HE IS MY SPRING

Dear Diary, 4th October, 2017 My phone is acting up again. I'll talk to Chachu about the new iPhone 8 once he's back from his trip. Life's been smooth lately. After Krishna Sir resigned, we've had a string of Physics teachers come and go. Others are annoyed by the gaps, but I'm enjoying the free periods. School's fine overall. I'm proud that no one messes with me, though I admit, it's made me a bit arrogant. Miss you Maa and Papa, love you. *************** Riddhima's pov: As my Mercedes pulled up to the front gate of the school, I could see a group of girls standing nearby, whispering something. I stepped out of the car with a smile and waved at my driver before entering the school. The group of girls continued their conversation, unaware that I was passing by. "Is Adi still chasing after you, Surbhi?" one of them asked a little too loudly. Surbhi laughed and rolled her eyes. "No, I think he's moved on to someone else now. You know how girls can be, always jealous of others' happiness. She's just a relationship wrecker." I took out a piece of gum from my bag, stopping in my tracks and turning towards them. "Well, if Adi prefers someone who minds her own business instead of spreading gossip, there's nothing any girl can do about it, right? Sorry for your loss, Surgi." I faked an expression of sympathy before correcting myself, "I mean, Surbhi." Her friend couldn't resist making a snide remark. "No wonder Adi is head over heels for her. She's just like him- a player." She gave her friend a sharp look before turning back to me. "They both deserve each other, losers," she said with a bitter tone. *************** "Riddhi, excited?" Aarush, three months older than me and my partner in crime, asked with a sly grin. "About what?" I replied, my annoyance palpable as I focused on my Biology textbook. "For the new Physics teacher starting today," Rush announced cheerfully, flashing his trademark smile that made girls swoon. "What teacher? I'm in no mood for pranks," I retorted, skepticism etched on my face as I continued reading. "Rishabh Khanna, or so his name goes. I swear on you, I'm not lying," Rush affirmed, solemnly placing a hand on my head to emphasize his sincerity. I glanced up, scrutinizing his expression for any hint of mischief. To my surprise, his demeanor was earnest and serious. "f**k! Are you serious?" I exclaimed, frustration evident in my tone. "Dead serious," Rush confirmed with a playful twinkle in his eye. "Okay students, make a line height-wise with your hands at the back and go to the assembly hall. It's time," announced the P.E. teacher, breaking the monotony of the morning. "Sir! My... illness... you know right?" I feigned sickness every time there was an assembly. I found them to be an utter waste of time. "Yes, yes, I know beta, you rest!" replied the P.E. teacher indulgently. It wasn't just him; even the principal seemed to admire and favor me. They knew my Chachu was a generous donor to the school, and I made sure to leverage every advantage that came with it. Third person pov: As everyone shuffled towards the assembly hall, a girl whispered to her friend, "Who is this new guy on the stage towards the left?" "Does he look like a guy to you? He's a hot man, like Siddharth Malhotra!" her friend exclaimed, barely containing her excitement. "Good morning, my enthusiastic kiddos!" boomed the principal's voice, attempting to inject energy into the bored and lethargic crowd. "I have an announcement for the PCB batch of 11th and 12th. This is Mr. Rishabh Khanna, who will be handling Physics for your classes. Don't judge him by his age; he may look young, but he's got solid knowledge and teaching skills. All the best, Sir!" Rishabh flashed a charming smile at the assembled students, prompting a flurry of whispers and giggles among the girls. "He's definitely cute," someone muttered, confirming the growing intrigue about the new Physics teacher. *************** Riddhima's pov: "He was so good-looking, right?" Natasha chimed in with her fake American accent as she breezed into the classroom and settled beside me. Another girl nodded enthusiastically in agreement. "The first three periods are Physics, Riddhi!" Rush informed me, causing me to bury my head in frustration in the textbook on my desk. "Why are you so surprised? Didn't you check the timetable they posted on the school app yesterday?" He asked, placing his Physics textbook on the desk. "My phone won't let me," I muttered irritably, still absorbed in the pages of my Biology book. Rishabh Sir's arrival had stirred up quite the buzz among the students, particularly the girls. As much as I tried to stay focused on my studies, the chatter around me about his good looks and charm was hard to ignore. Before we could discuss anything further, I heard the distinct sound of footsteps entering the classroom, signaling his arrival. With a heavy sigh, I slumped forward, resting my head on the desk in clear annoyance. The prospect of no more free Physics periods starting today filled me with frustration. I silently hoped that this new teacher, like the others before him, would soon leave the school, sparing us from three periods of physics torture. Closing my eyes, I tried to muster the motivation to endure the impending classes. The classroom fell momentarily silent, the air thick with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. His presence seemed to command attention without him saying a word. As I sat at the front desk, pretending to be asleep, I felt a gentle knock on the desk that jolted me awake. My annoyed expression softened instantly when I saw his warm smile. He held books and a water bottle in one hand, while the other rested casually on my desk. "Your name?" he asked sweetly, his voice calm and polite. "Ri---Ri--Riddhima Sabharwal," I stammered, surprised at my own hesitation. I never stammered, no matter the situation. "Good. So, Miss Sabharwal, I would not want you sleeping on my very first day of school, and that too sitting in the very first bench," he remarked gently, his tone firm but kind. His words made me sit up straight, my eyes wide open with surprise and a hint of embarrassment. "I like that. Now, could you please close these biology books and take out your Physics ones? I really don't know Biology, sorry," he continued smoothly, prompting me to oblige instantly. I hurriedly closed my Biology textbook and fumbled to pull out my Physics notes, feeling a mix of amusement and admiration for his straightforward approach. Rishabh Sir stepped onto the podium and positioned himself in the center, placing his books and water bottle neatly on the table. He surveyed the class with a composed demeanor. "Now, everyone," he began, his voice carrying authority yet tinged with humor, "my class generally doesn't have many rules, so let's skip to the most important part of my teaching." He paused for effect, earning curious glances from the students. "We know you have tests every week," he continued, his tone serious yet somehow lighthearted. "I never praise people who score the highest in my subject. I only praise those who have improved their scores compared to their previous performance." He fixed his gaze on each student expectantly. "To be in my good books, you'll have to constantly keep improving yourself and earning compliments from me. Am I understood?" he asked, his expression challenging yet inviting. "Great! Another thing is that out of the 3 periods that we have per day, I will be teaching you new concepts only in the first 2 periods! The 3rd period we will do something interesting! We are gonna go to the ground at the back of the school and use the wall of the ground for learning formulas and concepts that I taught you that particular day. You will paint whatever I taught you that day in the classroom on the walls and I will see where you're going wrong! At the end of the period I will check who has made the most mistakes and you all can discuss those mistakes with the person who made nil errors. Am I clear?" The excitement in the classroom was palpable as everyone nodded vigorously in agreement. His unconventional teaching style had already won over most of the class. "Okay class, now a few questions," Rishabh Sir continued, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "People who are absolutely in love with Physics, raise your hands, and I want you all to be as honest as you can be." Aarush, Natasha, and a few others eagerly raised their hands, their enthusiasm for Physics evident. "Oh, okay, I will note you all down and keenly observe your performance," He remarked with a smirk, clearly enjoying the response. "Now, students who are not too keen on the subject but intend to improve since this subject is in the syllabus, raise your hands," he instructed, and a few reluctantly raised their hands, acknowledging the necessity of the subject. Sir made a mental note of their names before his gaze settled on me, the only one left in the class who hadn't raised a hand yet. "Now, those who absolutely, definitely loathe the subject, raise your hands," he declared, his eyes fixed on me. Without hesitation, I raised my hand confidently, meeting his gaze head-on. "Awesome, I have always liked to make ignorant students fall in love with my subject. You will be the next one!" Sir declared enthusiastically. "Sir, it's not as easy as it seems. Physics is like chicken for me, and I am a pure vegetarian," I quipped, earning a chorus of laughter from the students. "What a coincidence, I'm a vegetarian too!" Rishabh Sir replied with a grin, his smile never faltering as he engaged with the class. His response caught me off guard, and despite my attempt to maintain a serious demeanor, I couldn't help but smile in response to his infectious enthusiasm. The class had flown by faster than I expected, the first two periods with Sir passing in what felt like a heartbeat. For the first time in a long while, I found myself engaged in the subject, not once checking my watch or daydreaming about unrelated matters. Despite enjoying the class, I stubbornly refused to admit it. "So class, meet you after the break in the ground. No need to be nervous or anything, we are just learning, but in a different way. Miss Sabharwal, you will be there too, right?" Sir's smile was warm and inviting, yet there was an underlying firmness in his tone. I hesitated for a moment, tempted to decline just to assert my independence. "Nope, I might just stay inside and do some Biology," I retorted arrogantly, crossing my arms defensively. "Ouch, well, fine, as you wish," Sir responded casually, though I sensed a hint of disappointment in his voice. Teachers bending the rules to accommodate me was nothing new; it had been a constant throughout my academic life. But this time felt different. There was something in me that told me not to upset Rishabh Sir, something I couldn't quite ignore.