A Different Type of Mate

Ma'am, may I come in?" Manish asked his class teacher, Mrs. Rashmi. She replied, "Why are you late to class? Where were you? Your games period ended 20 minutes ago." Manish explained, "Ma'am, I went to drink water and then I went to the washroom." Mrs. Rashmi responded, "So it took you 20 minutes to drink water and use the washroom? And a slight giggling sound came from the back, and Mrs. Rashmi asked, 'Who else is with you?' Manish replied, 'Ma'am, it's Vishal and Safal.' Mrs. Rashmi exclaimed, 'You three were together in the washroom?' Manish confirmed, 'Yes, ma'am.' Just as Mrs.

Rashmi was about to say something, the math teacher appeared from behind and said, 'These three idiots were in the math lab playing with the instruments. I saw it on the CCTV footage

Manish said, 'Sir, we were not playing. We were actually working on an experiment.' The Maths teacher asked, 'What kind of experiment? Does it involve going to Mars on the spaceship made by your father?' The whole class started to laugh. Mrs. Rashmi intervened, saying, 'Sir, you can go. I will take care of the rest.' The Maths teacher left, and Mrs. Rashmi called out, 'You three idiots, come in!' One by one, write down what I taught yesterday. If all three of you write it exactly, I will allow you to sit in the class. Otherwise, go to the maths lab and experiment on your journey to Mars.

Vishal said, 'But ma’am, I was absent yesterday. I do not know anything.' Mrs. Rashmi said, 'Son, if you were present, you would still not be able to write what I taught the class yesterday.' Safal said, 'Ma’am, I know. I will write what I remember from the class.' Mrs. Rashmi gave him a chalk and said, 'Write it on the board.' Safal wrote, and then Mrs. Rashmi said, 'Vishal, do you remember anything that I have ever taught you?' Vishal said, 'Yes, ma’am,' and he also wrote. Then the turn came for Manish, and Mrs. Rashmi said, 'Manish, now it's your turn.' Manish took the chalk and said, 'Ma’am, I will write what you taught us yesterday.' Mrs. Rashmi said, 'No, you will not do that. What I want you to do is find the mistake in what Safal and Vishal have written.' Manish said, 'Ma’am, this is not fair. You changed the rules.' Mrs. Rashmi said, 'I have been your teacher for 5 years, and I know what you are capable of. Now, do as I say.

Manish took the chalk and erased what Safal and Vishal had written. Mrs. Rashmi asked, "Why did you erase what they wrote?" Manish replied, "Ma'am, it's because yesterday was a Sunday and you didn't teach us anything. Also, what Safal and Vishal wrote is not even in our syllabus because they wrote it in Hindi, while you teach Sanskrit." The bell rang for recess and Manish ran away, while Mrs. Rashmi commented, "This idiot is bright but he is not working up to his potential. Anyway, I should leave." Manish and Safal went to the canteen, while Vishal went to the medical room and waited for both of them there.

Safal and Manish went to the medical room, and Vishal asked, "Did you bring the cold drink?" Manish replied, "Yes, I have. Where is the bottle?" Vishal responded, "It's in my bag." Vishal took out a bottle of whiskey and suggested, "Let's have some." Just as they filled their glasses, a girl walked in. The three of them tried to hide their glasses, but the girl had already seen them. She asked, "What's in your hands?" Safal and Vishal quickly ran away, leaving Manish behind. The girl then questioned Manish, "What's in your hand?" Manish replied, "Nothing, it's just a cold drink from the canteen." The girl insisted, "Let me see it." She approached him and tried to smell it. She exclaimed, "What? It's whiskey! How could you have that in school? You're not even of legal age to drink whiskey." Manish defended himself, "This is not whiskey; it's a different type of cold drink." The girl threatened, "I'm going to Rashmi ma'am." Manish interrupted, "Before you go to ma'am, I want to tell you something." The girl asked, "What is it?" Manish invited her, "Adrita, come have a seat here, and I will tell you an incident." Adrita sat next to him, and Manish revealed, "You know, I have cancer, and nobody knows, not even Safal and Vishal. I am not a naughty boy, but I want to live my life. My doctor said I have four years to live before I might die." Adrita was shocked and questioned, "How is that possible? You're in eighth grade." Manish explained, "I found out last week, and I am still in shock. That's why I want to do everything I can. Safal and Vishal don't even know, and I..." Adrita interrupted, "Don't say anything. After school is over, come to me, and we'll talk. Stop doing this, and I will help you.