THE EYE OPENER

I took my profession as a lecturer. It was the same college from where I walked out a year before, completing my post-graduation. My heart’s first thirst was quenched.  But my condition there was embarrassing, striving among my teachers (now my colleagues) and my students (almost of my same age). I didn’t get much appreciation as my students were rough and their voice was higher than my voice. Their talks and cheers fell on my ears like death bell. Once a boy in my class, who was sitting in the back row, near the door, simply stepped out to see if there is any change in the world outside and calmly returned through the other door. I couldn’t tolerate that harmless trespass and decided to break his calmness. I raised my voice, but his voice was higher than mine.

Day by day my strength and confidence faded. Also, I had to meet the expectations of my well-wishers. Every night I cooked up my head to get out of that dilemma.

One day I was busy preparing my students for the upcoming periodical tests. Then a boy appeared at the door from somewhere. He passed me with a side glance and approached a girl in the class. I felt as if I am nowhere in this world. He warned her to come soon with all the students. But that warning was really meant for me. He walked back with another side glance. Then a great realisation came to me. The college election was approaching, and all the candidates were busy hunting their votes. It was the time set for ‘meet the candidate’ session and the candidates expected all the students there.  More than everything my class had extended to the break time. And the bell had already gone. The boy was the president of the college union and the girl herself a candidate. I was about to leave, but then a voice came from my class. It was a determined voice. The girl replied, ‘we will come but only after this class.' Hearing this the boy was shocked. I saw two eyes approaching me asking, ‘please send them ma’am’ and the boy disappeared. Then I could see a hundred hopeful eyes in front of me. I felt that I belonged there. It was the day I found my real self. From that day on their talks and cheers turned out to be spells of inspiration for me. My eyes opened. It was the passion and not the profession which brought me there.