Jay, who had been silently enjoying the chaos, muttered, "At this rate, she'll never ask us tough questions. Kiya and Bella are doing a great job keeping her busy."
The class continued with a mix of half-correct answers, exaggerated storytelling, and a teacher questioning all her life choices. When the bell finally rang, the students escaped like prisoners from an unlocked cell, leaving behind a very tired and very exasperated history teacher.
As the laughter settled, the teacher took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for more absurd answers. Just as she was about to move on, she caught sight of Tiya murmuring something to herself, her lips moving as if she were practicing a secret spell.
"Tiya!" the teacher called out sharply.
Tiya jumped in her seat. "Y-Yes, ma'am?"
"Since you seem so deep in thought, why don't you tell the class what Johar is?"
Tiya's mind went blank. But, thanks to the bits and pieces of the story she had half-heard, she somehow stitched together a version that—by sheer accident—was actually correct.
"Uh… Johar was a practice where Rajput women performed self-immolation to protect their honor when their kingdom was about to fall into enemy hands," she said hesitantly.
The teacher's eyebrows shot up. "Well… that's correct."
A murmur of surprise spread through the classroom. Bella, still recovering from her failed soap opera explanation, leaned toward Kiya and whispered, "How did she get it right?"
Kiya shrugged. "Maybe she has a secret talent for lucky guesses."
The teacher, however, was not amused. "Tiya, if you had been paying proper attention, you wouldn't have accidentally gotten it right. Next time, listen properly instead of whispering to yourself like a lost parrot."
The class snickered. Tiya, now thoroughly embarrassed, nodded meekly.
Jay Saves the Day
Finally, the teacher turned to Jay, who had been enjoying the entire spectacle in amused silence.
"Jay," she said, rubbing her temples as if bracing for one last trial, "since you seem to be the only one here with a functioning brain, can you properly explain Johar to the class?"
Jay, who had anticipated this moment, sat up straight and spoke in a clear, composed voice.
"Johar was a historical Rajput practice in which women, along with their children, self-immolated in a massive fire to protect their honor when their kingdom was on the verge of defeat. The most famous instance of Johar was during the siege of Chittorgarh in 1303 when Alauddin Khilji attacked the fort. Rani Padmini and the other Rajput women chose to perform Johar rather than be captured by the enemy."
The classroom fell silent. The teacher, for the first time that morning, looked truly satisfied.
"Finally," she muttered under her breath before addressing the class. "That is how you explain a historical event—accurate, brief, and to the point. Take notes, everyone!"
Kiya leaned toward Bella and whispered, "Guess we should've just let Jay answer first and saved ourselves from humiliation."
Bella sighed dramatically. "But then, where's the fun in that?"
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, the teacher gave one last exhausted glance at the students before leaving. The moment she was out of earshot, Kiya clapped a hand on Jay's shoulder.
"Congratulations, history topper. Next time, try answering first before we get roasted alive."
Jay smirked. "Where's the fun in that?" he echoed Bella's words, and the three of them burst into laughter, ready to take on the next period's disaster-in-the-making.