LEECH

CHAPTER FOUR - AISHA (NOW)

Aryan sir's office is more crowded than a fish market on a Sunday. Students bustle in and out, shoving each other through the small doorway. Some of them are shouting at their friends, some are shouting at each other to move aside, some are just shouting for no reason. Because high schoolers.

I try to wriggle my way in through the huge semi circle formed around Aryan sir's desk. These kids are lucky that they have that patient man instead of me. If I were him, I would have whacked all of these bumbling bustling bands of baboons back to their houses.

On the way, we spotted Jahnvi sitting cross legged on the ledge, shoving momos down her throat. When asked why she was simply sitting there, she just shrugged and said that she's allergic to crowds. That planted ideas into Vaani's head, who also plopped down beside her and began hoarding her momos.

I just rolled my eyes. Momo fanatics.

Now, along with Aryan sir, I also have to keep a lookout for Tara. She's tall, and can easily navigate through these hordes of children better than poor little me, who's almost getting squished to death. The things I have to do sometimes, honestly.

Amidst the chaos, my mind travels back to Aarush's words. The documents. Those names. Names which I hadn't ever expected to be faced with when I left Bayview.

But such is life, isn't it? Entangling the past with the present is just one of its twisted ways of shoving me into a crossroad like a deer caught in headlights. And I have to navigate through it, without disrupting the careful balance that I've constructed. And for that, I've to prepare. I have to make sure that I'm infallible before I begin to fall in front of them.

Finally, ducking under someone's weirdly positioned elbow and muttering a small "excuse me", I'm thrust forward onto Aryan sir's table. I catch myself on its edge. The poor teacher just stares at me.

Our class teacher, Viraj sir, is standing off to his side. He's also staring at me.

I smile sheepishly. What the hell is he doing here? Do all the teachers have nothing to do? "I'm sorry sir, I was in a bit of a hurry."

"And what exactly brings you here?" He says in a dismissive tone. He's holding somewhat of a grudge because I denied his proposition. It isn't everyday that the sports teacher is faced with denial, especially not by the students. Fortunately for him, I'm going to take away the cause of a grudge. Hopefully, it won't sound or look as pathetic as it does in my mind.

"Sir, I wanted to request something." I take a deep breath. "I want to help with the Cluster preparations. Anything you'd like me to do, I'm ready. Even if it is something unimportant, I'll do it. Any way I can help you is a blessing for me."

His eyes narrow suspiciously. "Just this morning I was offering you the position of the anchor, and you declined. Vehemently, if I remember correctly."

I wince. Yeah, you knew this was coming. "Sir, I had a change of mind."

He interlocks his fingers and waits for me to continue.

"As you know, this is a huge event, sir. It's also probably the last big event I can witness at Riva, before I've to leave this beautiful place. Earlier, I was misguided and disgruntled by your sudden proposal, but I've thought about it sir, and I apologise for being so rude, but I'd really like to help. If the anchor position is still open, I'd like to claim it. If I can." I end my rambling on a nervous note.

The two teachers don't say anything, just scrutinise me with their intense gazes. I gulp, hoping they can't see through me.

Then suddenly, Aryan sir slams his hands on the table, sending a poor pen skidding along the surface down to the floor. I flinch, pasting on an awkward smile on my face. Viraj sir coughs, which sounds suspiciously like a laugh. He just shrugs when he finds me looking at him.

"I knew you would come to your senses!" Aryan sir booms. A strange silence falls over the entire room, and I feel eyes on my back. I stop myself from squirming. Revel in the attention, don't shy from it. You didn't do anything wrong.

"I saw you during yesterday's sports ceremony. You were immaculate!" He waggles a finger in my face. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, undoubtedly. Good for you, I was awaiting your acceptance." He smiles graciously. "Go talk with your Priyamvada mam for the rest of it. I've done my part." He sits back down, leaning back onto his chair. He looks visibly relaxed, which means I did a good job.

Which is why I dare to say something more.

........................................................................................

"What do you mean you're going to participate in the dance as well as the anchoring?" Vaani thunders at me.

"Jeez, relax girl. I can manage it. You know I can." I shrug. "Besides, I will be dancing alongside you, so if I fall, I know you will catch me." I wink at her, to which she just rolls her eyes.

"Stop flirting with me. You're obnoxious." She mutters under her breath, before stopping to peer at me. "Why, though?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you agree to do all of this? I mean, don't get me wrong, I'd love to do this with you and I know it's gonna be so much fun, but you were so against it. Then why did you agree?"

I smile. "What do you think?"

"Something to do with your old school."

My intelligent girl. "Mhm. Sometimes in life, you gotta do some things just to be petty, Vaani."

I fall into step with her, speeding up to match her long strides. She levels me with a confused gaze, which I just ignore as I walk into class. Some things are just not meant to be said. They are meant to be observed.

Sam waves to me from our bench. Neil stands beside her. He's too much of a chicken to actually sit with her, especially now that he thinks Viraj sir is suspicious of the both of them. Unfortunately for him, he can't keep himself away from her for too long. The boy is down so bad that he gets heart eyes everytime he looks at Sam. It's sickly sweet.

Sam is hopelessly oblivious of the way her boyfriend is staring at her. If I could ever write a story about love, I'd write it about them.

Vaani runs up to her, but instead of hi-fying her, she bends down to have a bite of the spoon of pasta Sam's holding. I see Neil stomping his foot, pouting about her starving his girlfriend, to which Vaani slaps his shoulder. He groans, pretends to pass out, claiming that Sam's kiss is the only thing that could mend his broken bones. Sam, the ever gracious kissing healer of broken bones, laughs and gives him an affectionate squeeze on the shoulder. Neil brightens immediately, sitting up like a puppy.

I pick up a chalk from the Teacher's table, scribbling some random doodles on the blackboard as I smile at them adoringly. And then, with the chalk dust coating my eyelashes, I wonder what error in destiny put them in my selfish path.