Tanvi's Shock and Care
The staffroom was dimly lit, the faint hum of the air conditioner the only sound breaking the heavy silence. Tanvi sat in my chair, her hands gripping its armrests tightly, her knuckles white from the tension. Her face was pale, her usually vibrant eyes unfocused and distant. She was still trembling, her body caught in the aftermath of the shock she'd endured.
I glanced at her again, my heart sinking. I had never seen her like this. Carefully, I pulled out my phone and dialed the numbers for the principal and the disciplinary action chairman, summoning them to the staffroom.
Yet, as the seconds dragged on, another thought struck me—a cold wave of realization. Rahul. He was still back there, tying up Akash. In my worry for Tanvi, I had completely overlooked the fact that Rahul was also a student—one potentially in danger.
I was about to call the security guard when the staffroom door swung open with a loud creak. My heart leapt in alarm, but relief quickly replaced it as I saw Rahul stroll in, casually sipping on a juice box and holding a lunchbox in his free hand.
"Teacher here!" he said with an innocent grin, handing me my lunchbox like it was the most normal thing in the world. Without waiting for a reply, he made his way to Tanvi.
Still rattled by the abrupt entrance, I let out a breath. "Did you eat earlier, Tanvi? Do you want to eat anything?" I asked gently, trying to anchor her back to the present.
"I... I don't have an appetite," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Mind if I eat, then?" I asked hesitantly, unsure if my casual tone would help ease her or come off as insensitive.
"Go ahead," she replied, her tone flat, detached.
Relieved, I sat down and opened my lunchbox, but the atmosphere weighed heavily on me. Before I could take a bite, the teacher, Miss Mayuri, called out to me.
"Rahul, can you come here for a second?"
I sighed, placing my lunch aside, and walked over to her. Setting my phone on her desk, I discreetly started the recorder—it was a habit of mine in situations like this.
"What's up, teacher?" I asked, my voice casual but tinged with curiosity.
Miss Mayuri crossed her arms, a stern expression on her face. "I don't know what's wrong with you, but can you please eat in the cafeteria? I called the principal and the disciplinary action chairman to talk, and I need some quiet here."
I frowned, folding my arms. "Don't you think we should call Tanvi's dad too?" I said, my tone firm but respectful. "He needs to be here. The principal might care more about the college's reputation, but her dad deserves to know what happened. Please call him and ask him to come here ASAP."
Miss Mayuri blinked, caught off guard by my reasoning, before nodding. "Right," she said, turning back to Tanvi.
Taking that as my cue, I grabbed my lunch and headed toward the cafeteria. The warm aroma of the homemade food greeted me, providing a small comfort amidst the tension. Still, my mind kept drifting back to the staffroom, to Tanvi's pale face and trembling form. Something had to be done—and soon.
I moved closer to Tanvi and knelt by her side. "Tanvi, can you tell me your dad's number? I need to call him and explain what happened," I said softly, trying not to alarm her further.
Her lips quivered as she recited the number. I dialed it immediately. After a few rings, a gruff yet composed voice answered. "Hello?"
"Mr. Digvijay," I began, my tone formal, "I'm Tanvi's teacher. There's been an incident at the college, and I need you to come here as soon as possible."
"I'm in the middle of an important meeting," he replied curtly. "Can you call Tanvi's mother instead?"
I hesitated for a moment, then said firmly, "Sir, this is serious. You really need to come."
His silence was deafening. When he finally responded, it was cold and dismissive. "Call her mother. I can't leave right now." The line went dead.
Tanvi's face crumpled as tears streamed down her cheeks. She buried her face in her hands, her body shaking. I moved closer, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Tanvi. We'll figure this out," I said gently, though inside, I felt a surge of frustration.
Determined, I tried calling him again using Tanvi's phone. This time, he picked up almost instantly.
"What's up, honey? Make it quick, I'm in a meeting," he said briskly.
Clearing my throat, I spoke. "Mr. Digvijay, this is Tanvi's teacher. I'm calling from her phone because she's been in a minor accident, and I need you to come to the college."
He sighed audibly. "Miss, please call her mother. I really can't leave right now."
Anger bubbled within me. "Listen, Mr. Digvijay. Your daughter needs you. You have to come," I said, my voice sharper than intended.
From the other end, I heard a pause. "Wait—what's going on? What happened?" His tone had shifted, alarm creeping into his voice. "Tanvi! I'm coming, my angel!" he shouted, followed by the sound of something crashing. Then the call disconnected.
---
I immediately called security, explaining the situation. Within minutes, three guards arrived. "Listen," I instructed them, "go to the empty classroom. There's a guy tied up on the floor. Bring him here, but make sure no one sees you."
As the bell rang, students began filing into their classrooms, their chatter filling the halls. Teachers, too, returned to their duties, leaving the staffroom quieter than before.
"Tanvi," I said softly, "let's wash our faces. It'll help."
She nodded weakly, and together we made our way to the bathroom. The cold water splashed on our faces, a small respite from the chaos. Once refreshed, we returned to the staffroom, where Akash was now seated, conscious but with his hands tied behind his back.
The moment Tanvi saw him, she froze. Her eyes widened, and she clung to me tightly, her entire body trembling. I rubbed her back soothingly.
"It's okay now," I whispered.
---
The door swung open, and the principal entered, followed by the chairman of the disciplinary action committee.
The principal's gaze immediately landed on Akash. "What's going on here?" he demanded.
The chairman gestured to the guards. "You can leave now."
I quickly explained the situation, but my heart sank when I realized the evidence was on Rahul's phone. I couldn't involve him, not now.
Before I could say more, the door burst open with a loud bang.
"Where is my angel? Where?" A booming voice echoed through the room.
Everyone turned to see a man in his late forties, dressed impeccably in a three-piece suit. His sharp features were twisted in fury and worry as his eyes scanned the room.
The moment Tanvi saw him, she dashed forward, tears streaming down her face. "Daddy!" she cried, throwing herself into his arms.
He caught her effortlessly, holding her tightly as she sobbed uncontrollably. "Shh, shh," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. "I'm here, my angel. Daddy's here. Don't cry."
The room fell silent, the intensity of the moment gripping everyone. Suddenly, Tanvi's body went limp in her father's arms.
"Tanvi!" I shouted, rushing forward.
Without hesitation, her father lifted her and bolted toward the car. I followed close behind, leaving the principal and chairman in stunned silence.
---
At the hospital, I recounted everything to Tanvi's father as he paced the hallway, his face a mask of fury. "I will not let him get away with this," he growled, his fists clenched.
Before he could act, his phone buzzed. The principal had called, informing him that Akash's parents had been summoned, and the boy was being handed over to the police after classes ended. Slowly, Mr. Digvijay's rage subsided, replaced by a quiet determination.
In the end, everything was resolved. But as I watched Tanvi sleeping peacefully, I couldn't help but marvel at her courage. It was her bravery—and her collected evidence—that had brought the truth to light and ensured justice was served.
Taking a steadying breath, I leaned against the wall, allowing my mind to clear. The initial adrenaline rush was fading, replaced by a pressing need to ensure that nothing like this would happen again. I thought of Tanvi, still recovering from her ordeal, and Rahul, whose involvement was now a critical piece of the puzzle. Protecting my students was paramount, and I needed a solid plan to achieve that.
"Alright," I said aloud, the determination in my voice growing stronger.
---
The staffroom door creaked softly as I pushed it open, expecting to find the familiar clutter of papers and the subdued chatter of teachers. Instead, the room was unnervingly empty. The heavy silence pressed against my ears, amplifying the rapid beat of my heart. I stepped inside, my footsteps echoing faintly on the tiled floor, eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement.
Nothing. No one was in staffroom.
A wave of unease washed over me. I approached the teacher's desk, where my phone had been recording moments before. My fingers hovered over the screen, hesitation flickering in my eyes. Finally, with a deep breath, I pressed the stop button, silencing the device. The recorder's abrupt halt seemed to amplify the stillness around me.
"Let's move to the next plan," I mumbled to myself, the words barely a whisper in the quiet room. My mind raced, piecing together the events that had just unfolded.