Aftermath

Kabir...!!! [a familiar voice cut through the air] Huh..? Varun.. what happened.. what happened? [Varun gripped my shoulder, his fingers digging in] Man, you skipped yesterday's test.. that's what happened..!! Do you know what will happen to you now..!! [Varun's face was a mask of worry] [Cynical tone] What will Mathew sir do to you...? I.. [pause] know what will happen to me.. why didn't you come to school yesterday? I.. [paused] I.. what, Kabir? Tell the truth.. now.. [Varun's voice edged with impatience] I bunked school yesterday. [Varun's eyes widened in disbelief] You did what...? [Varun yanked my arm, dragging me to a shadowed corner] You did what now...!!! I know what I did, Varun.. [a wave of despair washed over Varun's face] Did you even think what will happen if someone finds out what you did..!! What will uncle and aunty do to you..!! I.. don't [pause] know.. are you kidding me.. you aren't serious right now.. [Kabir, please come to the dean's office, as Kabir's name echoed from the speaker] Oh, you've got to be kidding me right now... [Varun's tone dripped with sarcasm] What will you tell the dean, Kabir...? I.. will tell her that I was sick. [Varun stared, his jaw slack] You were [pause] sick...? That's the best you could come up with...? I don't know, I wasn't prepared to be called right now. [Mr. Kabir, please come to the dean's office right now] I've got to go, man.. [my voice trembled] Yeah, no shit.. [Varun's voice was strained]

[I knocked, the sound hollow in the silence] Can I come in, ma'am...? Yes, come in. [A voice, sharp and precise, answered from within] Yes.. come in, Kabir.. thank you, ma'am.. [Sir Mathew and the dean sat behind a polished desk] [Sir Mathew's eyes bored into me, a coldness that made my skin crawl] Y..ou [stammering] you called me, ma'am...? Yes, do you know why I have called you, Kabir...? [The dean's voice was smooth, yet firm] I.. don't [stammering] ma'am.. well, let me jog your memory. [The dean's smile was thin, almost predatory] Yesterday you were absent for a very important math test that Sir Mathew was going to conduct.. were there any reasons that hindered you from coming to school for the test, Kabir...? [My hands twisted together, knuckles white] Well, ma'am.. [stammering] yesterday.. I had a very high fever.. so that's why I couldn't come to school yesterday.. [The dean and Sir Mathew exchanged a glance, their eyes lingering on my fidgeting hands].. Oh, so you had a fever...? Yes, ma'am.. are you feeling okay now, Kabir...? Yes, ma'am. Well, that's good to hear. [The dean's tone was laced with skepticism] Mathew sir, I want you to conduct Kabir's test today.. yes, ma'am. [My heart pounded against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat] Y..ou [stammering] mean right now...? Yes, is there any problem with that, Kabir...? No, it's just that I have not prepared for yesterday's test... Ohh, don't worry.. I taught this chapter a week ago. [Mathew sir's voice was a dismissive sneer, crushing any hope I had] You will be able to pass the test, right, Kabir...? [Mathew sir's eyes were like ice] I.. think I will be able to pass the test.. [my voice was a mere whisper] That's great to hear, Kabir... you may leave now.. thank you, ma'am. [I stumbled out, rushing towards Varun] Varunn...!!! Huh..? Kabir, what happened...? [I gasped for air, my lungs burning] Ma..n I.. am.. doomed.. wow, there, calm down, catch a breath, man... [Varun's voice was soothing, but his eyes were wide] I am doomed.. what do you mean you are doomed...? [Varun's brow furrowed] [I glanced around, seeing the curious stares of my classmates, and pulled Varun away] Kabir, what's going on now? Can you please explain it to me? [Varun's voice was laced with worry] The dean told me to take the test.. what!! Yes.. [Varun's mouth dropped open] Explain it to me from the start, what happened.. [I recounted the encounter, my voice trembling] That man and that witch.. God, I hate both of them. [Varun's face was tight with anger].. What do I do now, Varun...? [My voice was a plea] Wow, there, calm down, Kabir.. how can I calm down, I.. [stammering] I have not prepared shit for this exam.. yesterday's test, how was it...? [My stomach churned with anxiety] It was hard.. like, we don't even know how that bastard came up with those types of questions... [Varun's voice was defeated] I.. am.. doomed.. Kabir.. [a voice, sharp and demanding, echoed from the corridor] Come to class 509 with your bag now.. this bastard, I hope he burns in hell. [My heart sank, a leaden weight] [I walked into the classroom, the air thick with tension, classmates' eyes following my every move. I grabbed my bag and walked out, avoiding their gazes] Good luck, Kabir.. [a voice mocked from behind me]

Ahh, Kabir, come here, take a seat, and take this paper and start solving.. [Mathew sir's voice was cold. I took the paper, my hands shaking, and sat at the desk. The first question was a blur of numbers and symbols, incomprehensible] [What the hell is this? How am I supposed to solve this...? [My foot tapped a frantic rhythm, my knuckles cracked, my body a bundle of nervous energy] What happened, Kabir...? Something wrong...? Nothing, sir.. it's just that.. just what...? I don't know how to solve this.. you don't know how to solve this...? Y..es sir [pause] [Mathew sir stood, his movements sharp and deliberate, and gripped my arm, pulling me from my seat] S..ir I.. am sorry, sir... sorry, ma'am, for disturbing your lecture.. no issue, sir, but what happened? [The teacher looked confused] Sorry, ma'am, but I will take only 5 minutes.. no problem, sir. [Confused] Can I borrow your marker...? Sure.. [Mathew sir wrote a problem on the board, his chalk scratching harshly. Varun watched, his face grim. I hung my head, shame burning in my cheeks] Class, I want you to solve this problem.

3 minutes later Sir, the answer is 156 km per hour.. that's right, Raj, good job.. are you seeing this, Kabir...? How these people have solved this answer in 3 minutes, but you don't even know how to solve this? [Mathew sir's voice was a venomous hiss] Just how stupid can you be, Kabir...!!! [Tears streamed down my face, hot and stinging] Why are you crying? [Mathew sir's hand lashed out, a sharp crack echoing through the room. The class gasped] You idiot...!! [Mathew sir stormed out, leaving me standing alone, exposed and humiliated]

4 hours later [The final bell rang, a wave of relief washing over the students, but for me, it was a bitter reminder of my failure. I packed my bag, my movements slow and heavy] Kabir.. are you ok? [Varun's voice was soft, laced with concern] Yeah, I am fine.. it's just I need some space right now.. [my voice was flat, devoid of emotion] Fine.. if you need anything, just tell me, okay...? Yes, I will, Varun, thank you.. [I walked away, my footsteps dragging, heading towards the marine lines, my sanctuary, wondering what awaited me at home] [The marine lines stretched before me, the vast horizon a blur through my tears. The waves crashed against the sea wall, a rhythmic roar, a stark contrast to the chaos within me. People walked, oblivious, street vendors hawked snacks, children laughed. I stood alone, waiting for the reflection that was missing, waiting for Mirror.]

1 hour later

Where is Mirror...? [My voice was a desperate whisper] I had searched for an hour, but he was nowhere to be found in the city's Did something happen to him...? [Fear gnawed at me, a cold, sharp pain. Mirror was my confidant, my reflection, the one who understood. He was the way I expressed the turmoil that raged within me, the feelings I couldn't articulate. Now, he was gone, and a part of me was lost with him] [An old man approached, his eyes filled with gentle concern] "Are you feeling okay, son?" he asked, his voice soft and weathered. [I looked up, my eyes stinging with unshed tears] "Yes.. it's just," [I stammered] "that I am looking for someone and he is not here...?" [The old man's gaze was knowing, as if he could see the turmoil within me] "Don't worry, son," he said, his voice a soothing calm, "that person will find you in some way or the other. Now, go home. Your parents would be waiting for you." [I glanced at my watch, the numbers blurring through my tears. The sky was darkening, the city lights beginning to flicker.] "It's already getting late. I should look for him tomorrow..." "Yes," the old man affirmed, a gentle smile creasing his face. [Though my heart ached with worry, and I longed to stay and search, I knew he was right. With a heavy heart, I turned away from the sea, the rhythmic crash of the waves echoing my own despair, and began the long walk home.]

[While heading home, the only thing running through Kabir's mind was Mirror.] Where could he have gone...? [A bike zoomed past, nearly clipping him.] "Wow!!! Yeah, kid, you wanna die or what?!" [The biker screamed, his face contorted in anger.] "I.. am.. sorry.. sir.." [People stared, their eyes filled with judgment. He hurried home, avoiding their glares.]

[Kabir knocked on the door.] "Maa..." [The door swung open.] "There you are, Kabir," [his mother said, her voice tight with fury.] "Come inside now!" [Kabir stepped inside, his father standing rigid in the living room.] "What happened, Maa...?" "Oh, don't act clueless, Kabir. We know what you did yesterday." [Kabir froze.] "What.. do you mean...?" [He stammered.] "Maa.. we know you bunked school yesterday. We got a call from the school today. Is this what we're teaching you, Kabir? To skip school, huh? Tell me, Kabir, speak!" "You told us you'd pass your tests, then why did you lie to us, Kabir? Answer me! I asked you something!" [Kabir was overwhelmed, bombarded with questions. He looked at his father, who stood silent, a dark shadow.]... [His father stepped forward, his hand a blur. A sharp sting erupted on Kabir's cheek.] "Is this what you're doing behind our backs, huh? Answer me, Kabir!" [Enraged, he slapped Kabir again and again.] "Answer me now, Kabir!!!" "I.. am.. so..rry..." [Kabir sobbed.] "That's enough, Vikram!" [His mother pushed his father away.] [His father, breathing heavily, glared at Kabir.] "Why are you stopping me, Sheetal? Look at him, what he's doing behind our backs. Look at me, Kabir! Tell us the truth, why did you do this?" [Sheetal asked, tears streaming down her face.] "I.. am.. sorry, Maa and Paa..." [Kabir cried.] [He couldn't tell them the truth, fear gripping him.] "Go to your room now, Kabir," [his father said, his voice hard.] "Okay, Paa..." [Kabir dropped his bag and collapsed on his bed, burying his face in the pillow. The muffled sounds of his parents' angry voices drifted through the closed door, each word a fresh wound. All he could think about was Mirror.]