It was early morning and Bani was fast asleep when she felt the bed shake. This alerted her naagin as well as motherly senses and she reached out for her son. Her hands touched an empty space and she jolted up.

B: Rehan!!!

R: Mamma!! I will go to big boy school!!!

Rehan was jumping on the bed and was all pumped up. Bani held her hand at her heart. Her breathing was uneven as she had been worried but the look of excitement on Rehan's face made her really pleased. She forgot that she had ever been worried and checked the time.

B: Rehan it is not even six in the morning, you can sleep a while longer..

R: (Continues jumping) Can't..I am excited mumma!!

Bani shook her head but got up herself. She lifted him and twirled around with her baby. His giggles filled the entire room.

B: Come, I'll give you a bath.

R: No! I am big boy..I take bath..

B: Rehan!

R: Mumma pwease!

Bani shook her head and left. She cleaned the house quickly and made breakfast. She heard footsteps and saw a yawning Mayuri.

M: Hi!! Good Morning.. (yawns)

B: Good Morning! Itna jldi uth gayi tum?

M: Yeah! I wanted to come see Rehan off..where is he?

B: Bathing..

M: Himself?

B: He wants to..

M: Tum ready ho jao, ye kaam mai kr dungi..just tell me what you want..

B: Nahi nahi..I am waiting...Rehan khud se bath le payega ya nahi, pata nahi...mai uske ready hone ke baad hi nahaungi..

'MUMMAAA!'

Rehan shouting reached their ears.

B: KYA HUA?

R: I GOT POO IN MY EYES!!!

M: Poo? How did he manage that?

B: He means shampoo..AYI BETA!...

M: Big boy! (laughs)

Mayuri finished off the pancakes Bani was making and saw that she had set out flour for paranthas. She made the dough. Then, she cleaned and set up the counter. Soon a bathed Rehan came there.

M: Good morning Rehan!! Heard this big boy got poo in his eyes..

Rehan frowned.

R: So? I am still big..

M: Whatever you say..

She helped him set up his bag and have breakfast. Bani came out ready as well. She was wearing a tan sweater outfit.

M: Itni thand hai???

B: Hum naagino ko lgti hai..anyways Rehan had breakfast??

M: Haan, pancakes maine bana diye the..but I couldn't make lunch...paranthas you see..

Bani smiled.

B: You helped a lot though... .thanks!

She made the lunch and had her own breakfast. Post that, they made Rehan pose in his new uniform.

M: Smile Rehan, first day for school boy!

R: Cheese!!

M: Bani, you also go..family pic!

Bani's smile fell.

B: (In mind) Kash tum apne bete ko aise dekh pate, ye experience kr paate..tumhe to pata bhi nahi ki ye exist krta hai...tumhe toh mai yaad bhi nahi...ek ajeeb stalker smjh kr bhoola diya hoga mujhe..

Mayuri looked and understood why her expression fell. She gently shook her arm and smiled. Bani went towards Rehan and crouched next to him. Rehan wrapped his arms around Bani and gave a big smile.

M: Beautiful! You need to frame this...pr abhi chale??

R: Haan!! Mumma I do not want to be late..

The three drove Bani's car to a large school in the valley. It was castle-like and huge.

Rehan was looking out in amazement. They soon reached the front gate. The letters- RWSS stared them in the face. A man stopped the car and smelled them.

M: CLEAR!

Bani drove inside,

M: Weird!

B: He is a trained supernatural guard. He just smelled to be sure we are not human.

M: What if we were?

B: He would ask us our purpose of visit which will be admissions in case of a school and then he will admissions are full and tour is not open.

M: Wow!! But you don't have a smell..

B: I am also an employee. He was smelling you..

M: I am not sure if I should be offended or surprised...

Bani laughed. Bani parked the car and walked towards the building. Royal Wood School of Supernatural was written in bold black fonts. They walked to the counter and signed Rehan's details. He was granted a temporary ID card and some books. Bani walked Rehan to the junior wing.

(Junior wing)

B: Bye Rehan. I will come see you after school okay. Be nice, don't fight and eat your lunch.

M: And have fun kiddo!!

Rehan hugged them both and rushed inside.

M: Chal mai chalti hoon...see you later.

Mayuri left in Bani's car, promising to come pick them up. Bani went towards the senior wing and went to the staff room.

(Senior Wing)

'Good morning Sharma Ji'

Bani turned and smiled at the teacher of supernatural history- Divya Verma.

B: Good morning Verma Ji!

D: Heard your son started school today!

B: Haan! Abhi bs drop krke hi ayi hoon..

D: Badhiya hai...kabhi milwana...abhi toh ata rahega..

B: Haan, after school milwati hoon..

Bani went to the her table and kept her things. Reviewing her timetable, she went to her classroom.

(Bani's classroom for class 8-9-10)

Bani was the teacher of combat and war. She taught all the supernatural beings how to fight and survive. She also took the class of nags and naagins.

Established in the 1750s, RWSS is a school for all supernatural beings in the woods near Mussoorie. Initially it was only for the kids of the royalties and their special subjects from all realms only. In 1950's, two hundred years after its opening, RWSS opened its doors to all supernatural beings. It teaches them about their realms and the supernatural world.

Understanding the human world and how it was a part of their life now, RWSS taught human subjects as well and gave a degree under the name of 'Royal Woodstock School' so that humans don't suspect but it never accepted human admissions. All kids were taught only human subjects till age 11, after that additional subjects were added like supernatural history, combat and war, magical herbs and their cures and a few others. After the students passed class ten, they would pick subjects like human world but they were segregated as per their identities. For example, Nag and naagins had a separate extra class. Students aged below 11 only had supernatural workshops once in a while.

Bani taught combat and war to students of class 8, 9 and 10. Then she taught to the nags and naagins of class 11 and 12.

She entered her classroom that was apt to train them how to fight in a natural setup. She wore comfortable shoes and waited for class 8 to arrive. Soon, they poured in and she began her lessons.

.........................

Bani just ended her last class was heading to the library to pick up a book upon 'Mahanagrani Shivanya' as she was teaching about her to class 11 and wanted to be perfect factually. She entered the huge library of RWSS and walked to Naagin isle.

She picked up the book and was checking it out when her phone pinged.

'Meet me asap!'

It was a message from the principal of the school. Bani walked out and went to his cabin.

B: May I?

'I was waiting for you'.

The principal was Bani's friend. They met when she was shopping for baby items in Mussorrie and instantly clicked. When he found out that she was a naagin, he offered her a job but to this date, Bani had hidden the fact that she is the Sarvashresth Adi naagin from him.

H: Aao Bani. I heard Rehan started school! How is he?

B: He is fine. Aaj first day and toh koi activity chal rahi hai...I will pick him up in half an hour..

H: Okay, I won't take much of your time but I am worried Bani.

B: About?

H: Your son. You told me your husband is another supernatural being. I wonder what your son will be and which class should we put him in.

Even as younger kids, some workshops were done based on realms and Rehan's status confused the principal.

B: (In mind: Ye sawal toh mujhe bhi khaye jaa raha hai..) Ye toh mujhe bhi nahi pata...pr vo mera beta hai..he is supernatural..

H: I know. I am sure he will have powers. But whose is what I am concerned about...

Bani frowned.

H: Don't worry Bani. It is just that I want us all to be prepared for him. If he has new powers that we are not aware of, then also we need to be prepared to accommodate him.

Bani realised his worries and concern. She took him into confidence and revealed that her husband is a cheel. The principal was surprised but nodded.

H: I will do my research but please share your knowledge with me too. Trust me, I don't hate your son. I just want to help.

Bani nodded and left.

.........................

Mayuri pulled over to the junior wing.

M: Bani!!!

B: Mayuri! Hi!

M: Hey! Rehan kahan hai?

B: Ata hoga..

R: MUMMAA!!!

B: Rehan!

Rehan jumped into her arms.

R: It was great mumma!!

Rehan started to talk about the new people he met and his classes.

M: Bs bs bs...saari baaten yahin karega? Ghar chalte hai..

The three felt for the home. Once home, they had some food and Rehan changed into comfortable clothes.

He was excited and told them all about his day and experiences.

Mayuri was listening with equal excitement but Bani had worry in her eyes. A question ringing in her mind 'What will Rehan become?'

.........................

Balwant slammed an envelope on Veer's table.

Ba: Tune kya socha iske baare me??

V: Kya socha hai dad..

He looked down and kept buttering his toast. Dark bags under his eyes. His beard was unruly and he had paled over the years.

Ba: Tu jayega??

V: I don't know. I don't want to..

T: Veer, chala jaa, it will be a different experience!!

V: I don't want to..

Ba: Tu jayega..

V: Nahi!

Ba: I knew you would deny so I excepted the invitation on your behalf and made bookings. Kl nikal jaana and vo log parson tere swagat me ready honge..

V: WHAT? WHY!..YOU-

Ba: CHUP!! AAJ BHI BAAP HOON TERA....aur ab agar tune decline kiya toh it will look bad for the cheel prince.

V: Ballu!!??

Ba: Bacche hai Veer...tujhse milne ke liye excited honge..

He softened his tone to make Veer agree.

V: Kya milega mujhse milkr...maine ek apne ko itna dukh diya hai..doosron ko kya hi khushi de paunga..

Ba: Veer...tu cheel prince hai!..royalty!...bs senior bacchon me jo cheel hai, unke guest lecture lene hai aur junior bacchon ko ek workshop me milna hai ...thoda ud ke dikha dena..khush ho jayenge..

V: Apne koi option choda hai? Chala jaunga..

Veer left towards the office. He had turned workaholic over the years.

Ba: Tapish, ek appointment fix krde jo ghar akr isko hair cut de aur beard shape kr de.. aise jayega kya ye..

T: Ji dad..

Ba: Tapish..apne liye bhi..

Tapish knew what his dad meant. The usually well kept Tapish had become quite the opposite in Meera' s absence. He looked down and nodded.

T: I have work.

He left too. Balwant prayed in his heart.

Ba: Hey Garud dev! Maine bohot bure kaam kiye hai pr mere bacchon ko iski saza mt do..inki khushiya inhe lauta do..

Wishing happiness for his boys, Balwant went to the NGO he ran. It helped victimised women and survivors- his way of repenting. Balwant had tracked down almost all the women that he wronged and rescued them. He made sure they reconnected with their families and gave shelter to those who were not accepted. He felt guilty and the only people he could not apologize to were the naagins he killed. He still wished for forgiveness and that his repentance helped the ones he wronged.

That night, the guy from the appointment came and Balwant forced Veer to groom himself.

V: Jaa raha hoon vo bohot hai...is sb ki kya zarurat hai?

Ba: Hai! Teri nahi hogi pr Cheel lok ki izzat hai..Aisa devdas bankr jayega Cheelon ka Rajkumar? No ways!

V: Whatever Ballu!

Veer received a haircut and his beard was trimmed. Tapish was getting groomed as well.

V: Waise naam kya hai school ka?

Veer and Bani slept together, but a distance of sixteen hundered kilometers and misunderstandings of a lifetime were between them. Their unsuspecting hearts yearned for each other, unaware of what was lurking in the corner.
.........................

Naam kya hai school ka? Veer doesn't know, but do you? 😉

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Veer arrives as a guest faculty for two days at a prestigious supernatural school. Old enemy returns and new bonds are formed. Come see more in next chapter.

New Characters

1. Harshkashyap Khurana (HKK)

Icchadhari sher (Lion) and Principal of RWSS. Bani's friend.

2. Divya Verma

Icchadhari Kabootari (pigeon). Teacher of supernatural history to class 9 and 10 at RWSS.

Hope the chapter was not confusing.

See you soon
Take care
Love~
🖤