Saka was a good kid. He was impressed when Saka did not argue. He might have been angry in the morning, but when Mina had cornered him, he had genuinely apologised. That alone deserved respect. It irritated him that she didn't ask him for any explanation.

It was a good thing she was a trainee, she wouldn't be staying here for more than a year.

He took a deep breath and took his file.

It was time for the next class.

****

Saka spent the next half of the day, chewing his lips and staring out of the window, oblivious to his surrounding. He should have taken the permission note from Vira. He couldn't concentrate on any class. 

He felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Tobi, his best friend, standing next to him.

"Time to go home, it's 4."

"Huh? 4 already?"

"You've been absent throughout the morning and sighing throughout the afternoon. Ofcourse time would fly for you."

Saka giggled. "Today has been one rollercoaster ride for sure!"

"Want to tell me about it?"

"Later, I have detention now."

Tobi stared at him. Detention? "The new Maw? For coming late?"

Saka flung his bag on his shoulder, " Yes and no. It's a big story, I'll tell you later. Bye!"

And with that he ran off.

Tobi stared at him. Saka wasn't upset. That was good.

"Maw?" 

Vira was pouring over the student data form of his class. He looked up to see Saka smiling brightly at him.

"Ah! You are here! Come let's go." He got up.

Laika just walked in. "Ah Saka! Coming with me?"

"No, detention. You go."

"Huh? Detention? You? Why?"

Saka looked at Vira and rolled his eyes. " The root cause of all my misery!" , he muttered, "See how innocent he plays?" 

Vira chuckled.

Just the Mina came. "These village kids are a unruly mess. God save our country!" She said loudly as she barged into the staffroom. There were only four of them. Laika looked shocked at her words. Vira ignored her. 

Her gaze froze on Saka.

"Ah, you. Has your punishment been decided yet?"

She then noticed Laika staring at her. "Ah Maw Laika. Did you get your apology letter from this student?"

"Apology letter?"

"I wanted him to write one, but this weird teacher kept insisting that unless you demand it out of this student, the student wouldn't have to write one. "

Laika was simply lost for words. What was this woman talking about?

Vira glanced at Mina. "You are eating away our detention time, if you'll excuse us." With that he walked in front, and Saka followed, looking at Laika and winking as he passed by him.

Laika mouthed "What's going on?"

Saka replied with "Later" and followed Vira out.

As Laika watched them go out, he heard Mina venomously spit out "What an arrogant teacher! God! Another village nutcase."

"What is going on?" asked Laika perplexed.

She explained the afternoon's events, about how she had tried to fight for Laika but that annoying teacher kept defending the student, taking express pleasure in undermining her authority.

Laika heard her. He couldn't help but admire Vira for how he had handled her. A new teacher always tried to fit it. Vira didn't care about fitting in, he cared about doing things right. Special respect.

"I really appreciate your kind thoughts, but it's best to let the teacher handle their own student issues..."Laika tried to explain to her.

She mistook his words as appreciation for her efforts, and that cooled her down. But before he could continue, she cut him short. "But seriously, teachers like that spoil the children. We need to be stern with the kids, not let them do what they please as they please. These local teachers probably grow up, knowing all families here, and so, to be on everyone's good books, turn the other way when the kids do something wrong. Take Maw Vira for instance! He has encouraged that kid to go about slandering other teachers. Not just that kid, but other kids as well!"

With every word, Laika felt his temper rising.

"Woah! That's a lot of accusation that you've thrown around. Don't you think you should understand the circumstances before jumping into a conclusion?" He asked, his tone not betraying his emotions.

"There is nothing to understand. Dying hair and wearing earrings, that's just showing off. If a kid in our city schools did it, we would ask them to dye it black right away! What is with the wannabe star attitude? These kids cut class, hang out in poor company, and end up ruining their future. They do not know the seriousness of education. I can give you in writing, he has doting hardworking parents who pamper him, probably an only child who throws his weight around all day at home, comes to school to bum around, ruins the kids around him, a bad apple. And teachers like Maw Vira, think only about popularity. They are not standing up for the kids, no, not at all. For their own selfish gains, they are ruining a child's life." She gave a dramatic pause, proud of her own oratory skills. 

Laika stood, speechless. What a judgemental lady this one was! Unbelievable!

"Do you not think you are being a bit hasty? You haven't taken any class for that kid. He may actually be the class head. He may be very studious and responsible. I don't think you can judge a person by his appearance."

This teacher seemed a bit naive, Mina thought to herself. "You do not seem to be knowing much about this world. Is this your first job?"

" Yes." Laika knew where this was going. 

"I have worked in 3 different schools. Let me tell you. My judgement can never be wrong." She smiled smugly at him.

Laika didn't bother with a response. It was useless talking to someone like her. He slung his bag and took Roma's.

"So long Maw!" And with that he walked off. A part of him felt guilty. He had brought this on his brother because of what he had considered a harmless prank. He just hoped this lady didn't handle his brother's class. 

Saka would be done for, if she handled his class.