I hated my Hindi teacher

There is nothing as complex as human memory. It is capable of recording everything which ever happened in your life but you really cant call out everything of it at will. You remember all the regular stuff, also some special moments which mean a lot. But there are some memories which mean a lot to us in hindsight, which is probably the reason we cannot remember them at will. They flash across our mind only when we realize their importance.

These days at office are really crazy, too much work, everything seems to be haywire at times, priorities change, miscommunication occurs; simply too much chaos. Amidst all this, I was having a light conversation with my colleagues Sandeep and Ajeet. Ajeet was telling us how he beat some crooks that week, with punches and dabs and round house kicks and all. Ajeet, by the way, has been a boxer, karate player, basically a strong lad we knew of. What we did not know was that he was so lethal! I was really scared to listen how he beat the crap out of those crooks, while enjoying a good laugh. Ajeet mentioned he was kind of a bully when a kid, used to beat other kids until he met this one professor in his H.S.C. year. He claimed he could improve only because of this professor, who really changed him. Sandeep also added, saying he also had this one professor who kind of changed his life. I said, there's always this one professor in your life who has an unforgettable impact on you. That was when visuals of my Hindi teacher lit up in my mind.

My academic performance in school have always been very good, always among top 5 in class. I have taken a beating from my dad at times only because I scored a first class and not distinction! I was in my teens now and had started to take things lightly, the usual metamorphosis which occurs during this phase of life. I tend to be overconfident at times, even now, and back then it was more prominent. I was in 9th standard and started to feel I can score first class in tests very easily. I would ignore all language subjects citing to myself not to waste time studying such easy stuff. Unit tests commenced and it was Hindi paper the next day. I did not touch the textbook until the day of exam, scanning through the chapters and poems 15 mins before exam bell rang. I wrote god knows what, and not even once did it run across my mind that I should have studied a bit.

Tiwari sir, serving his last term at our school, was the one to check my division's answer sheets. 3 days post exam, he comes to our class with bundles of answer sheets in his hand. He asked our class monitor to distribute the papers. I got mine, and was dumbfound to look at my marks - 15 out of 50, FAIL! I gathered myself and recounted all marks, which added to 15. I checked through the answers and thought I should have given a few marks more for some. My friends came to know about my marks and were equally shocked. I could not take it any more, so I approached sir asking for a revaluation. He glanced through the paper but did not increase my marks anywhere. I requested him, citing that it's the first time something like this has happened with me so it must be a mistake. He was cold about my pleadings. He ignored me and I had nothing left to do than coming back to my seat and cry. Taking pity at me, some of my girl friends (I remember Shraddha, Linanjali doing this) approached him requesting to increase  marks and pass me. He simply refused!

So I had failed for the first time. I got the worst whack of my life from my dad. He beat me like crazy a day before my birthday, did not make me go to school on my birthday (I tried to be smart; I got my paper on 14th Aug, I decided to tell my parents on my birthday on 17th Aug so I may get away with less beating but (un)fortunately my dad came across it on 16th night and he figured out my plan which made him even more angry!).

That was it, Tiwari sir was my enemy now. I took it all very personally, cursed him a lot. I hated him to the core, could not stand him at all. I disrespected him (Don't ask how). And he was there, totally unaware of all this, preparing for his post retirement time. Since that incident, my parents started taking keen interest in my studies. My mom thought I had a difficulty in languages so she helped me with Hindi and Marathi. Rakhi, my cousin who was also my tuition teacher, was more focused on my studies now. My studies and progress was constantly monitored and eventually I started taking my studies seriously. Later on no one had to look after my studies, I did it all by myself. The rest lies in my academic records - 83% in S.S.C., 3rd in school and 2nd in Hindi, 75% in H.S.C. with 92 in Chemistry, 77% in T.Y.BSc Information Technology, 1st in college and 196/200 in University project and 72% in MBA Operations. 

Could all this have been possible if Tiwari sir had been lineant back then? Probably yes. But that jolt was required back then. You may take 20 hard blows to break a rock but does that mean the first one was not important? For him it was easy to raise my marks and pass me. I never knew of anyone trying to persuade a professor to pass someone else. Still, he was adamant not to pass me, and rightly so! Perhaps he must have sensed what was necessary for me at that time and he did it. It was a tough decision for him as well, but he did it because it was right. And he has certainly helped one of his students progress in life.

Shraddha always told me Tiwari sir was a nice person and I must say I agree with her now, thanks to this happy realization. Thank you Tiwari sir. I wish you had a wonderful life so far and continue to do so. I am glad I could realize the significance of your action in my lifetime. God bless you sir.

Boss is always right!

There goes the cliche yet again. Unlike some cliches, this one certainly holds true most of the times. And it is not just the apt action or words chosen by the Boss which matter here. The authority which a Boss holds is key to this argument. I have always believed in this right from my degree college days but this incident which happened recently made my belief firm as a rock. 

My sis celebrated her 21st birthday this year on 19th Jan. My dad suggested we gift her a laptop, and he insisted we gift her one on the day of her birthday. The problem was timing of this wonderful idea; it struck him on 16th Jan! At such short notice we had to rely on Known Devil. So I called up Just Dial to find out Vijay Sales stores in and around Vashi. I fetched contact number of their store in Palm Beach Galleria mall and called up to enquire about Dell Inspiron 14R. I spoke to Vedprakash, who is the Head of Laptop department at this store. He answered all my queries related to laptop configuration, price, availability, available colors and payment mode. Now I just had to drop in there and make my purchase. We all visited the store on 19th only to find Vedprakash on leave for that day. We went ahead with the purchase but were not happy with one of the accessories. This laptop has changeable lids, and Sayali did not find the available lids any classy. We asked the sales guy attending us if we can change the lid later to which he said he will need to talk to his senior, who was absent for the day. Anyways, we took the available lid back home but another trip to this store was due.

We went home only to find out that the laptop charger was not working. Apparently it was compatible with some other model. I needed to go back to the store the next day for this issue (This is why I call them Known Devil. I distinctly remember replacing my iPod touch as the one which I got first was not working!). Also, a fair copy of receipt was yet to be received. I went to the store again, and this time I met Vedprakash. I discussed the problem with him and he realized what might have happened. He replaced the charger and suggested to charge the laptop for a while. He then went away and I could not see him for the next 15-20 mins; apparently he was not in the store nor the office. The other sales guys were gosipping a few things and I had no choice but to hear them as they were in the vicinity of my laptop being charged. I interrupted their gossip to ask if I could get a different bagpack, to which that guy suggested to talk to his senior. Few minutes later I interrupted again, this time about replacing lid. The sales guy said my laptop model was provided only with the lid which I already had and so it cant be replaced. I was not so happy knowing this but I could not do anything about it. I was now patiently waiting for my laptop to be charged when I heard about the latest gossip topic related to Vedprakash. Those guys junior to him were cribbing about him, questioning his position, claiming that he takes long breaks which go unnoticed because of his position, and how all this is unfair and he does not deserve it!

I did not listen to all of it as I was getting late for office. The charger was working fine now but Vedprakash was not there yet, so I asked those sales guys to try and call him. He was not reachable so I packed up and left. I just came out of the store and there he was approaching me. He enquired if my laptop is now working fine. I nodded and asked him about replacing the lid. He assured me not to worry about it and noted by contact number; he said he will inform me once a fresh lot of lids are in stock. I had to visit the store again after a few days, to collect my copy of receipt. This time I forgot the copy to be shown at the bill counter but here again Vedprakash bailed me out. He traced the transaction after I told him the date of purchase and made sure I receive the receipt. Fresh stock of lids was still not available yet he assured me that he would inform about it once it arrives.

As a Boss, Vedprakash had the command to let me know what is possible and what is not. He had the authority to help me out, the knowledge to resolve my queries right from the time we interacted. Apparently he takes extended breaks and is a little bossy with his juniors, so what? He is still the best person of that Vijay Sales store when it comes to satisfying customers looking for laptops. Part of this authority is ego, no doubt. But most of it is 'been there, done that'. Boss has this power and very understandably he likes to exercise it, take advantage of it. Yet, he is still the best person to bail you out, mentor you, assign tasks and get work done. He may take credit for your work at times, because he might have faced the same when he was you. He needs a little bit of ego massage in a while, and nothing wrong about that. Shift in perspective about your boss and his actions is what you ought to seek. Make it simple, put your feet in your Boss's shoes and you'll know, that the Boss is always right!