It is a tantalizing twilight; a crimson sunset on a beach in Thailand.
I am walking across the hem of the waters. Both my children are clinging to my arms and asking me to swing them along. My wife is in the waters calling me to come closer to the sea. I have always been slightly hydrophobic. I laugh and she comes forward and sprinkles water on me, slapping into the tender waves.
This moment is perfect. I feel at peace. I have a sweet family and all my NGOs are doing a really great job. I am content. My papers are published every other day and I get good feedback for my work. I am satisfied. Thankful to God.
My kids are really happy in this moment. I see the little me in them. Everything is calm and mesmerising. In a moment, I think I see someone I know. A very familiar face. My heart stirs. My legs go numb. I am not able to decide what to do. Go near him or not? What would I say?
But I am very excited. I asked my kids to get down my arms and I run towards the face which is lit like a moon. It has always been like this. So energetic. So positive. So inviting. So loving. I say, “Sir?”. He turns around. ” Yes?” he says with a tint of surprise evident on his brow. I ignore that. I am way too excited to get disappointed.
“Sir, it’s me, Akshat…. Akshat Tripathi. Ramjas History Honours…. Sir? Don’t you remember me?” Sir tries very hard to concentrate. He still has a very awkward look on his face. He doesn’t remember me. He fails at recalling my name. I don’t blame him. I have always been the shy student who never talked in class. Never responded to any question, though I had a lot going on in my mind. But I always listened to teachers carefully, especially Milind Sir. I was like a sponge who absorbed everything he said. He was like a candle, a torchbearer for me and everyone else.
Today If I am successful, I owe my success to my hard work and to all the teachers who have taught me but… if by any chance I am a good human today, I owe it all to Milind Sir. I am laughing, looking into those eyes. They are ever bright like they have always been. They have not lost the spark even if the body looks old. Physically Sir has become quite senile but he still seems in high spirits as he has always been.
He tells me, “Areyyyy yaar” with a stress on R as his accent has always been . “Arrey yaar tum mujhey yaad toh nai ho but how does it matter man! Come on. Tell me your story.” And at that moment my tears come out unannounced. I never got to speak one on one with Milind Sir in my college days as I was really very shy. He tells me “Arey ro kyun rai ho dost?” pats me on my back and hugs me. My kids come running to me and I tell them, “Call your mother, guys.”
Within seconds they all come and I tell them excitedly, “Meet Milind Sir.” My wife’s eyes brighten like a kid’s while seeing a shooting star. She squeals “Oh my God… Milind Sir! We keep on hearing about you, Sir. Whenever Akshat is in any extreme emotion, he starts telling us ‘Milind Sir used to say this, say that…’ Sir, you have been like a member of our family. You are not among us but your spirit has always been there.”
Milind Sir’s countenance tells it all. He feels like heaven. He hugs me again. He hugs my kids. We all play with the water. We decide to go for dinner together and I tell Sir my story. He talks to me about many things. Even after so many years, he has the same energy, same spark. He is alive at heart. He is aged but not old. He is happy to see where I stand in life and flattered to hear that I incorporate his lessons even now.
In his trips, he once said, he always has some marvellous moments to take back and this moment with me has been added to his priceless possessions, he tells me. We decide to go sky diving together, the next day and he bids adieu.
Later in the hotel, reclining on the soft cushion, I think of everything. The flashback is so vivid, so lovely! Nostalgia tears my heart to pieces and each piece has a special memory laden in it to give me pleasure. This is the best form of heartbreak anyone could ever have experienced. I close my eyes. The room is cool, the window is ajar and a calm breeze is swaying the curtains. I am at peace. I think about the life of a teacher. I think about how great and wonderful it must be to be a teacher.
Today it felt like it is one of the greatest feelings to have been a teacher, touched hundreds of lives, known them, learnt from them and taught them. How in teacher’s lives students come and go. Teachers get attached to many students but they know the students have to go. They are sad on leaving their students but happy that their students will leave, along with a part of them; their teachings, their love.
In colleges, every three years they have to love and let go. Love again and let go. Raise the baby birds, help them build their wings and leave them to fly in the sky, unbridled!
© Muntaha Amin
(English Honours, Second Year)
WordCraft - The Ramjas Literary Society 