I Fell First

THE WEEKEND

THE WEEKEND

Under the scorching sun, with the deafening sound of cicadas filling the air, inside a certain classroom on the second floor of Ambience Public School.

Mr. Patel stood at the podium, holding a teaching book as he delivered his lecture. His shirt was soaked with sweat, and the air felt as if it could produce bubbles. The ceiling fan whirred loudly, but the air it blew seemed to be scorching in this intense heat.

The students in front of him appeared drowsy, on the verge of falling asleep.

Mr. Patel couldn't help but feel a bit irritable.

"Look at the blackboard!" He noticed the state of a girl sitting in the third row and furrowed his brows slightly, tapping the blackboard more forcefully with the Duster. "Can't you hear me? Look at the blackboard!"

A few students, who were about to doze off, jolted awake, forcing themselves to gaze at the blackboard.

The girl, however, seemed as though she hadn't heard a thing. She continued to lower her head, doodling with a pencil on her paper. She had an average face, looking cute due to her chubbiness and hint of innocence. With a proper sitting posture and a gentle and serene demeanor, she appeared to be the kind of well-behaved student that teachers favored.

— But right now, she behaved as if the teacher on the podium was invisible.

Mr Patel's brows furrowed even deeper, and he continued muttering, "-1 in a root is called an imaginary number also called an iota denoted by a small "i", so what_____

As he almost finished reading the question, there was still no sign of her lifting her head. Mr Patel's pent-up anger suddenly erupted, and he slammed the duster heavily on the desk.

The plastic duster collided with the wooden desk, creating a loud noise.

The whole class flinched at the sound, and the subsequent furious roar made the atmosphere tense.

"Vishika!"

The one called Vishika raised her head, glancing at Mr. Patel for a couple of seconds before putting her pen down and standing up obediently.

Suppressing his temper, Mr. Patel asked, "What did I just say?"

Vishika in panic looked at the question on the blackboard and replied, "_________umm I don't know the answer, sir."

Having grown accustomed to her always being the well-behaved yet a slow learner in maths, Mr Patel was not happy this time.

He kept the book on the desk and sneered, "Haven't I already taught that point just the time when you were busy in your world of momos and noodles?!"

"..."

Vishika started to feel a bit tricky. "No sir, it isn't like that I am sorry for not paying attention in the class..."

Mr. Patel growled, "What do you think I asked you to stand up for__ neither do you focus on class nor do you try to answer the question?"

Vishika pondered for a few seconds and guessed, "Maybe the answer is 5?"

Mr. Patel: "..."

Vishika: "Apologies sir I will surely pay attention in class from now on"

Mr. Patel: "That better be the case___"

"Understood," Vishika replied obediently. seemed to looking at the blackboard.

Mr. Patel continued his lecture that instant the school warning bell rang.

The classroom fell silent for a few seconds, followed by the entire class bursting into laughter.

Mr Patel was fuming. "Quiet! Be quiet, all of you be seated!"

The semi-grown children still had smiles on their faces, and the classroom turned into a lively market-like atmosphere. A few teenagers in the back row even playfully chimed in:

"Teacher! Let Vishika answer one more question!"

"Does that mean we don't have to do homework anymore?"

"Can I just skip school altogether?"

Mr. Patel yelled, "Shut up!"

Mr. Patel turned his attention back to Vishika, his breathing getting heavier. "Vishika." He tried not to lose his composure but ended up roaring at her, "Tomorrow, I'm calling your father in for a discussion related to your la la land!"

***

The bell rang again, signaling the end of class. Mr Patel, with a stern face, left the classroom without looking back. It happened to be the last period, and most of the students quickly packed their belongings and left in groups.

"Why did you provoke "The OLDIE" again?" Isha approached her seat as soon as the bell rang.

"Don't you know he loves calling parents for any little thing? It's not even halfway through the month, and your father is a teacher here only, Patel will surely badmouth you"

Vishika stuffed her notebook into her backpack and zipped it up forcefully. "I don't even know what I did to him."

Isha widened her eyes. "You don't know?"

Vishika looked annoyed and muttered, "Isn't that what I just said?"

"Your loss of focus will surely help you in digging your own grave dear," Isha laughed. "Forget about him; if I were him, I'd want to punch you too."

Vishika snorted, "Just like him, both of you are unreasonable."

"Hey, to be honest," Isha said, "why don't you pay attention in class? And you keep getting caught."

"Don't you feel like Baldy's voice is hypnotic when he speaks?" Vishika slung her backpack over her shoulder and yawned. "If I listen seriously and don't find something to do, I'll definitely fall asleep."

"..."

It made some sense.

As Isha was about to say something else, she noticed a few guys standing near the school gate. She changed the subject and brought up another matter, "By the way, what is your bus number?"

Vishika glanced at her. "62, why something up?"

Isha explained, "No, just asking casually Let's go together."

Vishika smugly asked, "By the way do you have a crush on somebody?"

"Well not at the instant," Isha thought for a moment, "what about you'?

"uhm, not at the instant" Vishika replied smiling sheepishly.

Vishika walked to her bus and sat along with her friends Krithi and Anayna, she asked " How was the last day of the week guys"

All of them laughed together mouthing "TERRIBLE"

"By the way from next week our senior's classes for class 12th will be resumed right?" enquired Krithi

"Yea and don't know who all seniors will be coming in our bus I hope they won't sit on our spot" prayed Anayna.

All laughed gleefully and bid their farewell "let's meet on Monday"

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