HE IS MY SPRING

Considerable Improvement

Rishabh's pov:

As the students began gathering on the school ground, I distributed paintbrushes and encouraged them to start painting the physics formulas on the wall. After about 15 minutes, I noticed Riddhima finally making her way towards me.

"Oh, hey! I thought you weren't gonna come," I said with a playful grin.

"I thought so too," she replied, looking slightly bewildered.

"Just so you know, there's no compulsion, but since you're here, let's start," I offered her a paintbrush.

"I will just stand here. I can't draw or paint anything, I didn't pay attention in class," she said, trying to sound nonchalant but meeting my gaze with a hint of mischief.

I couldn't help but smile at her attempt. "It's fine by me. You can observe today and participate tomorrow if you want," I replied warmly before turning to help other students.

Throughout the activity, I noticed Riddhima observing me closely, her curiosity evident despite her initial reluctance. I proceeded to clap and compliment those who got the formulas right, earning puzzled glances from Riddhima. Her scrutiny made me wonder what she was thinking.

Suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere was shattered by the principal's furious voice. "What the hell is going on here, Rishabh sir? Why are they vandalizing the school property? They could have done this in their notebooks!" he exclaimed, his anger palpable.

"They have been doing this in their notebooks for years. Let's try something new," I defended, nodding towards a student proudly displaying his painted formulas.

The principal scanned the scene and reluctantly acknowledged the engagement of even the most mischievous students in the activity. "Hmm, everyone seems to be participating. But what about Riddhima?" he pointedly asked, noticing her standing apart looking disinterested.

"Uh, she'll start participating from tomorrow," I improvised, unsure of myself.

The principal scoffed. "Let me tell you the truth. She won't do anything you tell her to. She's already decided she hates you because you're teaching Physics, her weakest subject," he declared with a hint of sarcasm.

"Everyone has a weak point, sir. As teachers, it's our job to identify and turn that weakness into strength. I'm up for the challenge," I asserted confidently.

"Whatever you say, Rishabh. She's not easy. You can't scold or discipline her either; her uncle holds sway," the principal sighed. "Things are tricky."

"I rarely lose my temper, sir, especially not with a student. But to stay in her and her uncle's good books, I won't sugarcoat anything. I will deal with her honestly." I assured him. "I remember she is great at Chemistry and Biology. I'll help bridge that gap in Physics."

With a nod of understanding, we shook hands, determined to tackle the challenge ahead.

***************

Riddhima's pov:

As the weekly test approached, I found myself surprisingly focused on Physics. Despite my initial reluctance towards the subject, Rishabh Sir's teaching had captivated me. His calm demeanor and patient explanations made me want to pay attention, something I hadn't felt with previous teachers.

Throughout the week, I diligently studied, revising formulas and practicing problems. Unlike before, where I avoided Physics questions in tests, I was determined this time. I wanted to see if I could actually do well and impress Sir with my effort.

On the day of the test, I arrived early, feeling a mix of nerves and determination. As I sat down with the paper in front of me, I took a deep breath and began answering the questions. Each problem presented a challenge, but I recalled the methods Sir had taught us, and I applied them carefully.

During the test, I felt a sense of satisfaction with each correct answer. It was a new feeling for me in Physics—a subject I had often ignored or disliked. But Rishabh Sir's teaching had made it clearer and more approachable.

To my surprise, the test was heavily formula-based, and I managed to attempt 32 out of 45 questions. With each question worth 4 marks, I anticipated a score around 100 despite potential deductions. Excitedly, I boasted to everyone I encountered on my way out of the exam hall about the number of Physics questions I had tackled.

"Good morning everyone. The results have come out for the test yesterday. And I'm glad you all have done really well in this test. Let me take names of the people who have showed considerable improvement in this exam. So, there's Mr. Singhania who has scored 150 in this test out of 180, improvement of 10 marks, good!" Everyone clapped for Aarush and he smiled proudly.

"Next up, Miss Sinha, improvement of 20 marks, awesome, keep it up!" He announced looking into the result sheet on his phone. He took the names of few more students who scored above 100 after their improvement. "Now, Miss Sabharwal with the most improvement, a 50 marks improvement. From 0, she actually scored 50 today." There was no hint of sarcasm in his voice yet the students started laughing and whispering among themselves after hearing him.

"Wha--what?" I was dumbfounded and looked at him like he had committed a murder. "What? I am not joking Miss Sabharwal, didn't you calculate your scores?" Sir asked calmly. "But, Sir, I attempted 32 questions, should have gotten above 100 at the least! How did I get so less?" I inquired him as if he was the one attempting my paper.

"Did you forget about negative marking? It's ok, look at the questions where you went wrong and try to rectify your mistakes. That's the internal meaning of mock tests. Approach me in case of dou--" Before he could say anything more, I ran out of the classroom rubbing my tears at the embarrassment.

"Enough everyone! You all need to understand that improvements are 100 times better than scoring full marks. If you laugh at someone's improvement even when it's just a 5 marks improvement, remember you may end up scoring less in the next exam due to arrogance and overconfidence. Moving on with the current chapter, today we will learn about gravitational potential."

I could hear his voice echoing through the classroom, cutting through the lingering giggles and whispers like a knife.

I stood outside, still reeling from the embarrassment of my unexpected score announcement.

I couldn't bring myself to enter the class after that humiliating moment. I felt like such a fool, my overconfidence about my score turning into a public display of failure. Before Rishabh Sir arrived at our school, I had never cared much about my Physics grades.

But now, driven by a desire to impress him, I had earnestly attempted the test, only to face this overwhelming embarrassment.

I found refuge in the washroom, replaying the scene from the classroom in my mind over and over. Each time, the laughter and whispers echoed louder, cutting into my confidence like sharp blades. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes, a mix of frustration and humiliation overwhelming me. I had never felt so exposed and vulnerable before.

The weight of my expectations crashed down on me. I had hoped to prove myself capable, to show Sir that I could excel in his subject. Instead, I became a laughingstock. The regret of not double-checking my answers, of underestimating the impact of negative marking, gnawed at me.

After I heard the bell ring, signaling the end of the period, I reluctantly emerged from the girl's washroom and spotted him about to ascend the stairs. I hurried towards my classroom, hoping to avoid any further embarrassment, but he caught my arm gently as I passed by.

"Hey, you okay? I didn't mean to embarrass you back there. Take it as motivation to do better next time," he said reassuringly, his warm smile softening my embarrassment.

I looked at him incredulously. "I thought you were mocking me in front of the whole class, so I dashed out of there. Aren't you disappointed?" I asked, my eyes wide with concern.

He chuckled softly. "Why would I be disappointed? I'm proud of your 50 marks improvement. It's the highest in class! Look at the bright side, you're making progress, and that's what matters," he said, his hand ruffling my hair playfully.

"Oh, and what event are you planning for the upcoming sports day?" he inquired, changing the subject cheerfully.

"We're having a sports day? Seriously? Then it's basketball for me," I replied confidently, flashing him my best grin.

"Good to hear. At least you're smiling now," he remarked with a smile of his own before heading upstairs.

As he walked away, I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief. "There's something about this guy. Why do I keep smiling like an i***t around him? And why am I still smiling?" I muttered to myself, playfully smacking my forehead before heading into my classroom.