W - DIARY PAGE - 22 OCTOBER 2002

DIARY PAGE - 22 OCTOBER 2002

The morning's light said in its own way that day has broken. I opened
my eyes and enjoyed the sweet cool breeze, the chirping of the birds
and of course the bright sunny day. Looking out I found dragon flies
and colourful butterflies wandering about in their own way, moving from
one flower to another. The colourful flowers swayed gently in the
breeze. Hustle-bustle of the day had not broken out as it was still
very early. I left my bed with prayers.

In the evening while I was totally engrossed in reading a very
important and interesting article, the telephone started ringing. After
a while I responded to the call. From the other end a female voice
said, "Can I speak to madam". Immediately I knew that it was for me. I
responded by saying, "Speaking". At this the lady said, "I'd like to
meet you as I have some work with you. I need your help".

I hesitated for a few second's and gave her the time to come and meet
me after an hour. The doorbell rang at the given time and there stood
in front of me a lady with a cute little girl before the open door. She
exchanged greetings and felt comfortable seated in my drawing room.
"Madam, could you give sometime to teach this daughter of mine", said
she pointing to the little girl. I did not say anything but smiled a
little for I did not teach 'tiny-tots'. I looked at the sweet little
girl with chubby cheeks and thought how I would feel in teaching a
first-time learner. Although I was physically present, my mind drifted
away to my yesteryears.

My father had been in the government service in a very high post.
During the early years of his job, India had been under the British
rule. It was during the pre-independence era that he married my
mother.

My Mom had done her schooling in a school where the medium of
instruction was Bengali, her mother tongue. She found it very difficult
to cope up in the parties, for there were Englishmen and English ladies
all around and she lacked the efficiency of conversing in
English.

She then spoke of the odd situation she fell into at such times. Dad
managed to get an Anglo-Indian lady teacher to teach her spoken
English. She was not at all comfortable after this also for she could
not pick up the language very fast. By now she could understand English
to a certain extent. This period lasted in her life only for a couple
of years for then came the days and India got her independence. Now Mom
was really happy that she could converse freely in the Indian languages
she knew.

A time came, her children started going to school. We were a sent to a
convent and thus English was our first language although we spoke in
our mother tongue at home and with friends and relatives. Even at
times, we brothers and sisters would talk among ourselves in English.
The best part was, we took the help of the English language and spoke
among ourselves whenever we did not want our Mom to know about our
mischievous plans. She did understand a few words but not the whole
thing and would get very irritated.

In our household we had a cook. He took fancy in our English speaking
and with our help he picked up many English words like _______ thank
you, going, coming, giving, bring it, take it, I go, you come and many
more words and broken sentences. He felt very excited when he could use
any of the English words he knew in his speaking.

One day my Sis suggested to mom that she should learn English. Mom felt
very happy and I and my Sis became her teacher. We took out our Prep.
Class text books and started with the alphabets. Within a few days she
was able to read words like ______ cat, man, bat, rat, cycle, ship,
flower, apples and many more. Soon she could read small sentences. By
now she could spell and read easy words.

Both I and my sister were happy to teach Mom because everyday she gave
us money for Cadbury's Milk Chocolate. We were the happy gainers, what
was her's - profit or loss - we don't know.

After some days she got fed up with her lessons and one fine day she
said, "I am ageing and learning English is not my cup of tea. No more
lessons from today". Abruptly her classes stopped and the regular quota
of Cadbury's Milk Chocolate also stopped coming to us. But Mom was
really generous and gave us money for our chocolates whenever we asked
for it.

Today, seeing this little girl coming to start her first lessons from
me I remembered my Mom who is there no more. I felt so sad. Looking at
the lady, I told her about my difficulties in teaching her daughter but
suggested my friend's name, who could help her out. She thanked me and
left.

I had a lovely day. Stayed up late and finished my writing. Checked my
mail box and replied to some of them.

Said my prayers and was off to bed.

11.25 p.m.