6– Hope

Preetah

I paced around the classroom, my arms crossed over my chest, ensuring that I at least looked like I was aware of everything that was going on around me. In reality, my mind was very far away, focused on one thing; the payment notification I had received this morning. With having to pay for my bus fare for the month, groceries, other utilities and my father's chronic medication, the money would not be enough. Not even close.

I let out a heavy sigh that I was not aware of until the students sitting close to me all turned to look at me.

“Sorry.” I whispered, continuing my rounds.

I stopped at Fatima's desk and looked down at her answers as she wrote. She had used the correct method but with the wrong numbers. Her answer was going to be wrong.

The learner in front of her was only starting question 3 now and there was only 5 minutes left. These kids... I had told them to skip questions they didn't know so as to save time.

I walked to the front of the class and leaned on the front of the desk, facing the students. At 11am, after the school bell rang for home time, I gave them extra 5 minutes. “Alright, pens down students.”

They all placed their pens on their desks, and I could see the concern on their faces. After I collected all the scripts, I went to stand behind my desk.

“Alright, remember that this is just paper 1, there is still maths paper 2 tomorrow.” I told them. “If you feel you didn't do well in this paper, study hard for tomorrow and come and do better. You may be dismissed.”

“Thank you, Miss Arora.” They said incoherently.

They talked amongst each other as they left; discussing questions, answers and how difficult they think tomorrow's paper will be.

After the last one left, I packed the scripts in my bag and made for the door. Father was at home, waiting for me to come home and cook. We had run all out of our food for the month so I had to stop at the supermarket before going to the house.

As I was locking the classroom door, Mr Jandra, the school principal was walking towards me with a beaming smile.

I gave him a tight smile and proceeded to put the keys in my bag. I was going to turn away, but he called me.

“Miss Arora!”

“Ahg.” I groaned quietly to myself.

I didn't like him and couldn't stand the fact that no one could see who he really was. I always caught him staring at the female students the wrong way. Perhaps I am the only one who could see it because I was actually the only one that really knew what he had done in the past. Despicable.

Despite being a pervert, I still had to show him some respect because he was now the principal. Besides, I need this job.

“Yes...” I turned back

“There's someone for you in the staff room.” He told me.

“A student?” I enquired, darting at my wristwatch. In 15 minutes, I would have to catch my bus otherwise the next one is only half an hour later.

“No. Mr Korana.”

“Who's that?” I asked as we both began walking to the staff room.

“His son used to attend this school, remember?”

Arjun Korana's face popped up in my head. My heart skipped a beat. I had to stop walking. “No way...” My mouth stayed opened.

“You guys were in the same class, remember? He joined you guys in grade 11—”

“Arjun Korana is here?” I placed a hand over my chest. I could feel my heart beating fast against it.

“That's the son.”

“What?” I was puzzled. “What are you saying?”

“It's his father that is here.”

I frowned, trying to think of reasons why he would want to see me. It's crazy how scared I feel when it's already been years.

“Why does he want to see me?” I continued walking but took slower cautious steps.

“I don't know. He didn't tell me. He has been waiting for almost an hour. I told him you're invigilating your class and he decided to wait.”

I didn't say anything, I kept my frown on my face and continued walking.

“Arjun!” I remember how he had shouted angrily at him after finding us in the closed classroom, just the two of us. “What are you two doing?”

As we both trembled in fear, he lashed out and punched Arjun across the face. I screamed as he started beating up Arjun.

“We were just talking, sir. Nothing happened—” I tried to explain before Arjun's father slapped me so hard, it sent me falling to the floor.

I clumsily got up and ran out of the classroom. I ran so fast and crying. I didn't look back, only heard him yelling angrily and Arjun grunting and groaning in agony. I ran all the way home crying.

I stared at the staff room door which was left ajar. I took a deep breath, held it in for a while and then entered the room.

When he saw me, he beamed and got up from the chair. I didn't smile back.

“Good morning, sir.” I lowered my eyes and kept it on the wooden floor.

He was wearing a clean grey suit. His beard was all white and looked like he had just had it trimmed. I could smell his strong perfume as he walked closer to me. The perfume smelled expensive and although I had only looked at him once, it was enough to see how expensive he looked.

“How are you, Preetah Arora?” He asked me.

“I am fine, sir.” I responded.

When he didn't respond, I looked up at him. He was watching me with a smile. I frowned even more and looked down.

“So you're a teacher here now?”

I nodded. “Yes...”

“I see no vermillion on your forehead. Are you not married?”

If I could change my facial expression to how I was feeling, I'm sure he would stop talking.

“No, sir.”

“How old are you now?”

I looked up at him. I was no longer 17 years old. I had to stand up for myself. Why would he just show up out of nowhere and start asking me all these random questions?

“I actually have a bus to catch in about 10 minutes, sir.” I told him. “I don't understand these questions.”

“Please, let's go to a nearby restaurant. I'll buy you brunch and discuss what I came for.”

“Uh... I can't. Like I mentioned, I have a bus to catch in 10 minutes.”

“Bus?” He chuckled softly. “Don't worry about that, my driver will drop you.”

I remembered his car that he dropped Arjun in every morning and picked him up in on some days. I looked at him slowly from head to toe. Why did he look so... so... different?

I looked over at Mr Jandra who also looked like he was trying to understand what was going on.

“Can we just talk here?” I asked Mr Korana.

“Sure.” He responded.

Mr Jandra went to take a seat on another table and pretended to be going through some papers.

Mr Korana and I sat down 2 tables away. I took my bag off my shoulder and placed it on my lap and then darted at my watch without making it obvious.

“Firstly, I am glad you're beautiful. I couldn't remember your face. Only that you ranked second after Arjun in grade 12.” He told me.

“Okay...” Was this old man trying to hit on me?

“I don't know if you know, but after high school, Arjun got acceptance to a university in the states; fully funded. They wanted him so much that they even offered to bring us, his family, over too if he kept his grades as high as they were in high school.”

Interesting... I always wondered what happened to Arjun, whether he managed to study further or was working retail somewhere.

I wonder if I would have been offered that bursary instead, if I managed to get that 5 percent that I missed to score the same as him. Imagine that happened to me. Wow...

“So he studied, produced results that impressed them, graduated the top of his class, and then started working for the company that sponsored him. He worked for 2 years and then started his own company. Like a joke, the company excelled and now it's bringing in millions.”

I was really invested in Arjun's story. I was more relaxed now. That explains why Arjun's father was dressed so good.

“Is the company here in India or...”

“No, it's in the states.”

“What's the company about?” I asked.

“Commodities.” He said.

I had no clue what that was, as a teacher, I was too embarrassed to ask.

He probably realized that I was clueless, because he elaborated. “Raw materials.”

“Oh...”

“The company supplies copper and steel to various companies like vehicle companies, electricity companies etcetera.” He continued. “So, Arjun is like a broker. He has people that do the contracting but sometimes difficult customers prefer to deal directly with him. He is good at getting them.”

I couldn't imagine the shy Arjun that never spoke to anybody in our class, sitting with bosses of wealthy companies and convincing them that his company was the best and that they should get their supply from him. Wow... life...

“But, Arjun can tell you more. I don't want to tell you everything and then you two have nothing to speak about.” He laughed.

I smiled because I didn't understand his joke. It's not like I was going to see Arjun around. He is not even in India.

Was he here just to fill me in on Arjun's life or what? Because that would be so strange. Maybe he was here to apologise for slapping me. Maybe his conscience didn't allow him to rest all these years after slapping an innocent 17-year-old girl just for talking to his son. Sure, I was a little too close than socially accepted but I didn't mean anything mischievous. The most I was hoping for after confessing my feelings to him was a hug. That would have been enough to fill all the times I felt unseen by him. But yeah, you ruined it. So, if you're here to apologise...

“So I came to seek you here at your high school because I didn't know how else to find you.” He told me. “I knew referencing you would be easy because you and Arjun were the top 2 graduates of 2017.”

I nodded, lowering my eyes. I don't think I want him to apologise. I mean he must be around the same age as father... But if it means that he will sleep better tonight, then I guess I should allow him to do it; to find his inner peace.

“I wanted to ask something of you.”

“Please don't apologise, sir.” I found myself saying. “You're almost like my father—”

“Apologise for what?” He looked at me with question.

My mouth fell open and stayed like that. I didn't know what to say. I felt so embarrassed. Oh no, Preetah. Really now?

“Apologise for what?”

I shook my head quickly, scratching the back of my head. “No. Nothing...”

He looked at me for a second too long without saying a word, trying to figure out what it is I was withholding.

“Anyway. I am looking for a wife for my Arjun. And I want it to be you.”

My eyes widening. That statement hit me like that slap he had given me in the past, but without the pain. What? No way, that's what he just said.

“Excuse me?”

“I think that it's time Arjun gets married, and I don't want him to marry someone from the states. I want him to marry an Indian girl with our values.” He explained. “I could only think about you, the girl who ranked after him. You must be very smart. You've got our values, I can already see that you're very decent. And you're beautiful, he will love you!” Mr Korana looked happy to be giving me this news.

I was still surprised and had no words.

“Since you two had something in the past, I'm sure you'll both be happy together.”

“Something in the past?”

“You're the girl I caught him with.” He laughed.

“You want me to marry Arjun Korana?” When I said it, I found myself beaming. It was still hard to believe. There was no way Arjun's father was asking me this. Just no way. It was too good to be true.

“I know I should be asking your father, but I wanted to find out first if you were not married and then I just couldn't keep the news to myself after seeing you. You're so beautiful.”

Now I couldn't stop smiling. This was really real. He wanted me to marry his son; my high school crush. Arjun! No way, Preetah, this can't be true. No way.

“If your father accepts, Arjun will come to India, and then the marriage can happen here and then you two can go over to the states.”

“To the states?” I asked. I placed the tips of my fingers against my temples, trying to calm myself down. I know I am saying this a lot, but that's just because there is no way this is happening right now. This felt like those nice dreams that you wake up from and realize it was only a dream.

His face reflected the joy I showed.

“Oh my god.” I said, and then suddenly feeling disorientated. That unsettling feeling you get when you're too happy after a long time and get that guilty feeling that asks you why you're so happy. I looked at my watch. “Oh my god, my father. I need to get home, Mr Korana.”

I stood up, and he got up too. “What's wrong with your father?”

“I take care of him. He is alone at the house and is waiting for me to come home to cook him food to eat.”

“Is he sick?”

“He has diabetes and got both legs amputated recently. So ...”

“That's really sad.” He said with a little frown. “You know health care services in America is 10 times better than here in India, right?”

I listened.

“In the states you can get him the proper care he needs. Even get him prosthetic legs.” He shrugged. “We have the money.”

I took a deep breath in and continued to look at Mr Korana. How did he come out of nowhere and bring me so much hope? The last 10 years of my life had been hell; father being diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension and needing refills of his medication regularly, me having to move from job to job and even working multiple jobs at once just to try and make ends meet, me not being able to go to college because of all these things and no funds... And here Mr Korana was, out of nowhere and coming to change my life.