---"
Anurag Sir is stunned.
After a while, Anurag asks quietly,
"But why did she try to take her own life?"
Anirban Sir (with anger and frustration in his eyes):
"Because of—Bibhash Sir. He toyed with her emotions. Day after day… he knew how lonely and unloved she felt—and still, he manipulated her."
Anurag Sir remains silent, processing everything.
Anirban Sir (sits down on the sofa):
"There was a meeting in the conference room today. The other teachers—everyone was shocked. Some were crying, others were frozen with fear. That monster Bibhash kept making excuses, trying to prove his innocence. Said the girl was the one after him! Claimed she had laid a 'trap.' Can you imagine? He was blaming a teenager!"
Anurag Sir (furious):
"Disgusting! How could someone say that about a naive young girl?"
Anirban Sir (voice rising with emotion):
"I couldn't hold myself back, Anurag. I exploded. I told him—he's not a teacher, he's a predator! I looked him in the eye and said—he has no place in our school."
Anurag Sir walks over and gently pats Anirban Sir's back with a supportive hand.
Anurag Sir (gently):
"You did the right thing, Anirban. If a teacher uses their power to exploit a student like that, it's unforgivable."
Anirban Sir (tears forming in his eyes):
"Rodela… she was in my class too. So quiet, so polite. I never imagined she was carrying so much pain inside. In her diary she wrote—'Sir loves me.' How much trust must a student have to write something like that?"
Anurag Sir sits beside Anirban and places a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Anurag Sir (softly):
"You're a good man, Anirban. Don't worry. That monster will surely face the consequences of his actions."
Anirban Sir (voice trembling with anger):
"He was ready to destroy her life just to satisfy his sick desires. If Rodela hadn't survived today… I would never have forgiven myself, Anurag. I'm her teacher, and yet… we were all too late…"
Anurag Sir remains silent for a moment, then presses Anirban's shoulder gently—a silent gesture of comfort and solidarity. His voice is calm, steady, but firm.
Anurag Sir (softly):
"It's okay. Don't worry. There's still time. She's alive—that's what matters most. Now, we have to be real teachers to her—support her, get her counseling, help her heal."
Anirban Sir looks down, his eyes full of despair. His voice is heavy, as if coming from a place of deep self-reflection.
Anirban Sir (in a low voice):
"But is that even possible anymore, Anurag? Her parents… they're terrible people. Their daughter is suffering, but all they care about is their reputation. Her pain means nothing to them."
Hearing this, Anurag Sir goes quiet. Memories of his own parents flash before his eyes—memories filled with hurt, fear, and a deep sense of abandonment.
Anirban Sir (with a tone of bitterness):
"They're saying they'll pull Rodela out of school. But what about punishing Bibhash Sir? They have no interest in that. They just want to cover everything up. I'm scared… what if they end up hurting the poor girl—or worse, kill the baby?"
Anurag Sir's face goes pale with shock. His eyes widen in disbelief.
Anurag Sir (stammering):
"What did you say? Baby?"
Anirban Sir lets out a deep sigh. His voice is soft, but full of helplessness.
Anirban Sir:
"Yes. She's pregnant. When I saved her, she made me promise—I'd protect her child. But now… I just feel like a complete loser, Anurag. I can't do anything for her. Nothing at all…"
Suddenly, Anurag Sir says in a voice choked with emotion,
"A child who isn't even loved by their own parents… saving them becomes the hardest thing, Anirban… the hardest."
The words seem to dissolve into the air, but their weight remains—unshakable.
Anirban notices tears glistening in Anurag's eyes. In them, he sees a shadow of long-suppressed pain. An unspoken past silently emerges—where Anurag himself had once been a child, unloved, misunderstood by those he cared for most.
After a moment of silence, Anurag speaks again—this time his voice is even softer, but unwavering—
Anurag Sir:
"Don't call yourself a loser, Anirban.
Do whatever you can, with whatever strength you have—just try to stand by her."
Anirban Sir nods quietly, in agreement.
---
---
---
Silent Night.
The clock's hands were almost touching twelve. Basundhara, a student of Meghmala Girls High School, was browsing through Anirban Sir's Instagram account on her phone. Not his real profile — a fake account. From that fake ID, she sent a message:
> "You don't know, but someone might even give their life for you."
Usually, Anirban Sir might have ignored such a message, but today a sharp thorn pricked his heart. He had endured so much trouble all day, and sleep was already elusive. Seeing that message made him pause. Who sent it? Why? And what did it mean — "might even give their life"?
Slowly, an unknown anxiety began to build in his heart.
************
The next morning.
During class, suddenly Basundhara, while handing over her notebook, stood in front of the sir. Without any context, she leaned slightly forward and spoke very softly:
> "Sir, you saved Rodela yesterday... if I try to die, will you save me too?"
Anirban Sir looked at the girl in surprise. Softly he asked—
> "Have you gone mad, Basundhara?"
Basundhara replied with a strange, mischievous smile:
> "Yes, sir, I have gone mad. But only you can cure me... only you can."
That smile held a terrible hint. A suppressed unease settled over Anirban Sir. In Basundhara's eyes was a strange glow— not love, but madness.
At that moment, Anirban Sir realized — surely something was going on in her mind, this girl is unstable! She might do something serious!
He resolved to talk to the headmistress about her today itself. Something had to be done before anything happened.
But...
Life rarely follows plans.
The whole day passed in teachers' meetings, paperwork, and reviews.
Even when he went to the headmistress's office, he couldn't find the time to mention Basundhara.
To be continued…