Well, the new week just started and let’s say, it was over before it even began because I wasn’t able to sleep until 2:30 in the morning, and I’m already feeling very sleepy, while writing this, But, I gotta do what I gotta do right…?
I hope each one of you has had a great teacher in their lifetime, it doesn’t necessarily have to be someone from school or college, but, someone who stayed in your life for a little while and taught you something, that no-one could within a short span of time…
For me, this life has been one of the biggest teachers, trying and testing me all the time, by keeping me on the edge, and throwing challenges left and right, but, coming out of them gives me a fresh perspective, a new way to look at things and my life, by making new amends in the old ways, making every challenge worth the effort, and the outcomes even better…
A person who was a great teacher according to me, Was my history teacher from high school, her classes were awaited by each student of the class, as the way she taught, breaking each and every point, each and every paragraph into easily understandable ones, Involving discussions, two and fro questionnaires, going on trips once every two months exploring the surroundings, studying the architecture, and talking about which era it belonged to, and discussing things about the monuments the time period they survived, the types of renovation it underwent, and the material that was used and how it deteriorates at the climate affects it…
Also, she was and older teacher, meaning all of this was gained over the years, all of which was imparted to us within a span of two years, a very limited time, but, the way she condensed all of her life’s learning in these two years for us, she made our life, Our history lessons, each of them one of the best things that we ever learned in our lives…
A Great teacher is never forgotten, no matter how old the student gets, the efforts made always live on forever…
Here’s to all of the teachers, Sacrificing themselves for the future of those who come to you, to learn, and be a better version of themselves, by taking an essence of it from you…
Let me take you on a journey to my schooling years and my first crush…
A hot summer day, A new admission she was, A little while later, She entered our class,
She didn't just enter in the class, it was my heart that she came into...
A hot summer day it was...
Fixed seating for girls it was, As she sat in the middle row, right next to mine, greeting everyone around, and asking their names, all of them replied with theirs, as she turned around facing me..
It was magical, she shined, her face glistening, with little specks of sweat, above her lips, and her cheeks, which she cleaned with a handkerchief regularly...
Those eyes, it felt like I took a fall while sitting in that seat, her eyes, bowl of honey, and in sunlight they turned amber...
A hot summer day it was...
As I spoke my name, and she repeated it, within a fraction of a second, something that I carried for my entire life, My name, which wasn't appealing, sounded mesmerizing from her mouth...
As the Roll call began, On answering mine, I just waited, looking at her, shyly, not to disturb her, or creep her out, But, to make her feel at ease....
A hot summer day it was...
As the lectures began, and she keenly listened to all that was being said, penning down occasionally, what she thought was important, into her notebook, on seeing from afar, she wrote in cursive, and that too fast, Impressed beyond the skill, I began, penning down that the teacher said, but, my mind went blank until I looked at her, how she wrote, so beautifully she wrote...
A hot, hot summer day it was...
After a few periods passed, and it was the time for lunch break, all of the friends that I had, came to my desk as we opened up the tiffin, that we brought, staring at the group she asked her bench mate, "What happened...?"
And she just told her to get up, And move to that seat, as everyone opened their lunches, our usual routine, a face popped within the crowd, it was "H", Her bench mate and a good friend of mine, she asked me what did I bring for lunch today...?
Before she could say anything, she pushed in and took a bite out of my lunch, She told me it was delicious, As she slyly picked up my lunch and took it without anyone noticing but me, she took a spoonful and shoved it in her mouth, telling her, how does it taste...? Tell me isn't Waakiye's mom the best cook in the world isn't it...?
As she chewed it slowly, savoring each bite, as the flavors mixed in her mouth and gulped it down, her eyes sparked, it was a common dish that was prepared in every household, but, there was something different about this one, as she took another bite, and then gave it back to me, as I raised my hand to take it from her,
Our hands touched briefly, enough to as she was handing me the box, a soft and delicate touch, as she pulled me closer and told me, they are absolutely delicious...
A hot, hot summer day it was...
As she opened her lunchbox, it was just plain jam sandwiches, as she began eating them in peace while sitting in her seat, I got up and walked towards her, Man, I never get sandwiches when I ask my mom, Can I get a bite, as she handed me a diamond shape that was precut, before making the sandwiches, as I took a bite and told her, it was amazing, as she looked up in hope, Thinking, how can something this simple be, delicious...? As she looked at my face, as I enjoyed each and every bite of it...!
You can have lunch with us, we all share and have what we like from other's tiffin, as she got up and thanked me, as I made space for her, and she began eating with us, from that day on...
A hot, hot summer day it was, And I found someone, who looked like an Angel in a human form...
As she sat in her seat, And thanked me for the lunch and the invitation into the group...
OH, on seventh heaven I was, As I spent the whole day, adoring her, watching her quirks, as she smiled when our eyes locked...
A hot, hot summer day it was, all the while I felt a winter breeze as she looked at me, The best, one of the best days it was...
Theres a reason I don’t go without a face mask outside my house, I might not be popular in any way but I have a lot of people that recognize me from way back, and to be honest being disregarded for being myself for the last two years, I chose to cut everyone but two, they’re my brothers and i shall till the end of time be available for them because they were too…
This is something that happened 8 years back and i still remember it crystal clear as it happened just yesterday…
There was a program that was supposed to take place in our high school and being one of those who was supposed to be a part of the management (student board), it was mine and this one girl’s duty to manage the smooth flow of the entire program without any complications;
Tbh I have been the type of person who loves to work alone, that way I can control all the variables and get the work done faster than having to spend time discussing and waiting for a half-baked response that would have no base or wouldn’t even have any concrete base…
Thats the type of person i was back then still am…
It was the schedule of this program we were told four weeks in advance that it was supposed to take place, and we were to work however we could within the school provided budget, so there were these 3 weekends that were in between the date we were told it was supposed to take place thinking we had enough time i took it to myself to budget, thinking of equipment that we’d require and had to acquire and all the technical things…
During our lunch break a girl from the board visited me being from the other stream, on enquiring about what was needed she told me to come to the cafeteria area during the last period if it was free, coincidentally it was free as the teacher that we had was on leave during that time;
On finding her waiting, the cute face, cat eyed glasses, grey and white school dress, and simplistic watch on her left hand in which she held an apple which she was gnawing on every other minute;
Being the socially awkward person I was back then, I just came up to her and put my bag down in front of her, we exchanged greetings and i asked “if the was something that she needed from the cafeteria?”
On hearing my offer,she thought to herself a bottle of apple ocean would be nice…! I said okay and got up and went to the stall that had what we needed…
As i returned with two coffees and a bottle of electrolyte water, she was surprised of sorts, no-one brought her things she said on a whim, but she did thank me for it…
As we began discussing the plan, how and what we would need for the smooth flow of the plan, before any other thing could leave her mouth, I handed her the document requiring all of the stuff needed, all the people that we needed to contact and along with it their contact details, and minimum budget required for all of the things and with them the alternatives if the one mentioned weren’t available;
Reading the document of 10 pages and in awe of me she asked “if i knew this was supposed to take place weeks before because all of us were told yesterday only…?
Yeah i told her slyly as i already knew something like this was supposed to happen around this time watching it from last 3 years and all of our seniors butchered it ruthlessly…
So I prepared it weeks before and finalized it yesterday, … There was silence for a few minutes as she scanned the document, and in awe she looked at me the moments after as I had cracked open my cold coffee and began sipping it;
How…? How do you already have things ready on which we have to spend the next week and a half…? We have all that we want and need, for the entirety of the plan, all that remains is going to the places, negotiating and buying the things that are needed, which could be done over this weekend…!!!
How did you manage all of this that too all on your own…?
That’s how it has been from the past 1.5 years, I’ve given my very best and you know how smooth the fest has taken place the last year too…
Before coming to you, I submitted a copy to the president of the student board and the teacher in charge too…
Is there something else that you needed…?
NO, I mean yeah, I thought we’d spent time jotting down things needed and spend actual time buying and arranging all of the items and such…
That is something that can be left on the teachers and upper management, the final negotiation and things are to be approved by them only..!
I pushed the other coffee that I bought towards her and as she opened it her face sulking as she took a sip out of it…
Having zero clue what has happened and what was supposed to happen, as the last bell rang, marking the day to be over…
I started to pack my things, As I told her, “there’s an afternoon class that I am supposed to take, and if i didn’t leave within 10 minutes I’d be late to that…”
Having no clue what has happened, she also packed her bag and started to stand up and walk towards the gate with me…
And on reaching outside the gate, my path went to the left and Her’s to the right,
In a low voice she hummed, “If you wouldn’t have done all of that we could spend the weekend discussing and planning all of it over the weekend at each other’s place or some cafe…”
HUH?, I asked, is there something that you’d like to add or remove from the list, maybe we can discuss it over call or something…?
Her mind running haywire that her plans were spoiled, She ignored my last line.. (My mind thinking she was trying to leech off my work just by being seen with me working on something…)
As we parted ways, She began walking down her and I went down mine, She met one of her friends and I met one of mine, Looking back at each other our eyes met…
NEVER TO MEET AGAIN..
(How stupid it was of me…)
Cheers🥂 (To the fool I was back then…)
………….
“Ever had a moment like this , when you realized something too late? Drop a comment, I’d love to hear your version of what could’ve been.“
Love Waakiye
This is exactly how I walked my way back home that day and whenever I remember how much I fumbled back then….
Waakiye 