Wings of Heart

4. My Sincere Approach

Haridas POV

The chair was placed to the side of the table, slightly inconvenient for direct interaction. I wished the table were smaller or positioned differently, so I could sit directly opposite her. This arrangement would make it easier for me to explain concepts while maintaining eye contact.

As I moved to sit, my hand accidentally brushed against her shoulder. A wave of panic surged through me, and I froze momentarily, dreading her reaction. However, to my relief, she didn’t seem perturbed. Instead, she continued to look at me with the same calm demeanor, unaffected by the accidental touch.

Her lack of reaction gave me a newfound sense of confidence. She wasn’t the kind to create a fuss over minor incidents, and that eased my nerves significantly. It was a small yet reassuring moment, allowing me to focus on the task at hand.

Settling into the chair, I adjusted my position and began organizing my thoughts for the lesson. As I opened my notebook and took out a pen, I glanced at her. She sat attentively, her hands resting on the table, her expression one of quiet eagerness. It was clear she was ready to learn, and her composure only reinforced my determination to do my best.

Before starting with the topics, I wanted to assess where she truly struggled. Kapoor had mentioned that she was weak in mathematics, but I felt it was important to verify if she excelled in other subjects or if her weaknesses extended beyond math.

Looking at her face, I asked, “Which subject are you strong in? And which subject are you weak in?”

To my surprise, she tilted her head slightly, a playful smile appearing on her lips. “Sir, are you planning to carry out a SWOT analysis on me?”

I blinked, taken aback. “What?”

She chuckled. “You know, SWOT—Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threat analysis?”

Her response caught me off guard. It was clear she was sharper and more perceptive than I had anticipated. I quipped back, “Well, you could say that. So, tell me, what are your strengths and weaknesses?”

She leaned back slightly pressing her well-shaped medium-sized breasts on the edge of the table making it divide into two, and responded with a thoughtful tone, “I think I have a general weakness in anatomy.”

I arched an eyebrow, curious about where this was going. Anatomy wasn’t my area of expertise, but I prepared myself for a possible question. “Alright,” I said with a small smile, “Go ahead, ask me something.”

“Sir,” she began, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and boldness, “what is vaginal s*x?”

The question threw me off balance for a moment. I blinked, uncertain how to respond. Before I could find words, she continued, “And, sir, what is the purpose of human life? What is the aim of the human race on this earth?”

Her second question, though unexpected, offered a safer topic to address. I gathered myself and replied with deliberate calmness, “The purpose of life, broadly speaking, is to reproduce and maintain the continuation of the human race.”

She nodded, appearing satisfied with the answer. However, it was clear she wasn’t just an ordinary student. Her thought process and questions were far removed from what I had expected. She was operating on a level that challenged my assumptions about her.

“You haven’t told me yet,” I said, trying to steer the conversation back. “In which subject are you weak?”

Her lips curled into a sly smile. “I’m weak in something I’ll tell you later.”

I couldn’t help but smile at her response, unsure whether she was being serious or playful.

Then she surprised me again. “I saw you when I visited the unit with my father the other day,” she said, her voice softer, almost confessional. “I inquired about you and found out from my father that you are a smart, capable, and intelligent airman aspiring to become an officer soon. Since then, I’ve been asking my father to arrange these tuitions with you for mathematics.”

I was flabbergasted. Her words caught me completely off guard. “But I was told you’re weak in math,” I stammered.

She chuckled, shaking her head. “No, sir, I’m not weak in any subject. I’m always on top in all my subjects.”

Her revelation left me dismayed. “Then my coming here is not necessary,” I said, beginning to rise from my chair.

Before I could rise from my seat, she reached out and gently held my hand, her eyes pleading. “No, sir. I want you here every day, just as my father said. Please don’t leave. I want you to stay.”

Her gaze lingered on mine, and I saw something in her eyes—an infatuation, a craving for my presence. It made me uneasy. “Why do you want me to stay?” I asked cautiously.

She smiled, her voice soft yet insistent. “I want you by my side. Forget about my studies. If you insist, we’ll study. I’ll score good marks, just as you say. But that’s not the point.”

I couldn’t suppress a chuckle. Her candidness was both startling and disarming.

She continued, her tone shifting to one of earnestness. “I know you’ll help me. I trust you. But honestly, I’m not interested in medicine or engineering. My personal preference is commerce. I want to become a chartered accountant.”

I nodded, encouraging her to go on.

She became more animated, her words flowing with an almost childlike enthusiasm. “If you ask me, I’ll tell you the truth—I don’t want to get employed after my studies. I don’t want to work and spoil my life. My dream is to become the wife of a defense officer and to live a carefree life with parties and ladies’ clubs. I’ve seen some of my classmates’ mothers living that life, and I’m fascinated by it. That’s my ultimate aim.”

Her honesty was staggering. It was clear that she had unique aspirations, even if they didn’t align with conventional academic or career goals. I realized that this tuition arrangement wasn’t just about education—it was about something else entirely.

I smiled at her, not because I approved of her perspective, but because I finally understood her game.