Chapter 8: The Evil Rumors
The sky above the school was gray, as if mirroring the turmoil in Saraswati's heart. Her days passed heavily, filled with whispers that seemed to circle around her like a relentless storm. It felt as if every corner of the school hid prying eyes, waiting for the slightest mistake to turn into gossip.
As Saraswati entered the classroom that morning, the atmosphere felt quieter than usual. The children were still cheerful as always, but something felt off. The hushed whispers among them made her curious. Just as she was about to open her lesson book, a little girl named Rena hesitantly raised her hand.
"Mrs. Saraswati, my mother said..." Rena paused, lowering her gaze as if afraid to continue. The other children exchanged glances, subtly signaling her not to say anything.
Saraswati offered a gentle smile. "What is it, dear? You can tell me." She looked at her students one by one, trying to reassure them.
Rena gripped the edge of her desk tightly, then whispered softly, "My mother said that Mrs. Saraswati shouldn't be too close to Mr. Boase... or she'll bring bad luck."
The entire class fell into silence. Saraswati felt her chest tighten, but she forced herself to smile. Rena's words might have sounded innocent, but Saraswati knew they were echoes of adult conversations—words planted into their young minds, filled with prejudice.
Saraswati was taken aback by her student's words but tried to remain as calm as possible. "Who told you something like that?" she asked gently.
Rena looked distressed, her eyes brimming with tears. "My mother said people at the market were talking about it..." she murmured. Saraswati gently pulled Rena into a comforting embrace, stroking her back as the little girl sobbed.
"I love you Mrs. Saraswati..." Rena whimpered between her sniffles.
"And I love you too, Rena," Saraswati reassured her in a soft voice. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm fine."
Saraswati took a deep breath. The rumors had spread farther than she had imagined. If they had reached the marketplace, then the entire neighborhood was likely whispering about them. Her heart grew heavier. It wasn't just her being slandered—Boase was also being dragged into this mess.
At that moment, Boase entered the classroom, carrying a stack of documents. He noticed the unusual look on Saraswati's face. Her normally bright eyes were now filled with exhaustion and sorrow.
"What's wrong?" he asked quietly, sensing the tension.
Saraswati gave a small shake of her head and a weak smile. "It's nothing, just a little tired."
But Boase wasn't convinced. He glanced at the children, who were shifting uneasily in their seats. In a calm yet firm voice, he asked, "Did someone say something they shouldn't have?"
A brave little boy finally spoke up. "My mother said that Mr. Boase likes Mrs. Saraswati. She said you two spend a lot of time alone together."
Saraswati's face burned with embarrassment. Boase fell silent for a moment before exhaling a deep sigh. "That's not true," he said firmly. "Mrs. Saraswati is here because she's a talented and dedicated teacher. Nothing more than that."
But children were merely reflections of their parents. They couldn't fully grasp the damage that words like these could cause. Saraswati knew that no matter what she said, the deeply ingrained rumors wouldn't be easily erased.
After the school day ended, Saraswati walked alone toward the library, her mind overflowing with questions. Should she stay? Was this job worth all the humiliation she had to endure?
As she stepped outside the school gates, she stopped in her tracks. A group of mothers had gathered, their voices hushed, their eyes darting toward her. Saraswati knew they were talking about her.
One of them, Mrs. Mira, stepped forward with a sharp gaze.
"Mrs. Saraswati, I just wanted to ask something..." she began in a falsely sweet tone. "Is it true what people are saying? That you're trying to get close to Mr. Boase?"
Saraswati held her breath. "I came to this school to teach, ma'am. Nothing more."
Mrs. Mira smirked. "Oh, so it's just a coincidence? A young widow working alongside a single man? Don't blame us if people start to think otherwise."
Saraswati bit her lip, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. She refused to let them see her break. But before she could respond, a deep voice cut through the tension.
"Mrs. Mira, that's enough."
Boase stood behind her, his eyes cold and unwavering. "I will not allow a teacher I personally hired to be treated this way. If you have any questions, you can ask me directly."
Mrs. Mira looked startled but quickly recovered, flashing a small, insincere smile. "Mr. Boase, we're just trying to protect the school's reputation."
"The school's reputation will remain intact as long as people act fairly and refrain from spreading baseless gossip," Boase stated firmly.
A heavy silence hung in the air. The women who had been whispering now chose to quietly back away. Saraswati felt some of the weight lift from her shoulders, though she knew this wasn't over.
When they were finally alone, Boase turned to Saraswati, his expression softening. "You don't have to go through this alone."
Saraswati lowered her gaze, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I'm so tired, Boase. I never wanted any of this. I just want to teach and live my life in peace."
Boase sighed deeply. "I know. And I promise, I'll protect you. No matter what happens, I'll be here."
Saraswati looked at him, torn between gratitude and fear. She wanted to trust him, to feel safe. But the world had never been kind to women like her. And she knew—greater storms were likely still ahead.
She only hoped she would have the strength to face them.