School Redux

Rumors and Gossips

"Did you hear about the hottest gossip today?" Nischal nudged Dawa from behind on the morning assembly line.

Dawa clasped his hand and lowered his head, listening to the morning prayer. "Not Interested."

Nischal chuckled softly, understanding Dawa's disinterest in school gossip. As the morning prayer concluded, the national anthem started playing. Nischal restlessly moves his head, which earns him a quick glare from his class teacher.

Soon, the teachers started checking the hygiene to end the morning assembly.

Nischal couldn't resist anymore and wanted to share the news. He looked at the teacher's position and slowly moved forward.

"Last night, the students from class 10 section 'B' were arrested by the police."

Dawa's ears perked up at the mention of police involvement. He turned slightly to glance at Nischal, his curiosity piqued despite his initial disinterest.

"Arrested? What for?" Dawa whispered back, keeping his voice low to avoid drawing attention from the teachers.

Nischal leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "Apparently, the girls sneaked out from the hostel in the dead of the night, and they were caught when they reached Thimi as they were making a lot of noises."

"In addition, they were accompanied by the boys who were caught smoking red-handed."

"They had to be taken back to the police station because they are obviously minors without any guardian alongside them."

Dawa's eyebrows shot up in surprise. It was unusual for students from school to get involved in such trouble. This incident can't be found in his memory. Is this something that happened because of him? Or maybe something like a butterfly effect?

It was intriguing.

"The principal had to go herself and take them out this morning. Look, she still appears furious."

Dawa and Nischal took a quick glance at the principal, who was not looking very happy.

"I heard that they were suspended for a week. But I don't know how Neeraj got away with it." Nischal continued, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Neeraj?" Dawa echoed. "He was there too?"

Nischal nodded solemnly. "Yeah, apparently."

"Doesn't surprise me," Nischal muttered, shaking his head. "Rich kids like him always seem to get away with everything."

As the morning assembly concluded, the students dispersed to their classrooms.

"What were you guys talking about so seriously on the assembly line?" Samir questioned them as soon as they took their seats.

"Ah, just about the new scandal," Nischal replied as he took out his Math notebook.

"Nowadays, things like these don't surprise me." Samir shook his head, looking unperturbed. "And I can guess that those arrested students are not worried about it either."

"Yeah, Its expected."

Dawa and Nischal agreed with him. Maybe it would be a big deal if it was three or four years ago, but now people's bottom lines are lower with increasing times.

"Forget it. It's not our business."

"Give me the formula book for chapter nine." Dawa no longer wanted to participate in that discussion.

Throughout the day, whispers and murmurs echoed through the hallways, dissecting the details of the incident.

It wasn't surprising that the whole school knew about this incident till lunch break. Gossip spreads faster when the school is small and even more so when there are more female teachers than males in the school.

"I'm bored," Nischal sighed, his voice barely audible over the hum of conversation in the crowded cafeteria.

"When will the cafeteria update its menu? It has been three days since I only ate haluwa." Samir couldn't help but complain as he chewed. He felt that the school should have instead allowed daycomers to bring their own lunch.

"Yeah. Even eating is becoming like a chore." Nischal nodded in agreement.

Dawa silently swallowed the sweet dessert and thought it wasn't that bad.

Nischal suddenly leaned over the table and whispered with a smirk "Look who is watching our Dawa."

Dawa glanced up, following Nischal's gaze discreetly. His eyes fell upon a group of girls sitting at a nearby table, their giggles and whispered conversations barely audible above the din of the cafeteria.

Nischal's smirk widened as he nudged Dawa playfully. "Seems like you've got a group of admirers, buddy," he teased, his tone laced with amusement.

Dawa rolled his eyes and said nonchalantly. "Don't be ridiculous."

Nischal chuckled, undeterred by Dawa's dismissal. "Come on, don't be shy. I know that they like you. They have been watching you since they came." he persisted, his grin widening mischievously.

"And I also know that it is impossible for you to be in his place." Samir jeered at Nischal, who immediately had a dark face.

Nischal knew that he was behind them in terms of looks, but there was no need for Samir to rub it in.

"Don't be proud, I may not defeat you in the looks department, but I definitely beat you in terms of figure." Nischal immediately flexed his biceps and cast a disdainful look at Samir's thin body.

Samir gritted his teeth and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to mask his irritation with a forced chuckle.

"Oh, please, Nischal,"

He retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I may not have bulging muscles like you, but at least I don't have to struggle to fit through doorways."

Dawa listened to their banter with a little smile.

Suddenly, the cafeteria became silent and the figure of a teenager quickly became the focus of the students.

"What's he doing here?" Nischal leaned forward and whispered in a small voice.

"Maybe eat." Samir rolled his eyes and didn't bother talking anymore.

Hushed whispers suddenly rippled through the cafeteria. The gossip that was cooling down immediately sparked back to life as the students whispered about the new scandal.

There was an extra tray on their table when they were hurrying to finish their sweet lunch.

Nischal widened his eyes and looked at the newcomer in horror.

"What's your name?" Neeraj fed his mouth spoon after spoon of dessert, seemingly unperturbed by the sudden tension in the air.

Nischal glanced at his friend's faces and mouthed 'WHO?'

Samir shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. Both of them immediately looked at the only remaining person who seemed calm.

"Dawa Karki." Dawa finished the last spoon of his lunch and looked at Neeraj.

"Neeraj Koirala." Neeraj pointed to himself and returned the introduction. He continued to eat his dessert with an air of nonchalance, as if the surrounding atmosphere didn't affect him in the slightest.

"Nice to meet you," Neeraj replied casually, his tone devoid of any hint of tension or unease.

Nischal exchanged puzzled glances with Samir and they both became silent.

Dawa motioned for his friends to get up as he gave a polite nod of acknowledgment to Neeraj.

"You don't have anything to say to me?" Neeraj finally raised his head and looked up at Dawa, who was already standing with his tray.

Dawa paused for a moment, meeting Neeraj's gaze with a calm expression.

"When are we teaming up again?" Dawa continued. "Let me know."

Neeraj's eyebrows shot up in surprise at Dawa's unexpected question. He seemed taken aback for a moment before regaining his composure with a slight nod. With a casual shrug, he turned his attention back to his dessert, as if the conversation had never happened.

With that, Dawa turned to leave, gesturing for Nischal and Samir to follow.

"Why do you look so familiar with Neeraj?" Nischal asked animatedly.

"Yah, I didn't dare to think that you knew someone like that." Samir chimed.

"OK, I just played a game with him yesterday. That's all." Dawa rolled his eyes. He felt that they didn't know each other that well. They just played a game for one evening.