LEVERAGE

The electric bell cracked through the hallway with a jolt as students started to rush into their respective classrooms from the assembly ground.

All the captains were required to stand near the corridors of their classroom floors after the assembly and help maintain discipline as students file into their classes. Those who didn't follow the rules were often reported by the school captains to their class teacher. And Tanaya always made sure to report any minor incident that would result in breaking of a rule or not following proper discipline.

She's always prompt in her work and tries to do her best in whatever she does. She was hated among her classmates for her attitude as much as she was respected for her academic brilliance. True to the definition of being a teacher's pet, she was adored by all her teachers. But she had a deeply personal secret that, if revealed, could possibly ruin her carefully constructed reputation and instantly change the way everyone looked at her.

The students had now almost settled into the class when she noticed that one of them was yet to enter. Aarav. She had seen him arriving at the school and attending the assembly. So he must have skipped the line to go and bunk the first lecture. Again.

He was already in every teacher's bad books for always causing trouble and staying behind in the class. Always a backbencher. He was warned just last week for skipping the first few lectures, and another complaint would get him in serious trouble with his advisor.

Tanaya wasn't going to let this one go. She was heading towards Mr Neil's cabin to let him know that the class was ready to begin and that one of his students was skipping his lecture.

She knocked on his door, her heartbeat racing a bit, but she tried to calm herself down.

"Mr. Neil, may I..."

"Tanaya," Mr. Neil called from behind his desk as she peeked her head from the door as if expecting her. "Come in."

Tanaya entered. A shy smile on her face.

"Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, Tanaya," Mr Neil said from behind his desk as he watched Tanaya, fresh in her uniform, standing in his cabin. "Is the class ready?"

"Yes, sir" she said as she felt his gaze on her.

"Alright", Mr. Neil said as he got up and gathered his coat.

"Oh Tanaya, can you get this attendance register for the class?"

It was on his table, right in front of him. But she liked to be useful to her teacher, especially Mr. Neil.

"Sure, sir," she said and approached his table.

Mr. Neil watched her walking across his cabin towards his table. He could watch her features better now. Her skirt swishing around her thighs as she walked. Her sweet scent that she always keeps herself surrounded with, overpowering his senses.

He let her reach near the table, walked behind her as she reached for that register and dropped his coat to hold her close from behind.

"You are looking so pretty today, baby." Mr. Neil said, pulling her closer.

"Hey – what are you doing?" Tanaya asked gasping with surprise.

"Someone might come in; we could get in trouble."

"How many times do I have to ask you to call me by my name when we are by ourselves, sweetheart" Mr. Neil replied, turning her to face him.

"And don't worry, no one comes to my cabin this early in the morning – except for you."

"Sir... I mean Neil, the class is expecting you, and I should be there before you enter to avoid suspicion." Tanaya said in a worried tone.

"And what if someone came around right now searching for me or for you?" "We could get in trouble."

"You...you're right, Tanaya, it could have been dangerous."

"It's just that every day I tell myself this is wrong. And every day you walk into my cabin and make me forget why." Mr. Neil replies, looking into her eyes. His hands are sliding down to her waist.

"A quick kiss? Before I let you run away?"

Before Tanaya could even give a nod, Mr. Neil was already leaning in, aiming for her lips.

She closed her eyes, allowing him to take her soft lips. Her heart was beating hard inside her chest from the thrill of kissing Neil in his cabin and from the fear of getting caught.

Suddenly she felt the kiss getting deep and Mr. Neil's hand sliding down towards the hem of her skirt.

She broke the kiss before they could go any further.

"Neil, you promised not to do anything until we are married." Tanaya said, stepping a step away from him.

"It's just a year until I go to college, then we won't have to worry about anyone else."

"I'm sorry baby, I got a little carried away." Mr. Neil replied, trying to control himself, embarrassed.

"I think you had better go now, I'll enter the class a few minutes after you." Mr. Neil said, picking up his coat, not meeting her eyes.

Tanaya was smiling, but she didn't show it on her face. She enjoyed how Mr. Neil was getting red about the whole situation.

"See you in the class, Mr. Neil."

"See you in the class." Mr. Neil said, with a weak smile.

Tanaya turned on her heels to exit his cabin. Trying hard to suppress her smile, heat spreading across her face. She never thought Mr. Neil would try something so bold.

What they did today was definitely dangerous and could have got them into some serious trouble if they had been caught. But she also felt rushed and excited from trying something so daring and knowing she had such an effect on Mr. Neil.

She could still feel his kiss on her lips. The sensation of his hands going down on her – the thought made her squirm with excitement. She could feel the heat spreading through her body.

Tanaya exited the cabin, keeping her head low, feeling too shy to look up straight and ahead.

Before she could sense that someone was standing in front of her, she collided with the figure and lost her balance.

"Oh, I am so sorr—" she stopped midway as she looked up and realised who the person was.

Aarav.

He just stood there, tall. Hands stuffed casually inside his pockets. Uniform a mess – shirt half-untucked, his tie loose and crooked, sleeves rolled up unevenly. Hair, wild and tousled, as if unaware that it was just the first lecture of the day.

She looked at him for a second and quickly tried to compose herself. Coming across Aarav was so sudden that it left her a bit disoriented, but seeing that smirk plastered on his face grounded her to reality.

Why is he here? she thought. Nervous.

"Leaving somewhere in a hurry, Tanaya?" Aarav asked, a smirk spread across his face.

What does he mean by that? Why does he have that look on his face? Tanaya thought, getting tensed now.

"Yes, I am getting late for the class – and aren't you too?" she said, firmly. Trying hard to hide her anxiety and stable her nerves.

"You know, you shouldn't go around skipping classes, at least after being warned a couple of times."

"I was just in there to complain about you. You still have time to save yourself from being in trouble if you simply attend the class right now." she said, hoping he gets convinced as she walks away from him. Clearly not wanting to continue this conversation.

"Oh, of course, Tanaya," Aarav replied as he walked beside her, casual.

"Though, I am not really sure it's me who is going to be in trouble, sweetheart."

Tanaya froze on the spot as she heard that last word. They were standing in the corridor of their classroom, just a few paces away from their class. But she wasn't able to move her feet.

"Wh-what do you mean?" she asked, her voice shaky, betraying her.

"Oh, drop the pretence, Tanaya; the kiss is still wet on your lips." Aarav said, as he stepped in front of her, looking right into her eyes. That smirk never leaving his face.

"You know I am rather impressed than surprised by you. Miss Goody Two-Shoes, such as you, making out with a teacher in his cabin and having a secret affair. Impressive!"

"But I am not sure everybody else in our class or even the whole of Central High would share the same opinion as mine,'' Aarav teased, taking a step closer.

A sudden chill ran through her as the words hit. Her body stiffened, her breath fell short, and her eyes widened. Her heart skipped a beat as the panic set in. She felt as if the whole corridor had shrunk and the walls were going to close in on her.

No. This can't be happening. It's just a bad dream. I'll wake up soon, and everything will go back to normal. Her thoughts were running wild as she tried to fight back her tears. She knew it was all real.

"Your relationship will become quite a talk of the town, given your reputation, Tanaya." Aarav slowly whispered into her ear. Trying to break through her defence.

My life will be over if everyone else finds out. My reputation and my image will be ruined; they will throw me out of the school and Mr. Neil... No. I can't let this happen. There has to be a way.

She stood there thinking for a moment, and suddenly it came upon her.

She looked at him, staring right back into his eyes, determined. For a second it even surprised Aarav. She took a step, closing in on the distance between them as she composed herself.

"You really think anyone would believe you? An arrogant slacker such as yourself will only get ignored for spreading some lies. And even if you did succeed in spreading it, I will just deny them as rumours and instead accuse you of spreading it, tarnishing my image because you wanted to get back at me for complaining about your behaviour to the teachers." She stomped off without waiting for his reply or to even see his reaction.

Tanaya sank into her seat, her elbows on the desk, hands cradling her head, and heaved a sigh of relief as if exhaling the weight of everything that just happened. She was still shaking from earlier but tried to breathe through it, as her anxiety settled. Her thoughts kept circling back to what she said to Aarav, and she felt relieved, thinking she had managed to pull herself back from the danger.

Aarav casually strode back into the class, maintaining his relaxed demeanour as if nothing had happened. Tanaya tried to steal a glance and found him walking towards her chair; her breathing suddenly changed, but she tried to calm herself down.

I am sure he won't do it. Surely he isn't stupid enough to risk it; he knows no one would believe him.

He stopped across from her table, casually leaned in and whispered so that only she could hear -- "I know no one would believe a slacker like me, and you are stupid to think that I would even trouble myself to do something like that-- but hey, imagine what would happen if a certain photo were to be going around, shared anonymously, of course, on socials."

For a second, the entire world around her went silent.

Aarav smiled.

Then walked away.

And Tanaya finally understood that she was no longer protecting a secret.

She was trapped inside one.