Healing Him | ✓

12.

Shivaay stared down in shock.

"I cannot. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if anything happened to you because of me. It would break me, Annika."

"I hope there won't be any harm coming my daughter's way. Given your family's history." Her mother's voice rang in his head.

"What have you done?" Mallika screeched. She has spotted the teachers approaching by the corner of her eyes. She didn't want to be in trouble.

Shivaay looked up numbly.

The teachers took Annika and Raghav to the hospital. While the principal and Mrs. Kulkarni stayed in the school.

"Who was responsible for this?" Her voice was harsh causing everyone to flinch. And Shivaay closed his eyes in acceptance as all the hands that rose pointed to his direction.

Every single hand pointed to his direction. Until a voice interjected. "There was a fight Ma'am after Annika punched Raghav." Shivaay's eyes widened. No, he wouldn't let her suffer. He will take it. Take it all, he can handle this. He had been doing it for years.

"Fight? Who started the fight?" The principal asked aghast. "Him." Mallika pointed at Shivaay. He blinked and readied himself. "Is that true?" Mrs. Kulkarni asked in disbelief. He cannot do such thing.

"I-i did it." Shivaay said bracing himself. The principal slapped him. Again and again. "I have never expected such behaviour from you." Rough hands grabbed him and he was hauled into the principal's office. Mallika too was asked to be followed.

"This is unacceptable. If this news broke out the school's image will be tarnished." The principal reared. "We must do something." Her eyes fell on Shivaay who was cowering in the corner. "Bring his file." She ordered the peon.

She grabbed her pen and signed it and stumped the ink on the paper.

Expulsion.

Shivaay was expelled from the school.

Mrs. Kulkarni's eyes widened. "Ma'am please no, atleast think about it. His year will be ruined. Only few months are left of the school. Don't ruin his life." The principal raised her to stop her.

"Alright, Mrs. Kulkarni you care about this kid, because of whom two have landed in the hospital. What about those two? We don't even know the extent of their injuries."

Mrs. Kulkarni had no arguments for that, but she knew that her student Shivaay is not capable of such thing. She has observed him from his very childhood and she trusted her judgement. No matter what the world says this child won't do such thing. She saw the horror and the guilt in his eyes which was surprisingly missed by all.

"Ma'am please—" Mrs. Kulkarni tried again but the principal handed him the signed file.

Shivaay felt his dreams shatter the moment he saw the ink being stumped on the paper. He has been expelled. H-he deserved it.

I deserve it. Shivaay thought his throat was constricting with emotions and his mind was clouded by the voices. He broke his promise. The promise to her mother. The promise to himself. The unspoken trust he shared with her father. He broke it all.

And the most important of all, he broke his promise to her.

"I know you'll let nothing reach me."

Those words broke his heart. She had spoken with so much trust and what he did? The exact opposite. He was the reason she was being rushed to the hospital.

And he realised with a jolt.

All this time there was the tiniest part of him. The tiniest part that believed that whatever happened with the members of his family wasn't his fault. That part was killed today.