Nita was finding Maths difficult. No matter how hard she tried her marks were not good. She knew she had to do something about it. But, what could she do? Extra coaching would cost money, and that she didn’t have!
When she received her report card, she cried. her friend Praveen said, "I am taking tuition from Miss Rosa. She is an excellent teacher."
Nita’s father tossed aside her progress report card. He was very angry.
“How are you going to pass in your public exam with 12 marks in Maths?,” he asked.
Her father was a clerk and Nita had six siblings. Money was short and it was difficult to make ends meet. Nita knew that suggesting tuition would be useless. She had scored the highest in all the other subjects, Maths was her bugbear.
Give me a chance
When she had received the report card, she had cried. Her friend Praveen said, “I am taking tuition from Miss Rosa. She is an excellent teacher. Join her tuition class, you are sure to do well!”
The next morning Nita stood in front of Miss Rosa’s house. Her shabby clothes and bony figure gave her the appearance of a beggar.
Miss Rosa frowned, “Yes?”
Nita showed her report card and said, “I am very in weak in Maths, Miss.” “I am sorry. My hands are full. The tuition class is full. There is not even a chair for you to sit.”
“I don’t have any money to pay your fees. I am very poor. Please Miss, help me.”
Miss Rosa’s expression changed and her eyes filled with kindness.
“Can you sit on the floor? I don’t have a chair for you to sit on.”
“Yes Miss,” said Nita enthusiastically.
So Nita started attending tuition class. The rich children looked down at her because of her shabby clothes and untidy appearance. But Nita was not bothered. Her attention was on the teacher and what she taught. When class was over, it was always in a mess. So Nita began to tidy up the classroom and making sure the chairs were arranged neatly. She felt she had to do something to repay her teacher.
In the half-yearly exams Nita got 60 per cent. Miss Rosa made her work harder.
Finally, the public exams came and went. When the marks were out, Nita ran to school to find out. She could not believe her eyes. She had come first in her school! She went immediately to Miss Rosa’s house. Miss Rosa’s mother opened the door and when Nita told her she was happy. “Very good,” she said. “I know you want to show this to Rosa but she got married and is now in the U.S. I will let her know.”
Tears filled Nita’s eyes. She remembered her beautiful teacher’s face with gratitude. To Rosa, Nita was one among many students. But for Nita, Rosa was the one who helped her to a bright future.
