5 | Extra Lecture

The past few weeks had been... unexpectedly, unbelievably different.

Gone were the days of half-hearted attendance, scribbled notes, and panic-fueled last-minute cramming before exams. Sharayu and her group-once notorious for their backbench antics and barely concealed giggles-were now front-row regulars. Not just in taxation, but in every subject. It was weird. Like, cartoonish-level weird.

Assignments? Submitted before the deadlines. Lectures? Attended with actual attention. Study sessions? Happening outside class, sometimes at tea stalls, sometimes in rooms packed with textbooks and snacks. Even the professors had started noticing. Some looked happily surprised, while others like Satish just gave knowing nods, as if he'd seen their transformation coming all along.

That day had been long. Ridiculously long.

Lectures started from sunrise, one after another-no break, no breather. Even now, they were crawling through Organisational Behavior with Professor Radha. The classroom felt like a graveyard, drained, just barely holding on through the monotone of management theories.

Sharayu had her notebook open, pen in hand... staring at the neat lines of writing but not really reading a word. Beside her, Hriday leaned over and muttered, "If I stare at this paragraph any longer, I'll go into a coma."

Arohi groaned, "What's worse is, after this, we're actually free. Just one more lecture and we get to escape."

Across the row, Vrushal, half-asleep, mumbled, "I can already feel my bed calling. It's chanting my name."

They were so close to freedom.

So. Damn. Close.

And then,

The classroom door swung open with a bang.

A familiar figure strolled in.

Satish.

Instant attention. Even Radha Ma'am froze, derailed mid-sentence-no one interrupted her lectures unless there was blood or fire.

Satish's sharp blue eyes swept the room. He spoke, voice calm, unbothered, "Apologies for interrupting. Just a quick announcement."

Silence. All eyes on the tall man at the door.

And then,

"I won't be available for the next three or four days. So, to make up for it, I'll be taking an extra lecture... right after this one."

Instant devastation. It was like someone had detonated a bomb of misery.

Students slumped like wilted plants. Someone in the back actually whimpered.

Sharayu felt her soul leave her body, floating away like a balloon.

Gayatri whispered, "Did he just say... extra lecture?"

Kunal, pure horror etched on his face, stammered, "He did. Oh my god, he actually did."

Rutuja looked like she was experiencing the five stages of grief in real time. "We've been in classes since morning. Why, universe? Why?"

Arohi muttered, "I thought we were supposed to be free after this."

Hriday deadpanned, "This isn't freedom. This is a trap."

Satish, totally immune to the communal agony, just nodded, thanked Radha Ma'am, and left like a tornado.

The door clicked shut.

And the class exploded.

"This is injustice!" Kunal burst out, half dramatic, half serious.

"We should protest," Vrushal groaned, rubbing his forehead.

"Oh yeah? Against Satish Sir?" Gayatri shot back, incredulous.

Sharayu, shaking her head in pure betrayal, declared, "We were doing so well. We were actually being model students! And THIS is our reward? Extra torture?"

Arohi sighed, "I knew sitting in the front row would backfire. We flew too close to the sun."

Every eye turned to Rutuja, who tried, "Maybe it won't be that bad?"

Kunal folded his arms, deadpan, "Rutuja. Look me in the eye and say that again."

She opened her mouth, hesitated, then sagged. "...Never mind."

Hriday groaned, "I swear if he makes us give another presentation..."

Sharayu jumped in, "No. We riot."

"Agreed."

The rest of Organisational Behavior was just background noise. No one was paying attention. Only the looming storm of Satish's extra lecture weighed on their brains-a tragedy, a betrayal, a nightmare.

When the time came, they shuffled into the classroom, slumped in their seats, exhaustion written on every face. The mood was lower than exam season.

Sharayu dropped her head on the desk. "This is it. This is where we die."

Hriday nodded, "Tell my family I fought bravely."

Arohi muttered, "Should've faked a fever."

The door squeaked open and in walked the architect of their misery, Satish. Crisp olive green shirt, composed as always, carrying books like a judge about to deliver a verdict.

He glanced around the room, noticing the collective gloom. A smirk snuck onto his lips.

"Why does this classroom look like a funeral?"

No one answered. The silence was heavy.

He crossed his arms. "Come on, you guys have been front row for weeks. Where's all that energy now?"

Sharayu raised a weak hand, voice hollow. "Sir, we've been attending lectures since morning."

Satish, totally unfazed, replies to Sharayu's tired complaint, "I know."

Kunal slumps forward, muttering, "Sometimes I feel the HOD himself needs to be made to sit here with us. Only then he'd realize how brutal this is, lecture after lecture. Cost Accounting, Organisational Behavior and now Taxation, all of it."

Sharayu nods with feeling, fanning herself with her notebook. "True. The HOD should have to survive one day with us. Then he'd beg for mercy."

Vrushal, half-joking, adds, "He'd be the first one to run for the exit!"

The group laughs, none of them realizing.

Satish leans against the desk, a sly smile curving on his lips. "Hmm. That's an interesting idea. Maybe I'll pass it on. Who knows, the HOD might just surprise you one day."

Kunal, still ranting, says, "Yeah, only then would these people ever get it! Sitting through four lectures is not a joke."

Satish just nods, his amusement barely contained.

A few moments later, as the complaints finally die down, someone blurts out, "But sir, how do you even know our schedule? You always know exactly when we're most tired!"

Satish's lips twitch. He looks directly at Sharayu, locking eyes with her. The room goes still.

With dramatic emphasis, Satish says, "It's because..." He lets the suspense hang for a beat. "I am the Head of your department."

There's a split second of stunned silence before jaws drop all around.

Sharayu just stares at him. "Wait. WHAT?"

Satish grins, mischief radiating. "Surprise. You just volunteered to have the HOD sit with you, and here I am."

The whole group groans as realization dawns, their previous complaints suddenly extra embarrassing. Satish just chuckles, thoroughly enjoying their reaction.

The class stared. For a second, it was like he'd revealed the Matrix.

Gayatri blinked. "You actually track us?"

Satish sighed, "Yes. It's called doing my job."

Rutuja, suddenly wary, asked, "So you know when we bunk?"

Satish smirked. "You really think I don't?"

Immediate panic.

Sharayu sat up, defensive. "Sir, we never bunk. We are innocent."

Only for Hriday to add "Victims of false accusations!"

Satish chuckled, shaking his head. "Relax. I didn't come here to interrogate anyone. I know you've been through lectures all day, so let's not make this a punishment."

He leaned against his desk, amusement still gleaming in his eyes. "Alright. We won't do a typical lecture. But with internals coming up, let's at least make it useful."

Collective sigh of relief. Some even smiled. Arohi whispered, "He's mercy incarnate." Kunal frowned, "Don't celebrate yet. Could be a trap."

Satish outlined: "Instead of me talking and you all pretending to listen, let's make this interesting. Q&A. You ask anything about taxation, I'll answer. No pressure. Just questions."

Sharayu, shrewd, "So if we stay silent...?"

Satish,"Then I'll pick names randomly."

Groans. Of course, there was always a twist.

Surprisingly, the Q&A turned out helpful. Hesitation faded, and soon everyone was firing questions, some worried, some cheeky.

Gayatri asking,easy ways to remember tax slabs.

Arohi asking important sections for exams.

Hriday asked, possibility of open-book tests (answer was clear, not a chance).

Sharayu, always Sharayu, "Sir, what if we don't study a topic? Hypothetically."

Satish, deadpan "Hypothetically, you fail."

The class burst into laughter.

Sharayu shrugged. "Fair."

Eventually, Satish wrote key topics on the board. "If there's no time to study everything, focus here." Suddenly, the room buzzed with new energy. Maybe they were still tired, but at least they had a game plan.

By the end, everyone agreed painful, yes. But better than expected.

Packing up, Sharayu stretched. "Okay, that was a nightmare, but not as bad as I feared."

Kunal nodded. "At least we got exam tips."

Arohi, grinning, "And proof Satish Sir spies on us."

Hriday, chuckling, "He really does."

Across the room, Satish overheard and shook his head. "You all seriously overthink everything."

Sharayu slyly says, "No, sir. We analyze taxation. Overthinking is an extra skill."

Satish grinned. "Alright, get lost. Go home before I make you stay back."

And, just like that, he let them go.

As the classroom emptied, only Sharayu and her group lingered, the exhaustion finally washing off, replaced by the giddy surge that follows surviving academic trauma.

They flopped onto chairs, basking in hard-earned freedom.

Vrushal stretched, "Finally! No more professors throwing deadlines at us!"

Hriday rolled his eyes, "Yeah, until tomorrow."

Arohi collapsed dramatically, "I swear, some professors just love stressing us for fun."

Sharayu smirked, "Oh, you mean Radha Ma'am?"

"YES!" the group chorused.

Kunal laughed, "Bro, the way she talks about Business Ethics like it's love of her life."

Gayatri: "The moment she asks questions, instant out-of-body experience."

Rutuja giggled, "Remember last week? She asked Kunal something, and he just started reading random words?"

Kunal groaned, "Listen, it was self-defense. She ambushed me."

Laughter erupted.

Of course, not every professor was on their hit list.

Arohi tapped the desk, "Let's be honest. Not all professors are bad."

Gayatri says, "I actually like Sayali Ma'am. She's sweet."

Hriday saying, "Hrishikesh Sir is chill too. Never stresses us."

Sharayu, mischievously said "But let's discuss Satish Sir."

The group paused. Vrushal raised a brow, "What about him?"

Sharayu leaned forward, "He acts super serious, but he's honestly lowkey the coolest."

Arohi grinned, "True. He's smart, don't let us slack off."

Kunal, dramatically "Yeah, but also... pretty sure he spies."

Rutuja giggled, "He does."

"I swear, he just knows whenever we're about to bunk or when we're talking about him.", said Hriday.

Group laughter.

Then-

From the doorway, a voice.

"That's an interesting observation."

Laughter died. Everyone froze, moving like they'd been hit with a stun spell.

In the doorway, Professor Satish Singh Rajvanshi. Arms crossed. Smirk dialed up to max.

Sharayu nearly dissociated. Kunal looked like a fish out of water. Gayatri went pale.

Hriday, resigned, whispered, "We're dead. We're so dead."

Satish stepped inside, amusement plain as day. "So... I 'spy', do I?"

No one moved. Silence, thick and heavy.

Arohi, survival instincts in high gear: "Sir, that was Kunal's theory, not ours."

Kunal, betrayed, "Excuse me?!"

Rutuja, desperate for damage control, "We were just... appreciating your teaching methods?"

Satish arched a brow, "Oh? Is that why I'm 'lowkey cool'?"

Sharayu, sighing dramatically, "Sir, if you heard everything, you know we praised you, too."

Satish grinned, "Hmm. I did hear some good things."

Everyone exhaled, relief-

But Satish added, "But-"

Tension snapped back.

"I also heard a lot of complaints about lectures and assignments."

Kunal, quick: "Sir, we're legit suffering!"

Satish laughed, "You'll suffer more if you don't focus on internals."

Vrushal groaned, "Please, not now! We're still recovering."

Satish shook his head, too amused for their liking, "Fine, I'll let it slide. But next time, talk about me after you leave college."

Sharayu smirked, "No guarantees."

Satish sighed, "I expected that."

One last smirk, and he left, leaving a room full of students shaken, but kind of impressed.

Hriday whispered, "We are never safe."

Sharayu, grinning wide, "You know what? That was actually fun."

Arohi groaned, "Fun? We almost died."

Kunal shook his head, "One thing is clear, Satish Sir is always watching."

"We need a code word for when we gossip about professors." said Gayatri

Vrushal, with a serious expression said "Agreed. Next top-secret meeting."

Laughter filled the room again.

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Saturday morning, the college was... different.

No loud chatter, no random laughter-just a thick tension hanging over every third-year student.

PTM.

Parent-Teacher Meeting.

The two words every student hated.

Every parent had to be dragged to college to meet the professors particularly Satish Singh Rajvanshi. The man who knew everything: attendance, academics, bunking, and most terrifyingly behavior.

Sharayu's group was a mess.

While their parents cheerfully agreed thinking the meeting would be fun Sharayu, Rutuja, Kunal, Arohi, Hriday, Vrushal, and Gayatri plotted in panicked whispers.

Kunal said, "Okay, guys, think! There has to be a way out."

Hriday added, "Unless we kidnap our own parents, we're doomed."

Arohi, being hopeful said, "What if we say the meeting got canceled?"

Gayatri the sarcastic human ever,"You really think they'll buy that? College sent emails, texts, even called."

Rutuja scared, "We're doomed. Satish Sir is going to tell our parents everything."

Sharayu, outwardly calm but inwardly composing apology speeches. "Let's face facts. Our parents want this. They'll find Satish Sir."

Vrushal "Can we bribe him into saying nice things?"

Arohi to add, "Sure, try chocolate. See how that goes."

Silence. Yeah, no chance.

In the seminar hall, nervous students and enthusiastic parents filled up every chair. Whispered anxieties mixed with excited greetings.

Then, Satish took the stage.

Impeccable white shirt, black trousers, posture straight as an arrow, voice both commanding and warm.

He greeted the parents.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Professor Satish Singh Rajvanshi, Head of Accounting and Finance. Thank you all for coming today. This meeting is important to ensure the best academic journey for your children."

He shared college achievements, advice about discipline, upcoming exams all calculated to impress parents and terrify students.

The parents loved it.

The students? Sweating buckets.

And then, the dreaded one-on-one meetings began.

Each student dragged their parent to Satish's cabin, hearts pounding.

This was the moment. All hopes of escape gone.

One last round of excuses.

Sharayu pleaded "Aai, Baba, you don't have to meet him, right?"

Kunal making excuses, "He's probably busy, better not disturb."

Gayatri to say,"You already know we're doing great!"

Parents, immune to all appeals, marched them to Satish's cabin.

Inside, cold hands, racing hearts, fearful glances.

Then, something nobody expected.

Satish smiled at the parents. Spoke warmly.

"Your daughter is one of my brightest students," he told Arohi's parents.

"Your son is hardworking and always participates," to Hriday's.

He complimented each student, making them out to be academic superstars. The students were stunned, unsure if this was a dream or an elaborate prank.

Their parents beamed, soaking up every word.

And then Satish turned to Sharayu.

She froze. Her parents waited expectantly.

Satish smirked, "Miss Sharayu is very sharp, lots of potential. But"

Oh no. There was a 'but'.

"She needs to pay a little more attention to her studies. She could ace her exams, if she'd just focus."

Her parents nodded, "We always tell her!"

Sharayu, forced smile, "Noted, sir. Thanks a lot."

Her mother, delighted. "See, even your professor agrees!"

Sharayu mentally screamed. No escape from this.

The moment they left the cabin, all exhaled relief.

Vrushal whispered, "Did we... survive?"

Arohi nodded, "And he didn't expose us!"

Gayatri, stunned, "He made us look good?"

Kunal, "Plot twist: Satish Sir likes us."

Sharayu, "He definitely enjoys torturing us, though."

Just then, Satish, passing in the corridor and overhearing, paused.

Smirked. "Only when necessary, Miss Sharayu." And walked off.

The group stood, silent, then burst into giggles.

Hriday, "We need to stop talking near him."

Everyone nodded.

Their stressful PTM ended with relief, laughter, and the uneasy realization that Satish Singh Rajvanshi was always, always one step ahead.

That's college life for Sharayu and her friends, dramatic, stressful, hilarious, and most of all real. Where every day feels like surviving both exams and the professors who keep them on their toes. And at the center of it all is Satish sometimes a tormentor, sometimes an unexpected ally, but always watching and always one step ahead.