Blackmail is one of the oldest crimes, built not on force but on fear. Instead of stealing outright, a blackmailer uses secrets as weapons—threatening to expose something embarrassing or damaging unless demands are met. In the past, it toppled powerful figures; today, it thrives online through hacked data, leaked photos, and sextortion. What makes it so dangerous is that the threat alone can control someone, and paying rarely makes it stop. It's a crime that turns secrets into chains.
And now, Parveen has found himself caught in those very chains. He has been blackmailed with a false charge, but here's the million-rupee question: who will the teachers believe—a handsome, innocent boy like him, or an uncivilized girl like her who can't follow the simplest of school rules? The answer came quickly.
"I understand, I will keep it a secret," said Parveen, sinking back into his seat.
Some may say he was a coward for giving in to the demands of a blackmailer, but it was the smartest move at the time, as other students would likely start entering now.
"I'm telling you, I heard it from a trustworthy source!" a short boy insisted.
"That's what you said last time—when you claimed the world would end in 2012," a tall boy shot back.
"I was talking about the movie back then! But this time it's true, I swear on your name!" the short boy argued.
"Oi! Why are you swearing on my name? Swear on your own," the tall boy retorted.
"Can you two stop already?" a boy with glasses groaned. "True or false, it won't change the fact that we still have to attend school."
"Morning, Kavi. Why are they fighting?" Parveen asked.
"Morning, Peenu. Same as always—Hero is saying our science teacher this session will be Mr. D.K. Tyagi," Kavi replied, adjusting his glasses.
"That would be nice. My sister said he teaches really well," Parveen said.
"I wouldn't get my hopes up," Guru added. "I just saw Meenu ma'am talking to the class monitor about our class."
"So what? Maybe it was about a competition or something," Hero said confidently.
Hero was the nickname his friends had given him. His real name was Ekavir—but that wasn't the reason. "Hero" was short for Herodotus, the father of history… or as his friends joked, the father of lies. Like Herodotus, he collected rumors, stories, and myths—which were almost always wrong.
Guru was short for Gurvir, a nickname given by his friends after seeing his "unmatched" talent in sports (at least according to him). He likes to take part in every sport, not for winning, but to skip classes.
Kavi was short for Kavesh, a name chosen by friends for his sharp mind and wise, poet-like nature. He wears glasses not because of his poor eyesight but because he thinks it makes him look smart.
And Peenu… was simply short for Parveen.
"Anyway, you got the stuff?" Parveen asked in a serious tone.
"Depends. You got the money?" Kavi replied.
"More than the market price. But I want to see the goods first," Parveen said.
"Understood. Wait till the lunch break then," Kavi said as more students walked into the classroom in groups.
"What are you two talking about?" Guru asked.
"Nothing special. Let's sit first—teacher will be here any moment," Kavi answered.
Parveen returned to his seat and sat beside Hero, in front of Guru and Kavi. Since Guru was tall, he always sat behind Parveen.
"Did you watch last night's episode of Ball-Monsters?" Hero asked.
"Yeah, I did. I think Grey Souce can win the tournament this time," Parveen said.
"Yeah, me too. His electric rat is the strongest. No one can beat him. What do you think, Kavi?" Hero asked, turning around to look at him.
"He'll win the next battle, but he won't win the tournament. He'll lose in the semifinals. Now face forward and stop disturbing me, I'm doing something important," Kavi said.
"What? How do you know that? Oi, answer me! What are you even doing?" Hero asked.
"I'm counting the number of students, so I can predict how my day will go," Kavi replied.
"By counting? What are you, an astrologer?" Hero asked.
"If the number of students is less than twenty, most teachers postpone classes. But if it's more than thirty, the probability of me getting called to read decreases. Now keep your mouth shut for thirty seconds," Kavi said.
"Seriously dude, do you eat books for breakfast?" Hero asked.
"Not just for breakfast; lunch, and dinner too. Now shut up. Total students: thirty-five. Last session, the class strength was forty-two. Four left the school, so that makes thirty-eight. Plus two new students sitting in the front—" Kavi started explaining.
"Three. Don't forget the new girl at the back," Parveen corrected.
"Right, almost forgot. Thanks. That means six students are either absent or gone. Which means today should be a busy day… or it would've been, but since it's the first day, there'll be less teaching," Kavi concluded confidently.
CLAP CLAP CLAP
Kavi thanked everyone with a small bow, then turned to Guru."Time?" he asked.
"Two minutes left for the zero period to begin," Guru replied without looking up.
Hearing that, Kavi immediately pulled out his English book and started reading it with full concentration.
Zero period is the free time before the 1st period and after the 8th period in which students are free to do anything while the class teacher takes their attendance or tells them about any notice like holidays, competitions, or events. Most students take this time to interact with each other and increase their social circle, others use this time to do their homework so that they can play at home without worry, and most rare students like Kavi spend this time studying.
Hero watched him for a moment and whispered to Parveen,"Bro… do you think his parents are strict?"
Parveen didn't even look up."Of course they are. Last time I went to his house, his mother asked my marks."
Hero went silent. He opened his mouth to say something, but—
BAAAAAK!
A loud, sharp sound of a duster being beaten on the teacher's desk echoed through the classroom. Hero's head snapped toward the teacher's desk. A teacher of a small height was already standing there, staring at them like a hunting eagle.
Hero's eyes widened. "Why is she here? Should she be the class teacher of A section?"
"How would I know? Just stand up!" Parveen hissed and stood up.
Hero stood up so fast his knee hit the desk making him screem in silent inwardly. Seeing this other students also start standing up one by one and together they said-
"Good Morning Ma'am!!!"
"Take out your Hindi-III Book and sit down but the students who don't have the book remain standing," the shot teacher named Poonam Panday said.
Poonam Pandey, a short woman in her mid-XXs, is infamous throughout the school for her brutal personality and iron-fisted discipline. Despite her height, her presence alone can freeze an entire classroom. According to students, she enjoys punishing them and takes special pleasure in teaching even during the zero period—breaking the unwritten rule that "zero period is for attendance only, no real teaching allowed." Her sharp voice and cold, piercing stare make even the boldest students shrink in their seats. She openly dislikes relationships, and rumors say she can't stand her own husband, though no one dares to ask her directly. Her fearsome reputation makes her one of the most dreaded figures in the entire school.
"Please save us, God," Hero mumbled quietly.
"If she is our class teacher for this session, then even god cannot save us" Parveen said.