The classroom was filled with noise, laughter bouncing off the walls as if it had no end.
Someone leaned forward from behind and placed a hand on Ravin's shoulder.
"Hey… how much does your mom charge?"
The words were quiet, but the laughter that followed was loud enough to drown everything else.
Ravin froze.
His fingers tightened around the edge of his desk as his heart began to race.
"I mean,"
the voice continued mockingly,
"when I start earning, maybe I'll visit. Think I'll get adiscount?"
More laughter.
Some students tried to hide it, others didn't bother.
Ravin lowered his head, his
ears ringing as the voices blurred together.
He didn't respond.
He never did.At that moment, the classroom door opened.
The noise slowly faded as a man walked in, his expression calm, his steps measured.
"Everyone, sit down," he said.
The class settled, though a few chuckles still lingered in the air.
"I'm your new teacher," he continued, placing his bag on the table.
"Let's start with introductions. Name and what your parents do."
He pointed to the front row. A girl stood up immediately, smiling.
"I'm Emily, sir. My father is a doctor, and my mother is an artist."
"Good,"
the teacher nodded.
"Sit down."
One by one, students introduced themselves.
The answers were simple,
normal… safe.
Then his gaze stopped.
"You. Fifth bench."
Ravin's body stiffened.
Slowly, he stood up, his legs feeling weak.
"Name?"
"R-Ravin…"
"And your parents?"
Silence.
His throat went dry. His lips parted, but no words came out.
The teacher frowned slightly.
"Well? What do your parents do?"
"I… my mother is…"
"She takes money for a night!"
The voice came from the back, loud and clear.
The class burst into laughter.
For a moment, Ravin heard nothing.
Everything went silent.
Then his eyes filled with tears.
Without saying a word, he ran out of the classroom, the laughter
still echoing behind him.
The corridor felt empty and cold. Ravin rushed into the restroom and locked the door.
His breathing was uneven, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he tried to calm himself.
But the voices didn't stop.
They never did.
A few minutes later, the door opened slowly.
"Ravin?"
the teacher called out, stepping inside.
"I heard you ran out. What happened?"
Ravin couldn't answer. Instead, he stepped forward and held onto the teacher, his body
trembling.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered. "I'm sorry…"
The teacher paused for a moment before placing a hand on his back.
"It's alright,"
he said gently.
"You're strong. Don't let them get to you."
Ravin nodded weakly, wiping his tears.
"Go home early," the teacher added.
"Take some rest."
That night, the house was quiet except for the faint sound of the television.
Someone knocked the door
"Ravin,"
his mother called from inside,
"check the door."
He stood up slowly and walked to the entrance.
When he opened the door, his breath caught.
It was his teacher.
"Good evening, Ravin,"
he said with a faint smile.
"I was wondering… can I meet your mother?"