To Sir with love

The rays o the silvery moon poured in to the temple penetrating, through the bo-leaves, Nishanthi gazed at the moon, which was not full, while chanting a gatha. Then her eyes caught her mother offering flowers to the bo tree. Tomorrow is the big day. She is to sit for her final exam at the university. She was an Engineering student and she came with her mother to the temple because of tomorrow’s exam.

Her fingers started to shiver and it was hard for her to write. She looked at the student who sat next to her who was scribbling like nothing. Nishanthi panicked.Will she be able to get through? She came out of the exam hall with a sad face.

Months passed and the day came, on which the results were released. She has come down and has to repeat several subjects. She lingered near the noticeboard for a while going through the results of her friends and then started walking through the corridor. She did not have a clear destination in mind. She just walked. After sometime, she saw one of her lecturers, Mr Abdul approaching.

“Well, well, how have you fared?” He asked in a very kind manner. “Sorry, Sir, I have come down in your subject” she lamented. “That’s too bad to hear. Never mind. You try next time,” he answered. Soil Mechanics was his subject.

She laid aside the notes of the subjects she had passed. She has to start studying again. It was not an easy task – to read the notes she had already gone through. She thought of starting with Soil Mechanics. She studied for two days and the third day she found that she had not collected certain tutorials. She kept on thinking. What must she do now? “Mr. Abdul, yes, I must ask him and see.” Her face lightened.

She went to the university the next day and met Mr. Abdul. She related her problem and this is what he had to say. “You can collect them from the office. I’ll tell the guy there to issue you the tutes”. She was very happy and came home like a bird after collecting the tutes.

Months flew like nothing and it was nearing her exam. She had her admission form yet to be attested by a dignitary, in her hand. She was waiting outside a lecture hall waiting for the lecturer to descend the stairs after finishing the lecture. After a few minutes, the lecturer came out followed by a sea of students.

“Hello, Nishanthi what brings you here?” It was Mr. Abdul. She handed him the admission form. He signed it and looked keenly at her. “Anything else? Yes, what is it?” She wanted to get employed since she will be free after the exam.

”Sir, they ask for two non-related referees. Can I put your name as one?” “Sure, no problem” He replied. “Sir...” she paused “ Sir” then she hesitated. “Yes, what is it, Nishanthi?” came his kind voice.

”Sir I am a mentally imbalanced person. Is it still OK to put your name?” “Yes, of course. It is perfectly all right. Come have a seat. He offered the seat next to him “I want to talk to you”. She remained standing may be because it is not Sri Lankan culture to sit with a lecturer. “It’s alright, do sit down.” Came his kind words.

She sat next to him and started to relate her sad story. When she was studying for her A/L s for the first time her parents had high hopes of her passing out with four A’s. She was trying hard. One day in a tuition class the master started lecturing on how to manage time when studying.

He said that for each person there is a special time you fall fast asleep and it is good to find this time and go to bed while utilizing the rest of the time on studying.

She came home that day and was going through the weekly science periodical and came across an article on the “bio clock” she went through it half way and stopped reading after they have written how to find the exact time.

You have to stay awake for two days and two nights and write down the time you feel sleepy each night. She thought of trying this out. She kept awake for two nights and studied.

”Sir, the following morning, my parents have found me insane. From that day on words, I am on medication. Later when I was somewhat OK, I read the article in full. They had written for some people with weak minds after staying awake for two nights they might go insane.”

”I can’t believe this. You are quite normal. But you say you are a psychiatric patient I don’t understand”. “I am somewhat tamed by the medicine these days. But when the stress is high I go mad and shout at everyone. I had been hospitalized several times” tears were about to fall. He gazed into the emptiness and his eyes watered. “I’ll give you a piece of advice. When you go for interviews, do tell them about your condition and ask them not to give stressful work” he said.

Will anyone hire her? She thought as she stood inside a packed private coach. She applied for several advertisements that appeared in the newspapers. She got a reply from one. Her father chaperoned her to Colombo for the interview.

She had not decided whether to accept Mr. Abdul’s advice on not. She went in. It was a spacious room and she was asked to sit down. The interviewing panel consisted of two gentlemen and they started asking various questions. “Why have you got only four simple passes in you first attempt. You had fared very well in your second”. Mr. Abdul’s serene face appeared in front of her mind’s eye. She took the chance and told her plight. She was hired.

She was very happy. She gave a call to her master and he wished her luck. She kept on working there without much problem. At times, she became arrogant and talkative but her colleagues never found out her problem.

Years passed but Nishanthi never forgot to make a hand made card to wish Eid-Mubarak on Ramazan day to send to Sir, with love.

D Yamani Sisimala de Silva