CHALK IN HAND

"Destiny is what you have always wanted to accomplish . Everyone , when they are young knows what their destiny is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. they are not afraid to dream and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives" Paulo Coelho ( The Alchemist)



A dreamer. Thats what everyone called me. Thats what I was. Still am. I wanted to make my dreams come true. My dream to pursue theatre, art and writing. And I needed money for it. I contemplated working in restauraunts and fast food joints just as I had worked at Burger King in the US , during vacations. But the fast food joints in India only had full time positions and I couldn't squeeze in the time amidst my busy college schedule. I sat in my room dejected, wondering what other course I could resort to. Thats when I hit upon the idea of taking tutions. I printed a poster to advertise for the coaching classes I intended to take. Armed with a big bottle of fevicol, my friends and I went around the campus and the living quarters of the hospital personnel to stick the posters. We returned to the college mess, our hands sticky with glue, laughing like little children. I waited for a week. Noone called. No inquiries were made. As I was walking by the Old Doctors Mess, wondering what to do next, I heard a boy shout out to me. I waited for his cycle to catch up with me. It was Blesson. A young school going boy whom I had met perchance. He asked me if I was interested in taking tutions. I nodded excitedly. That was when he led me through the corridoors of the Old Doctors Mess. He stopped right outside the faded door of a house. The door opened and I entered expectantly. The dim, fluorescent light from a tube illumined the room, exposing the clothes that were piled up on a bed and around the couch. Kindergarten books lay strewn all over the place and a young girl sat at the foot of the bed, on the floor. A short, stocky man with a moustache greeted me. I squared my shoulders and greeted him in my most confident voice. " So, what do you do?", he asked. " I am a third year Nursing student and live in the hostel adjacent to the hospital". His eyes glinted approval as he sized me with his eyes. I smiled confidently, enunciating my words to impress him. " Why do you want to take tuitions?" , he asked. I answered , making sure my accent was accentuated, " I would like to be independant and make enough money to pay my hostel fees".He seemed satisfied with the answer.He pointed towards the girl who sat by the bed. "She will be your student". I glanced at the girl , taking note of her mussed up hair, her jet black eyes that stared unblinkingly at me. I smiled. She smiled shyly and then looked down. We decided to have classes at 4pm everyday for an hour and a half.

I ran back to my hostel, pumping my arms and legs, a smile stretched taut on my lips, my breath coming fast.I did it!I finally have a job! Now I never have to ask anybody for money again. I am my own woman. Not a damned soul will ever pinion me again! Whoopee!! I jumped high into the air and landed on my feet only to come face- to -face with my hostel warden, Mercy Ma'am. Uh oh. I smiled my brightest smile and wished her good afternoon. She gave me a quizzical expression. I told her abt my new job." Oh, I didn't know you were interested in coaching students", she said. I told her I was very enthusiastic about it. " Well, if thats the case, then I might have a couple of children for you to teach. I know a few people who are looking for tutors" I couldn't contain my glee. " Ma'am, I would be delighted"

The ball was rolling!!! And thus began my endeavour with teaching, little realising that it was I who was going to learn....