THE FALLEN DIVINITY

Back in the classroom, the teacher finished taking attendance. She glanced at the new student and noted his name in the register. "Akshay, your Roll. No will be 36."

"Okay, ma'am" Akshay replied politely.

The teacher scanned the room before announcing, "So, I'm cancelling the first class, so please stay quiet and don't cause any trouble. I'll go check on Sristi." With that, she gathered her things and left the classroom.

As soon as the door closed behind her, a wave of chatter spread across the room. Students began speculating about the events that had unfolded. Some whispered about Akshay, wondering who he was and what had happened to his leg. Others expressed concern about Sristi, puzzled by her sudden collapse.

Akshay, sitting quietly, his expression calm as his eyes darted around the classroom, observing his new classmates. Meanwhile, Manash, couldn't shake the unease he felt, something about Akshay wasn't sitting right with him. 

"Hey, Akshay," Manash called out to him, deciding to break the silence between them. His tone was casual but probing. 

Akshay turned to him, with a steady gaze. "Yes?"

Manash hesitated slightly but pressed on "If you don't mind… What had happened to your leg?" 

Akshay glanced down at the crutch resting against his desk. He smiled softly, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Oh... I got into an accident two years ago. I got injured," he said. "And although the wounds healed, I get a gift." Akshay raised his crutch showing it to Manash.

Manash nodded, his expression sympathetic, "I'm sorry to hear that… where do you live?"

"I live near the new market that opened recently. I live with my uncle there," Akshay responded, he still keeping his smile.

"Why do you live with your uncle?" Manash asked leaning forward, his curiosity piqued. 

Akshay's smile faltered for the first time. "I… lost my whole family in that same accident," he said quietly, his voice tinged with sadness.

"Oh" Manash said, startled by the revelation. "I am sorry for your lost."

"It's okay" Akshay responded, his tone calm but distant. But then, after a brief pause, he added with a faint edge, "Not that you'd believed me anyway."

Manash frowned, caught off guard, "Excuse me! What did you just say?"

Akshay shook his head quickly, brushing off the comment. "It's nothing…" he said with a dismissive smile. "By the way, could you tell me where the bathroom is?"

"I'll show you," Manash offered, though his voice carried an edge of suspicion, still grappling with Akshat's strange remark.

"Thanks," Akshay replied, raising slowly, using his crutch for support. As they about to left the classroom, Manash glanced back at Bikram, who had been quietly listening in. He also caught Suraj's eyes, sitting with his friends on the last bench, giving a subtle nod. 

Bikram and Suraj exchanged a silent agreement, decided to followed them discreetly to the bathroom.

The hallway was empty during the first period, and the bathroom echoed with stillness as Manash and Akshay entered. Bikram and Suraj followed moments later.

But suddenly Suraj made a shocking move, he kicked Akshay's crutch away.

The crutch clattered loudly against the tiles, and Akshay collapsed to the ground unable to steady himself. The impact sent a sharp gasp through the room as he landed awkwardly, clutching as his side.

Manash and Bikram stunned, not out of concern, but because of the helplessness displayed by Akshay. They stared at him, their expression shifted between confusion and disgust. 

Bikram, without any warning, stepped forward and grabbed Akshay by collar. Clutching his fist, with a single, forceful motion, he hauled him up and slammed him against the wall. Akshay winced, his face contorted in pain.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Akshay gasped, his voice weak and trembling. "If I've done something wrong, please forgive me!"

Manash stepped closer, his face twisted with frustration. "Cut the act! We know you're nothing normal."

"What are you talking about?" Akshay whimpered, his eyes brimming with tears. "Why do you hate me so much? Why me?"

The raw vulnerability in his voice struck a chord, catching Bikram off guard. His grip slackened, and Akshay slid to the floor, wiping his tears.

The three boys stood over him, dumbfounded. This was not the response they had expected. They had anticipated anger, defiance or perhaps the mysterious truth they suspected. Instead, they face with a broken figure. 

The tension was shattered by the sound of the bathroom door creaking open. A male teacher stepped inside, his stern expression surveying the scene.

"What's going on here?" he demanded, his sharp voice cutting through the silence. "I heard a lot of noise."

The three boys panicked. Their confidence dissolved by in an instant, replaced by the fear of the teacher's reprimand.

But Akshay, still on the floor looked up at the teacher and replied calmly, "Sorry, sir, I slipped and fell. They were just helping me."

The boys froze, their eyes widening in disbelief. Akshay's demeanor had completely shifted. Just moments ago, he had been sobbing and pleading, but now he was composed, even cheerful, as though the entire incident had been erased from his memory.

The teacher narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Is that true?"

"Yes, sir," Akshay replied again, extending his hand toward Bikram with a easy smile. Bikram was dumbfounded, he hesitated, his mind racing to make sense of Akshay's behaviour. Why was he covering for them? Reluctantly, he reached out and pulled Akshay to his feet.

Suraj still stunned, reached to his crutch and picked it up, handing it back to Akshay. "Here," he mumbled awkwardly.

"Thanks, guys" Akshay said lightly, gripping the crutch as he steadied himself. with a grateful smile, he bobbled toward the door.

The teacher, apparently satisfied, turned to Manash, Bikram and Suraj. "Get back to your class and keep it down. No more disturbances."

"Yes, sir," they replied in unison, their voice subdued.

As the teacher left, the three boys stood rooted to the spot, their confusion deepening with every passing moment. Akshay's strange behaviour gnawed at them, his tear, his sudden shift in demeanor, and his calm departure. None of it made sense.

Manash's face darkened, his confusion giving way to anger. He felt humiliated, as if Akshay had somehow outwitted them, made fools of them without lifting a finger. His frustration bubbled over, and his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

Then, without warning, a faint spark of electricity flickered around his knuckles.