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The Teacher Who Changed My Life
I was no special nor had I any special talents and qualities hiding in me that could make me change my life from the way it was. Neither was I well educated nor had I a vast knowledge like many possess these days. I, like a simple housewife was happy to lead the life which my destiny asked me to, even by tolerating the betrayal which my husband had planned for me. An inferior person like me required a guide, a philosopher who could break the ice and free me from what I was and such a personality I found in a teacher who took the challenge of changing my life. But before coming towards the turning point, let me take you all a few years back so that you can learn about me in a much better way.
Nisha Aggarwal and that was the name I was allotted with by my parents when I was born to them. I well remember once I was told by my grandmother that the meaning which hides in my name is Night. But not only a night of darkness but a night of peace. A night filled with quietness that promises to bring the brightest sun to shine up brightly the very other day.
My childhood days, if I am to mention about were filled with my grandmother's love, my father's busy schedule and my mother who had been an inspiration for many. My mother who was a teacher was respected, loved and inspired by all her students. She wanted to fill up her qualities in me so that I may too grow up to be a good teacher like her but her sudden and unfortunate death at my 6 years of age changed my whole life. Within a few years my father remarried and I along with my grandmother came to a small town from where she brought me up. It was now my grandmother who worked on me to make me a teacher. But the irony of my fate has always played upon me well and my grandmother who wished to see me growing as a teacher passed away just before my final exams leaving me all alone with a promise that I have to become a teacher, such a kind who can change lives.
Time flies very quickly and I, who could never complete her graduation after my grandmother's demise could find myself to be dwelling in a well furnished apartment which belonged to me and my husband. Though I have shared a lot of blessed moments with my husband but could that be enough to justify the betrayal that he brought me as a gift. His extra marital affair with his secretary was not unknown to anyone. While the entire society gossiped about my husband, I, an undergraduate housewife sat wondering of were to go for I didn't wanted to go back to my father and stepmother's house. Maybe my story awaited a sudden change for that was the very time when I received an invitation from my friend who lived in a small town nearby Lucknow and she wished to have me with her spending a beautiful winter. I, without having a second thought chose to visit her.
Her house as I can now recollect shone like a pearl under the winter sunshine and the family living inside was the garland who knew well about the value of a relationship. But it was not only the house that attracted me but the school standing nearby took my attention. I often could feel my legs taking me to the boundary of the school and my eyes stared at every teacher who resembled my mother. That was when I came across Mr. Kumar, the man behind this initiative. He worked day and night to construct this building and filled it with knowledge, wisdom and care. He was in his early 40s and lived in the school building alone with only one vision to have this school as the best in all fields. Sooner or later I befriended Mr. Kumar who taught me the value of teaching, the value of humanity which lacks in today's society.
"The question is not only about how successful you are but also how better a human you are, is a question that is still unanswered."
Such was a statement he expressed before me which made me to think about my husband who was best at his success but worst at his humanity. But not much long did it take me to learn the story hiding behind the enthusiastic Kumar and I do remember that how much it pained me. My friend once told me about him. Kumar, whom we see today was not the same 10 years back. He was an engineer in an MNC and had only one goal to earn all the riches in the world. But his wife was totally different and she wanted to start a school in a small town where education could reach the backward section. Kumar had no interest in all such stupidity and he let his wife and their 6 year old son travel to a village where she planned of having her school. But who can change destiny and that ambitious woman had a miserable death to die along with her son in a fire which broke in their house. This sudden but terrible incident changed Kumar and he left his riches and status and chose to settle down in a small town where he could accomplish his wife's ambition. That was the birth of the Kumar whom we see today. He's not only a mathematics teacher but an actual guide to all his students. He's not only a coordinator but a friend so rare for all the teachers working there. A gem of a person wrapped in the skin of a noble teacher.
The chapter of Kumar remained open in my mind even when I reached my home. No longer could I find my luxurious house any beautiful compared to the small school which was somebody's home and mission. Everything changed in me and now it was the time to change everything outside me. One day I received a letter from Kumar which read about his keen desire to have me joining the school for he felt that I could be that potential teacher who has the strength of changing lifes. I sat still thinking and wondered about this turning point. I was all ready to accept this opportunity which came knocking at my door but I knew that I require another piece of paper which needed to be signed as soon as possible. A paper of divorce. That was when I heard the chirping of the birds which made me realise about the arrival of spring and instantly I recalled Kumar's words.
It takes a Spring and a little warmth of love to melt the harsh ice collected over a heart of innocence.
Well that was all about me and today I am working as a teacher in Kumar's school and cherish to see the organisation growing each day. I can even feel my mother and grandmother smiling proudly at me. Talking about Kumar, we share a way long age difference of 15 years which can also be called a generation gap. Maybe that's why I kept my feelings a secret because of the excessive respect I have for him. But that hardly bothers me for if anybody questions me about him, my answer would be,
He's none but the one, the amazingly knowledgeable teacher who changed my life.
Nisha Aggarwal and that was the name I was allotted with by my parents when I was born to them. I well remember once I was told by my grandmother that the meaning which hides in my name is Night. But not only a night of darkness but a night of peace. A night filled with quietness that promises to bring the brightest sun to shine up brightly the very other day.
My childhood days, if I am to mention about were filled with my grandmother's love, my father's busy schedule and my mother who had been an inspiration for many. My mother who was a teacher was respected, loved and inspired by all her students. She wanted to fill up her qualities in me so that I may too grow up to be a good teacher like her but her sudden and unfortunate death at my 6 years of age changed my whole life. Within a few years my father remarried and I along with my grandmother came to a small town from where she brought me up. It was now my grandmother who worked on me to make me a teacher. But the irony of my fate has always played upon me well and my grandmother who wished to see me growing as a teacher passed away just before my final exams leaving me all alone with a promise that I have to become a teacher, such a kind who can change lives.
Time flies very quickly and I, who could never complete her graduation after my grandmother's demise could find myself to be dwelling in a well furnished apartment which belonged to me and my husband. Though I have shared a lot of blessed moments with my husband but could that be enough to justify the betrayal that he brought me as a gift. His extra marital affair with his secretary was not unknown to anyone. While the entire society gossiped about my husband, I, an undergraduate housewife sat wondering of were to go for I didn't wanted to go back to my father and stepmother's house. Maybe my story awaited a sudden change for that was the very time when I received an invitation from my friend who lived in a small town nearby Lucknow and she wished to have me with her spending a beautiful winter. I, without having a second thought chose to visit her.
Her house as I can now recollect shone like a pearl under the winter sunshine and the family living inside was the garland who knew well about the value of a relationship. But it was not only the house that attracted me but the school standing nearby took my attention. I often could feel my legs taking me to the boundary of the school and my eyes stared at every teacher who resembled my mother. That was when I came across Mr. Kumar, the man behind this initiative. He worked day and night to construct this building and filled it with knowledge, wisdom and care. He was in his early 40s and lived in the school building alone with only one vision to have this school as the best in all fields. Sooner or later I befriended Mr. Kumar who taught me the value of teaching, the value of humanity which lacks in today's society.
"The question is not only about how successful you are but also how better a human you are, is a question that is still unanswered."
Such was a statement he expressed before me which made me to think about my husband who was best at his success but worst at his humanity. But not much long did it take me to learn the story hiding behind the enthusiastic Kumar and I do remember that how much it pained me. My friend once told me about him. Kumar, whom we see today was not the same 10 years back. He was an engineer in an MNC and had only one goal to earn all the riches in the world. But his wife was totally different and she wanted to start a school in a small town where education could reach the backward section. Kumar had no interest in all such stupidity and he let his wife and their 6 year old son travel to a village where she planned of having her school. But who can change destiny and that ambitious woman had a miserable death to die along with her son in a fire which broke in their house. This sudden but terrible incident changed Kumar and he left his riches and status and chose to settle down in a small town where he could accomplish his wife's ambition. That was the birth of the Kumar whom we see today. He's not only a mathematics teacher but an actual guide to all his students. He's not only a coordinator but a friend so rare for all the teachers working there. A gem of a person wrapped in the skin of a noble teacher.
The chapter of Kumar remained open in my mind even when I reached my home. No longer could I find my luxurious house any beautiful compared to the small school which was somebody's home and mission. Everything changed in me and now it was the time to change everything outside me. One day I received a letter from Kumar which read about his keen desire to have me joining the school for he felt that I could be that potential teacher who has the strength of changing lifes. I sat still thinking and wondered about this turning point. I was all ready to accept this opportunity which came knocking at my door but I knew that I require another piece of paper which needed to be signed as soon as possible. A paper of divorce. That was when I heard the chirping of the birds which made me realise about the arrival of spring and instantly I recalled Kumar's words.
It takes a Spring and a little warmth of love to melt the harsh ice collected over a heart of innocence.
Well that was all about me and today I am working as a teacher in Kumar's school and cherish to see the organisation growing each day. I can even feel my mother and grandmother smiling proudly at me. Talking about Kumar, we share a way long age difference of 15 years which can also be called a generation gap. Maybe that's why I kept my feelings a secret because of the excessive respect I have for him. But that hardly bothers me for if anybody questions me about him, my answer would be,
He's none but the one, the amazingly knowledgeable teacher who changed my life.
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