan gives a glare to her and she goes silent.
"This behaviour is not expected from you. I thought you were a good student but you proved me wrong. Let me call your parents", Ms. Gupta says and I widen my eyes. Tears now fall freely.
"No. At least give us a chance to explain", Shravan says annoyed. "She wasn't bunking and you thought she was, when she is, your favourite student and you all know her well", Shravan says. "It's unbelievable", he adds.
"I was locked in a store room and I have a phobia of darkness. She was there to help me through it. No one was there and she couldn't leave me alone just to attend lectures", Shravan says.
"I wasn't letting her go because I was too scared. Otherwise she was going to call someone to help us", he explains.
"You should appreciate her. Instead of punishing her for a thing she never did", he says and I smile in tears. He's supporting me.
"Locked in a store room?", Ms. Gupta asks in shock. "Yes", Shravan confirmed. His friends stood up and came near him instantly as a light smile appeared on Shravan's face.
Naina too comes by my side and hugs me.
"I hope now you have no problem with your friend supporting a teacher's pet", Naina mocks that girl and I hold her hand to prevent her from speaking something else and she quietens down.
"We're sorry, Suman", Ms. Gupta apologises and I smile at her. "It's ok ma'am", I assure and we went back to our seats. Shravan and I exchange smiles with each other and sit at our seats.
"One more thing, guys", he stands after Miss goes out for some work. And there is no other teacher in the room. A look of disappointment on his face and all attention snaps to him.
"Get aside for a second", I say eagerly. This tower is blocking my view and I want to write the notes written on the board.
He shakes his head with a soft smile on his face and gets aside. He waits for me to write and I feel his stares on me but I don't say anything.
After I write the notes, I give a thumbs up while making the full stop and all the class bursts into laughter and I sheepishly smile.
"So what I was saying", he comes back to what he was saying. "You shouldn't try to joke on someone and make fun of your own classmate", he frowns.
I look at him.
"I know I have been part of this but I really regret my behaviour and you all know that whatever I am like but I never make fun of a child getting scolded or taunt him or her", he says which is true.
Whichever student would get scolded, he would never laugh on them and just pat their shoulders to cheer them up.
"And what you did today was really bad. You were calling Suman a teacher's pet and she was crying", he says and I feel heat on my cheeks as all attention shifts on me.
"We all know she doesn't even bunk a substitution then how she'll bunk the class of a subject. It's high time we should stop all this and not be small kids enjoying complaining about each other", he tells everyone.
Shravan is a really famous personality being topper and even a simple boy and not some judgemental or egoistic person like assumptions of famous kids are generally.
And what feels good is that he regrets his harmless jokes even if they were on Ms. Gupta but most of the time, I was the medium to crack a joke on her and he regrets his behaviour makes me happy.
I love when people accept their mistakes without any hesitation and not commit them again and again.
"We have just two years after this and most of us will change schools because of streams. Our last two months of this year will go in preparation for boards. Our school life will end soon so we should enjoy it", he says.
"I am sorry Suman for all the jokes on you and it won't be repeated, I promise", he says and I smile at him sweetly and he smiles at me back and this time it feels good as it is a genuine smile and not a mocking.
All then shout sorry towards me, surprising me and Naina. I thank Shravan silently who gives me a welcome back.
After the period gets over and Miss goes out, all rush out like a daily habit as it is recess. Naina and I open our lunch boxes but don't eat as our jaws get dropped when the group of backbenchers and toppers, (Shravan and his gang), join the table and then pull chairs so that they all fit in and open their lunch boxes.
"Hey", Naina chuckles and a girl high fives with her. I tuck my hair strand behind my ear. "You will eat lunch with us?", I ask in surprise as a smile comes on my face.
"You want us to go?", Shravan asks, bending his head forward towards me as his hands rest on the table. I feel this close proximity tickling my insides.
"No", I gasp and Shravan raises his eyebrows probably seeing how it affected me and I glare at him to which he chuckles.
"Well. Thank you for joining us", Naina says overjoyed and kicks on my feet and I stop behaving weird and coming to my normal self again.
"It is pasta?", one boy asks and without even waiting for a reply, they take my lunch box and pass it to others.