Chapter 4: The Class Turns Against Me

My ears burned with shame, but I had nothing to hide. “Sir, honestly bol raha hoon, sabko darr lagta hai phone lana ka, isliye main chhupke phone laata hoon. Pachas paise lagta hai, use karo. Isliye sabke parents ko mera number yaad hai.”

I’d become the unofficial STD booth of our class. My number was scribbled in everyone’s diaries. Sometimes even the PT sir would call his wife using my phone. It was our own secret jugaad, until today.

He looked at me as if I was running a gambling den, “Arey wah, dhandha bhi chal raha hai school mein? Kamaal karte ho, beta.” The sarcasm stung more than any slap.

I was nearly shouting, “Sir, abhi dhandhe ki baat mat kijiye, ek maa ki zindagi ka sawaal hai!” My voice shook, my words bouncing off the classroom walls.

His anger exploded. He lunged, fingers digging into my shirt collar, his face inches from mine. “Teri maa pe bol! Tu curse kar raha hai meri maa ko!” His voice cracked. The class was frozen, watching us like an India-Pakistan final.

Sir rushed in, prying us apart with surprising strength. “Bas, ho gaya! Idhar aao, dono!” The room was tense, like before a heavy monsoon storm.

Sir’s tone was low, but dangerous. “Kya chahiye tujhe ab?” His eyes were sharp, as if daring me to ask for something unreasonable.

I spoke fast, desperate, “Sir, phone de dijiye abhi, school ke bahar mobile shop hai. Data cable se connect kar sakte hain, turant number nikal ke uske papa ko call karenge!” My hands shook as I gestured, trying to convince him.

He clapped sarcastically, making the situation feel even more hopeless. “Wah wah, kya plan hai! Tum toh ek number ke chatur ho!” The class looked back and forth, confused about whether to laugh or be scared.

For a second, I wondered if I’d stepped into some strange TV serial. Was everyone here acting, except me? Even my best friend looked worried, biting his pen cap.

It all felt wrong. The teacher’s applause echoed in the silent classroom, each clap making my ears ring with shame and frustration. I wanted to scream, to shake everyone out of this madness.