Chapter 9: chapter 9

Chapter 9The next day dawned bright and clear, a sharp contrast to the previous week’s rain. Sourabh woke up with a renewed sense of purpose, eager to return to school and share the news of Nitya ma'am’s improving condition with his friends. He quickly got dressed, his heart racing at the thought of discussing her with his classmates.As he cycled through the village, he felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. The school loomed ahead, its familiar walls a backdrop to countless memories. Once he parked his bicycle, he was greeted by the sounds of laughter and chatter. His friends were gathered near the entrance, animatedly discussing the latest cricket match.“Hey, Sourabh!” Ravi called out, spotting him. “Where were you yesterday? You missed all the fun during lunch!”“Yeah, what happened to you?” Ashok chimed in. “You looked like you had a secret mission or something.”Sourabh smiled, feeling the camaraderie. “You could say that. I was checking on Nitya ma'am. She wasn’t feeling well.”“Is she okay?” Ravi asked, his expression shifting to concern.“Yeah, she’s better now. I made her some soup,” he replied, a sense of pride creeping into his voice.“Look at you, the chef!” Ashok teased. “Next, you’ll be bringing her flowers!”“Hey, don’t give him any ideas!” Ravi laughed, but there was a hint of genuine curiosity in his tone. “Seriously, though. You really care about her, don’t you?”Sourabh shrugged, trying to play it cool. “She’s an amazing teacher. We all want her back.”As they moved inside, Sourabh felt a growing sense of anticipation. They gathered in their usual spot, but the usual banter was slightly subdued as his friends began discussing the upcoming exams. Sourabh found himself distracted, his mind drifting back to the time spent with Nitya ma'am and the bond that had formed between them.During math class, Sourabh struggled to focus. Mr. Verma droned on about quadratic equations, but all he could think about was Nitya ma'am’s laughter and the way her eyes sparkled when she spoke about physics. Each time he tried to concentrate on the chalkboard, memories of her kindness would pull him back into thoughts of her health and happiness.When the bell finally rang for lunch, he eagerly joined his friends in the cafeteria. They sat around their usual table, but today felt different; a new energy crackled in the air.“Sourabh, what did Nitya ma'am say about coming back?” Ravi asked between bites of his sandwich.“I think she’ll be back soon. She seemed really happy when I visited,” he replied, trying to sound optimistic.Ashok raised an eyebrow. “You should invite her for lunch next time. You know, to say thank you for being a great teacher.”“Or bring her snacks from here!” Ravi added with a mischievous grin. “We can set up a picnic outside her flat.”Sourabh chuckled, but a part of him felt anxious. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I don’t want to overstep.”“Come on, it’s just food! Plus, she deserves some fun,” Ashok insisted. “It’ll be a nice surprise.”Sourabh nodded, but he couldn’t shake off the nervousness. He was already crossing boundaries by caring for her in this way. What if his feelings were too much?As the lunch period wore on, the conversation shifted to the upcoming exams, and Sourabh attempted to join in. However, his mind kept drifting back to Nitya ma'am. The warmth of her presence, the comfort of their conversations, and the care they had shown for one another felt significant.Finally, as they headed back to class, Sourabh’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a message from an unknown number."Hi, this is Nitya. I just wanted to say thank you for your help. I’m feeling much better!"His heart raced as he read the message. She had saved his number!"I'm glad to hear that! Everyone misses you in class."He sent back, his fingers shaking with excitement. A moment later, his phone buzzed again."Tell them I’ll be back next week, hopefully. I miss teaching you all!"A smile broke across Sourabh's face as he read her response. The thought of seeing her back in the classroom filled him with joy.As the day wore on, Sourabh felt buoyed by the exchange. He couldn’t wait to share the news with his friends. After school, he gathered with them again near the bike racks.“Guys, I got a message from Nitya ma'am!” he announced, trying to contain his excitement.“What did she say?” Ashok leaned in, intrigued.“She’s feeling better and hopes to be back next week!” Sourabh replied, unable to keep the grin off his face.“That's awesome!” Ravi exclaimed. “We need to celebrate. How about a welcome-back party?”Sourabh felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. “A party? I don’t know...”“Come on, it’ll be fun!” Ashok urged. “We can decorate the classroom and bring snacks. It'll show her we appreciate her!”As they planned the details, Sourabh found himself swept up in their enthusiasm. The idea of making Nitya ma'am feel special filled him with purpose. He could already envision the decorations, the laughter, and the way her face would light up when she saw how much they cared.The next few days passed in a blur of excitement and preparation. They worked together to gather supplies, plan decorations, and even coordinate with other students to keep it a surprise. Sourabh was caught up in the energy of it all, and each passing day brought him closer to the moment he had been eagerly anticipating.As they set up the classroom on the day of her return, Sourabh felt a mix of nerves and excitement. The blackboard was adorned with colorful drawings, and they had arranged a small table filled with snacks and notes from their classmates. He glanced at the clock, counting down the minutes until she would arrive.Finally, the moment came. The classroom door swung open, and there stood Nitya ma'am, her eyes widening in surprise. She looked radiant, a glow returning to her cheeks, and Sourabh’s heart raced at the sight of her.“Surprise!” the class shouted, and Nitya ma'am stood there, speechless, her expression shifting from surprise to joy.“You guys!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with emotion. “This is amazing!”Sourabh stepped forward, his heart pounding. “We just wanted to show you how much we missed you.”Tears glistened in her eyes as she took in the scene—the decorations, the snacks, the smiling faces of her students. “I can’t believe you did all this for me. Thank you, truly.”As she moved into the room, Sourabh felt a rush of warmth. This was a moment he had longed for, the culmination of all the care and connection they had built. And as he watched her embrace his friends, he felt a quiet determination growing within him.He wanted to continue to be there for her, not just as a student but as someone who truly understood and appreciated her. As they celebrated together, Sourabh realized that this was just the beginning of a deeper relationship, one that would grow in ways he couldn’t yet imagine.