"I don't want to become a mother."
This line is a taboo for women in some parts of the world, and so was for Khusi Mukherjee. At the age of 25, independent and single, she wanted to live her life according to her rules. But everything changed when...
"I like you, okay. I had since the first time I saw you. And after spending so many days with you, I must admit that these feelings inside me are getting more rapid. I am not in control of it anymore. And I know you like me too, that's why you spend time with me."
"Rajeev ... I ... " Khusi was flabbergasted at Rajeev's confession. She didn't ever hint that she liked him before. She spent time with him because he accompanied her everywhere she went. He was the only person who was genuinely interested to talk to her. But Khusi wasn't ready to jump into another relationship after being divorced just a month ago
"We don't have to rush in ... take your time ... "
"No Rajeev, we can't ... I am older than you, and ... "
"It doesn't matter to me," Rajeev assured.
Taking a deep breath in, Khusi decided to reveal him the reason. "I can't Rajeev. I am not ready for a relationship right now. I ... um ... I recently got divorced ... "
"What!?" Rajeev scowled, letting go of Khusi's hand.
"Yeah ... " Khusi licked her lips.
"You're divorced?" Rajeev asked, as if he wasn't sure what he heard.
"I am. After being married for 3 years. But hey, we can still befrien ... " Khusi tired to cheer him up, because she genuinely felt bad for rejecting him, but he quickly sprinted up from the chair.
"I have to go," he murmured, walking away.
And that was the last time Khusi's so-called colleagues had spoken to her, along with Rajeev. They had been avoiding her like plague.
The bell rang indicating start of the day for the the students, as teachers walked out of the staff room, to their designated classrooms. Khusi was assigned to take the geography class that day, of Cls VII B.
As soon as she walked in, only a few students stood up, greeting her, others ignoring her as usual. That had been going on for the last 2 weeks too. The students of Cls VII and VIII weren't much welcoming towards their new teacher.
"Sit down, and take out your books." Khusi ordered, tightening up her tone. She knew being a softie won't make her last there long.
"Turn to page 92. Today, we will learn about different kind of volcanoes." Khusi continued teaching, drawing on the blackboard and pointing out different parts of a volcano. A few students bothered to take notes, most of them busy in chatting, ignoring what Khusi was saying.
When Khusi felt the intensity of the whispers increasing, she slapped the duster on a desk harshly, glaring at the group fo students in the back.
"All of you stand up," she ordered. They didn't at first, but when Khusi demanded again, with a sharp tone, they complied, their faces unbothered.
"If you're so interested in speaking in my class, I suggest you stay out of it." Khusi chided them bitterly. They had been severely misbehaving.
"Why should we leave when you're the one who is incapable of teaching?" One of the students mocked. Khusi eyes widened at his audacity as she prowled upto him, glowering down.
"One more word and I will drag you down the Principal's office. I have been tolerating you four for a very long time," Khusi warned.
"Atleast lesser than your husband had to tolerate you. Oops! I mean ex-husband." The whole class resonated with snickers and scoffs and Khusi's heart seemed to stop. She couldn't digest what she just heard.
"Silence." She roared, braking a wooden scale on the student desk. They gasped at the open display of violence, and pin drop silence rang in the room.
Tears swarmed behind Khusi's eyes, but she didn't let it leak. She wouldn't loose it infront of her students. She couldn't.
Grabbing the book from her desk, she prowled out of the classroom towards the Principal's office, her steps hurried.
Three female staff were standing outside her classroom, aware of what took place inside a few minutes ago, due to the noise. As soon as Khusi walked pass them, she heard them taunting, "Huh! Drama queen."
Khusi's vision blurred as she slapped her palm on top of her mouth to control the sob which was on it's way out of her throat. She was slowly loosing her sanity.
*******
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