"Saka, you need to wake up now." 

He groggily opened his eyes. "Hmm?"

Vira stood in front of him, bare bodied with a towel over his shoulder. His hair looked wet. He looked so sexy, this was a great dream.

"I don't want to wake up. In the middle of a great dream, Laika." He murmered and turned to the other side.

"It's me, Vira, wake up." Vira gently patted Saka's cheek. "You need to get up now. Don't you need to go back to the temple and get your uniform?"

He wasn't at the temple? Wait... where was he then?"

Saka jumped and sat up. He remembered. Vira had gone out to talk to some friend. He had slept, waiting for Vira.

"Sen, I am so sorry for abusing your hospitality. You should have woken me up."

He blushed visibly, embarrassed. 

Vira shook his head and smiled. He didn't have the heart to wake the drooling Saka. Saka had looked so adorable. He ended up covering him with a blanket and turned off the lights before going to bed.

"Go brush your teeth, I've kept out a brush for you. Let's have breakfast, and then you can leave."

Saka did as he was told. He thought about how they were like a couple, and it made him blush. He could hear Vira move about in the kitchen, making breakfast. He wished he could have this everyday of his life. He sighed.

There was a knock at the door, just as the sat down for breakfast. Vira was already dressed and ready.

Vira went to get it. Laika was out, with a bag in hand.

"Sorry Vira, for the trouble my idiotic brother caused." He walked in. Saka gaped at him. "What are you doing here?"

"Saving your life. Here is your uniform. Get a bath and get dressed. If Vira hadn't messaged me, you'd have to run up till the temple."

Saka beamed a smile of gratitude towards Vira. Vira winked at him.

Saka turned quickly. Ah! His heart! That wink caught him unaware. Why was his teacher this cute? 

Laika stayed for breakfast, and the three left together.

"Saka, I have class with you guys today. Could you do me a favour?"

Saka nodded his head. "Sure Maw!"

He took some papers and handed it over to Saka. "First period is self study for you guys. Can you have every one fill this sheet, to the maximum extent possible? I'll collect it from you guys during my period."

Saka nodded, as he took the sheets from Vira.

Laika asked, "what's that about?"

"Trying to understand my students. If Maw Lava trusts me enough to give me a task, then I plan to do it to the best of my capacity."

*****

Maw Vira had put forth an elaborate questionnaire. It had career plan section, hobbies and interests, likes and dislikes, favourite and detested subjects, even inspirational personalities and favourite places to visit.

Saka went through the paper, feeling it would be more exhausting to write this than any exam.

But he could understand the basis for these questions. 

Vira was evaluating two different things in the guise of a career path planner.

How many already had a dream, and in case they didn't have one, what the student really would like to do in case they didn't have a future plan, or succeed at.

Saka grumbled to himself. He had screamed himself hoarse, talking about these things last night only, to the point of getting tired and falling asleep at Vira's place.

He chewed his pencil, staring out of the window. He could hear the enthusiastic scribbling of his classmates. 

Vira walked into his class. Everyone greeted him as per custom.

"Could the class representative collect the forms and place it at my desk? I will take attendance in the mean time."

Saka stood up. Vira did not show his surprise. Saka goofed around, took things lightly, smiled at the most serious situations.. this was the impression he gave. But during the last two days, Vira had learnt one thing about Saka. He had way more to him that did not meet his eyes.

It was Mann High's custom to have the highest scoring student the class rep, as they could support their fellow students and speak on behalf of their classmates to their teachers, in case the students in question felt embarrassed to directly approach any staff.

Vira did not as much as glance at the sheets. He went on to teach his subject. 

He gave them assignment sheets before concluding the class.

"Do not copy, you are not going to be graded. This is me grading myself to see if I thought you effectively," he explained to the class.

"I have feedback section at the back. If you want me to explain anything in particular, or change my way of teaching, just let me know."

And with that he walked out.

The kids were excited by the form filling activity. Once Vira left, they gathered in their own little circles, chatting about what they had written. Tobi walked over to Saka's place. Though Tobi and Saka were inseparable, they never sat together in class.

Saka sat near the window, closer to the board, Tobi sat right at the back,spending his hours, usually sleeping, if not doodling.

Roon and Tiko, the infamous monkey duo, also went over to Saka's place. They were the class comedian pair, almost always upto some trick or the other, and spent their time writing sketches for the village fair or small town plays. 

Roon commented, "I wrote about wanting to be a comedian. I think Maw will have an attack." 

Tiko grinned. "No need to graduate to be a comedian. Who wants to study?"

Tobi smiled. Saka replied, "Trust me, Maw has a degree program for everyone, you won't be spared."

"Unless Maw plans to sponsor for me, which I'm sure he won't, I won't have to worry," chipped in Vel. "I think he is a bit naive, thinking we will all graduate. Does he even have an idea, how much it would cost?"

Jagi, who sat right in front of Saka, turned back. "That is right. Our village works in self sustenance model. We don't have the change to spare. At the most, Tobi will be able to study from our class. Maybe, you as well."

Jagi added, after a thought, "But I guess, priests needn't graduate."

Saka laughed it off.

"Who said?" Tobi asked. Everyone turned to Tobi.

"A priest need not study, a comedian need not study, being a doctor or teacher is most reputed profession, everyone should be that... who said?"

Everyone was quiet.

"Why are we afraid to dream? Why are we laughing at a person who is trying to fight for us? We don't know if he will succeed, if we will succeed, but if we don't even have hope or faith, then we will have nothing to look forward to."

It was the longest speech Tobi made. He got tired. He walked back to his seat. 

The message had gotten through.