Bam!
Brad slammed his hand on the desk in anger.
"Who does she think she is?"
"Who cares where she started from? Who cares what she has achieved?"
"This is my school!"
Seething with rage, he continued, "I am the one who brought the school to these heights. No one is more qualified than me to run it. If she doesn't understand that, then it's time for her to be removed."
A sharp glint appeared in his eyes as he reached out for his phone.
Tring Tring
"Speak, why did you call me today, Brad?"
"Don't be like this, Triksy. We are partners, after all, aren't we?"
"Don't waste my time, Brad. I'm not a leisurely principal like you."
"Unlike you, who lives off corruption money, I actually do work."
Brad's grip tightened on the phone, his knuckles turning white. "Is that how you see it? All I've ever done is for the school's betterment."
Triksy's voice remained cold and unyielding. "Your betterment, you mean. Don't forget, Brad, I know where all the skeletons are buried."
Brad leaned back in his chair, a sinister smile forming on his lips. "Threats now, Triksy? You should know better. I called because there's an issue we need to discuss. One that affects us both."
There was a pause on the other end before Triksy replied, "What issue?"
"That old board member. She's become... problematic."
"You mean the one who's been uncovering your so-called achievements?"
"Precisely. We need to deal with her before she digs too deep."
Another pause, then Triksy sighed. "Alright, Brad. What's your plan?"
Brad's eyes gleamed with a mixture of cunning and malice. "Meet me tonight at the usual place. We'll strategize. Together."
"Fine. But remember, Brad, this is the last time I cover for you."
"Oh, Triksy," Brad chuckled, "we both know you can't afford to let me fall."
He hung up the phone, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. The game was on, and he was determined to win at any cost.
Location: Sarpanch's Home, Khalpur Village
Knock Knock
The door creaked open, revealing an old yet energetic man, Raghav, the village sarpanch.
As he looked at the face of the uninvited guest, he blurted out in surprise, "Anna!"
"Mr. Raghav, it's been a long time, hasn't it?"
"Do you mind if I come in?"
Raghav, the elderly sarpanch of the village, politely invited Anna inside the house.
As they sat on the sofa in the living room, Anna noticed how the living standard of the village had changed over the years.
"A lot has changed in the years that I've been away, hasn't it, Mr. Raghav?"
A gentle and relaxed smile appeared on Raghav's face as he heard Anna say that.
"Yes, it has, Anna. Today, everyone in this village earns more than they consume. People have started to save. The children in school have produced miraculous results, and things are going extremely well for everyone. It's just..."
At this point, the smile on his face faded, replaced by a look of sadness.
He quickly tried to mask it with a happy expression, but Anna caught the change.
She stopped him and asked, "What happened, Mr. Raghav? Tell me."
Hesitation appeared on Raghav's wrinkled face, but he remembered something and still decided not to answer Anna's question.
However, Anna did not relent and continued, "It has something to do with Brad, doesn't it?"
Seeing the look of surprise on Raghav's face, she knew she'd touched a nerve, but he still didn't reply. He simply asked her to let it go.
Anna's persistent gaze softened, sensing the inner turmoil within the elderly sarpanch. After a moment of silence, Raghav finally relented, his shoulders slumping as if a heavy burden weighed on them.
"Alright, Anna," he began, his voice tinged with weariness, "I'll tell you what's been going on. Brad... he's changed. When we first established the school, our purpose was clear: to teach the future generations, to nurture each child's unique interests and capabilities. We wanted to create a place where students could thrive, no matter their path in life."
Anna nodded, encouraging him to continue.
"But Brad," Raghav's tone grew more accusatory, "he's turned the school into his personal achievement record. He's obsessed with creating record-breaking achievers. It's no longer about the students' growth or their happiness. It's about Brad's ambition, his desire to be seen as the man behind the greatest school in the district."
Anna looked at him with a curious expression, tilting her head slightly. "But Mr. Raghav, what's wrong with wanting to create record-breaking achievers? If Brad is pushing students to excel, won't that benefit them? After all, Brad himself won't be competing; it's the students who will gain recognition and success. Isn't that a good thing?"
Raghav met her eyes, a deep sadness reflected in his own. "You would be right, Anna, if it were a normal case. However, there's something else going on here."
He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Brad's methods are extreme. He pressures the students relentlessly, without regard for their well-being. He forces them into paths they might not want to take, just to achieve those records. Many of them are stressed, unhappy, and some have even started to lose their love for learning. It's not about education anymore; it's about domination, about Brad's ego."
Anna's expression shifted, concern replacing her earlier curiosity. "I didn't realize it was that bad. But why hasn't anyone spoken up about this?"
"Fear," Raghav said simply. "Brad has a lot of influence, and he's made it clear that dissent won't be tolerated. Teachers, students, even parents—they're all afraid of what might happen if they go against him. He's using the school's success as a weapon, and anyone who questions him becomes a target."
"And that's not all. The worst is yet to come."
As he said this, Anna stared at Raghav and asked, "So, what is the worst part?"
"The worst part is that Brad has selected a few students and made them into the representatives of the school. He has been piling them up with achievements over achievements, victories over victories."
"Initially, it was just pressure to excel, so even though it was tough, no one thought to resist. After all, the ultimate result would be beneficial to the students. Whether it was fear or something else, no one decided to resist up until this point."
"However, everything changed one day when Brad asked a student to give up his achievements to one of the spokespersons he created."
"At this point, he began to fake achievements, steal achievements, cheat achievements, hold rigged competitions, bribe the judges, and what not."
"In the last year, the school has grown over five times, but most of it was due to Brad's various behaviors."
"Using his methods, he created the '7 Legends of Khalpur.' These are seven kids who have been piled up with achievements by Brad over the past year or maybe even longer."
Anna's eyes widened in disbelief. "How could he get away with this?"
Raghav sighed. "Brad is clever. He hides his tracks well and intimidates anyone who dares to question him. Those who might speak out are either too scared or have been bought off. The administration turns a blind eye because the school's reputation has soared."
Anna frowned. "But this isn't sustainable. Sooner or later, the truth will come out."
"That's what we hope," Raghav replied. "But until then, the pressure on these kids is immense. They live in constant fear of failure, knowing their so-called 'achievements' are built on lies. It's a house of cards, and when it falls, it won't just be Brad who gets hurt. The entire student body will suffer the consequences."
Anna took a deep breath, determination shining in her eyes. "We need to do something. We can't let this continue."
Raghav nodded. "I agree. But we have to be careful. Brad is powerful, and he won't go down without a fight."
As Raghav finished speaking, the door to the living room creaked open, and his wife entered, carrying a tray with a teapot and cups. She was a kind-faced woman with silver hair, her eyes twinkling with wisdom and warmth. She moved gracefully, each step deliberate and measured, a testament to years of holding her family and community together.
She placed the tray on the table and began pouring the tea with practiced ease. The fragrant steam curled upwards, filling the room with a comforting aroma. She handed a cup to Raghav, then to Anna, before taking one for herself and settling into a chair. Her gentle smile softened the tension in the room.
"Anna, dear," she began, her voice soothing and full of curiosity, "how is Sam doing these days?"
Raghav, who had been lost in thought, straightened up, his eyes lighting up with a mixture of hope and longing. "Yes, Anna," he echoed, leaning forward with earnest anticipation, "what news of Sam?"
Anna's face fell, a shadow of pain crossing her eyes. She took a deep breath, the weight of the question pressing down on her. "It's been five years since anyone has seen Sam, including me," she said quietly. "He vanished just as the construction of the schools began."
Raghav's wife tilted her head slightly, her brow furrowing in concern. "Five years?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's such a long time."
Anna nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I was appointed by Sam himself," she continued, her voice trembling slightly. "Before that, I was just a waitress in a café. Despite his absence, his meticulous plans and preparations have allowed his vision to flourish and grow into the behemoth it is today."
Raghav's wife reached out and clasped Anna's hand, her touch warm and reassuring. "Sam always had a way of seeing things others couldn't," she said softly. "His disappearance must have been a great burden for you."
Anna smiled faintly, though the sadness in her eyes remained. "It has been difficult," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But his vision kept me going. I often wonder where he is and if he knows how much his dream has grown."
Raghav's face tightened with a mix of admiration and sorrow. "We owe so much to Sam," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Without his vision, none of this would have been possible. But his absence has left a void that we all feel deeply."
Anna nodded, her grip on the teacup tightening. "I believe Sam had a reason for everything he did," she said, trying to infuse her voice with conviction. "Wherever he is, I hope he knows that we are still fighting for his dream."
Raghav's wife squeezed Anna's hand gently, her eyes brimming with empathy. "And we will continue to fight, together," she said, her voice filled with determination. "Sam's dream is now our dream, and we won't let it be tarnished."
The room fell into a contemplative silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts about Sam and the uncertain future. Despite the challenges ahead, the bond they shared gave them strength. They sat together, united by a common purpose and the unwavering hope that one day, Sam would return and see the legacy he had inspired.