Chapter 7: Raj

A/N: FINALLY! This one was harder than the rest, but inspiration finally struck in the wee hours of the morning. So, here you go. After this there will only be one more chapter left and I will be done with this story. And...ACTION!

I don't own Big Bang Theory, if I did it wouldn't be called fanfiction, would it?

A young, ten year old Rajesh Koothrapalli hurried to class. He was late twice this week, and being late for a third time meant he would be forced to stay after and clean the whole classroom with Ms. Padere. It wasn't that she was mean or anything, or that there was normally a lot to clean to make the task extremely ardurous, but something about her seemed...off. It made being alone with her a little unsettling. He and many of his friends notived, though their childlike minds had simply chalked it up to the fact that they didn''t like adult authority figures. Raj skidded around the corner, only to come face to face with a crowd of lingering upperclassmen on their break.

I'll never make it through this on time, he thought. But I'll have to try. And so he slowly made his way through the crowd, stopping twice when an upperclassmen knocked his books out of his arms. When he finally ran into class, he was already two minutes late. "Rajesh," Ms. Padere berated him. "You're late. I look forward to cleaning the class with you. Take your seat."

"Yes, Ms. Padere. I'm sorry to interrupt," he mumbled his obligatory apology and sat down.

The rest of the school day passed without incident. Raj swept his broom back and forth and sighed. He would have to be late on the day they used glitter and confetti for art day. It would take him forever to sweep this up.

"Rajesh, you should start over here, by the chalkboard, behind my desk. I spilled a lot when making that example for everyone," said Ms. Padere.

"Yes, Ms. Padere." Raj obeyed, sweeping the tiny, sparkling bits together. His teacher watched from her desk chair. "Rajesh," she called to him. "You're quite a handsome young man. Has anyone ever told you that?"

Raj cracked a small smile. "Thank you, Ms. Padere. My mother tells my siblings and I each, periodically."

"You're very welcome," she practically purred, moving closer. "Oh yes, such a handsome young man..." Ms. Padere ran a hand down the front of his shirt. "M-Ms. P-P-Padere?"

"Sshhh. You can't say anything, Rajesh. That would get you in trouble..." her hand started to move dangerously lower. "Understand?" Raj let out a whimpering sound he was soon to become familiar with, but otherwise remained silent. "That's a good child..." she murmured. "Don't worry..."

When it was over, Raj was left on the ground, his clothes strewn about haphazardly. Ms. Padere straightened out her clothes and stepped over him. "This will remain out little secret, right?" Raj only squeaked. "Good boy. Because you know if you tell anyone, the consequences will be much worse." She started for the door when she paused. "Oh yes, and Rajesh? I still expect that floor to be clean when you leave." And she was gone.

Raj picked himself off the floor, brushing confetti and glitter off his body, and shakily put on his school uniform. He took a deep breath, and continued to sweep, trying to think of everything and anything that just happened.

When he finally came out the classroom hours later, now free from a single sparkly speck, he ran right into a girl a grade above him. They collided, and she reached out a hand to steady both of them. Raj stared at her hand, the feel and sight of her feminine looking hands on him making him feel sick and filled with fear.

"Whoa! Sorry, Raj. What are you doing here this late? Cleaning? Me too."

He couldn't respond. The sound of her soft voice filled him with dread, convinced he knew what was coming next. She took a step forward, and Raj felt as though he were trying to shrink into himself. Then the girl patted his shoulder. "See you tomorrow." And she left.

Raj made his way home, barely noticing the servants, and went straight to his room. "Waj! Wah!" Little Priya, who was only five, ran to her big brother, wanting a hug. He always gave her a hug. But instead he walked straight past her and to his bedroom. He locked the door, and laid on his bed, and began to cry.

A/N: Sooooo, there you go, hope you enjoyed it. I know I seemed kinda cruel in this one. I apologise for that, and I apologise if I may have missed any culteral things I may have missed. Please, as always, review.