After having written posts on some heavy/serious aspects of life over the last few weeks, I thought it was time for me to write something on a lighter / humorous aspect of life. I am sure everyone has many such incidents to recall, particularly from our school life including punishments meted out to us.
I recall once such incident where I was punished by a teacher whose name was John Sir; and it was for a crime I did not even commit π.
I was in my 6th standard / grade.
I cannot recall at this time the βweaponβ used, but I think it was a chalk which someone threw at the blackboard when John Sir turned around to face the board.
The chalk came from somewhere behind me and as it flew past me towards the front, John Sir turned around and thought I did it. I was immediately summoned to the front and even before I could say anything, he slapped me so hard (yes in those days it was quite normal) that I still remember the pain in my right ear; it extremely hurt π₯.
Thereafter he tied the duster on my head. In those days, the duster in our school used to be the βpocha (mop)β which many folks use at homes for cleaning the floor. He then asked me to stand near the door facing the class. I do not know what was more hurtful, the pain in the ear or the humiliation of having a duster tied to the head and facing the classroom.
Hoping for that class to get over at the earliest, I never had an inkling of what will follow, it was even worse. With me standing there facing the classroom with the pocha on my head π and John Sir continuing to teach, someone from the other classroom walked in stating that another teacher (Bharati) had carried out some biology experiment and wanted the children from our class to also go and check the specimen out, as she had previously not done it for our class, and probably did not want to repeat it.
As it had to be seen under the microscope, only one person could go at a time. So, John Sir asked the children to go one at a time to the next classroom to see the specimen, starting with the first row, first bench to the last. As every person walked pass the door, they first looked at me, I think this (me) specimen with the duster tied to the head was far more interesting, certainly more amusing, than the specimen under the microscope π.
By that time, I honestly did not know whether to laugh or cry, I definitely was closer to tears than bursting out in laughter. And when all the students had gone and seen the specimen, I was hoping, I guess against all hope π that John Sir will not ask me to go and see it. But I suppose that was just not my day as I now honestly believe that my karmic account, with him and the unidentified person who actually threw the chalk, was not over π.
So he asked me to walk across to the next classroom to see the specimen and the 11/12 year old child in me was probably begging that he will ask me to remove the duster before I go, but the throat was so choked that no words came out of me, and even before my internal unspoken plea could come out, he asked me go with the duster still tied to my head π.
As I walked into the next classroom, the entire class and Bharati teacher looked at me and my pocha garlanded head. I think everyone was just stunned to react and I recall it took many seconds for Bharati teacher to even say anything. Those few seconds with everyone looking at me were like an eternity π. Bharati teacher asked me the reason behind my headgear π and with a completely choked throat, I mustered up some words to explain what had happened including my plead of being not guilty π.
She asked me to see the specimen and I recall that as I was doing that, she told the class that I am not someone who is mischievous. Those words of consolation were like Ganga Jal (pure water from river Ganges i.e. Divine Nectar) in the mouth of a dying person π.
I saw the specimen and walked back into my classroom and as I walked in, the entire class looked expectantly at me wondering if I had survived and if the pocha was still on my head π. I continued to stand facing the class until it was over. I will and can never forget this π.
But I always liked John Sir. He was a good teacher and a nice person and a good human being. I guess it was just not my day! π. I hope you found the incident and the story amusing and believe me it is true. π I have even more of an amusing incident from my college life which I will share over the next few weeks π.
By recalling and sharing such and other incidents of failure or humiliation in our lives, helps us in βlightenβ our soul. We are hesitant to share such incidents, often thinking about how the same will be perceived. But by being βvulnerableβ we can experience all of lifeβs offerings to the fullest, thus helping us build more love and compassion in order to become even better human beings.
Thank you and God bless you. π