The next morning, Aaliyah's parents were already in the Principal's office where Romil sir had also gone.

The class was had been in complete disquiet since the assembly. Everybody only wanted to talk about what was happening in the office. It was the last official working day before the board exams and Loukya mam had tried to revise Sandmeyer Reaction but gave up after five minutes.

"They had caught him when he was coming out of the bathroom, gagged him and slipped out through the back gate. They were almost out of Bandra before they were caught", Riya had narrated weakly to me and Zoya the previous evening.

I knew Aaliyah and Maya hated Riya but I never thought they would take away Krish like that. The poor boy had freaked out.

After a while, Aaliyah's mom came to the class to talk to Loukya mam.

"I've handled her for three years", Loukya mam said shaking her head "I knew she was a troublesome girl but I would've never thought she'd do something like this".

Mrs Khurana - in a frilly designer saree, diamond earrings and bold plum lipstick looked like an older version of the diva that Aaliyah was.

But only when she opened her mouth, I realised she was not a middle aged version of a high school mean girl. She seemed quite dumb and weak willed and between Aaliyah and her mother, it was evident who listened to who.

"Mrs Khanna...what can..can I say? Aaliyah is a...a good girl...she just..just doesn't know...", she shrugged and looked highly embarrassed. She didn't stay for long. She left after exchanging a few more words.

Riya had been unusually quiet since last evening. This was so uncharacteristic of her that I was starting to feel alarmed. She had seemed obviously relieved when Krish had come back but had relapsed into her silence almost immediately.

Mishti on the other hand, sat like a stone, her face like a dried tomato. Her boyfriend's step sister was after all one of the two who had been caught in the act.

"Poor Mrs Khurana", I said, trying to start a conversation, "I'm really worried".

"If you want to worry about anybody Zoya, then worry about me", Reyansh said coming into the classroom and collapsing into the bench infront of me.

He had been summoned by Principles Rajvansh but had evidently been asked to leave after realising he could give no information.

"Why? What happened? Did Maya say anything?"

"No. But my mom and step dad are on their way and I'm going to be in big trouble".

"You didn't do anything", I said indignantly.

"But that's not how they will see it", Reyansh said looking thoroughly depressed, "You wait...it will be my fault that those bitches took Krish and ran away. They'll tell me I shouldn't have let Maya out of my sight. I should've seen them and grabbed the end of the scooter and held on or something...yeah, it'll all be my fault".

"Riya, are you okay?", Reyansh asked "I'm so sorry about this man. It's disgusting to be related to Maya. I feel it's a good thing she and Aaliyah are going to be expelled."

We all looked up. Expelled?

We had known it was inevitable. What the two girls had done was literally kidnapping. But still, to actually hear the news, felt weird. It had been many many years since someone had been expelled from St Xavier's.

"Rajvansh sir had already given the order?", Riya asked, breaking her silence finally and looking troubled way more than necessary. I thought she would celebrate.

"Uh..not yet", said Reyansh looking supremely unconcerned "But he will, in a few minutes, I guess".

Riya scrambled to her feet looking more serious than I'd ever seen her, "Guys.. I'm going to Principal Rajvansh's office".

"What?", I burst out, also getting up "Why?!"

"To try and stop Aaliyah and Maya being expelled", Riya said solemnly.

"You're joking right?", Mishti asked.

"Riya, are you crazy?", Reyansh snapped "Those girls totally knew what they were doing. They as good as kidnapped your brother. You should be happy that they're getting what they deserve".

"But do they deserve this?", Riya asked looking stricken, "They won't be able to write the boards Reyansh!"

"What's wrong with you?", Reyansh asked looking at Riya as if she was insane "Thought you hated them? Even I am not that fussed and Maya's my sister!"

"Let her go", I said suddenly. Everyone looked at me, "Riya you go", I repeated.

"Thanks Zo", Riya said gratefully and raced out of the door.

Half an hour later, Riya came back up to 12 B holding Aaliyah's arm in one and Maya's in the other. Reyansh's jaw dropped. Mishti looked stunned. It was too much for even me to handle.

"Okay", she said looking at all of us. Loukya mam did not interrupt her, "I just want to ask everybody something. How many of you gentlemen in this class have been called a bastard?"

I gaped at Riya. Where was she going with this? And I didn't think she'd go as far as using the 'b' word infront of a teacher.

But Loukya mam said nothing and I turned around to see that all the hands in the boys' row went up.

"And how many of you ladies in this class have been called a bitch?"

All the hands in the girls' row went up. Riya turned around to see Loukya mam raising her hand too.

Riya turned around, "Looks like we've all been bitches or bastards in some way. Yesterday someone made a mistake. A huge apparently unforgivable mistake. But I've done worse things in this school. And I'm not proud of my behavior. But I've been given chance after chance to reform. When I got so many chances, I think my classmates deserve at least one. That's why I did this. I don't want to leave this school with bitterness. For anybody. Life is too short to be upset with someone. If I'm the only one who thinks this, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet that I'm not".

The entire class got to their feet and burst into applause.

As the stroke of the final bell rang in the evening, I found myself wrapped in a many arm hug. I embraced every single one of my forty classmates and left 12 B for the last time with a heavy heart and very wet eyes.