THE FALLEN DIVINITY

During the break, most the students, were eighter in the canteen or scattered across the playground, enjoying their home-cooked meals and sharing bites with each other. While the teachers, too, were gathered in the office room, savoring their tea. However, one teacher, Miss Ankita, the class teacher of Sristi's class, remained in the medical room. Known for her genuine care and dedication, she sat attentively beside the bed where Sristi lay, her breathing soft and steady, lost in a peaceful slumber.

Suddenly, the quite atmosphere was disturbed as the door to the medical room swung opened with a loud crack. A man in his early forties arrived by the door. Sristi's father, dressed in a business suit, rushed in. His face filled with panic, his eyes scanned the room until they landed on the sleeping girl.

"Sristi!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling.

Following closely behind him was PK sir, who had escorted him to the medical room.

"What happened to my daughter?" The man asked urgently, his voice heavy with worry.

"Mr. Goswami, please calm down," PK sir said gently. "She seems fine now, see? she's sleeping peacefully."

Miss Ankita stood, offering a calm smile. "We believe she might have had a heat stroke. It's nothing to worry about, but it seems she became dizzy and fainted earlier. Rest should help her recover."

Mr. Goswami's frown deepened as he knelt beside the bed, with his hand he brushed a strand of hair away from Sristi's forehead. The sight of his daughter, so vulnerable and still, struck him to his core. "Can I take her home?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course, Mr. Goswami," Miss Ankita replied warmly. "She just needs rest and hydration. Please keep a close eye on her."

Kneeling beside the bed, Mr. Goswami tenderly brushed his hand over Sristi's head. He then turned to PK sir. "Sir, could you help me carry her to the car?"

"Thank you," he murmured, his gaze never leaving Sristi's face. After a moment, he straightened and turned to PK Sir. "Sir, would you mind helping me carry her to the car?"

"With pleasure," PK Sir said with a kind smile.

Carefully, he leaned down and scooped Sristi into his arms, his movements deliberate and gentle. Miss Ankita followed them as they walked out of the medical room and into the bustling school corridors.

Students paused, their chatter fading as they watched the scene unfold—Sristi, pale and unconscious in PK Sir's arms, and her father walking beside them, his face shadowed with concern. Whispers spread like ripples through the crowd.

Outside the school building, a sleek car waited with its engine softly humming, a stark contrast to the growing concern etched on Mr. Goswami's face. Miss Ankita hurried ahead, pulling the back door open, while Mr. Goswami stood close, guiding PK Sir as he gently placed Sristi onto the back seat. Her unconscious form looked fragile, her face pale yet serene.

Mr. Goswami crouched beside her, adjusting her position with care, making sure she was both comfortable and secure. His hand lingered briefly on her forehead, brushing her hair aside with fatherly tenderness.

"Thank you... both of you," Mr. Goswami said, his voice carrying a mix of gratitude and lingering anxiety.

Miss Ankita gave him a small, reassuring smile. "Don't worry, sir. She'll be fine. Just make sure she gets enough rest."

Mr. Goswami nodded, his expression a blend of relief and apprehension. He shut the car door with a quiet determination and slid into the driver's seat. As the car slowly pulled away, disappearing through the school gates, Miss Ankita and PK Sir remained standing, their concern visible in their gazes.

Meanwhile, back in the classroom, the hum of lunchtime activities emptied out the room. All the students were either in the cafeteria or out on the playground, sharing their meals with each other. But Akshay stood alone in the classroom by the window, leaning on his crutch. His dark eyes followed the scene outside as Sristi was carried to her father's car. His gaze lingered as the car left the school compound, slipping through the gates. His expression was unreadable, contemplative, as though he carried a weight no one else could see.

"Hey," suddenly a voice called sharply from behind.

Akshay slowly turned to find Arunika standing by the door, she had a serious expression on her face.

"What are you looking at?" she asked, stepping into the classroom.

"Nothing much," Akshay replied, his voice calm but distant. "Just saw our friend being taken home. I hope she get well soon."

"You hope?" Arunika questioned, her tone was laced with skepticism, her eyes narrowing.

Akshay's lips twisted into a faint smirk as he turned back to the window. "Why does that sound so unbelievable to you?"

Arunika took a step closer, her expression sharp. "I think, you are the reason for her condition. She got worse the moment you showed up."

"Oh really?" Akshay turned fully towards her now, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "And what makes you think that?" his voice remained calm, but there was an edge to it, a darkness that sent a chill through the air.

"I'm just saying what I saw," Arunika replied firmly refusing to back down.

Akshay smirked, taking a slow step toward her, his crutch tapping against the floor. "Okay, then tell me, you also might had seen what might actually had happened to her."

"And you might also saw, anyone of you being there for her when she might have need you," Akshay took another towards Arunika, Akshay's expression turning darker. His tone measured, had an edge that felt like threat.

Arunika faltered, instinctively stepping back. There was something unsettling about Akshay, an aura of controlled fury that seemed to suffocate the space between them. She wasn't afraid, but the intensity of his presence was unlike anything she had ever felt.

"You act so high and mighty," Akshay continued, his voice low and deliberate, each word striking like a blade. "But you saw nothing, or… Did you even intended to see it?" Akshay's tone grew heavy, each syllable dripping with accusation and contempt.

Arunika without realising, instinctively took a small step back. She didn't know whether to respond or to walk away. Akshay's words carried an accusation she couldn't fully understand, yet they felt disturbingly true.

Manash who was listening in from the outside, rushed in, fearing Akshay might do something.

As he entered, something materialised in his hand, a spare, glowing white, it had materialized out of nowhere, with its head glowing with energy.

He stood on the doorway, his grip tight on the spear as its tip hummed with energy, white light crackling at the edges like lightning. Manash was ready to protect Arunika if anything happened.

Akshay, his gaze still locked on Arunika, slowly turned to Manash, at his arrival. The two stared at each other, the tension thickening in the room. Manash's expression was serious, a silent warning, daring Akshay to try something.

But before anything could escalate further, suddenly the school bell rang, signalling the end of break time.

As the bell sound echoed through the school, Akshay stepped back slightly. "You can put that think back now," Akshay said, looking at Manash eyes, his tone was calm.

As Arunika and Manash was stood frozen at their place, unsure how to react. Akshay's calm demeanor was more terrifying than his aggression.

Slowly, he moved towards his seat, the sound of the crutch against the floor echoing the quiet room. He slung his bag over his shoulder.

"If you don't want others to know about the truth, I think you should put your spear away, Manash" Akshay said, without looking at him.

Manash heart was racing. He knew he should not have summoned his spear at school, but Akshay's calmness kept him in edge. Manash wasn't convinced. Just then, the sound of chatter of students returning to their classroom could be heard.

Manash hesitated, but the students will arrive soon, the spare in his begun hand dematerialised. He didn't want to let his guard down, but he had no choice.

Akshay slowly with the help of his crutch walked towards Arunika, she was frozen in place, confused. As Akshay cross passed Arunika he stopped, "Let go, we have a physics class now, at least, don't be late for the class."

Arunika was stunned by his words, what did he intend to say right now? Arunika didn't understand, just now it felt like he spoke more than the words conveyed.

Before Arunika could respond anything, Akshay continued walking, passing Manash, he was glancing at Akshay with suspicion. As Akshay exited the classroom, the other students began to entered the classroom, none of them aware of what had just transpired with the walls of the classroom.

Upon entering, the students also began to left the classroom with their bags for their next class. Arunika and Manash remained where they stood, glancing at each other with confusion and frustration. Neither of them was certain about Akshay but one thing for sure he was far more dangerous than they had imagined.