Chapter 11 June 1, 2008

3 MONTHS LATER

A few worth mentioning things happened in these 3 months:

1. Board Exams got over. I promoted to 11th standard.

2. Results were out and I unexpectedly became school topper. I don’t know how it happened. I performed averagely. May be others under-performed in their studies. But still, this ‘undeserving’ success increased my reputation and confidence to a great extent in school.

3. Received a call from Naina stating that she’s shifting to her dad’s in Raipur and asked me to meet her for the last time. I really have met her if Karun hadn’t challenged my self-prestige.

4. Took Mathematics for 11th and decided to go for IIT-JEE. So, it was clear by now, that my coming two years will be really harsh and boring.

5. Visited Palak’s home. Her mom makes excellent coffee and pakode.

6. Seema took biology and went to other section. So no more hugs expected from her side now.

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“A straight line is a curve.”, Sinha sir’s philosphy continued. I raised my hand for a possible query.

“But sir you how can a straight thing be a curve??”, I asked trying to sound intelligent and serious. Although, I was not.

“Hey..why you always have to disturb the class with your nonsense questions??”, Sinha sir shouted angrily at me.

I kept quite.

So he spoke again, “Don’t you dare to think that you are the school topper, so I would allow your nastiness here. I am certainly not like other teachers.”

“What makes you think like that sir??”, I spoke in rage. I noticed Apurv pulling my shirt to make me sit down and remain silent.

I sat down. But Sinha Sir’s rage continued for the next 10 min. after which he went outside the class. It was his daily habit, to step out of the class for no reason. None of us ever found out where he goes. A few possible locations we’d guessed were the toilet, the canteen or Kriti Madam’s class.

I had always doubted Sinha sir’s interest in teaching. He fancied talking big things instead of making us learn mathematics. But against expected, he was damn popular amongst students, especially girls.

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“Chill out yaar….Why do you take things seriously.”, Palak said. She still used to sit on the bench parallel to me.

“Lets go for the practicals. Here’s your practical file.”, I said by returning the file which I had taken from her yesterday. I used to borrow her files, notebooks etc very often. May be just for an excuse to stay in touch with her.

“Thanks”, I said again. She smiled and took the file with pleasure.

In these 3 months, I had figured out that my first and only love was Palak, not Naina. God was making the things work for me.Despite of that, I too tried several things from my side.

In library, I always used to take seat in front of her. In laboratory, I used to try to make me join her. Other things included, lingering around and talking to her for the whole day, impressing her best friend Isha by solving her few physics problems. I used to try whatever I can just to remain a bit closer to her.

But may be she didn’t ever notice or pay a heed to what I was upto. And I too never revealed anyone the same.

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SINHA SIR Vs. ME

Everything used to go just about perfect for me except when Sinha Sir was out there.

“Now who will tell me the homogenous equation of a pair of straight lines??”, Sinha Sir asked. A few hands raised up. Then he pointed his finger to me.

I stood up.

“Sir, I think its ax2 + 2hxy + by2 = zero.”, I replied. I wasn’t sure about the answer.

“Are you sure??”

“No sir.”

“Then why did you answer?”

“Because this was all I knew.”

“And what do you think, have you got it right?”

“I don’t know sir.”

“I need you to write this formula a 100 times in your notebook. I’ll see it tomorrow.”, he shouted angrily. Now this was absolutely rubbish. I am not a child of 1st standard who will write the same thing a 100 times.

“Sorry sir, I can’t.”

“What? What did you say.”

“Sir, I won’t write it. I don’t have that much time. I have my IIT coachings and a lot of other things to do.”

By this time, Sinha sir’s anger reached the sky. If not sky then at least the top floor of our school building.

“How dare you over-rule me like that?”

“No, I didn’t sir. I am just asking you for what reason are you punishing me??”

“Now you will tell me how should I teach and punish my students.”

I realised, things are out of my control now. And when one is in deep shit, he should keep his mouth shut.

“Get out of the class.” he shrieked. I thanked god for it. I didn’t want to stay in his class any more.

“No….! Wait….I am leaving this class. I don’t want to teach filthy, unmannered students like you.” he spoke again.

“Sure sir, its your wish.” I said. Oopps… I don’t know how it came to me. But I was sure that this sentence is gonna cause me a lot of troubles.

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Sinha sir left and the whole class started to look me like I am some extra-terrestrial animal appeared suddenly among them. I realised, I had betrayed their most favourite teacher. Suddenly, my ‘heroish’ image twisted into a ‘villainish’ one.

“You go to hell. Don’t talk to me ever again.”, someone said to me. I looked towards my left and realised she was none other than Palak…..

{rest continued in Chapter 12}

PS — Long time for this post. I think I have become too lazy.;)

PS — Now I am supporting Rajasthan Royals. Sorry Mumbai vaalon.

PS — IIT MS Chemistry or BITS Pilani CS?? This the question of the Day.

PS — Arushi Murder Case is getting a great footage from media. While news of 40000 people in Myanmar and 30000 people in China dying recently of calamities have been completely ignored. Shame on such media.

PS — Song of the Day : Jeene Ke Ishaare frm Fir Milenge (S-E-L)

PS — Adios.