A few more days had passed.
Sneha's exams were now just one month away. Every day at school she saw Anurag Sir, but she couldn't go near him or speak to him. She could only watch him from a distance. During class, Sir's eyes would find her too, burning with an unbearable longing, yet there was no way to express it.
That distance had become a thorn in both their hearts.
Sir kept telling himself it was for Sneha's own good. After all, he only wanted the best for her.
But Sneha could no longer bear staying away from him. She loved him too deeply. Being unable to reach him was slowly tearing her apart. Finally, she made a very risky decision.
One evening at the dinner table, she looked at her uncle and aunt and said softly,
"Actually… my exams are only a month away now, and my Chemistry is really weak. If we could arrange a good tutor at home… maybe I could prepare properly."
Uncle Surajit Ray looked startled. Sneha had always been excellent in her studies—this was completely unexpected.
Aunty Nitu was equally surprised.
"What are you saying, Sneha?" Aunty asked, her face clouded with worry.
Uncle Surajit sighed and said, "I never thought I'd hear this from you, Sneha."
Sneha kept her head lowered.
Uncle continued, "But if that's what you want, tell me—who do you want to study with?"
Still looking down, Sneha replied in a very soft voice,
"Our school's Anurag Sir… he teaches really well. If he agrees…"
Uncle and Aunty exchanged a quick glance.
Then Aunty asked,
"Anurag Sir? Does he give home tuition?"
"No, no," Sneha said quickly, "Sir doesn't normally tutor at home. But if you ask him to come here once… I think he'll agree."
Uncle and Aunty stayed silent for a moment, thinking. Then Surajit Ray said, "Alright, I'll speak to Sir and see."
They had no objections or suspicions at all. After all, Sneha had never done anything wrong, and Anurag Sir's excellent reputation was known to everyone at school.
Two days later, everything was arranged.
---
**First day. 6:30 p.m.**
The small study room in Sneha's house had been cleaned and neatly arranged.
In one corner stood a large wooden table. Sneha's chair was on one side, and a comfortable high-backed chair had been placed on the other side for Sir.
Soft light from the small open window fell across the open books, notebooks, and Chemistry question papers. A gentle, cool breeze drifted in.
At exactly 6:35, the doorbell rang.
Sneha's heart skipped a beat. Aunty opened the door and welcomed Anurag Sir inside.
"Come in, Sir. Sneha was so anxious. Now that you're here, she'll finally feel at ease."
Anurag Sir smiled lightly and said, "There's nothing to worry about."
He stepped into the study room. Sneha stood up. The moment their eyes met, a silent spark passed between them. Sir's gaze held that restrained desire; Sneha's eyes were filled with a mixture of shyness and joy.
Sir sat on the chair opposite her. Sneha sat down in front of him. Only books and notebooks lay on the table, yet an invisible current flowed between them.
The lesson began.
Anurag Sir taught slowly and with complete focus. He wrote chemical equations in her notebook to explain concepts, sometimes leaning over to check her work. His voice was soft but deep.
"Do you understand this part? Here, electron transfer is happening…"
Sneha nodded as she listened, but her mind was nowhere near the books. Her eyes kept drifting to Sir's fingers—the same fingers that had once touched every sensitive part of her.
After nearly twenty minutes, Aunty appeared at the door holding a steaming cup of coffee.
"Sir, have some coffee. You've been teaching for a while."
Anurag Sir stood up respectfully and took the cup. "Thank you, Mrs. Ray."
Once Aunty left, the room fell quiet again.
Sir took a sip of coffee, then slid the notebook toward Sneha and said,
"Now solve this question yourself."
Sneha began writing. Her hand was trembling slightly. Sir leaned across the table to watch her work. His face was very close to her head; she could feel the warmth of his breath against her ear.
Suddenly, in a low, almost whispered voice, Sir said,
"Sneha…"
She looked up. Their eyes locked.
"Having you so close… and still not being able to touch you… it feels like punishment."
Sneha's lips quivered. She lowered her gaze. But under the table, her hand had already moved close to his.
Sir glanced around quickly, then carefully intertwined his fingers with hers—tightly, filled with deep longing.
Sneha's eyes dropped in shyness. She whispered,
"Sir, it hurts me too. I see you every day at school but can't come near you. That's why… I arranged this."
Sir stayed silent for a moment.
Then he said,
"You're really very brave. Thank you for doing this. I see you every day at school too… and every time I think, if only I could pull you close just once…"
He squeezed her hand a little tighter.
Sneha shivered.
Sir gazed at her shy, flushed face for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he released her hand—because Aunty Nitu's footsteps could be heard approaching from outside.
Aunty appeared again, smiling.
"Sir, would you like another cup of coffee?"
"No, thank you, Madam. Let's continue with the lesson."
After Aunty left, the two turned back to the books.
But under the table, Sneha slowly stretched out her leg. Her soft toes slipped through the gap at the bottom of Sir's trousers, right near his ankle, and gently began to stroke the bare skin beneath. It was a shy yet daring touch.
Sir froze. Surprise flashed in his eyes. A moment later, he slowly turned to look at her. Sneha kept her head lowered in embarrassment, but her toes didn't stop.
A faint, knowing smile curved Sir's lips.
The lesson continued.
But only the two of them knew about the storm raging inside their hearts.
_
_
_
The session ended.
Anurag Sir glanced at his watch and said, "That's enough for today. I'll come again tomorrow."
He stood up from his chair. Sneha rose too. Just then, Aunty Nitu appeared at the door.
"Sir, how did the first day go? Is Sneha understanding everything?"
Anurag Sir smiled gently and replied, "Yes, Mrs. Ray. She's paying very good attention. In a few more days, everything will become much clearer."
Aunty nodded, satisfied. "Then please come at the same time tomorrow. I'll have tea ready."
Sir bowed his head respectfully. "Alright. I'll take my leave."
As he walked toward the door, he turned once and looked back at Sneha. Their eyes met again, and another silent storm passed between them. A soft smile touched Sir's lips, his gaze still full of unfinished longing.
"Take care," he said in a low voice, and stepped out.
Sneha stood by the door. Aunty came and stood beside her. She kept staring outside, following the sound of Sir's footsteps until they faded completely.
Aunty placed a hand on her shoulder and asked gently, "What's the matter? Does Sir teach well?"
Sneha only nodded. But her eyes remained fixed on the path outside where Sir had disappeared.
**To be continued…**