Professor KHAN [DISCONTINED]

Chapter 2: The Office Hour

There she stood outside of his office door. Was she nervous? Hell no. She was ready for a battle. To belittle him and confront him if he disapproved of her assignment once again. She watched the time on her watch as it turned to 8:00 am on the dot; she was the first one here. The only one there. She deserved all his attention and assistance today and would aim to get just that from the man.

Kajol knocked on the door assertively before inviting herself in, not waiting for his approval. There Khan sat behind his desk cluttered with papers he had been reviewing from another class. Kajol allowed her eyes to take in the space since he didn't acknowledge her presence immediately... As Usual. He kept the blinds closed letting in little to no natural light. His desk lamp illuminated the room with a soft glow. Kajol thought it weird he had no family pictures. She would have loved to get a glimpse of the people who raised the man to be as hard as a rock. And a dick. Shah Rukh kept to his work still. He didn't so much as look up to see who was at his door. He didn't care. He just knew they were in the wrong to barge into his personal space in such an evasive way.

"Try again." His voice erupted from his throat authoritatively. Still focused on the document between his fingertips. For once he had his reading spectacles on today. He usually forgot them at home but today he didn't. Kajol thought for a mere second that he looked gentler with them on. More approachable, but those thoughts quickly left her mind with his words. Rolling her eyes Kajol twisted her face to a sour expression at the thought of having to make a re-entrance into the space she had already occupied.

"Professor—-" Kajol started to speak but Shah Rukh held his hand up gesturing for her to stop which she did crossing her arms in a huff of anger.

"Try again, Ms. Mukherjee." Professor Khan informed her sternly. He never had to look up to identify it was her. His nose had learned her scent all too quickly from yesterday when she had stood so close to him in defense of her grade. Sweet like vanilla and yet savory like jasmine. He hated that he found whatever perfume she wore on her skin to be intoxicating to his senses.

"But I—" Kajol began to argue again but Shah Rukh sighed in aggravation taking his glasses from his face and massaging the bridge of his nose. He couldn't understand why the young lady couldn't do something so civil and wanted to argue when he was just showing her how important using simple manners was. With a sigh, Kajol moved her feet to walk out as she had come in. Lightly she shut the door behind her. She took a deep breath to gather herself. To remain level-headed. This time she knocked on the wooden door gently and waited for him to prompt her next move. Long moments had gone and he hadn't found the words to answer the door or say to her to come in.

"Professor, aren't you too mature to play silly games?" Kajol asked after a while through the closed door; she was slowly growing impatient that he had yet to acknowledge. On Shah Rukh's end, he snickered to himself. Smiling for the first time in a long time. He couldn't understand why her frustration with him amused him. Even yesterday, when she caused a scene in front of everyone... No one had ever approached him that way. He admired her gutsy attitude and willingness to improve her grade in his class.

"Come in Ms. Mukherjee." Shah Rukh finally spoke after several moments more moments of teasing the woman. He had made sure to relax his facial expressions before she entered. He didn't want her to see how entertained he was. Shah Rukh made his face as hard and straightforward as usual. Kajol lightly turned the door knob entering Khan's office. She moved like a mouse as she walked in. Gently she closed the door behind her, shutting out the outside world completely.

It was just her and him now. To her distaste. But she knew she had to do what was necessary to correct her overall grade in his course.

"What can I help you with?" Shah Rukh asked as if he didn't already know her quarrel with him. Kajol rolled her eyes in her mind at his play of ignorance. She wasn't going to let him get to her. She would just grin and bear it.