Gaurav was entering his class at 9 35. He was late. He knew that he will not have any class. Mirza sir was very upset for past many weeks about the 9’o clock class not beginning on time. Mirza sir taught Science and Math to him others in class 9. Mirza sir would get very upset when they came late for the “Extra Class”. “Extra” because for all other classes in the school begin at 10.
He went to the class and greeted Pawan and Gautam with smiles. There was a general chorus of “when did you come” questions.
They were all late and they were kind of sorry about it too. They sat around their hexagonal red table discussing yesterday’s cricket match and waiting for someone to come or not come.
Some noises were heard form the passage adjoining their room. Mirza sir was coming. He was talking to someone else. They went silent and waited for him to enter the class. A few minutes later, breaking the silence, Pawan asked Gaurav “have you written the density experiment?” They had performed it yesterday in the third period. Pawan was scared that Mirza sir would want to check it. Gaurav didn’t say anything. He smiled and looked down. Gaurav thought more and spoke less. That is what he and others thought of him. He was happy with that image. He was respected by all younger students.
Currently Mirza sir’s arrival was taking forever. He was talking to someone else in an explanatory tone.
Suddenly Mirza sir pushed into the class room. He was followed by a person. “He is half my size” Gaurav thought. Gaurav was as tall as Mirza sir. He was tallest in the whole school.
“Good morning” Mirza sir said. “You all are late” Gaurav completed the sentence in his mind and looked at Pawan. Pawan, by some kind of telepathy, heard him and smiled back.
“He was angry but he would not stop teaching us. I have been absent for a month. It is not even my fault. I have been trying hard to catch up.” Gaurav went on thinking, nodding and looking interested in whatever Gautam and Prakash sir were talking about.
“They wouldn’t know sir, they were absent for many practicals and lectures in last month sir." Mirza sir said, rudely interrupting the talk between Gautam and Prakash Sir, whatever it was about. "We should talk about the work they are supposed to have done later on, maybe in the tiffin time.” Gaurav had seen Mirza sir disappointed but never as unattached as he seemed right now.
Soon Mirza sir went out of the class. Prakash sir switched to Hindi. "He stammers much less in Hindi." Gaurav sat there listening to him and thinking. Speaking nothing.
He went to the class and greeted Pawan and Gautam with smiles. There was a general chorus of “when did you come” questions.
They were all late and they were kind of sorry about it too. They sat around their hexagonal red table discussing yesterday’s cricket match and waiting for someone to come or not come.
Some noises were heard form the passage adjoining their room. Mirza sir was coming. He was talking to someone else. They went silent and waited for him to enter the class. A few minutes later, breaking the silence, Pawan asked Gaurav “have you written the density experiment?” They had performed it yesterday in the third period. Pawan was scared that Mirza sir would want to check it. Gaurav didn’t say anything. He smiled and looked down. Gaurav thought more and spoke less. That is what he and others thought of him. He was happy with that image. He was respected by all younger students.
Currently Mirza sir’s arrival was taking forever. He was talking to someone else in an explanatory tone.
Suddenly Mirza sir pushed into the class room. He was followed by a person. “He is half my size” Gaurav thought. Gaurav was as tall as Mirza sir. He was tallest in the whole school.
“Good morning” Mirza sir said. “You all are late” Gaurav completed the sentence in his mind and looked at Pawan. Pawan, by some kind of telepathy, heard him and smiled back.
“Meet Prakash sir,” Mirza sir continued, “he will teach you Science and Math from today.”
Gaurav was not able to process everything he just heard. He was not able to picture what Mirza sir was saying. His eyebrows were twitching going into surprise and normal every second or so. Mirza sir had taught them for many years. More importantly, they all trusted Mirza sir to like them. They were undisciplined, but Mirza sir was not just their teacher. He was not sure what was happening. Prakash sir was smiling at them.
“So Prakash sir, you can start today.” Mirza sir said dispassionately and made a swift dance like move towards a corner and sat down on a chair. Prakash sir looked nervous. He was smiling and nodding. And looking more nervous.
“So t.t.t. take your books and copies, books and copies” Prakash sir said glancing a sweeping look at all of them.
"He stammers” Gaurav thought and got up to look at his bag. He was not sure if he had packed the science notebook and book after he was working on them last night. He looked through his bag and he got the book and copy out.
“So what.. what have..a a a…you.. studied now..” Prakash sir said. “..till now” he added in the same elongated breath correcting himself.
Mirza sir was standing at the corner looking very unconcerned. Gaurav knew he was angry with them, but Gaurav and his friends believed Mirza sir will never leave school the way other teachers have left in the past. He will always teach science to them as he had for last 2 years.
Gaurav was not able to process everything he just heard. He was not able to picture what Mirza sir was saying. His eyebrows were twitching going into surprise and normal every second or so. Mirza sir had taught them for many years. More importantly, they all trusted Mirza sir to like them. They were undisciplined, but Mirza sir was not just their teacher. He was not sure what was happening. Prakash sir was smiling at them.
“So Prakash sir, you can start today.” Mirza sir said dispassionately and made a swift dance like move towards a corner and sat down on a chair. Prakash sir looked nervous. He was smiling and nodding. And looking more nervous.
“So t.t.t. take your books and copies, books and copies” Prakash sir said glancing a sweeping look at all of them.
"He stammers” Gaurav thought and got up to look at his bag. He was not sure if he had packed the science notebook and book after he was working on them last night. He looked through his bag and he got the book and copy out.
“So what.. what have..a a a…you.. studied now..” Prakash sir said. “..till now” he added in the same elongated breath correcting himself.
Mirza sir was standing at the corner looking very unconcerned. Gaurav knew he was angry with them, but Gaurav and his friends believed Mirza sir will never leave school the way other teachers have left in the past. He will always teach science to them as he had for last 2 years.
“He was angry but he would not stop teaching us. I have been absent for a month. It is not even my fault. I have been trying hard to catch up.” Gaurav went on thinking, nodding and looking interested in whatever Gautam and Prakash sir were talking about.
“They wouldn’t know sir, they were absent for many practicals and lectures in last month sir." Mirza sir said, rudely interrupting the talk between Gautam and Prakash Sir, whatever it was about. "We should talk about the work they are supposed to have done later on, maybe in the tiffin time.” Gaurav had seen Mirza sir disappointed but never as unattached as he seemed right now.
Soon Mirza sir went out of the class. Prakash sir switched to Hindi. "He stammers much less in Hindi." Gaurav sat there listening to him and thinking. Speaking nothing.
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