The last bell rang, but some students lingered on as their bus had encountered a problem. Some of them headed to the play area.
“Will Mrs. Vyas be our class teacher?” asked one of the girls.
“I really want her to be. But, if there was a voting system, I bet Sonu would be the last to vote for her!” said another as everyone broke into a loud laughter.
Sonu was embarrassed. Some students still mocked her for what had happened the previous year. The girls who were talking moved off and Sonu was left with some of the new students.
“What is the story by the way? I mean we know everyone likes Mrs. Vyas,” said one of them.
“You are right. Everyone likes her,” said Sonu.
Flashback
Last year, Sonu had been excited when her mother, Mrs. Vyas, was to join her school as a teacher. She boasted to her classmates about her mother handling few subjects for them.
Mrs. Vyas was friendly, though firm and soon she was loved and respected by both the students and staff alike. But Sonu was not happy.
She was surprised when her doting mother transformed into a strict disciplinarian as a teacher. She had expected her mother to treat her in a special way at school. Mrs. Vyas believed in treating all students the same way.
But Sonu failed to realise this and was confident of getting away. Alas! One day, her mother reprimanded her in front of everyone for an incomplete assignment. Sonu ended up standing till the class was over and she seethed with anger when some students laughed at her.
On reaching home, Mrs. Vyas noticed that her daughter seemed upset and failed to see the reason. The next few days, Sonu didn’t talk to her mother.
Mrs. Vyas felt that it was time Sonu looked at things from the right perspective. One day, returning from school her mother said, “I am sorry dear. I should not have scolded you the other day. Please forgive me.”
Sonu was surprised, but at the same time happy that her mother had finally changed her mind. A few days later, the results for the monthly test were being announced. Though Sonu had not fared well, her mother pulled up only the other children who had not performed well in the test.
In the wake of fast approaching exams, Mrs. Vyas charted out a strict schedule for the under performing students, except her daughter. Sonu noticed that all the students improved gradually due to the extra efforts taken by their teacher. On the other hand, she lagged behind because of her mother’s leniency.
Sonu finally realised her mistake and apologised to her mother. Mrs. Vyas explained that as a teacher, she needed to be strict for the benefit of the students. Also, all students were the same for a teacher. Sonu decided not to demand any special attention from her mother any more. But sadly, she was still laughed at for her silliness.
“Well we strongly believe that Mrs. Vyas would be our new class teacher and dear Sonu would go on to be her best student this year!” said one of her friends, after the story was over.
Sonu smiled warmly. As her friends said, she certainly wanted to be the best student in her mother’s class.
