THE STORY OF MADHU SURAIYA-2

Level one ended fast and soon we were in level two. Level one was about learning and level two seemed to be about expressing. Nature is never silent, it is always expressive. Rivers reverberate, winds whisper, flowers bloom and babies blab. I too tried to express. The first expression came out in the form of a conversation between a child and a parent.

Parent: Did she (teacher) teach you to read?

Child: No.

Parent: Did she teach you to write?

Child: No.

Parent: Did she teach you grammar?

Child: No.

Parent: Than what did she teach you?

Child: She taught me to unfold myself

There were several other thoughts expressed during level two. Learning in level two was deeper and more involved. Every time I wrote a thought, I would take it to her for her suggestion. She used to appreciate it. She might have sensed the heat in me contributing to creative writing; so midway through level two, she once asked “Would you like to teach?” I without a second thought said “No”. She without any reaction agreed to my disagreement. Life and learning went on as usual, she would periodically, coolly and calmly pose the same question and I would repeat the same answer “No”. Finally level two was over. To sustain the momentum of learning I decided to do the diploma in French.

We were destined to be together. She was once again the faculty for Diploma. The same question appeared again. This time, not to hear the question again I replied “I can give it a thought after completion of diploma”. Time passes stealthily the way sand slips out of one’s hand. Exams were over, it was time to ease and relax.

It was long off; I was occupied with the thought “What after diploma?” The stillness broke when my cell phone rang up; she was on the other end saying “The diploma is over and …..” Fifteen minutes later as I entered the French Department office she and the Head of the department Durga Dutta Tripathi received me with a smile. Finally I was a visiting faculty to the Department of French.

I often search for “How and why caring relations happen?” but remain unsuccessful. She has been a beautiful person I have come across in life. She has come close to being a friend, a philosopher and a guide. We are now family friends but I do not forget to address her as “Madam”

Next time I will be there with the story of Durga Dutta Tripathi