May I come in Ma'am?, I asked in a very meek and low voice. I was sweating like a horse. It wasn't summer but I was drenched in sweat, started looking for my 1.5m long, white coloured cloth which I used to keep in my small pocket of my trousers. I frantically started looking for it when the Lady sitting opposite me, on that high black coloured chair started smiling at me. Well, let me brief you about this very sweet, charming Lady before I proceed with my snippet.
She's the Lady with an ocean of love, care, trust, patience, empathy and persistence.The list actually goes endless. I just can't define her in words. She's a person on whom I can always rely on. She's my Mentor and my Guide. I don't know why I was scared when I was called in her office that day. But you know how the careless whispers work.... 'Headmistress Ma'am ne bulaya hai Aapko'.... These words spread like a wildfire. .....All eyes started piercing into me with that questioning look.
Anyway, now that I was inside her sound proof cabin, I felt a sudden sense of security. I just could not let my eyes off from that smiling face of my Headmistress Ma'am. She comforted me with a glass of water and offered me Tea as well.
The first very question from her to me, "Tell me SHOMI, why are you getting so scared?"
I answered with a smile trying to wipe that sudden sweat that ran through my face:"Not scared Ma'am, just wondered, whether I went wrong somewhere. "
Her smile continued. She comforted me by saying that it's not that all the time I would be called for some important 'heavy-duty' concerns. She just chatted for a while with me. But in the back of my mind that question kept on creating a vicious circle..... "Ma'am ne mujhe hi kyon bulaya". I patiently waited for her to spill the bean.
Then she told me about HIM... a lad of 11yrs who needed my assistance in getting admission in one of the most reputed Boarding Schools in Bangalore. I was dumbstruck at this offer. I already had hands full of work and on top of that my mentor already promised HIS parents on my behalf. I was totally in a doldrum stage. I just asked her one question, "What made you think about ME only, Ma'am?" She sheepishly smiled and said, "I trust you Shomi."
Now I had to upkeep with the faith shown by my mentor. Unconsciously, it became a prestige issue for me. Everyday sharp at 9am HE used to drop in at my place by a chauffeur driven car. A fair complexioned, cute, charming, innocent boy named, Nitin Singh. I never could imagine a child of his age to be so prim and proper with his mannerisms. He was so confident with his decision of going to the Hostel. So our Special English Classes started off from that morning.
Days and months passed by. A subtle relationship built between us. We both started enjoying each other's company. Gradually, he opened up. He was a voracious reader, so I gifted him one Harry Potter Book as a parting gift. Never did I surmise that he would be bullied in his new school. Soon his mom started wailing and requested me to get him back in my school in Varanasi itself. Before it was for Bangalore and then it was for BGN. I feared this in my heart of hearts. I then started playing the role of a pastoral councillor. That was the time when that once built subtle relationship revived and grew so strong that his Mom once confessed that Nitin loved sharing all talks with ME. I didn't know what touched him so much. But yes today Nitin really waits for my NOD mostly in all his decisions as well. If I am annoyed with him, he would wait for his apology to be accepted by hook or by crook. I'm his Queen and HE is my Prince. I still can't label this amazing relationship which we have been sharing since last two years. All the reIationships need no labeling if your soul is able to hear that low voice calling for love, care and little bit of attention. I have seen him growing infront of me as if he was a part of ME....an unsung bond of love and trust.