The sun had already begun to blaze over the school courtyard by the time Shalini arrived, the warm rays glinting off the metal gate like a silent blessing. Her leather satchel brushed against her hip with every step, and her crisp green cotton kurta whispered against her legs. She paused for a moment near the threshold, breathing in the familiar scent of chalk, ink, and the faint, sweet bloom of the school's bougainvillea vines — a fragrance she had come to associate with fresh starts.
First day of the new session, she reminded herself, straightening her dupatta. The past few weeks had been quiet, almost lonely, with only Avi for company. While she treasured her son, his energy and questions could never quite fill the silent space left behind by her husband's absence. The holidays had felt long and heavy. Now, as the new term began, she was grateful for the sense of purpose that returned with her work.
Her classroom buzzed with restrained chatter, the polished desks already stacked with new notebooks and sharpened pencils lined up like tiny soldiers. She stepped inside, inhaling the faint scent of fresh paint from where the maintenance team had touched up the walls.
"Good morning, everyone," she called, her voice bright and musical.
A chorus of "Good morning, ma'am!" rang back, echoing from the corners of the room.
Shalini let her gaze sweep over the familiar faces, the same lively crowd of eager college students she had guided through their coursework last year. Yet, two unfamiliar figures stood out, seated at the front, their posture more rigid than the rest.
"These two," she said, smiling as she gestured to them, "are our new scholarship students. Please welcome Ravi and Prayush."
The class offered a polite round of applause.
Ravi was the first to stand. Tall, with a spare, athletic build, he had an open, steady look in his eyes, the kind of boy who seemed used to carrying heavy responsibilities. His neatly pressed uniform told Shalini that someone at home had taken special care to prepare him.
Prayush rose next. Broad-shouldered, darker-skinned, with an intensity behind his gaze that made Shalini wonder about the world he'd left behind. There was a restlessness about him, a tension that ran through his limbs even as he tried to appear calm.
"I hope you all will make them feel at home," Shalini continued, catching Ravi's nervous glance and Prayush's fleeting, uneasy smile. "They've earned their place here through hard work and dedication, and I'm sure they will achieve great things."
Some of the other students nodded encouragingly, while a few exchanged curious looks. Scholarship kids often had to prove themselves twice over. Shalini made a mental note to keep a close eye on them, to help them if they faltered.
She moved on to the day's announcements, reading out the new class timetable, updates about extracurricular clubs, and a reminder that the coaching program after hours was still open to those who needed extra help.
When the bell finally rang, releasing them for their first break, the room exploded in a wave of laughter and chatter. Ravi and Prayush waited politely until the crowd had thinned before stepping up to her desk.
"Ma'am," Ravi said, his voice carefully steady, "thank you for introducing us. We will try our best."
Shalini nodded. "That's all I ask. You can always come to me if you feel behind or worried. I expect a lot from you both."
Prayush opened his mouth as if to reply, but instead gave a small, silent nod. His eyes darted away, tracing the edge of her dupatta for a second before he looked down at the floor. Shalini wondered at that tiny gesture — nerves, perhaps, or simply shyness.
"You'll find your footing soon," she reassured them. "Give it a few days."
They thanked her and stepped aside as another group of students crowded around with questions about the new syllabus.
When Shalini finally stepped into the corridor, she spotted Avi coming toward her from the courtyard. A grin split his face as soon as he saw her, and she felt a sudden wave of affection flood her chest.
"Ma!" he called, weaving around other students with the agility of a boy who had always felt at home here.
He was taller now, leaner, with a quickness in his step that reminded her painfully of his father. His hair, grown a bit too long over the break, flopped across his forehead as he drew near.
"Back from your break already?" she teased, reaching out to smooth his hair.
Avi squirmed away, rolling his eyes. "Ma, please, not in front of everyone."
Shalini laughed. "Alright, Mr. Grown-up. How was your trip?"
"Boring," he sighed dramatically. "Grandpa made me help in the garden every morning. I missed my friends. And—" he paused, glancing at her carefully, "I missed you too."
Her heart squeezed. "I missed you, beta."
"Hey," Avi added, dropping his voice, "can we have samosas after school?"
Shalini smiled, nodding. "Of course. First day deserves a treat."
He brightened instantly. "Yes!"
She watched him bounce off toward his own class, a small flutter of hope warming her. Even if life had felt colorless these past months, Avi's energy had a way of restoring her spirit.
When she turned back toward her own classroom, she nearly collided with Mrs. D'Souza from the English department.
"Shalini! Welcome back," the older teacher beamed, adjusting her round glasses. "New year, new headaches, hmm?"
Shalini laughed softly. "As always."
Mrs. D'Souza lowered her voice, glancing conspiratorially toward Ravi and Prayush, who were still lingering in the hallway. "You've got the scholarship boys, I hear?"
"Yes, ma'am," Shalini nodded.
"Keep an eye on them," Mrs. D'Souza said, not unkindly. "Bright, but... you know, sometimes those children carry heavy burdens."
"I will," Shalini promised.
When the next bell rang, she gathered up her register and stepped back into class, trying to chase away a sudden swirl of unease. Maybe it was only the first-day tension, but there was a strange spark in Prayush's eyes that unsettled her, as though he were watching her far more closely than any student had the right to.
Don't imagine things, she told herself firmly, setting her attendance book on the table. It's just the new term nerves.
Yet later, as she wrote a few opening lines on the whiteboard, she sensed Ravi's gaze on her as well. Not in a disrespectful way, exactly — more a curious, focused attention, as if he were committing every word she spoke to memory.
They were good boys, she reminded herself, deserving of this chance. Still, the weight of their eyes followed her like a pulse, stirring a faint, inexplicable tension low in her belly.
She shook it off and forced a bright smile, determined to lead them through the first exercise of the year. As she explained the new curriculum, taking care to pause for their questions, she couldn't help but notice how quiet the room had become, how even the air seemed to still itself around her voice.
The morning passed in a rush of introductions and explanations. By the time the lunch bell rang, Shalini's throat was dry and her energy had begun to flag. She retreated to the staffroom for a moment of calm, grateful for the breeze flowing in through the barred windows.
A group of teachers gathered near the tea kettle, swapping gossip about summer weddings and administrative headaches. Shalini listened absently, her mind drifting back to Ravi and Prayush. She wondered what their homes were like, what dreams they might carry, what scars they might hide.
And she wondered, with a shiver she could not quite name, what it might feel like to let their eyes linger on her a little longer.
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