Teachers Day:Teacher who made a difference

She didn't make maths my destiny but an easier path

to cross to reach the destiny.

As a child I suffered something called “Maths Phobia' the innumerable numbers just dazzled and danced around my head until I cried and sneaked
into the world of poetry and literature. How I detested the
term maths. I am sure there must be thousands like me. Huh! I can
see those curved lips that say ' I join your troop'. To worsen the
situation I had a Maths teacher who was just too good in her
knowledge but she did not know how to grasp students like me
into the web of 'maths knowledge'.




I remember the day when I got my maths answer sheet with the
least marks in the class. I couldn't tell it to my parents nor hide it
for long as my mom was a teacher in the same school. I tried to hide it in every nook and corner just to see my mom digging it for one or the other
reason. I was so scared of the whole situation that I and my
friend suffering the same crisis even planned to run away from
home. So, the bags were ready and so were some food for the
unknown destiny. We decided to meet at a certain bridge in the
evening and then run to never step back to the hours of Maths
torture. I wrote a few letter note to parents and hid it under the
pillow. However something drew me back and we canceled the
whole idea and return back home after two hours of
wandering. Until I reached mom had already found the letter. She
hugged me and cried. This gave me a signal that I will not be
beaten up for those one digit marks.

My mom as a teacher new what I was going through I suppose.
She knew that I was in need of a teacher as well as friend who
would guide me through the muzzled path of numbers. She
found one after few days.

I still remember my first visit to her house. A huge garden with a
huge dog at the entrance was waiting to welcome me with
furious barks. When I saw the dreadful dog I just taught the
teacher would be another pestering person in my life just
to worsen the situation. I was wrong. I met a fine lady with
broad smile that could make me relax the very moment. The angel
(as I usually call people who make a difference in my life)
walked in clearing all the muzzled path into a defined destiny. She
made the whole number world a beautiful paradise. How I loved
her. Years rolled by and I passed out from my school with
flaunting colours. She didn't make maths my destiny but an
easier path to cross to reach the destiny. Then I moved to
Bangalore for my graduation. I made a point to visit the
beautiful lady whenever I returned home.

Two years back, I participated in a marathon for cancer patients. I
didn't have a specific reason for the act, just that I wanted to be a
part of a cause on a jobless weekend. So I and my other two
friends ran nearly 5 kms. After the event I called mom to tell her
all about the event. I was thrilled about the whole experience. I
niched every detail from the time we started and ended with a
huge music festival in Cubbon Park (one of the Bangalore's
park). My mom did not say a word, but just sighed and said, “
its so weird you ran for a cause that made your favorite teacher
breath her last. Your Maths tution teacher died two days back due
to Cancer". I didn't say a word.

Hung the telephone and ran to bed to cry till twilight.
I have lost her. But before she bid goodbye, she did make a
difference in my life and many others like me. Truly a teacher
can make or break you. And I have experienced both. On the
occasion of Dr. Radhakrishnan birthday this story is a tribute to
all the teachers who made a difference in number of innocent
hearts unconditionally. Happy Teachers day