"There's a sense of wanting to know more, to learn and experience the world around you."
(Curiosity and discovery by Arctic Monkeys)
I knocked on the door. A hasty voice replied from behind the door, "Come in." I internally shrugged and slowly cracked open the door. There he was, sitting in his chair, reading something with intense focus. He peeped through his glasses to look at me – "Oh, Ms. Rathi, I see you seem better now. How is your leg?". His attitude surprised me. His looks, his voice, and his personality don't match at all. Somehow, I felt a sense of calm in his vicinity, something I have never felt around a teacher. I paused my train of thoughts and replied with all the politeness I could muster up for the sake of my grades," Umm, yes, sir. No problem at all. My leg is doing great. He nodded his head and gestured for me to sit. I took a seat in front of his desk. He cleared his throat, set aside his files to focus on me, and then went silent, sitting back in his chair. It was a signal for me to begin. I started my presentation about "Romance as Resurrection and Ruin in Sylvia Plath's Poetic World". I explained, "Sylvia Plath's poetry often portrays romance as both life-giving (resurrection) and destructive (ruin). Love in her work is never simple — it's charged with passion, longing, and vulnerability, but also shadowed by betrayal, power struggles, and despair…..blah blah…", and ended with a typical rehearsed outro, "Sir, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to ...blah blah and this and that". I finished my presentation with satisfaction. I only got a few nods, hmms, from him. He looked bored. I didn't wanna lose marks for anything, but I still kept faith in my work.
"Ok, Miss Rathi, it was quite satisfactory. Considering the fact that you broke your leg last month and you were in the hospital, I think you did well. Well done! You can go now." He smiled at me and beckoned with his hands towards the door.
I didn't know how to feel about his comments. I did my best. I would have prepared the same way even if I weren't in the hospital. It was as if he were pitying me. Anyways, I got up, thanked him, and moved out of his office. As I was closing the door, I saw him staring outside the window into nothingness. Yeah, whatever, maybe he was too distracted to pay attention anyway. Weirdo!! The calm I felt had turned into bile irritating my stomach walls. This was the moment I knew that the rumors were true, he is indeed a devil in disguise, and he is going to be a pain in my ass whole semester.
Or maybe I was just overthinking everything, maybe it isn't that bad. Maybe his comments were just to not make me overconfident. I decided to wait till I get my results, I shouldn't be making such impressions about a professor in his first viva. Maybe he isn't that harsh in grading. Maybe …Oh god! Everything is focused on 'MAYBE'. The future is so foggy, and I wonder why we all chase it.
I have been a good student all my life, and I am not letting that title be taken away from me just because of a weird teacher. No matter how hard it is, I will please him and get the grades I want. I was thinking all this while sitting in my classroom. Suddenly, the lecturer came in and err….it was 'HIM'? What?
"But it's Mr. Avasthi's class, isn't it?" I asked a guy sitting beside me. He furrowed his eyebrows and looked at me like I was an idiot. "Who the hell are you?" he asked. "And Mr. Avasthi taught us last year." He added.
Then it suddenly dawned upon me. Oh! Shit! I am in the wrong lecture room. Who the heck does that? I am so freaking absent-minded. I slowly got up and started walking towards the door, more like pacing. I just hoped that he would ignore me.
"Ahem, Miss Rathi? Where do you think you are going? The devil asked in a very slow but dark voice. I froze right on the spot. "I err…I think I am in the wrong class. Sorry, sir ." I tried to sound as courteous as I could. "It's ok. Since you didn't ask for permission, and since I have almost started the lecture. I think you should go back and sit down. You will have to take this class next year anyway." He smiled as if he had given me a birthday gift or something and was waiting for me to open it.
WTF? And what about my attendance, Mr. Jerk? I was so taken aback at his words that I almost lost my temper and was about to grab a chunk of his hair, but I somehow adjusted myself and replied," I am sorry, sir, I need to take that class. I have already missed more than a month of classes. I am sorry it won't happen again, but I can't miss Mr. Avasthi's class." I tried to sound as convincing as I could and held my head low to put some effort into showing humility because teachers love it and because it works every time.
He took a deep breath and stared at me for a few seconds, and finally said, while running a hand through his rich black locks," Ok, Miss. Rathi. I won't tolerate misconduct next time. I think you learn this in kindergarten to take permission from your teacher before leaving the class." He said with annoyance in his voice, and disappointment was clear in his tone.
"I am sorry, sir, I am really sorry," I replied, and facepalmed myself mentally. I am so careless sometimes. Now my grades are definitely dying.
"Go," he said; more like he yelled at me, his voice booming in the lecture hall. A shiver ran through me. I was shocked at his loss of temper. His handsome features looked so not ok for anger. I never thought that professors still cared about such things. I thought it was a school teacher thing. I practically ran out and quickly got into my actual classroom. At first, I was so scared that I was gonna be late, but surprisingly, Mr. Avasthi hadn't reached the class yet. I waved at my friend Shruti. She gasped as soon as she saw me and waved back at me with extra enthusiasm as always. I quickly sat down near her and asked," Where is Mr.Avasthi?" She pouted-"What the hell, Isha? We met after a month, and you are worried about that old man rather than me? OMG! Kill me, please!". She is so dramatic. I rolled my eyes and armlocked her.
"So, how are you, madam? Did you cry while I was in the hospital?" I said playfully. "No, I distributed sweets." She said while laughing uncontrollably. I gasped, pretending to be horrified, and we both giggled together.
"By the way, the old man is on leave today. Wanna kill time and go somewhere else?" She said in between her laughs. It totally took away all my happiness. So yeah! I got on the bad side of one of our professors to attend an absent teacher's class. Just great! Wow!
"Ok, let's go to the park," Shruti said while holding my arm and dragging me out. Nodded despite feeling almost nauseous. Maybe I will feel better after catching up with her.