Raman and his family had just arrived to Poonuru. He was very much used to being new to places, befriending new classmates and playing in new grounds; for his dad was a village accountant which was a transferable job. Poonuru village was well embellished by mother earth. Pavani River streamed through the village; dense banyan trees covering the outskirts and many plain grounds promised him lots of fun. He was waiting for evening to cast its spell.
Being stranger, Raman always knew tactics to get to know people. He wore his favorite track pant, topping a t shirt and a pair of sports shoes .He set to School maidaan with his attractive cricket bat full of signatures of cricketers. The trick was to gel with schoolmates, allure them with his cricket bat .Most of the time he won their attention. Then he would get to know about each of them, their family, popular hang-outs, about the school, the teachers, to-do’s and not-to-do’s, the pretty girls, movies and almost everything.
Mujju, Salman, Velu thronged Raman when he showed off his bat. Apparently they were playing cricket with a jackfruit stick which they called a bat. Raman seized the chance and introduced himself to one and half dozen crowd. All were admiring Raman for his bat, flashy dress and his geared bicycle. Mujju even dare sitting on the cycle. Raman was quite happy. He promised he would get good-quality ball the next day. He scored charming 37 runs out of 10 balls and took even 4 wickets. He got to know more about the rest of the gang.He also observed that Mani the hefty guy was dominating, quarreled each time with players and was inconvincible. When Raman stroke Mani’s wickets, the latter gave a killer stare, not just that, he left the place uttering non-parliamentary words.
Match was done. Raman quizzed about Poonuru. Velu found swimming in Pavani was a joyful stuff, Slaman said smoking at Kaka’s shop was entertaining and Jannu said stealing jackfruits grown at Stella teacher’s garden was wonderful. All had opinions and Raman was enjoying their attention for him. A cute girl just passed them and Dinga whistled at her. All were laughing and giggling at this gesture. Even Raman couldn’t avoid smiling. Dinga was sort of joker in their group. Now Raman diverted the topic. He wanted to know about the school.
Dinga was on his toes imitating headmaster. They all laughed. Raman sensed that headmaster was manageable. He always feared math. So Mujju told Shijo sir was too sweet to get scared, never scolded anyone. Kids spilled beans about social science teacher and unusual behavior of him eating chalk pieces. Dinga again was showing off his talent, how teachers spoke, their accent, their mistakes and the way they sign notebooks. Then Raman asked about English teacher. Group fell silent. Velu asked him to witness the class next day .And the group disbursed.
Raman narrated entire episode to his mom word by word. His mom Laxmi too was curious about English teacher.
*****
“…..Raman, Our College boasts about scoring good marks in English, we have produced toppers in the subject since years, students are performing better year by year...Rehman Sir has been teaching our students very well” headmaster was speaking. Raman’s parents were just nodding, and Raman was counting number of times headmaster uttered the word “English”. It was close to 43.
First period was of Math sir. Mani was shouting and Mujju was flirting.Shijo sir was explaining about Tangents and Secants. A rocket ruffled Dinga’s head (was shot by Mani) .Dinga woke up to see all students laughing. Shijo sir explained that Dinga’s head was a circle and Rocket was tangent as it touched at one point. Dinga was okay as he was “exemplified”. Raman too was impressed with his new math teacher. Velu shouted saying had that been a sphere thrown at Dinga, it would have pierced Dinga’s head at two points thus it signified a Secant. Students including Shijo sir giggled. Dinga flopped. Class was funny. Salman now turned at Raman asking him to watch next class for the English teacher.
Mujju was briefing Raman about Rehman Sir. He was a mossi (local slang for a Muslim) who taught English very well. They said none ever could speak English as fluently as he could; none even in the district. Students feared him but he never had beaten any of his students. He never believed in punishing too. Students did their homework and assignments. He never spoke personal things, never commented about anyone. Never smiled, not even when he produced seven English toppers for the nation, just meant his business and that he commuted bicycling.
The only time he became angry was when headmaster refused bringing English newspaper magazines at school’s cost. He rose and his eyes were pitching red. He insisted about need for the language and promised to arrange the magazines out of his own pocket and had vacated. Since then school staff including headmaster feared him.
******
Rehman Sir entered. He was tall man, with broad shoulders. Had shaved off his moustache, had sported a thick beard which ran all over his cheeks. Face had many wrinkles. He was dressed with a pant which never touched his shoe, and a shirt. Dark mark on his forehead hinted that he offered Namaz often.
“Students let me teach you about Gerunds and Infinitives”
Mujju, Salman, Velu took their books out. Dinga was fully prepared and Mani too was attentive. Entire class was concentrating. Raman too took his book out. Students were corrected for their spelling mistakes, wrong pronunciations and class was done. Raman observed that everyone wanted to get appreciation from English teacher.
Rest of the periods were insignificant even Raman’s mom felt later in the evening.
******
Laxmi was shopping for groceries one Sunday evening. She was looking out for Spinach, which her son liked most. “Laxmi Didi….!” she couldn’t recognize the person. He came to her and addressed himself to be Gullu; her neighborhood. Laxmi recalled her days before marriage.
They were in Hyderabad .This Gullu was son of Abdul Chacha the taxi driver. Gullu used to come to their house everyday, was pampered by her mom.Evenings he used to attend a local Madrasa He was often helping her mom for errands, played with her brother. Both were very naughty those days. Abdul chacha and her dad always had tough time with people of lane because of this duo. They even had once dismantled a transformer and had blackout. Last what she heard was Abdul chacha had committed suicide and Gullu had ran away.
“Didi, I know, what you want to know from me” Gullu said.
Laxmi was not demanding. She did not know what really had happened. But she did not interrupt him saying.
“There was one foreign traveler who hired my dad. He wanted to go to Tirupati and my dad was driving. Somewhere the traveler stopped for refreshments leaving my dad alone in car. When he returned, he saw my dad unconscious and foreigner’s asset robbed.
Unfortunately, the traveler lodged a complaint against my dad. My dad got handcuffed and was treated very badly by cops. My father returned home, he was very sorry for the crime he never committed. He committed suicide. Till his last breath he was claiming his innocence”
Tears rolled on Laxmi’s cheeks.
“I headed towards the foreigner. I wanted to tell him that I had lost my dad for no mistake of his. I shouted, I cried in the language he never understood. All I saw was him leaving the place with a mocking smile on his face.I was helpless”
There was a long pause.
“I decided, one day I will let this know man what he had done to me and my father, in his own language. Not just that, I made up mind that none should be in a situation, I was in.”
Gullu was emotional. They were walking ,walking and walking.
“What are you doing in Poonuru?” .
“I am the English Teacher here…..”
