Within moments, the entire school knew — "That elephant Aishika proposed to Anurag Sir!"
Whispers spread through the corridors.
"Did you hear? Aishika proposed to Anurag Sir!"
"A girl like her? That much guts?"
"If she ever looked in the mirror, she'd understand!"
"Sir must've definitely rejected her, hahaha!"
"Aww… looks like the Pimple Fairy fell in love!"
"That wasn't love, that was a chemical reaction!"
"Sir must be in trauma now."
"Doesn't this girl ever look in the mirror? Shocking how bold she is!"
"She should be taken to a doctor. One day she'll be proposing to her own shadow!"
Aishika was walking through the corridor, her face marked by grief and humiliation. Suddenly, a crumpled paper ball hit her on the head from behind. She unfolded it —
"Anurag Sir needs sunglasses!"
For a moment, Aishika felt like giving up everything. But then she remembered Anurag Sir — how he once told her that expressing one's feelings is not a crime. She would show them all during the exams again. No doubt, she'd top the class once more! Let anyone dare to take her place and try!
Sir had told her: "Speaking your heart isn't wrong."
But now, she had to focus on her studies.
And Aishika would try.
But... could she truly forget Sir from her heart?
---
The air in school felt heavy, as if a heatwave had struck.
In one corner of the science corridor of the eleventh grade, a crowd had gathered. The knives of gossip had been sharpened.
Anwesha, entering through the gate, shouted,
— "Hey, did you hear? That fat, ugly Aishika proposed to Anurag Sir in the chemistry lab!"
From beside her, Pratama curled her lips and said,
— "What guts! Doesn't she ever look in the mirror?"
Megha, clearly thrilled, said to Riya,
"Hey, did you hear? Aishika proposed to Anurag Sir!"
Riya, feigning thoughtfulness, said,
"Hah! A girl like her dreaming of getting Anurag Sir? That's like trying to pluck the moon from the sky!"
---
Elsewhere, even the class toppers of eleventh grade were making nasty remarks about Aishika.
Madhurima said in a serious tone,
"She's good at studies, fine. But expressing emotions for a teacher like that? There should be limits."
Parinita shrugged and said,
"I never imagined Aishika could be so foolish. Good grades can't buy dignity!"
Debasmita narrowed her eyes and said,
"Some brilliant students grow arrogant — she probably thinks she can do anything!"
Tanisha muttered,
"If a girl doesn't understand self-respect, then what's the point of her studies?"
---
In the twelfth-grade classroom.
Nandita, the class topper, looked down from the balcony and said,
"If someone like Aishika from the eleventh grade isn't questioned, that's a mistake. We all know — having brains doesn't always mean having class."
Moumita added,
"I actually thought she was decent! But secretly proposing — total drama!"
Pragya lowered her voice and said,
"My mother always said, 'If you lack beauty, at least have taste.' Aishika should understand that."
Sumi sneered,
"Just because someone scores well in class doesn't mean they're cultured. I was wrong about her."
---
As soon as Aishika entered the class, the blackboard had a message scrawled in chalk:
— "Seal the lab — Aishika's contamination is spreading!"
— "Hazardous chemical in chemistry: Aishika."
A group at the back burst into laughter —
"Sir's probably in trauma unit now!"
Riya, her lips dark with lipstick, said —
"Ugh, how could a girl as ugly as you dare propose to Anurag Sir? That's an acid test!"
Megha, with a mocking laugh, said —
"She's a disgrace to the Rupashree beauty scheme!"
Baishali took it a step further,
"Hey listen, my little brother saw Aishika's picture and said he couldn't digest his food anymore!"
Aishika's heart was breaking. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes — she couldn't bear the humiliation anymore. She stood in front of the class and shouted —
"Be quiet! Everyone, just shut up!
Yes, I'm Aishika. Fat, ugly, pimple-covered.
But that hasn't made my heart small or my courage weak.
I loved Anurag Sir — yes, love means dreaming.
Those of you laughing at me — have you ever had the guts to express your own feelings to anyone?
The society that only looks for pretty faces — that society's soul is truly ugly!
And yes, I will top the class again.
Because my brain, not my face, is my strength.
The day you all learn to see the light of someone's mind instead of just the glow on their skin — that day, you'll understand: Aishika is not beneath anyone!"
Her voice echoed through the classroom. For a few moments, there was silence.
But it didn't last.
Baishali laughed cruelly,
— "Uff! What a speech! She should act in a drama!"
Anwesha swallowed and bit her lip,
— "Seriously, this girl is such an attention-seeker!"
Riya said mockingly,
— "Where does a face like hers get this much confidence?"
Megha snapped,
— "Did you hear her? Like some philosopher! Just trying to cover up her humiliation!"
Pratama whispered,
— "She should've just stayed quiet — now people will make even more fun of her."
---
A while later
As soon as Aishika entered the school bathroom, a group of senior girls covered their mouths and said —
"Shh, the LPG gas has entered!"
"Did you see her lips? Like inflated balloons."
Then more insults and hateful laughter —
"Her courage is making me question myself!"
"Seriously, if Aishika can fall in love with Anurag Sir, then I'm Hrithik Roshan's wife!"
Sitting inside the bathroom, overhearing it all, Aishika's heart was breaking into pieces.
---
In the Headmistress's office.
Aishika stood silently, head bowed. Head Ma'am, Mrs. Jayashree Ghosh, stood up after setting down some papers and closed the door. Her eyes were blazing with anger.
"Aishika, I never expected something like this from a student like you — brilliant, quiet, and the top of your class."
Her voice was sharp.
"Do you realize how irresponsible your behavior was?"
Aishika's hands were trembling. She said —
"I don't know, Ma'am… I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Do you think 'sorry' is enough?"
"You've damaged the school's name, its dignity, and the sacred teacher-student relationship."
"I never imagined this from a good student like you. Do you know how your name is being talked about across the school? Proposing to your teacher — such indecent behavior! And you're admitting it yourself!"
Her voice had a hint of shouting now.
"Can't you see you're not only hurting yourself, but also putting your teacher's honor at stake?"
Tears filled Aishika's eyes. Her voice froze.
"I never meant to hurt anyone, Ma'am. I wasn't thinking beyond my feelings."
The headmistress's tone softened slightly, but her anger remained.
"Learn to think beyond emotions, Aishika! Students like you should set examples, not destroy their future with such disgraceful behavior!"
"I'm warning you just this once — make sure nothing like this ever happens again. You are being strictly cautioned. From now on, focus only on your studies and taking care of yourself."
Aishika stayed silent, head still bowed.
"I understand, Ma'am. I won't do anything like this again."
Suddenly, the headmistress's tone mellowed.
"Don't just protect your own dignity — protect your family's too. Now go, and think about what your future should be."
Aishika left. The door clicked shut behind her. Head Ma'am stood staring at it, breathing deeply — a mix of anger and disappointment etched on her face.
---
Later that afternoon, after school was over, the gossip continued just outside the school gate — like a scandal from some movie.
"How did she even dare to look at Sir's face?"
"Doesn't she ever look in the mirror?"
"If it were someone else, they'd have killed themselves right in the lab!"
"I feel so bad for Anurag Sir."
---
To be continued...