Chapter 1: chapter 1

Chapter 1Sourabh slouched in his desk at the back of the classroom, his gaze drifting to the front where Nitya ma'am stood, a whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm. The late morning sun streamed through the windows of Janki High School, illuminating her like some kind of celestial being. Today, she wore a vibrant green dress that contrasted beautifully with her deep brown hair, which fell in soft waves around her shoulders. Sourabh couldn't help but think that she was the kind of beautiful that made the universe pause, and all thoughts of physics formulas flew out of his head."Okay, class! Today we’re diving into the fascinating world of electromagnetism!" Nitya ma'am announced, her voice bright and engaging, drawing every eye in the room to her. "But first, I want you to think about how this relates to the real world. Can anyone tell me how electromagnetism affects our daily lives?"Sourabh could feel his heart race. The way she animatedly explained complex concepts made physics feel less like a chore and more like an adventure. He wished he could harness that same energy. His best friend, Ravi, who sat two seats ahead, shot a hand up, eager to impress her. “Uh, it powers our phones!” he exclaimed, a little too loudly.“Great point, Ravi! Yes, without electromagnetism, our gadgets would just be... well, gadgets without power!” Nitya ma'am smiled, and Sourabh felt a jolt of jealousy. It wasn’t fair that Ravi always had to be the center of attention. But then again, it wasn’t just about Ravi; it was about the way Nitya ma'am made everyone feel seen, like they were part of something bigger.The class continued, and Sourabh found himself daydreaming. He could picture himself explaining physics to her, sharing witty banter and clever insights. In his mind, he was smooth and charming, not the shy, awkward kid who often stumbled over his words in real life. He snapped back to reality when he noticed Nitya ma'am moving around the room, occasionally glancing his way. Was it just his imagination, or did her smile linger a moment longer when she looked at him?“Alright, everyone, let’s break into groups for the lab today. I want you to experiment with magnets and electrical currents. Be creative!” she instructed, clapping her hands together as she walked between the desks. Sourabh's heart skipped a beat. Group work meant he’d get a chance to work closely with her, but it also meant he'd have to battle his nerves.“Let’s form groups of four,” Nitya ma'am suggested, and chaos erupted as students scrambled to gather their friends. Sourabh hesitated, scanning the room. He could join Ravi, but that would mean he’d be stuck in the shadow of his overconfident best friend. Instead, he took a deep breath and walked up to the group forming around Maya, a smart and cheerful girl with a knack for science. “Hey, can I join you guys?”“Of course!” Maya smiled. “We could use your ideas. Plus, we need someone to keep Ravi in check!” The group chuckled, and Sourabh felt a wave of relief wash over him. At least he was among friends.As they set up their experiment, Sourabh’s focus shifted between the task at hand and Nitya ma'am, who was now hovering over another group. He caught glimpses of her laughter and felt a warmth spread through him. Each smile and encouraging word directed at her students only amplified the crush he couldn’t shake off.“Hey, Sourabh,” Maya said, snapping him out of his reverie. “What do you think about using this setup for the magnetic field experiment?” She pointed to the diagram in their lab manual.“Yeah, that looks good. We could probably—” He stopped mid-sentence, distracted again as Nitya ma'am approached their table, her keen eyes scanning their progress.“Looks like you’re all off to a great start!” she said, her voice full of encouragement. “Sourabh, I saw you were working on the equations last week. Do you want to help the group with the calculations?”“Uh, sure!” he managed to say, his palms sweaty and heart pounding. He could hardly believe she was asking for his help. This was his moment! But just as quickly as the excitement surged, doubt crept in. What if he messed up? What if she realized he was just an average student with a crush?As they worked together, Sourabh found himself in a comfortable rhythm. He enjoyed explaining the concepts to his group and showing off a bit of knowledge, but he also relished the moments when Nitya ma'am leaned in closer to check their progress. The scent of her floral perfume wrapped around him, making his head spin. He could hardly concentrate on the experiment when all he wanted was to know what it would be like to actually talk to her outside of class.“Okay, let’s see how this works!” Nitya ma'am said, bringing them all back to the task at hand. They gathered around the equipment, and Sourabh felt a surge of adrenaline as they turned everything on. The magnets whirred to life, and with it, the thrill of discovery filled the air.The experiment worked! Sourabh couldn't believe it. They had created a successful demonstration of electromagnetic induction, and the excitement was palpable. The group cheered, and Nitya ma'am clapped her hands in delight.“Excellent work, everyone! This is the kind of teamwork that makes science fun!” she praised, her eyes sparkling. Sourabh beamed, feeling a rush of pride wash over him.“Thanks, Nitya ma’am!” he managed to say, though his voice was barely above a whisper. She smiled back, and for a moment, the world faded away, leaving just the two of them in their bubble of shared success.As the class wrapped up, Sourabh's friends gathered around, buzzing with energy. “That was awesome! We should totally do more group projects!” Ravi exclaimed, still riding the high from the experiment.Sourabh nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. He felt the weight of reality settling back in. Yes, he had shared a great moment with Nitya ma'am, but he was still just a student. What would she think if she knew how deep his feelings ran? How could he possibly tell her without crossing the line?As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Nitya ma'am gathered her things. “Great job today, everyone! Remember, if you have any questions about the material, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help!”Sourabh lingered a moment longer, hoping to catch her eye one last time. When he did, he felt a rush of courage. “Nitya ma'am! About the experiment… could I—”But before he could finish, Ravi interrupted, dragging him away. “Come on, man! Let’s get some lunch. I’m starving!”Sourabh sighed, feeling a mix of disappointment and frustration as he walked away from the classroom. As they made their way to the cafeteria, his friends bantered loudly about their plans for the weekend, but Sourabh found it hard to focus. His thoughts kept drifting back to Nitya ma'am—the way she smiled, the warmth in her voice, the way she made physics seem less like a subject and more like a world of endless possibilities.Over lunch, his friends continued to tease him about his crush. “Dude, you’ve got it bad,” Ravi laughed, nudging him playfully. “You should just tell her you want to be her lab partner for life!”“Shut up, man!” Sourabh shot back, laughing but feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. “It’s not like that.”“Then what is it like? Because you look like you’re ready to propose or something!” another friend chimed in, and the table erupted into laughter.Sourabh tried to brush it off, but the teasing only deepened his internal conflict. Was it really so ridiculous to have feelings for his teacher? He felt trapped in a whirlwind of emotions—excitement, longing, confusion. It was all so intense, so overwhelming, and yet so exhilarating.As the lunch bell rang and the students began to filter out of the cafeteria, Sourabh felt a sense of resolution. Maybe he couldn’t act on his feelings just yet, but he could cherish these moments. He could appreciate the connection he felt with Nitya ma'am while also navigating the complexities of school life.With that thought, he gathered his things, ready to face the rest of the day. The next chapter of his high school experience awaited, filled with challenges and surprises. And who knew? Perhaps somewhere along the way, he’d find the courage to truly express how he felt.For now, Sourabh took a deep breath, ready to dive back into the world of physics, friendships, and the beautiful enigma that was Nitya ma'am.