It is work all the time and there are times I've felt that I was born only to work. Work was my pain killer and my refuge
I owned this Spark coaching center for entrance exams and everyday morning by 7 am I was off on my bike to my coaching center where I taught Math and Physics to youngsters who dreamt of IITSand IIMs,
My day ended by an exhausted 6 pm with formulaes, Laws and Theorems whizzing around my head. This went on for six days a week and on Sundays students came seeking my house for tuitions in the mornings and evenings. The days went on like a programmed machine.
All this changed when Nalini came into the institute to train herself to take on the entrance exams. She had lovely long lashed eyes that darted at me with curious questions only in Physics and Math(alas.!) and long dark hair that drooped over one shoulder in the most beautiful of ponytails.
I felt like a helpless teenager whenever she was in my class and it was with the utmost difficulty I could hold on to my garb of the intelligent teacher. Only my five years of rigorous academic teaching came to my rescue to prevent me from looking like a spluttering fool when she looked at me with those languidly questioning eyes.
She was in the coaching center only for six months, and oh .those six months sped away like six seconds. Never had I been more eager to reach class, and never had I more dreaded Sundays .
On the last day of her class, I found no courage to express myself . Did I detect lingering wistful glances from her in my direction or was it just my imagination?
She gave me her number, but I could never go beyond the queries on her exams on phone. And on facebook I couldnt go beyond liking all her pictures. And when she liked any picture of mine my day was made.
Our chats on facebook was always about her academic progress or about she asking for suitable books for her studies.
She had oh. so many friends and I knew her class mate Rahul was her most ardent follower.
Years passed and although she did not make it through the entrances she was doing her post graduation in Physics. And all the while I carried my secret within me.
Then one day while leaving a restaurant after dinner I saw her seated at the far corner of the restaurant with Rahul. He had his hand over hers on the table and they seemed to be lost to
the world. I felt frozen with pain and my own stupidity.
And then.to my surprise I felt myself taking deliberate steps towards the table.
I called out her name."Nalini ."
She looked at me and got up in smiling surprise. She introduced me to Rahul as her favorite teacher.
"Why dont you join us for dinner?" Nalini asked with her sweet smile.
"I am seated on the other side with my friends " I said. "And actually there is a book in Physics which you would find useful . It is on the table there. Can you please come over? " I asked desperately hoping she wont see through my bluff.
"Of course " she said, getting up and moving along with me before Rahul could thwart her movement.
As soon as we were on the far side and out of sight of Rahul I turned to look at her.
"Nalini, there is no book " I told her. " I wanted to tell you that .that .I love you " I blurted out finally .
"I always have from the moment you stepped in my class four years ago . Do you .can you." Now I ran out of words and I stood my eyes again mesmerised by her.
She stared at me . " I do .and I too always have ." she said. My head swirled in happiness.
.
.
.Can there be a happier ending to my story? I love happy endings.
