Shaadi Ka Contract: Terms and Conditions of the Heart

The hum of ceiling fans whirred steadily above, blending with the scratching of pens and low murmurs in the room. Aarohi Desai moved between the rows of desks, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor. The classroom smelled faintly of chalk dust and fresh paper—comforting scents that marked another day of controlled chaos.

Her students sat with furrowed brows and concentrated gazes, focused on their math problems. She'd given them a surprise worksheet—one of her favorite tactics not to catch them off-guard, but to keep them sharp. Some of them hated it, others secretly appreciated the challenge. Aarohi, with her patient voice and disarming smile, had built an environment of learning and trust—especially in a subject as dreaded as math.

"Riya," she said softly, leaning over a girl's desk, "your equation is almost there. Don't forget to isolate the variable."

The girl gave a small nod, pencil scratching hurriedly again.

At the back of the classroom, Kabir Malhotra scribbled furiously, the tip of his pen tapping the paper as he rechecked his answers. Quiet and focused, Kabir was the type of student every teacher appreciated—diligent, respectful, and always eager to improve.

Aarohi turned back toward the board to jot down a few hints for the tougher questions. But just as she picked up the chalk, the classroom door burst open with a deafening thud.

Every head snapped up. The chatter died instantly.

Standing at the entrance was Principal Sharma, his sharp eyes scanning the room like a hawk. Behind him were Vice Principal Menon and a third man Aarohi instantly recognized—Mr. Rakesh Singh, a senior member of the school board. His presence was rare. And never a good sign.

The tension in the room thickened.

"Aarohi Desai," Principal Sharma called out, voice hard and cold. "I need you to come with us. Now."

Aarohi blinked, caught completely off guard. Her first instinct was to ask what this was about, but the look on Sharma's face made it clear—this wasn't a request. The room held its breath.

"Is something wrong, sir?" she asked cautiously.

"You'll find out shortly."

Then his eyes shifted toward the back of the class. "Kabir Malhotra. You too."

Aarohi's heart sank. Confused whispers erupted around them. Kabir's pen slipped from his hand as he slowly stood, pale and visibly shaken. Aarohi stepped forward, instinctively placing a reassuring hand on his back. He looked up at her, eyes wide and uncertain.

"It's okay," she said gently, though her own stomach was coiling in dread.

They walked out together under the scrutiny of every student in the room. The door closed behind them with a hollow thud, muffling the rising storm of speculation.

The hallway was long and silent. Each step felt heavier than the last.

Kabir's pace had slowed. "Ma'am... did I do something wrong?"

"No, Kabir," she said softly. "We'll figure this out."

When they arrived at the principal's office, the door was already open. Papers were strewn across the desk like a battlefield. The atmosphere inside was stifling. Two chairs had been placed in front of the panel—Sharma, Menon, and Singh, who leaned back like a judge preparing for a verdict.

"Sit," Sharma ordered.

They obeyed.

"There's been a serious allegation," Mr. Singh began, his voice deliberate. "Kabir Malhotra has been accused of academic dishonesty. Specifically, cheating during the mathematics midterm."

Aarohi sat upright, disbelief flashing across her face. Kabir flinched.

"That's impossible," she said at once. "He studied for weeks. I've seen the effort he's put in."

Mr. Singh slid a paper across the desk. "We found this in Kabir's school email. An anonymous message containing the full answer key to the exam—sent the night before."

Kabir leaned forward, scanning the printout with trembling hands. "I swear, I didn't even open this! I didn't know it was there!"

"The email was received," Mrs. Menon said coolly. "That in itself raises questions."

"But that's not proof," Aarohi countered, voice sharper now. "Did your IT team check whether the email was opened or interacted with? Because if they didn't, this is circumstantial at best."

Mr. Singh's jaw tightened. "You're defending a student without knowing the full story. That's a dangerous precedent, Ms. Desai."

"And punishing a student without a full investigation is worse," Aarohi snapped. "Kabir has an excellent record. Wouldn't common sense suggest a more thorough approach before threatening a child's future?"

The silence that followed was heavy.

Principal Sharma leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "Be careful, Aarohi. Teachers who involve themselves in disciplinary matters—especially when they challenge the board—risk more than their reputation."

There it was.

Aarohi met his gaze, unflinching. "If doing what's right costs me my job, so be it. But I won't let you scapegoat Kabir for something he didn't do."

A beat passed. Then another.

"Noted," Mr. Singh said finally. "You may leave—for now. But this investigation is ongoing."

Kabir looked completely shattered. Aarohi stood first and offered her hand. He took it, rising shakily.

As they walked out, the door closed behind them with a sense of finality.

But this wasn't over.

Not even close.

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