**Hotel 'Himalaya Bliss'**
Silence reigned outside the Head Ma'am's room.
Inside, Anurag Sir and the Head Ma'am were seated. Standing before them were three girls—Riya, Baishali, and Megha. Their eyes were red, faces pale and drawn, hands trembling.
In a grave voice, the Head Ma'am said,
"I am deeply ashamed of the behaviour of these three. You know very well that growing up doesn't just mean becoming educated; it means becoming a person of character, of integrity. To be a true human being, one needs a conscience—and you have destroyed your own."
Riya spoke in a shaking voice,
"Ma'am, we didn't realise it would become such a big issue… We are truly very repentant…"
Suppressing her anger, the Head Ma'am replied,
"This is not the time for repentance. Did you not think anything when you planned such a filthy act?"
Baishali, tears in her eyes, said,
"We didn't hate Sneha, Ma'am… We just wanted to have some fun with her…"
This time Debalina Ma'am spoke sternly,
"Making 'fun' of someone's body or personal belongings is a sign of mental perversion. Is this what you learned in school?"
The three girls fell silent.
Until then, Anurag Sir had not spoken a single word. His face carried a stunned stillness mixed with weary anger. The Head Ma'am slowly turned to him and asked,
"Anurag, you were the first to see the video. What do you think should be done now?"
Anurag Sir took a deep breath.
"I don't want this to become public news, Ma'am. Because the one who would suffer the most is Sneha. But punishment is necessary—otherwise, they might do the same thing to another Sneha someday."
The Head Ma'am nodded.
"You're absolutely right. I am preparing to issue them Transfer Certificates. However, the decision not to go to the police is purely out of consideration for you and Sneha's dignity."
The three girls fell at the Head Ma'am's feet, sobbing,
"Ma'am, please… give us one chance… We will really change…"
The Head Ma'am let out a long sigh.
"Life sometimes teaches lessons that stay with you forever. Let this be that lesson for you too."
Crying, the three girls left the room.
After the door closed, Anurag Sir sat quietly for a while. The Head Ma'am asked,
"How is Sneha now?"
In a low voice, he replied,
"Quiet. She's deeply shocked. I wanted to bring her back to normal… but right now she can't face anyone."
The Head Ma'am said sadly,
"I will speak with her later. For today, tell her to rest."
Anurag Sir nodded.
"Alright, Ma'am."
He stepped out of the room.
•••
Sneha was sitting alone in Anurag Sir's room.
Afternoon light filtered through the window and fell on her face. Her eyes still carried a reddish tinge, her expression utterly still and distant.
The door opened and Anurag Sir entered, holding a steaming cup of coffee.
Softly, he said,
"I brought this for you. Have it."
Sneha looked at him for a long moment, then silently took the cup.
Tears welled up in her eyes again.
In a quiet voice, she said,
"If you hadn't been there today, Sir… I don't even know what would have happened to me…"
Looking at her with deep compassion, Sir said,
"Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."
In his eyes there was calm—and somewhere, an unusual tenderness.
*****
Meanwhile…
---
📍 12:10 PM — Jaigaon Market, Border Area
The entire group stood ready in front of Hotel 'Himalaya Bliss'. Teachers and students of Meghmala Girls High School formed a long line. ID badges hung around everyone's necks; hands held water bottles and snack packets. The soft, bright sunlight of the hills bathed everything in a gentle glow—everyone's excitement slowly filling with joy.
Laughing and chatting, they boarded the vehicles.
Inside the car, the girls' faces were lit with sparkling smiles. Some clicked photos on their mobiles, others tagged each other on WhatsApp.
The mountain road carried a strange, cool fragrance in the breeze—mixed with the sound of distant streams. Far away, the hills of Bhutan seemed to smile behind a bluish veil.
---
📍 1:00 PM — Bhutan Gate
Seeing the massive, colourful wooden carvings of the Bhutan Gate, the girls let out a collective shout—"Wow!"
The border air held a unique kind of peace. Cool wind descended from the hills; wooden shops lined the roadside selling hand-knitted woollen caps, wooden masks, steaming momos, and noodles.
Tanushree, Rupsi, and Atreyi pulled out their phones and started taking selfies—
"Wait, wait—Megha, you stand in the middle!"
Megha smiled and stood in position. Just then, Anirban Sir appeared behind them.
One hand holding sunglasses, the other a bag—he looked incredibly handsome. The girls immediately began whispering—
"Oh my god, our Sir looks like total hero material!"
"Megha, you're so lucky!"
Megha gave a sweet, shy smile at their words.
What had happened that morning still lingered in her mind.
Seeing Megha smile softly, Rupsi and Tanushree teased,
"Hey, Mrs. Anirban, why are you smiling so much?"
Megha's face turned red with embarrassment.
Atreyi laughed and said,
"Sir is looking right at you—see!"
When Megha looked up toward Sir, she saw him facing the other way, giving instructions to the students.
Rupsi, Tanushree, and Atreyi burst into laughter.
Atreyi said, "Look at this crazy girl—she's completely mad for Sir!"
Megha lowered her head and whispered,
"You all are so shameless!"
A little later, the teachers announced,
"Come on, let's take a group photo together."
The moment filled with shouts, laughter, and the constant click of cameras.
A short while afterward.
Megha was walking alone quietly. Anirban Sir noticed and approached her with concern.
He asked,
"Why are you alone?"
Megha turned and looked up at him.
She became mesmerised gazing at his flawless face but couldn't speak.
Sir asked gently,
"Are you scared?"
Megha shook her head. "No, Sir."
In a caring voice, Sir said,
"Stay with the others. I don't want you to fall ill again."
Megha felt very happy at Sir's caring nature.
But at that exact moment, Rupsi came running and called out,
"Sir! Everyone is calling—lunch time!"
Sir smiled lightly and said,
"Come, we have to go for lunch."
---
📍 2:45 PM — Restaurant 'Dragon Dine'
Everyone was eating together.
Megha's roommates had once again insisted that Sir sit at their table.
Anirban Sir couldn't refuse for Megha's sake.
Megha was extremely happy because Sir was sitting right beside her.
They all ate together.
Rupsi teased again,
"Sir, you look so handsome today! Even our school Ma'ams have a crush on you!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Anirban Sir felt shy.
With a bashful smile, he shook his head,
"Why do you girls always do this!"
---
📍 4:00 PM — Phuentsholing View Point
The vehicles climbed the winding mountain road. Far below glittered the town of Bhutan, while above stretched a blue sky framed by clouds.
The girls stood excitedly at the edge, taking photos.
Rupsi said,
"Sir, please take our photo!"
Anirban Sir took the camera, smiling as he said—
"Alright, but don't strike too many poses or you'll fall off the hill!"
Everyone dissolved into laughter.
---
📍 5:30 PM — Mountain Waterfall 'Trongsa Falls'
The girls dipped their feet in the water, laughing and clicking pictures.
Tanushree said,
"This trip is going to stay in my memory forever!"
Atreyi replied,
"And for Megha, it'll stay even more!"
Everyone laughed again; Megha felt embarrassed.
The sun was now setting behind the hills.
Golden light blended into the gaps between the clouds.
---
📍 8:30 PM — Hotel 'Himalaya Bliss'
After a full day of sightseeing, everyone was tired but wore satisfied smiles on their faces.
Dinner finished, they all retired to their rooms.
To be continued...