I was in grade 11 like any other teenager. All my school life I was used to spoon feeding in Galaxy. For me it was hard transitioning from school to high school. It seemed to me that all my friends were more interested in everything else but studies. Bikes, girls you name it. But in my books, studies still carried high priority. So finally I had to take tuition. I really needed help in math more than any subject.
Ravi Sir, was known for his no nonsense attitude towards student. Some would call him names such as “Hitler” and “Dictator”. He had excellent record and all his students always did better under his tutelage. They were three teacher assigned to us for the same subject. It was not that the other two teachers were bad. It was more about them being more liberal with the students that lead to poor grades.
So, I joined with two of other classmates in his tuition class. Although Ravi Sir commanded good respect from everyone, but his apartment was modest to say the best. He used to teach us in his living room. The best thing about his tuition was he gave personal attention to each student and really made sure each student did his work.
So it was always monotonous routine that after we went to high school we would gather outside his apartment. At 5 30, he would start his session and at 7 we would leave his humble dwelling. What his room lacked in furniture made up by his books, certificate and his trophies. Although he never talked about his scholar achievement, I knew he was proud of it.
Over time we started noticing his wife Radhika. Most of the time, she would be inside the bedroom or in the kitchen. She would hardly venture into the living room except for cup of tea that would break his relentless marathon class. Her only other existence in the room was in a photo frame, in her wedding picture, dressed in red, adorned with heavy gold jewelry all around her body.
While Ravi Sir, looked like some sort of iteration of Albert Einstein, Radhika was like an angel descended straight from heaven. Her dark skin, voluptuous body and radiant smile could melt anyone, or may be almost anyone. Unfortunately, we never got chance to talk with her. He did not even bother to introduce us to his wife. The only conversation, we heard between them was request for chai. “Radha, Chai”. That’s all we would hear between them.
So, it was Pre sent up exam time. We would have normal class, but my two other classmates decided they were better off spending final hours in preparation than taking the class.
So at 5 30, I was outside the apartment. But today Ravi Sir was not in his apartment. Radhika apologized that Ravi Sir will be late for about an hour and told me to make myself comfortable in the living room. I was just about to open my book and she started a casual conversation. I noticed Nepali was not her language of choice but she managed it any way with little bit of accent, similar to Hindi.
“What is your name?”
“Mohit”
“Full name?”
“Mohit Rana. And yours?”
“Call me Radha.”
“Radha Maam.”
As soon as I said Maam, I could she her facial expression change.
“Please, don’t call me Maam. Am I that old?”
“No. I did not mean that. Okie, Radha “
“Good, you can call me that.”
“How old are you?”
“Guess?”
“16”
“No, 17”
I always imagined how she would talk. Her voice was sexier than any other woman I had heard. Maybe it was her accent.-
“Do you want any Tea?”
“No. I am good.”
“Are you sure? ”
I just could not resist the offer. And said “Okie, I will try.” Honestly, I don’t know what she put into that tea but it was spicy.
“Mohit, do you have girl friend?” I almost coughed up the tea with shock. I didn’t know how to answer that.
“Are you okie?” She smiled at me. I felt as if she was teasing me.
“No, I don’t have any.”
“Really? Don’t lie.”
“I am really young.”
“But, you are not young as you think.”
Now it took me some time for me to comprehend that statement.
“Opps, Sorry. Hope I was not too personal there.”
“Please. It’s Okie. ”
“ So will you consider me friend?”
“ Sure why not?”
I was quick to answer that. Then again I came to realize where I was.
“But, Sir.”
“ Oh, don’t you worry. It is just between us.” She smiled again.
That really got me excited.
I felt she was really frank and opening up to me.
“So do you have any crush?”
I really blushed. “Ya”
“Tell me about it?”
“I don’t want to tell her name.”
“Okie. So what do you like about her?”
“Ahm…I don’t know.”
She smiled again. And every time she smiled, for some reason it would brighten me.
“ Maybe you don’t want to tell me.”
“ No, it’s not like that.”
“So what are you going to do”
“Do what?”
“Nothing.”
Finally a moment of silence.
“Do you want a girl friend?”
“Yes”
“Okie, I think I am spoiling you. Haha. I will be right back.”
And she went into her room.
Believe me, up to this point in life probably this was the most exciting conversation I ever had.
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