Cellphones developed a peculiar habit over the years. Whenever a person needed to go out, their phone would immediately eat up all the charging and sport an innocent face. The owner would be left with no choice but leave it back home and hope they wouldn't encounter a need to use it until they returned.

I couldn't walk back home, lest I exposed my bandaged arm to the rain. I definitely couldn't book a cab. I sighed and decided to wait, hoping it would stop raining soon. And as if mocking me, the intensity of the rain doubled.

"Devansh sir." I heard someone call me. I turned around to see the Social teacher again.

"Hello teacher. You're back?" I failed horribly at containing my excitement. She came back for me? Me? How sweet of her!

"Actually I forgot to buy cucumber." She replied, wiping the smile on my face. "And my cousin here, wanted cheese."

She pointed at a hippie-looking teenager in a leather jacket, who waved at me. I waved back at the kid, unenthusiastically.

"You're him. Aren't you?" He asked me.

"Um... Which him?" I asked, confused. The teacher giggled.

"You saved the kids!" He grinned at me. "Ruthi wouldn't stop talking about you. I'm your fan." He shook my hand.

I couldn't help grinning back. "The real hero is your cousin. It was her determination to help the children that inspired me."

"Look at you two. Each giving the credit to the other one. You guys are each other's biggest fans." He grinned again.

"Ignore my cousin." The teacher said. "How are you going to get back home?"

"I didn't bring my phone. Or else I would have called a cab."

"You can't get a cab at this hour."

"I'll call my friend then and ask him to drop me home. Could I borrow your phone?" Wait! Why would I say that? I have known her for less than a day. How could I ask for her phone? I smacked my head mentally.

Before I could say something she opened her bag and handed me her phone. It was wet. I hoped, for her sake, that it would still work. Imagine the only source of your entertainment getting damaged during an unscheduled holiday. One of my worst nightmares.

I tried entering my friend's number. But I couldn't input number 9.

"I think it is damaged due to rain." She said casually. "I'm sorry."

"Hey! You want to press 9? Why don't you turn the phone upside down and press 6?" Her cousin suggested, wheezing with laughter.

I chuckled. The teacher glared at him for a moment before turning to me. "My apologies. My cousin here, has vowed to keep breaking his own weekly records and attain new heights in previously unlocked levels of idiocy."

I burst out laughing. "He's a funny kid." I said, thumping his shoulder. He looked happy.

"Come. Let me drop you home on his vehicle. He can walk back home." The teacher suggested.

"That wouldn't be necessary. I don't want to trouble you." I refused.

"It's fine, dude. Go with her." The funny kid assured me.

I accepted the offer without looking overjoyed. We reached the said vehicle. My jaw dropped. It was Royal Enfield. "You ride... this?"

"Yes. Now hold my umbrella above your head. And don't worry. I won't go too fast." She assured me.

Throughout the journey I marveled at her skillful driving. "You seem to be an expert."

"I don't like to brag. But everyone in my extended family took lessons from me."

"So, you are a Social teacher as well as a driving teacher?" I heard her laugh.

We turned left. We found a few kids in a corner, holding a paper boat competition.

She stopped suddenly. "Children. You shouldn't be here. You will catch cold. Go home. Come back once it stops raining." She folded her hands. They immediately went back to their respective houses.

How nice of her! She could have easily ignored them. But she didn't. "Are they your students?" I asked her.

"No. I don't know them." She restarted the bike.

"Then why did they listen to you?"

"I used my mom-voice." She shrugged. "It always works with kids. The trick is to sound authoritative and kind at the same time."

"That's not possible."

"Why? You have been doing it too."

"Me? When?"

"Yesterday. When you had to take care of Shravan. I never met someone as good with children as you. He is lucky to have you."

Though I couldn't see her face, I could tell that she was smiling.

I adjusted the umbrella so that it would cover us both. I felt droplets of water fall down from the tip of its ribs and hit my shoulder.

Surprisingly, it didn't annoy me. It felt soothing for some reason.

"No. I am lucky to have him." I corrected her. "He spreads joy wherever he goes."

"Indeed. He is a wonderful child." She stopped the bike again. "We are here."

I got off reluctantly. "Thank you so much."

"You are welcome. Please take care of your arm. Get well soon." She smiled at me and took off.

I stood still, waving at her though she couldn't see me.

"Deva and Prakruthi sitting in a tree... K-I-S-"

"Stop right there!" I screeched.

Uttara smiled annoyingly. "How was the date?"

"It wasn't. Why would you... stop smirking. I hate it when you smirk."

She laughed like a maniac.

"What are you doing here? Did Santa Claus aunty kick you out?" I changed the subject.

"She and Shravu had a fight. And now he wants to move out. He asked me to lend him some money to buy a new flat." Uttara gave me the summary of the story.

"Deva, I don't want this grandma." Shravan emerged from the door. "Can we exchange her and get a new grandma?"

"Kids these days with their stupid ideas. I mean what did you think. I wouldn't have exchanged her if it was possible?" I tried to cheer him up.

The little devil refused to laugh. But Uttara did. "Look at you two. You guys have a single functioning brain cell."

"It is Cassandra's fault!" Shravan complained. "Why did she have to remind the teacher about the test when he had forgotten about it? First benchers are so annoying."

"Agreed." Uttara and I said in unison.

"And then they had to send the test papers home for guard's sign." Shravan continued ranting.

"Guardian's sign." I corrected him. "Look, Shravu. You can't quarrel with your grandma when it is clearly your fault. You didn't study for the test."

He pouted. I ruffled his hair and continued. "Now. Go back inside and tell her you won't repeat it. You will study well this time and surprise her with the result."

He nodded and went back inside reluctantly.

"Impressive!" Uttara remarked. "Now tell me about Social teacher." She wiggled her eyebrows.

I grinned. "Don't you have someone else to annoy at this hour? Like your dad or girlfriend?"

For a tiny little moment I thought I saw her smile falter. "What is it? Don't tell me she stopped talking to you because you ate up her entire pizza."

"Yeah. Something like that." She said, looking away.

"Wait. What does that mean? You fought with her?" Not that it was any of my concern. But it slightly bothered me.

"Oh, stop it, Deva. Get inside and eat your remaining food before I decide to steal it." She walked inside.

I shrugged the whole thing off and went inside thinking about the remarkable day I had.

First she came to visit me, then we had a conversation followed by us buying vegetable together. I even managed to know her name. And the best part. The bike ride.

Best day ever!

---***---

I will try to give regular update from now.