When a serious meeting is underway among the teachers, rumors about Bivash Sir and Rodela start spreading like wildfire throughout the school.
[Corridor of the 12th-grade Science section]
The atmosphere in the school is heavy today. Some faces are worried, some curious, and others—immersed in filthy imaginations.
Inside the classroom, hushed whispers fill the air. A group of girls sit on one side of a bench, whispering to each other.
— "Did you hear? Is it true she had something going on with Sir?"
— "I just can't believe it... Rodela was always so quiet, such a good girl…"
— "And Sir? I never imagined he would ever do something like that...!"
Two girls stand at the corner of the corridor, speaking in low tones.
— "You know what? I had always suspected something. Rodela used to visit Bivash Sir's room sometimes, and even though he was rude to other students, he always spoke so sweetly to her! Now the truth is finally out!"
— "Exactly! Always putting on that innocent, modest act! Girls like her... outwardly religious, but secretly burning inside!"
Another group of girls nearby are chatting animatedly.
One says — — "I once saw Sir touching her hand when she handed him a notebook… on purpose! That's when I realized something was definitely going on!"
— "That's why she always kept to herself… being a loner always means there's something fishy!"
— "I swear, I heard Rodela used to chat with him late at night! Apparently, she even sent him love messages!"
— "Ugh... it's disgusting just thinking about it! Why would she chase after a man old enough to be her father?"
Someone shrugs and says — — "Maybe Sir isn't so innocent either. The way he used to talk to her in class—so affectionately!"
One girl speaks a bit more gently — — "Say whatever you want... but what if Sir actually abused her mentally…?"
The others quickly hush her in low, harsh voices — — "Oh please! What a drama! She started it herself! Now she's pretending to be a victim…"
Sitting further away, a quiet girl named Mitali hears everything and lets out a deep sigh. She silently opens her bag and takes out a book. Her eyes carry a mix of emotions—disgust, sorrow, and a bitter disappointment in society's masked faces.
---
The corridor walls seem to be listening. Just outside the girls' bathroom, three girls are giggling in hushed voices.
— "So now we know the reason behind Rodela's fake innocence… she was having a full-blown romance with Sir!"
— "Romance? Please! She was trying to build her career with her body!"
— "Didn't you see in class? The way she used to stand in front of Bivash Sir, chest out… Sir couldn't even look away!"
Another girl chimes in from the back —
— "I once saw her go into Sir's room alone... the door was slightly open... and Sir was... touching her! Why else would a teacher let a student get that close?"
— "That's why Sir always took her side! Marks in exams, praise in class—it was all thanks to her body!"
— "Sir was enjoying himself too. Otherwise, why would he spend so much time alone with her on school trips?"
Another girl adds —
— "Who knows, maybe they even had romantic video calls at night, with her in short dresses!"
Laughter erupts.
— "If anyone had to shoot a night porn film, Rodela would be the perfect lead!"
— "You've seen her figure, right? No wonder Sir lost his mind!"
— "The funniest thing? Apparently, she tried to commit suicide! Ha! What a joke! Got caught, and now she's trying to get sympathy!"
— "Yeah, our hero Anirban Sir saved her. Cheap girl! When she couldn't get the grumpy Bivash Sir, now she's trying to lure Anirban Sir instead. What an act!"
— "Girls like her are never satisfied with just one man."
Another girl speaks up — — "Hey, have you ever wondered? Rodela's thin body… and Sir's large frame… how did they even have sex?"
The others burst out laughing.
After a few more rounds of obscene gossip about Rodela and Bivash Sir,
a new girl, who had been silent all along, quietly says —
— "But… what if Rodela really loved him? What if she was innocent, and Sir used her?"
She's immediately interrupted by another girl who shouts —
— "If she was really innocent, would she strip in front of her teacher?"
— "It's because of these fake girls that teachers get accused of everything these days. This school is turning into a mess!"
Rodela herself becomes the "proof" of obscenity today.
Thus, well-crafted lies spread like a script, and the truth is buried beneath the froth of malicious gossip. No one cares anymore about the tears in Rodela's eyes, or the silent war waging within her.
---
Elsewhere…
During the lunch break, four friends are quietly talking while standing on the school balcony.
The heat of the school gossip surpasses even the scorching midday sun.
Madhu whispers in Basundhara's ear, "Basundhara, did you hear? Something huge has happened between Bivash Sir and Rodela!"
Basundhara smiles slyly and calmly says, "Is that even news anymore? The whole school knows! How long could Bivash Sir bask in the glow of young Rodela anyway? Sooner or later, he had to get caught."
Tania raises an eyebrow and adds, "Right now, there's only one hot topic in the entire school—teacher-student romance!"
Deepa excitedly says, "I heard Rodela even tried to commit suicide! And our handsome Anirban Sir actually saved her!"
Basundhara stays silent for a moment, staring down at the flowers. Then she suddenly looks up and says,
"From our side, it's actually a good thing. Poor Rodela just cleared the path for me."
Tania, Deepa, and Madhu exchange confused glances. Madhu asks, "What do you mean? Cleared the path?"
Basundhara now speaks in a slightly serious tone,
"Think about it—if a girl wants to take her own life for a teacher she loves, and that moves Anirban Sir so much… then imagine, what if someone tried to do the same for him? What do you think he'd do then?"
Tania and Deepa's eyes widen. Madhu whispers, "Wait… are you really going to try suicide?"
Basundhara laughs, "Oh no, silly! I'm not going to actually kill myself. I'll pretend! I'll act my way into Sir's heart. I want Anirban Sir to do exactly what I want. And tell me, do you think I'm not a good actress?"
Tania says in awe, "Wow Basu, you really are terrifyingly believable when you act…"
Deepa adds, "You make it feel like a real movie… no one can outplay you."
Basundhara gives a sly smile.
The four friends fall silent for a moment.
An invisible scent of conspiracy thickens the air.
To be continued…