Road Not Taken ✔

Chapter 5

Its been a week since the school started. But I am frustrated already because of Ruchi the devil and her minions who always find one or the other way to trouble me in school. I even requested our supervisor Lovena Carlin to change my class section but she refused because there are no vacant seats in other 3 sections of biology. Argh....that means I have to bear Ruchi the devil and her minions for the next 2 final years of my school life. Well you all might be thinking that did I ever complained about her behaviour towards me. Yes I did complain about Ruchi to my class teacher Shashi Ahuja . But this Ruchi the devil is so clever as she has charmed Shashi miss too or should I say Ruchi casted a spell on Shashi miss because no matter how many times I bring to her notice that Ruchi is the one who troubles me without even a proper cause or reason but Shashi miss never believes me.

Ruchi has become a typical teacher's pet of every teacher who teaches us. Shashi miss is one of those teacher who trust Ruchi blindly. You might be thinking that I am exaggerating but it is an observable fact that Shashi miss thinks Ruchi is an ideal student while I am the real trouble maker . Ruchi pretends to be the most innocent person on this planet infront of Shashi miss and other teachers.

Ruchi has mesmerized Shashi miss to such an extent that she wants to handover every possible responsibility of class to Ruchi . So, Ruchi is the monitor and cupboard incharge of the class and she keeps an account  of all the belongings of Shashi miss which includes her purse, mobile , pile of notebooks which Shashi miss needs to correct .

Ruchi has tried to malign my image infront of Shashi miss quite a lot of time. Once we were in middle of lecture and Shashi miss was teaching us Chemistry . Oh did I forget to tell you that Shashi miss also teaches us chemistry. So, Shashi miss was busy teaching us Chemical bonding and structure. I was engrossed in listening to what are covalent bonds , hybridisation etc when something unexpected happened. Well in the middle of lecture someone's phone rang . I know this ringtone is of Shashi miss mobile phone. ok....but why is she not picking up the phone and looking at me questioning . I looked around and saw most of my classmates were looking at me with expressions of confusion.Then Mansi who was sitting next to me  gestured me through her eyes towards my school bag which was kept in the table desk. Then I realised that ringtone was blaring from my table desk . Before I could say or do something Shashi miss came near to my desk.

She commanded me to open my table desk to which I obliged and I took my bag out. She asked me if I carried a mobile phone in the class .Sweats formed on my forehead because students in our school are not allowed to carry mobile in classroom . Only students who come on their own  vehicle are permitted to have cell phone but their cell phones should be kept in their vehicle during school hours and not to be brought in school premises unless some dire emergency. Our school is really strict in discipline and there can be serious consequences if anyone is found violating the school rules.

Shashi miss asked me to empty the content of my school bag infront of her . I looked at her and then my classmates ,somehow Shashi miss understood my discomfort of opening my bag infront of the whole class. I unzip my bag but Shashi miss stopped me and she told me to come along with her to the staffroom and asked Ruchi to mind the class.

My heart was throbbing in my chest although I had done nothing wrong. But instinctively I knew something bad was on its way as I knew Shashi maam's mobile actually rang in my school bag. I silently prayed to God to rescue me . We got into the staffroom luckily it was empty and no other teacher was there. Shashi miss asked me to empty my bag infront of her . I did it with my hands trembling and Shashi maam's phone popped out from my bag. Tears filled my eyes blurring my vision .My head hung low because I dare not to look at her. My chest felt heavy.

I expected a slap from Shashi miss who already disliked me . Shashi miss kept her phone in her handbag then she dragged me out with her. I thought I was screwed  as she will now take me to the pricipal's office and expel me from school . I imagined mom and dad begging infront of our school principal . I closed my eyes with the tears flowing off my cheeks while Shashi miss dragged me along with her. Then she stopped abruptly I opened my eyes . We were standing in front of our classroom. I thought Shashi miss will insult me infront of the whole class and everyone will tag me as a thief.

She asked me to come inside . I made my way inside with my head lowered down . What Shashi miss did next took me by surprise. She asked the class to open  text books and she continued her lecture while I looked at her with wide eyes. She asked me to open my textbook sweetly. I opened my book but still I could not believe what was actually happening infront of my eyes.

Shashi miss  again resumed teaching but my mind was not in the class as my brain was thinking what would happen to me the next moment. Suddenly Ruchi called Shashi miss and stood up starling my classmates.

Shashi miss asked her why she was interrupting the lecture and if Ruchi needed something.

Ruchi looked at me with an evil smirk and said " Miss why did you not punish Diya as she was having a mobile phone in the class."

Shashi miss said" Oh yes Diya bought the mobile phone by mistake and she has submitted the phone to me."

Ruchi got miffed hearing it and said "But Shashi miss she stole your mobile."

Shashi miss looked at her and said " No it was her mobile you are mistaken Ruchi."

Ruchi was now restless and exclaimed "No miss it was your phone!"

Shashi miss narrowed her eyes and said " How did you know that  it is my phone?"

Ruchi lost her cool and blurted out " I know because I kept it in her bag."

Shashi miss smartly busted Ruchi and as a result Ruchi got a suspension from school for 2 weeks. I was amazed that how Shashi miss didn't judge me wrong this time and taught Ruchi a great lesson. Two weeks in school without Ruchi felt like a cool breeze in scorching sun. Now even her minions are like inactive microbes . I mean the minions are present around me but not a probable threat to me .

I even made a few friends from class in Ruchi's absence and I don't feel lonely in class anymore . Life is sailing peacefully and I want this peace to never end. I guess when you are right the whole universe is there to help you out sooner or later. Hope Ruchi realizes her mistake and becomes a better person .

*******CHAPTER  ENDS********