The child was trying to get up when he saw a hand extended toward him for help. Jai, offering his hand, said, "Hold my hand and get up."
As soon as the boy lifted his head and looked at him, the painful expressions that were there just moments ago suddenly turned cold.
Jai was a little surprised to see this. "What happened to him? Why did his expression turn like that after seeing me? Do I really look that scary?" He brushed off his thoughts and again said, "Son, you can hold my hand to get up."
But the boy ignored Jai's hand and got up on his own. With an attitude, he said, "I don't like taking help from strangers. I know very well how to help myself."
Jai was stunned by the boy's attitude, but also a bit impressed. He bent down slightly, pulled the boy's chubby cheeks, and said, "Okay, but can you help me instead?"
The boy asked, "What kind of help?"
"Can you tell me the way to the principal's office? Where is it?"
That boy was none other than Jeev. He had never met Jai before, but had seen him on TV once when Vani and Nisha were talking about him.
Jeev had a very sharp mind. Once he saw something, he could remember it easily. The moment he saw Jai in front of him, he felt a surge of anger. He remembered Vani crying, waiting for someone... remembered how Jai had left his mom and him behind.
Then, suddenly, a mischievous idea came to Jeev's mind. With a poker face, he said, "The principal's office is at the corner—right from the second floor."
Saying this, he ran off instantly without wasting a second. Jeev had lied without showing any expression, and Jai didn't realize it at all.
Jai shouted after him, "Hey, at least tell me your name!"
But Jeev vanished without responding. Jai just kept looking in the direction he went. He didn't know why, but he had a strong urge to stop the boy and talk to him for a little while. Jai really liked him. Despite his cold expressions, he found him cute and adorable.
Those plump, rasgulla-like cheeks made him want to pinch them again and again.
Snapping out of his thoughts, he decided to follow the directions Jeev had given him and look for the principal's office. When he took a right from the second floor and then turned left, he found himself standing in front of the female staff room.
At that moment, a female staff member exited the washroom. Seeing Jai staring ahead, she mistook him for a loafer and said with a weird expression, "Ugh, where do these kinds of people come from in school?"
Jai made a confused face hearing her comment. Then he realized the boy had given him the wrong directions. He couldn't understand why that kid did such a thing.
But then, smiling at the childish prank, he said to himself, "Impressive! For the first time, Jai Singh Rathore got fooled—and by a kid, no less."
He kept smiling as he remembered the boy's face. "Alright, Jai, now let's find the principal's office again."
And by the way, where the hell is that guy Neil?
He then asked a passing lady for the direction to the principal's office. The lady helped him, and Jai once again started looking for the office.
When he finally reached it, he entered without even knocking.
The principal stood up from his chair upon seeing Jai.
"Mr. Rathore, when did you arrive? If I had known, I would have come to receive you myself! You should have informed me."
Jai replied, "There was no need. I came on my own."
He smiled slightly, thinking about Jeev again. "Just got a bit late because of a naughty kid."
The principal, now nervous, asked, "A naughty kid? Who are you talking about? Just tell me, I'll call his parents right away and get him rusticated from the school!"
He knew very well—it wouldn't be wise to upset Jai.
Jai was the son of the school's trustee, an influencer, a short-tempered and arrogant businessman. Upsetting him wasn't an option.
Jai casually sat down on the chair and said, "Chill, Mr. Banerjee. They're kids, they'll be mischievous. I didn't mind it. You don't need to worry."
"My assistant will be here any moment, then we can start the meeting."
"If you don't mind, please take a seat. And wipe off your sweat."
The principal had been quite scared initially, but seeing Jai's casual behavior, he relaxed a little and sat down.
Just then, Neil arrived—scared out of his wits. He had no idea what Jai was going to do to him today.
He entered and immediately started apologizing with his head down. "Sorry, sir. This was my last mistake. Please don't fire me…" He went on and on.
Jai interrupted him midway, "If you don't stop talking right now, I'll throw you off the roof of this building."
Neil instantly fell silent and said, "Sorry, sir. It won't happen again."
Jai said, "This should be your last mistake. Go, you're forgiven. Now let's start the meeting. I absolutely hate delays."
Neil left to prepare for the meeting. Jai and the others proceeded to the conference room, and the meeting took place with the other board members.
After the meeting ended, Jai started to leave with Neil to go to the hotel. Just then, the principal stopped him.
Jai turned back at the sound of his voice and looked at him questioningly.
The principal said, "Mr. Rathore, I would like you to spare a bit of your precious time."
Jai didn't quite understand what he meant and asked, "What do you mean?"
The principal explained, "We have a quiz competition in our school today. If you could attend it, it would make the children—and us—very happy."
Jai initially thought of refusing. But for some unknown reason, he agreed to attend the competition with the principal.
At the Hospital
Vani was just leaving her office to pick up Jeev from school when a nurse came running in. "Ma'am, please come quickly! There's an emergency case!"
Vani rushed to attend to the emergency case with the nurse.
At School
When Jai entered the competition room, he saw the same boy he had bumped into earlier in the corridor. His eyes couldn't move away from Jeev.
Jeev, on the other hand, was quickly and correctly answering every question in the quiz. Both Jai and Neil were amazed.
The principal seated Jai in the chief guest's chair. Neil sat beside him.
Jai kept looking at Jeev.
Neil commented, "What an intelligent boy! I wish my son was this smart."
Jai interrupted him and said, "For that, the parents need to be intelligent too… which, clearly, isn't in your genes."
Neil made a weird face and muttered to himself, "You need to get married first before having kids. Poor me, getting roasted by a man who isn't even married. At this rate, I'll never get married or have children if I keep hovering around him."
"Maybe I should take some leave and go find a girl somewhere. Or else, forget about ever having a family."
Jai, still looking at Jeev, was reminded of his own child.
His heart grew heavy thinking about it.
He whispered to himself, "Where are you, Vani? Is my child also this grown up by now? Is he also this cute and mischievous? Does he ever think of me?"