Chapter Three

Mrs. Dixit tapped her knuckles on the polished surface of her table. It was merely an attempt to bring Samarth's attention to her. Ever since the lot had stepped into her office, he seemed to be stabbing daggers into Mayra through his gaze. Mayra, on the other hand looked straight ahead at her teacher, pretending to be unaffected. 

She cleared her throat, "Samarth, is it true?" She was holding in her hand Mayra's cellphone. The screen flashed a picture-- Mayra's picture. She had taken it before cleaning her hair which was drenched in chocolate and milk. It was a proof of the prank he'd played on her. 

Turning his head slowly but dangerously to her, he parted his lips and the word escaped, "Yes." There was pride in his voice. 

"Who else was involved?"

"No one. It was only me."

Huh? Why would he lie and take the blame all on himself? 

There was another guy involved. The one who had recorded the video. 

Mrs. Dixit sighed, rubbing her temples gently. "This kind of behavior isn't tolerated in St. Theresa High school. Playing pranks on students isn't allowed."

"It was a harmless prank," He argued. 

Mrs. Dixit's eyes flickered to Mayra for a second. She stood with a good posture clasping her hands together. Her face expression neutral.

She shifted her gaze back to Samarth. His arms were folded in front of his chest. His face depicted impatience and anger. 

"It wasn't harmless. Her hair was a mess." She thrust the cellphone forward showing him her picture. 

He rolled his eyes. 

"It took her an hour to clean it up. Her jacket was spoiled too. And..." Mrs. Dixit thought of more but couldn't think of anything. Surely wasting a good, tasty milkshake was a reason to be scolded for? 

"Ma'am, I missed the first lecture and it's my first day here." Mayra prompted, unable to resist. 

"Yes. Exactly." She nodded her head sternly. She didn't agree it did Mayra any harm. Mr. Murthy was barely a good teacher. 

She shook the thought away and focussed on him, trying but failing to put a firm face, "I've excused too many of your mischiefs. This, however, is too much and shouldn't go unpunished." She rested her elbows on the the table and offered, "But, if you apologize... "

No. Mayra didn't approve. He could take his apology and shove it up his ass. She wanted to see him punished. 

"I'm not sorry for what I did." He interrupted her. "I don't feel any remorse." He confessed honestly. 

Mrs. Dixit shook her head in disbelief. His skull was too thick. "Too bad, Samarth Singhania. You've just brought yourself a month of d-" 

"Wait." He said, "Aren't you going to ask me what she did?"

Mrs. Dixit knitted her eyebrows together, "What do you mean?"

"You didn't tell her? Maanya, right? Go on, tell her what you did." Sumedh jerked his head. 

No. Of course she knew he was going to bring this up. It had happened in the heat of the moment but she knew there would be repercussions. 

"Ma'am, I- I was angry." She began with a frail voice. "I didn't mean to do it and I thoroughly regret my action. I'm sorry for doing it."

"What is 'it'?"

He knew she would take forever to confess it and by that time Mrs. Dixit would be convinced it was a mistake and not a crime. 

"She slapped me." He snapped and strutted closer, turning his face so she could have a better look at his swollen cheek imprinted with Mayra's hand. 

Her eyes widened with shock, "Violence isn't tolerated! How could you slap him?"

"Ma'am, I'm-"

"What she's done is worse because my cheek hurts. And I couldn't pay attention to Mr. Murthy because of the throbbing pain." He confessed and a corner of his lips titled upward, satisfied at Mayra's helpless expression. It looked as if she would cry any moment. 

"At least she's sorry for her mistake." Mrs. Dixit concluded. 

There was that word. Mistake. He hated it. Just because someone repented their crime, did it make them any less of a criminal? His cheek still pained. But he knew it would feel fine in some time. His ego, however, was injured beyond repair. 

"But, you will make up for it by serving detention for a month, Ms. Ahuja," She said and his face broke into a wide grin but it vanished too soon as she continued, "Both of you in detention. A month. Starting tomorrow. With me." She sealed it with a winning smile and asked him to leave. She muttered something about documents and requested, yes requested Mayra to stay. 

He groaned in frustation and punched the air with his fist in dismay. What's worse, a harmless prank or a slap on the face? Everyone knew the answer. But yes, she was a girl and she was sorry!

Injustice. 

As he padded towards the classroom again for the second lecture, a mischievous smile spread across his lips. If there was anyone who could bring justice, it was he himself. He had just spotted her weak spot. And he couldn't wait to exploit it.