Essays

When I was in Class XII, we had a temporary science teacher. His name was Mr. Ramesh. He taught us for a couple of months before he obtained a place in the University to pursue higher studies. We found out that he was leaving us just one day before the day he was supposed to leave. He did not tell us. Another teacher did. As we liked Mr. Ramesh very much. we got together and planned a farewell party for him. The girls agreed to make some titbits and the boys agreed to prepare the drinks. It was to be a small party as we did not had enough time to plan a bigger one.

The next day, we sat through two study periods in the morning before Mr. Ramesh entered the class for our science lesson. We had our food and drinks discreetly covered at one corner of the class. So when Mr., Ramesh entered he did not notice anything different in the class. We wanted to surprise him, and we did.

As he was opening his book to begin his final lesson, everybody stood up. Mr., Ramesh looked at us in surprise and asked us to sit down. When nobody complied he gave us a puzzled frown, closed his book and stood at his desk, arms akimbo and chin thrust forward enquiringly.

'What's the matter?' he asked.

We looked at one another.

Our monitor answered, "Sir, we wish to congratulate you on your admission to the university. We have prepared some refreshments (a classmate removed the sheets covering the food) and we would like you to have a small party with us before you leave us."

All eyes were on Mr, Ramesh. His gaze alternated from the food to us. He tried to speak but no words came out. Slowly we could see his eyes misting over and we realized that he was in tears. Good lord, there was Mr. Ramesh, the muscle-bound he-man that we knew him to be. actually shedding tears of joy (or was it sadness). Anyway it was good to know that he was human.

For the next half an hour we mingled, eating the titbits and drinking the too-sweet syrup. It was not a good idea to have the boys preparing the drinks. They did not know how much sugar to use. Still we had a good time chit-chatting and asking Mr. Ramesh all sorts of questions. He happily answered everything we threw at him on the day.

I looked with the corner of my eyes and I saw a figure at the doorway. I turned my head to have a better look. I froze. It was the headmaster' He was one foot inside the classroom. His eyes darted quickly around and I realized that we were caught red-handed having a party without his permission. We were also making too much noise.

Soon the food and drinks were all finished and our monitor asked Mr. Ramesh to give us a farewell speech. He was reluctant to do so but finally he had to give in to our combined insistence. I do not remember what he actually said. All I remember was that when he finished he had to wipe his eyes again and one of the girls had to give him a piece of tissue. It was a very touching scene, a mixture of joy and sadness; joy for being able to enter the university, sadness for having to leave.

Then the bell went to signal the end of the period. Mr. Ramesh shook hands with everyone, muttered a few words of thanks and soon we were left with ourselves and a pile of empty cups and plates to clear up before the next teacher was to arrive.