Sabnam pointed to two at random. "Meena, from Class 2. And you—Raju, from Class 2."
The pair stepped forward nervously, standing side by side in the middle of the circle. Meena wore a red ribbon in her braids. Raju's shirt had two buttons open and untucked.
Sabnam nodded. "Here's your question: What color is the 'B' in the Bournvita packet?"
Meena answered quickly, "Orange, ma'am!"
Raju scratched his head. "Umm… red?"
Sabnam smiled. "Meena's correct."
The circle erupted in scattered claps and "Ooooooh!" as Raju sighed dramatically.
"Alright, Raju," Sabnam said, crossing her arms with a grin. "What's one of your best feelings?"
Raju shifted from foot to foot, then said shyly, "When my elder brother takes me out… on his cycle. He lets me sit on the rod and rides really fast. I feel like I'm flying."
The students "awww'd" and laughed, nodding, while Meena elbowed him teasingly.
Even Arahan couldn't help but smile. There was something genuinely sweet about the moment.
Sabnam, too, looked pleased. "Very good, Raju. That's what I call a true feeling."
She turned back to the circle. "Now, who's next?"
The game had just begun, but already the mood had shifted—lighter, warmer.
Arahan folded his arms and leaned slightly against the tree nearby, watching the kids laugh and play in a way they hadn't before.
And somewhere, deep in the background of his mind, he wondered—
Would he be made to step into the circle?
And if so… what feeling would he confess?
---
The sun hung high as the circle buzzed with energy.
Sabnam clapped once. "Next pair! Let's keep it moving. Aarav from Class 2, and Sana from Class 2—step into the circle!"
The two stepped in, slightly nervous, as Sabnam posed the question.
"What fruit has more Vitamin C—Orange or Banana?"
Sana smiled confidently. "Orange, ma'am."
Aarav scratched his head. "Umm… banana?"
"Wrong again," Sabnam said, grinning. "Sana wins. Aarav, time to share."
Aarav blushed a little. "Uhh… my favorite feeling is… when Papa lets me sit in his lap during evening aarti. He sings loudly, and I just hold his hand. I feel peaceful."
A few girls cooed. Arahan raised a brow—sweet kid.
Sabnam nodded approvingly. "That's a beautiful one. Next pair!"
---
"Rekha from Class 2 and Imran from Class 2, your turn."
They stepped forward, full of energy.
Sabnam smiled. "Okay—What's heavier: one kilogram of cotton, or one kilogram of iron?"
Rekha giggled. "Iron, ma'am!"
Imran frowned. "No, ma'am, both are the same!"
"Correct!" Sabnam beamed at Imran. "Looks like Rekha got tricked."
Rekha groaned dramatically and then grinned. "Fine. My best feeling is when I oil my Amma's hair. She always falls asleep in my lap, and then I feel like I'm the mother."
A soft "aww" rippled through the students. Even Sabnam's expression softened.
"You're all going to make me cry," she joked. "Next!"
---
"Ajay from Class 2, and Heena from Class 2."
The tallest and shortest student in the circle walked in together.
Sabnam asked, "What has more legs—an ant or a spider?"
Ajay blinked. "Spider?"
Heena grinned. "Ant, ma'am!"
Sabnam laughed. "Actually, spiders have 8, and ants have 6. Ajay wins!"
Heena groaned. "I thought ants have more legs because there are more ants!"
Sabnam chuckled. "Heena, that's not how it works. Share a feeling."
Heena smiled shyly. "Every time I wash clothes with Ammi near the tub, we both sing songs together… I forget about the whole world. I love that."
Even Arahan smiled deeply at that.
Sabnam glanced toward him from across the circle. Their eyes met for a split second—and something soft passed between them.
He knew it: she'd call him next.
And she did.
"Alright," Sabnam said suddenly, louder now. "One more round… and this time, Arahan Sir joins us."
The children gasped in delight, chanting, "Sir! Sir! Sir!"
Arahan raised his hands. "Fine, fine! Who's with me?"
Sabnam's eyes glinted mischievously. "Let's see how well our guest teacher plays."
The kids cheered as Arahan stepped forward into the center, expecting another pair to join him.
But Sabnam raised her hand.
"Wait. This round's special."
She stepped into the circle too, the sun catching the glint of her bangles, her voice suddenly softer—yet commanding.
"This time," she said, looking directly at Arahan, "it's just you."
A hush fell over the students.
"Me?" Arahan asked, brow arching.
"Yes," she said with a faint smirk. "One question. One answer."
"And what if I get it wrong?" he asked, playing along, folding his arms.
"Then," Sabnam said, stepping just a little closer, "you tell us one of your best feelings."
"And if I guess right?"
She tilted her head, her earrings swaying. "You get a reward. From me."
A low "Oooooooh!" came from the kids.
Arahan raised an eyebrow. "Tempting."
Sabnam smiled, but her eyes gleamed with challenge. "Here's your question…"
She leaned forward slightly and said:
"Which is the only bird that can fly backwards?"
Arahan blinked.
That was… tougher than the others.
He closed his eyes for a moment, sifting through random science facts from years ago.
He opened his mouth to answer.
"Humming—"
[Ding!]
[New Task Generated]
[New Task Generated]
Propose to Sabnam—and hope she accepts your proposal.
Reward for proposing: ₹1000 | +1 Charm | +1 Lust | +10 Relationship (Sabnam)
If she accepts: ₹5000 | +2.5 Agility | +2.5 Charm | +5 Lust | +25 Relationship
Note: Be sincere. Don't be pressured. Just express how you truly feel. Timing, tone, and confidence matter.
Seeing the reward, Arahan was shocked, he didn't know what to do.
Although he also liked Sabnam, he never thought about proposing to her till now.
But looking at the reward, he gathered his courage.
"Humming… sparrow?" he said.
A beat of silence.
Sabnam's eyes gleamed. "Wrong."
A few of the kids giggled. "Sir doesn't know!"
Arahan scratched the back of his neck. "Must've slipped my mind."
"You owe us a feeling," she said, stepping slightly closer, arms folded with playful authority. "Come on. We're all waiting."
He was surrounded by giggling children, all of them waiting to hear about his "best feeling."
Sabnam stood right in front of him—smiling, teasing, confident. Not knowing what the system had just dropped in his lap.
Arahan's heart thumped hard in his chest.
He looked at her again. At the soft curve of her smile. The way her bangles slid slightly as she crossed her arms. The slight glint of sweat on her forehead under the noon sun. The lavender scent that somehow still lingered between them.
He had two options:
Give a feeling. Or give… everything.
He stepped forward.
The kids murmured.
"Ma'am," he said, steadying his voice. "I'll tell you my best feeling…"
Sabnam tilted her head. "Yes?"
He let out a slow breath. "Alright. My best feeling…"
He stepped forward, just slightly, his eyes catching hers again.
"My feelings for that woman…" he began, his voice low but steady, "surpassed anything I ever thought I'd feel."
A few students leaned in.
"She's graceful… intelligent… stubborn in the best way. Her smile, her talk, everything she does—I like it." His gaze held hers, unwavering. "It's like, even when she scolds someone… it still feels kind."
The girls squealed. Some boys snickered.
The teachers on the far side of the field had started to glance over, but Arahan didn't care.
He took one final breath.
"That woman," he said clearly, "is you, Sabnam."
The kids gasped louder. Some giggled. Some looked utterly confused. They didn't understand what Arahan Sir had said.
Sabnam blinked, her teasing expression gone. Replaced by something quiet. Unsure.
"I don't expect an answer now," Arahan added quickly, his voice gentle. "But… I meant it. That's my truest feeling."
The whole field had gone still.
Sabnam just looked at him, eyes wide—startled not by boldness, but by how real his words felt.
She opened her mouth to speak—
[Task Completed!]
+₹1000 (System Wallet: ₹3000 → ₹4000)
+1 Charm (7.2 → 8.2)
+1 Lust (2.4 → 3.4)
+10 Relationship (Sabnam: 15 → 25 / 100)
---
Sabnam just looked at him, eyes wide—startled by the boldness, and his words.
Her lips parted slightly, as if to respond. But nothing came out.
Her eyes flickered, she didn't know what to reply to him.
Then—
BRRRIIIIIIING!
The sharp clang of the school bell echoed through the courtyard, signaling the end of the day.
Children erupted from classrooms, laughter and footsteps flooding the air as they bolted for their bags, their cycles.
Sabnam blinked, her breath hitching. Today the bell has been saved from an awkward situation.
She exhaled, stepping back just half a pace, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Time to go," she murmured.
She turned quickly, calling out, "Children, don't forget your homework!"
Arahan stood still in the courtyard for a moment, watching her retreat into the sea of chattering students.
She hadn't answered.
But she hadn't rejected him either.
[System Notification]
Sabnam's emotional state: Stirred
Relationship: 25/100 (Silent Curiosity → Subtle Stirring)