Wednesday, February 10, 2016

The Pathfinder



The school bell rang, as he rushed towards his class. The Class-teacher was waiting in the corridor with a big grumpy face and looking at her watch. She shouted,” You are late again…Why cannot you come on time.”

The boy was sweating and panting heavily. Once he caught his breath, he replied,” Sorry Mam, there was a traffic block…”

The teacher interrupted, “Excuses, you are full of excuses. When your grades are low, you have a bag full of excuses. Your head is stuffed with excuses and no brain…Now get inside the classroom.”

The prayer bell rang and like a long train, all the students railed towards the ground. The boy was last in the line.

The prayer began,
“Asato ma sadgamaya, tamaso ma jyotirgamaya…”

The prayer was over and all the students rushed back to their classrooms.
The class-teacher was waiting, ready with her attendance register.
Everyone in the class stood up.
In chorus they sang, “Good Morning Teacher…”
The Teacher replied, “Sit down class...”
She marked the attendance as the students took out the textbooks.

The Teacher closed the attendance book and said, “Students today we are going to have a surprise class test. The topic is about 1857 revolt in India. You have to write an essay. The Student who will top the test will get a special gift from me. So are you all ready?

All the students were looking at each other surprised nodding heads hesitantly …
He was sitting in the last bench alone, looking outside the window.
In a tone of sarcasm, teacher called him “Come up with a really good excuse for failing …”

He looked back at the teacher, hiding his angst inside.

The Teacher said, “Now students close your textbooks…”

He had no idea about the topic as he sat on the table completely lost. The time crawled like a slow slimy snail. He was looking back and forth at the second hand of the clock and back to the lines of blank paper. The hand moved like a dagger and the lines were strangling him.

Suddenly the teacher came near him and looked at him in disgust.

“Well I have to write something”, he thought.

He began to slowly write the question with strokes underlining the question. Shading the lines like an artist. He was struck again as the words failed him. Somehow he dragged along with the time as the bell rang.

In a very loud voice teacher said, “It’s time, close your answer books and give it back to me.”

He gave his answer book…

The next hour was physical education period, but his mind was down and a sense of fear gripped him. What if this time also he fails in the test? His parents will be summoned and the class teacher will humiliate him in front of them, in front of all the students and drag him to the principal…

Have to find some way out. Can’t let go this time around. He knew deep inside he was going to fail and fail really badly.

All the kids were playing while he was sitting alone looking around. In the distant he could see the staffroom. He saw the teacher keeping all the answer-books on the table and leaving hurriedly. She was going to the principal’s office and in few minutes she took the bag and left.

He quickly went to the peon and enquired, “What happened? Why is teacher leaving?”
Peon replied, “Teachers daughter is not well…”

Peon asked, “Why are you not playing with other kids? Go and play. Don’t snoop around.”

He said, “Sorry and Thanks” and he ran towards the ground with a hidden smile.

Suddenly an idea had popped up in his head…

The last bell rang and the students were leaving school…

He slowly took his bag and went in front of the staffroom. He looked inside. No one was there. He slowly went inside and saw the answer-book. He took the book and quickly sneaked it inside his bag and rushed to the vacant part of ground.

He took out his answer-book and the textbook and began writing.1857 Revolt…, his heart was beating fast like galloping horses. He hurriedly finished the essay and to ensure he didn’t get full marks, he skipped few points. He rushed back and kept the book in place. He looked around and ran like hell…

He was so relieved in his quest. A sense of freedom and victory embraced him. Now he could go back to home in peace… 


After 3 days

The Teacher arrived with answer-books. Seeing the sight of the grumpy teacher with the answer-books, students were really tense except for the lone back bencher.
Teacher said, “Well good morning…”

In broken chorus students replied back, “Good morr…rning tea…cher…”

Teacher replied, “Hmm…class sit down. I have checked all the answer-books. And honestly I am surprised. Most of you whom I never expected, fared really badly.”

She began to call the name of students.

The surprise test had jolted the hierarchy. The toppers were now sliding down and the slide puts the downtrodden further below.

The Teacher said, “Now I am going to call the name of two students who have fared really well.” 

She called the name of class topper who had kept her reputation intact. Her head held high with pride, she walked towards the teacher, looking at other students with an electric grin.

She said, “This time around also, you have snatched the prize from the rest. Here is the gift I had promised. Keep up the good work. Congratulations!!!”

"Now the real surprise, I never expected from you…”
Whole class was looking at the last bench.

She continued, “Come here child. This time around you have really surprised me. If you put your head down and concentrate in your studies, you can achieve the impossible. Do you know realize that now?”

 “I should gift you something. Here, take my pen. As a teacher I am really proud of you Son…” Teacher said.

He was astonished by her remarks and gesture. It slowly cut through his soul like a sharpened sword...

His eyes were moist. He took the pen and went back to his seat.
She said, “Everyone, give him a big round of applause…” 
All the students came around and congratulated him. He was really surprised by the sudden attention.

The last bell rang and as the students rushed back. He slowly walked towards the staffroom where class teacher was sitting. His mind was drowned in guilt.
The teacher saw his gloomy face.

She said, “Come in… Yes dear, tell me what happened? Why are you so down?”
Slowly taking his pen back from bag, he replied back with tears in his eyes,
“I don’t deserve this invaluable pen. I have betrayed you, my parents and myself.”

The teacher asked him what happened and he narrated the whole incident…

Hearing the whole story, she replied back with a deep sigh, “Son, everyone commits mistakes. The greatest thing in life is to realize the mistakes you had done and with courage admit and correct it. As a teacher I honestly believe in you. You didn’t hide in lies. Promise me you will justify my faith in you”, as she handed back the pen.
He wept his tears and nodded in affirmative…

After few years…
In a book launch event, the crowd was eagerly awaiting for the author, as he unveiled the book…

The Pathfinder

“Asatho ma sadgamaya, thamaso ma jyotirgamaya…”
This book is dedicated to my pathfinder – My Teacher


Beside him the teacher was standing with pride and joy in her eyes…