Kine steps away hastily from Torque.
Kine : What a *d^3x/dt^3 ...…!
GENERAL POV
Torque stood there deciphering what Kine said while Kine moved out to go to his beloved.
In the corridor, Di sat preparing questions for next week's assignment. Kine enters the corridor with a cry baby-like face and goes up to Di.
DI AND KINE's POV
Fake cries like a child and says,
Kine (*pseudocry) : Shift….
Di (busy, didn't hear what Kine said) : Huh?!
Kine just slided Di with the push of his waist to the other side of the bench and clings to Di's left hand and whines.
Di : What happened now…? Did somebody take your lollipop from you?
Kine : What if I say, it's your beloved who's going to be taken away….?
GENERAL POV
Fer stands in front of them with Torque beside her.
Fer (interrupts) : Ahem! Di, this is the new joinee of our school's Physics Department, Mr. Torque.
Torque's eyes were frozen on Kine until Di's words fell into his ears.
Di (politely) : Welcome on Mr. Torque…. It would be nice to have you around.
Torque (politely) : Yeah…. I'm looking forward to working with you guys as well.
Fer : (to Torque) Come I'll show you around…
DI AND KINE's POV
Kine (serious) : I'm telling you're gonna regret talking politely to him.... Mark my words.
Di (pacifying) : Why are you so serious...? Even if he flirts with you, jokingly obviously. I don't mind. Moreover, one needs to be prepared for all of this when their apple is so.....eatable when looking so very common and normal...
Kine (more serious) : Why aren't you understanding the seriousness of this situation (He sees Di smiling over this) Fine! Don't come crying to me then.
DI, KINE AND LILY's POV
Lily interrupts their not so serious yet serious convo.
Lily : Excuse sir, do you have the book from which you gave us this week's assignment, right now?
Di : I don't think so... maybe Kin… Mr. Kinematics will have….
Kine (damn serious) : I don't and don't ever come to me again…..
Kine walks away. Lily and Di stare amazed as Kine leaves. Lily too excuses herself and goes to the classroom.
KINE AND Ms. SUSHIMI's POV
Kine sees Ms. Sushimi peacefully reading a book amidst the chaotic corridor. He walks upto her.
Kine (politely) : Excuse me ma'am, sorry for intervening but for a very long time I wanted to ask you this.
Sushimi breaks her gaze free from her book. Looks up at Kine who's staring at her with keen eyes.
Sushimi (sweetly) : Chaos inside, quietness outside. Is that you?
Kine : Huh!? How are you so spot on?
Sushimi : Maybe experience…. You say, what are you here for?
Kine : I guess some peace….
Sushimi : Had a fight with Dipole?
Kine (scratches his head in surprise) : Ahiii.... How do you know about us….. Did Fer… I mean Ms. Fervor told you something…..?
Sushimi : We might be old but we aren't blind to notice those violins playing in the background when there's a ….. (clears her throat) Ahem…. Moment between two lovebirds… and to add on to it i'm not some old coot, I'm well aware of the dynamics…. Okay listen to my advice really carefully, don't you dare turn back right away….
GENERAL POV
Kine jumpy as always turns back. Di taken aback by surprise wobbles and obviously Kine holds him to make him steady.
KINE, DI AND Ms. SUSHIMI's POV
Sushimi : Attention my dear birdies, I don't oppose your happiness but at the very least be aware of the environment you guys are in….
Kine and Di hastily separate. While Di was a bit confused Kine assured him. Bemin joins them.
BEMIN, SUSHIMI, KINE AND DI's POV
Bemin : I think someone here needs a good beating….
Kine (childishly) : I know who needs it…. Di, stop following me around, you slackie and….(Bemin gently hits Kine on the back of his head) Sirrrrrrr...
Bemin (serious yet playful) : What... huh? Being the HOD how dare you slack around…! The *intermediate exam's right around the corner, did you prepare the practice question set? And what about the class XI final exam's question paper. And adding cherry on the cake, you need to train the intern as well….(hits Kine again the same way) Still here? Go do your work…..will you?
Di couldn't help but chuckle upon seeing Kine get hit. Bemin gives Di a deadly stare.
Bemin (cold and serious, to Di) : What are you laughing at huh? Go give him the required support and encouragement. And MOST IMPORTANTLY, beware of your surroundings.
After this Bemin loses his cold composure and gives them a warm smile. Kine gives Bemin and Ms. Sushimi, a sweet ear to ear smile, holds Di's wrist and leaves.
GENERAL POV
Three months have passed, Torque somewhat became very much popular among a certain group of students who were into his lame jokes and his well built body.
Soon practical exams started for class XII students and Kine and Di became super serious and super busy. And obviously all of it involved "the special support".
During this time, Torque was given substitution classes to Lily's class. For obvious reasons that attention seeker didn't get any attention from Lily's group. Therefore, he started demoralazing them with their dropping grades but none took him seriously.
Soon after the BOARD Practicals were over, practical exams for class XI began. Majority of the students had taken up Physical Education (Ph.E.) or Computer Science (C.S.) as their sixth optional subject and practicals for so many students lasted two to three days. However, for those who didn't opt for Ph.E. or C.S., their practical was over within a day or two. Few of them were Lily and Joy (part of the shipper gang) and there was Torque blabbering nonsense, demoralizing them.
Until Torque crossed his limits, Lily lost her cool. Being intentionally so close to Kine, he not only offended the whole shipper gang but also Fer, Di and Riv.
Once during a break amidst class XI practicals, KINE AND TORQUE POV
Torque pulls Kine to one side in the corridor as if he wanted people to see it. He pinned Kine to the wall.
Torque (flirting) : So….. If I'm not wrong you're gay too and that Dipole guy is your boytoy…huh?!
Kine (frustrated yet says softly) : That's none of your business…. And he's not my boytoy… leave us alone…..
Torque chuckles while looking here and there. Placing his hand on Kine's shoulder and sliding it down to his chest he said,
Torque (still in flirtatious tone) : So you really are gay and possessive of him…. Good…. I want to know one more thing if the school will protect a mere teacher whose students always complain or their promising HOD if I leak this…. (Kine looks furiously towards him) Oooh don't look at me like that or….. Don't look towards your right hastily... (Torque holds Kine's cheek with his right hand and prevents him from turning, leans closer towards Kine's ear) Damnnnnnn….. he looks so eatable that fuming hot with jealousy. I hope he's gentle to you…. (Kine frees himself from Torque's grip)
GENERAL POV
Torque (somewhat audible to almost all) : I wish you all the best…
Kine walks the fastest he could and drags Di out with him to the playground. Everyone witnessing this thought of it as some professional competition.
KINE AND DI's POV
Kine (fuming) : That guy….. He was threatening me… huh?!.... Unbelievable… he's been here for not even three full months and look he's already showing his true colours…..
Di was utterly calm looking at him made Kine realise he's overreacting. Kine shuts up and lets Di do the talking.
Di (serious) : Do you think it's a complex numerical that'll be solved if I get just the hints…. Let me analyse this bit by bit… don't rush slowly tell me everything…. We'll get through this together.
Kine took a deep breath and explained everything and discussed a bit on it until they heard the bell ring, break was over.
The other half of the day went with no commotion or discussion.
Di's request of accompanying Kine was declined seriously by Kine. Di went home a bit upset yet he couldn't let that bother him and went home.
Di's home, DI AND RIV's POV
Di opens the door upon hearing the ringing doorbell.
Riv (confused, enters) : Aren't you supposed to be home half an hour later than me? (puts her purse down on the sofa) did you guys fight or what?...…
Di (not at all bothered) : Wanna have some *khichdi ? I made some for myself…. I thought you might have a corporate dinner so…..
Riv : Your burnt khichdi I would prefer over the noisy chatter during that dinner. So how's my ship sailing temme temme....?
Di : (serving her a portion) Quit being nosy…. I'll share mine only if you tell yours….
Riv (teasing) : Oooooh... now who's being nosy huh...
Di gives a grumpy look and drags her bowl away from her.
Riv : Ooook, telling you... like I told him to be, he's being super professional at work, just with me rather he chuckles and laughs all he can with other female employees...
Di (teasing) : do I smell jealousy…..
Riv : we aren't even a thing why would I…..
Di : So... you're implying if you guys would have been something this smell would have been stronger…..
Riv : (hits him with a spoon on his head) all in your head… anyways today papa visited the office as a majority shareholder in disguise to check on me and...
Flashback, afternoon that day, Riv's office, conference room , GENERAL POV
Riv : ... So that's our strategy for this new project….. Please go ahead with your queries….
Vihaan (serious) : Everyone, except for Ms. Riva, Out of this room right away!
Everyone followed what was ordered but Mek could be seen unreluctant. Riv reassures him with a calm gesture. Mek's heart was unsettled so he stood by the door to come in if something seemed off.
VIHAAN, RIV AND MEK's POV (with DI imagining these listening to RIV)
Vihaan (warmly) : Why are you still standing…..?
As Vihaan gestures Riv to sit on a chair nearby and he pulls the chair towards himself as she sits. Mek clenches his fist.
Vihaan (sweetly) : (caressing her cheek) Baby... why don't you visit home….?
Mek hastily enters the room
Mek (serious and cold) : Sir, I don't think your words are legible for Ms. Riva to hear you out. And if there's nothing else please (gestures him the way out)
Vihaan (serious) : Do you even know who I am….?
Mek (serious) : I certainly know Mr. Vihaan. You're the largest shareholder of this company, the richest in the city and the most influential first gen entrepreneur. However, being so doesn't allow you to harass female employees...
Vihaan stares calmly at Mek until he becomes awkward to speak. As soon as he stopped, Vihaan checked him out from top to bottom and then gestured him to twirl. Mek stood still in astonishment.
Vihaan : Twirl….! I said... (vihaan takes mek's hand and twirls him).... Umm…. (looks towards Riv) a 7.5. And don't forget our weekend plans….bye baby, see you then....
Vihaan hugs Riv and smirks at Mek and leaves but Mek still couldn't figure out what just happened.
RIV AND MEK's POV (DI IMAGINING)
Mek looks at Riv with a puppy-like confused face. Riv brushed her hand on Mek's head and straightened a few locks of hair and smiled. She leaned closer to his ear and whispered.
Riv : He's my Papa…. (ref : Special Chapter : Riva's Childhood)
Back to reality, DI AND RIV's POV
Di gestures riv to stop.
Di (expressionless) : I guess I know the after story so... (Riv who stuffed her mouth with khichdi in one go) since you have taken a bite wash the dishes before you sleep.
As Di turned, Riv spat the whole thing back in the bowl and said with a smirk
Riv : Now that I didn't, I won't do it (sticks out her to tease him)
Amidst the chaos of their bickering, Riv's phone rang up
Riv (serious) : Hello, say it.
The person from the phone : Tomorrow, urgent meeting , same place , 7 p.m.
_____________________________________________
*d3x/dt3 : formula for jerk (sudden hit) in physics but here used in a sense of highly annoying or rude person.
*pseudocry : fake crying
*intermediate exams : (or inter) it is the final exam of Std. XII organised by the central government. Also called Board exams.
*khichdi : National dish of India. Prepared in almost every household on Saturdays for lunch or dinner.