The teacher who changed my life

How does a person get engulfed into bad habits? How can he set himself free from such impish deeds? What can be the measures to correct such mistakes? And how do the guardians or teachers treat and encourage children to show the hidden treasure he possesses? Even tiny little things decide one's future sometimes. At times I bear in mind the time I was guided toward the way I am now.

I was in grade three when he first appeared to us. With his white witty face, as soon as entering into our classroom, he gave a squeezed smile, and our giggle drew out for some minutes. We even got some refreshment when he, before introducing himself, cracked some jokes for us. That was his first day with us and before leaving he set up himself as our would-be English teacher.

Next day as he didn't turn up, we requested our principal that he was the right man who could edify us well. And it was me who liked his style much. We had nothing to do with his smile, however that suited him. We were more attentive towards him. We guessed he would be the most tolerant teacher we ever got.

But then things turned unlike what we had assumed it had been. His Second time with us is somewhat remarkable in my life, a painful and pitiable condition of mine. From then, I never saw him liberal, instead he seemed more aggressive and sturdy. We felt it could be pathetic condition of us to bear him few further minutes, though we were the one to insist our principal to let him stay longer. It was me who got first thrashings from him just for I laughed while he was teaching the first chapter. He was a petulant person. One day he asked if we would like to play or study. As most of us preferred to play, he took us to the ground and made us kneel down for the whole period.

Few days later he started staying in the same house which I was staying in. Then he came to be closer to me. In spite of his sturdiness, he was always positive toward me, though his punishments used to be harsh. I was infact a genius child and worked most of my hours with different books and magazines. I even wrote some good poems which pleased not only him but also all the students of my school. Every Friday my friends used to be anxious to listen to my writings. He had even promised me to buy as many diaries I needed as to create poems on them. By his attitude towards me made us quite closer than my friends to him. That closeness made me believe, for some reasons, he would forgive some of my mistakes easily.

As a year passed, I also passed the grade with good percentage securing third position in the class. Everything was as usual but the grade I was studying was different by then. As I was living with my brother and sister in law in a town, I was attracted by many things I saw in the market. Brickgame, cricket ball, watch, Chattpatte, Momo, Chawomins, and obviously the noodles which promised to offer several prizes, all came first my heart. But I had no money. One day I took out a thousand rupees note from my brother's purse. And that was a great mistake I was committing ever in my life. Days passed. I spent almost all the money buying things which I was attracted by. Along with it the nightmare started. Next morning while I was in bed, I heard my brother's voice, he was searching money in my pockets, bags and under my bed. "He must not have done it. Otherwise who else have done?" He was really in trouble in making all the possible guesses. Finally, he found out that it was me who had stolen the money. Now that was a great time to bear for me because the teacher who was always positive towards my hardwork, could know the otherside of me.

That day I went to school earlier. I had many things rushing in my mind. The whole day I was hurried. The final bell rang. We used to have departure in the assembly outside. The teacher, whom we used to call 'Ananta' and sometimes 'Lalit sir', was my problem there, he called out my name. I was nearly fainted that he was going to publicize my name there in front. But I was saved. He told me to conduct the assembly. I carried out it easily. Then, he said me to be home with him. I parked myself at the carrier of his bicycle. We reached our room, he shut up the door and started to pour out several questions to me. I explained. Then he took out his belt and battered me. That was really unforgiving. Later he convinced me not to do so. The greater side of him I loved is that he never told anyone about what I did. I was very thankful for that.

Yeah! Lalit sir was really good person. One needs to accept punishment whenever he commits a mistake. But he should be provided the way he can change himself, realize the inner beauty he has. He used to encourage me to do something good for myself, my parents and my friends.

A month later, with the help of some friends I organized a secondary level interschool quiz competition in our school premise. The teachers were pleased to be invited in our program. The same day we published school wallpaper. When the principal inaugurated the first wallpaper of our school, Lalit sir was the happiest teacher that day.

These days I realize the greatness he possessed. It was he who changed me. It was he who encouraged me to be in the right track and give up the way I was attracted by. He dampened the other side of me, the dark side of me and motivated me to be in against of doing such mischievous things in life. 'Do two things admirable if you need to conceive one mistake." This line touched me inspiringly and it is in my head that never gets erased.