The next day.
Morning.
The corridor of Pratapanagar Girls' High School.
Sneha was walking slowly toward her classroom, as if every step was a battle for her. On one side, her heavy chest felt like a burden; on the other, the heavy school bag weighed down her back—altogether, her slim, tall body seemed almost bent over. Weakness gripped her so tightly that it felt as though she could barely carry her own body. Her pain was visible in the way she dragged her feet as she walked.
Sneha naturally can't endure much pain. Her body doesn't have the strength to carry extra weight. The hypoglycemia was still there. Even a little walking made her chest flutter and her vision blur. Yet, she kept moving slowly, heading toward her classroom.
Just then, at the corner of the corridor, Anurag Sir stood in front of her. The moment Sneha saw him, her face flushed red with embarrassment. She lowered her eyes and turned her face, trying to avoid him—because she always felt very shy when Sir came close.
Though secretly, Sneha had begun to like Sir. In the entire school, Anurag Sir was like a fairy-tale figure—young, handsome, smart, and kind. The teachers respected him, and the girls called him "the crush of the school."
But Sneha was so shy that she couldn't stand tall in front of him. Moreover, she didn't want Sir to see her weakness. She was afraid he might worry about her. So, she hurried to get away.
But nothing escaped Anurag Sir's eyes. He noticed the effort she was making to walk, the way her body bent under the weight. His gaze first landed on her large chest, then shifted to her bag—it seemed both were heavier than she could manage.
He sensed that both her body and mind were struggling. With a touch of sympathy in his eyes, he looked at her and then stepped forward.
— "Sneha?"
Sneha suddenly trembled. That familiar voice.
Anurag Sir stepped closer to her.
As he stood before her, she shrank even more—head bowed, voice caught somewhere in her throat.
— "Yes… Sir?"
— "Is your body alright? It must be hard for you to walk, isn't it?" His voice was deep but incredibly gentle.
Sneha tried to say something but couldn't. She just nodded "yes."
— "That bag… looks very heavy. Should I carry it for you? I'm also going to the third floor. Your body isn't well; it must be difficult to climb up."
Sneha immediately said, her voice shaking—
— "No, Sir, I… I can carry it. It's nothing."
— "It's something, Sneha," this time his voice carried a soft yet firm tone. "I know you, I know how you take care of yourself.
There's tiredness in your eyes. You may not say it, but I understand."
Sneha was speechless. Sir's sincerity brought tears to her eyes. No one had cared for her so much until now.
Sir took a step closer.
— "Give me your bag. Nothing will happen, I'm taking it. I don't want you to take another step and fall. You can't even realize how risky this is for your body."
Sneha looked up, startled. After a moment's hesitation, she extended the bag toward him.
Sir took the bag in his hand and looked at her, saying—
— "Come on. We'll go up slowly. Stay behind me. If you feel any pain, tell me immediately, alright?"
She only nodded.
By the time they reached the third floor, Sir had stopped a few times. He turned his head and asked—
— "Feeling tired?"
— "No, Sir."
— "How's your breathing? Is it okay?"
— "Y-yes, Sir."
In a quiet, somewhat hushed tone, Anurag Sir said—
— "If you feel even a little unwell, I'll be right by your side. I won't leave you."
He paused a little and then added,
— "If needed, I'll carry your bag upstairs every day. When you come to school, come to my cabin first, alright?"
Sneha's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
His cabin? Did she hear that right? He said she should come every day?
And her bag— it would be in his hands?
Could a teacher really carry a student's bag?
She had never seen anything like that before. Yet, there was something in Sir's words that no one dared question or ask for an explanation.
She said nothing, only lowered her eyes.
That's how she was—known as the "quiet girl," someone everyone wanted to shape in their own way.
But today, in Anurag Sir's voice, there was an indistinct tenderness, a care mixed with a certain right—like a silent veil enveloping her.
When they reached the classroom door, Sir slowly handed the bag back to Sneha.
In his eyes was that familiar gentle affection, but now mixed with an unspoken claim—like a right without permission.
— "Now go. Study well. And don't play with your health—remember, that's my order."
Sneha said nothing.
But her eyes trembled lightly with a faint, secluded light.
She didn't know what to call this relationship,
but she understood— a shadow was slowly moving toward her side.
Soft, like reliance. A kind of dizzying refuge.
Before leaving, Sir suddenly put his hand in his pocket and said—
— "Oh yes, here."
He offered her a chocolate.
— "Eat this."
He placed it in her hand in a way that felt like a gentle touch of affection.
Sneha silently took the chocolate. Her fingers trembled slightly.
Though her head was bowed, she could feel how intense and yet calmly deep Sir's gaze was.
She remained silent, feeling as if speaking a word would shatter the moment.
With a slightly possessive tone, Sir said—
— "If either your body or mind feels bad at any time, you'll tell me first."
Sneha slowly nodded, "Yes, Sir…"
Seeing her shy nature, Sir smiled a little.
He looked at her for a while, as if wanting to see only her for a thousand lifetimes.
Finally, he said—
— "Take good care of yourself. And remember one thing…
I really don't like girls who don't listen to me.
So… be a good girl."
Sneha's breath caught for a moment.
"Good girl"— the words echoed softly inside her mind like a gentle vibration.
She didn't know what exactly this man's relationship with her was becoming.
But she understood—someone was gently pulling her into his world.
Silent, yet undeniably magnetic…
---
To be continued...