The door of the D division of the class of 3rd standard swung open, as the bell rang signalling the start of the period. Fresh gust of air with a hint of cologne sneaked inside along with him. He was short and stout, rather unimpressive. His eyes, however had a hint of viridity that was in contrast with his grey mop. His smile spread across the jawline with jauntiness plastered on his face.

“Good morning Yonkers!” he greeted the class with verve. It was however met with a dullness in equal measures and it reflected in our hardly audible, greeting in response.

He however was not at all affected by the damp response. “As you already be knowing that I am your new class teacher. And I will be helping you tackle the monster Mathematics with some tips and tricks, as old as my grays”, he continued animatedly.

Soon his cheerful mannerism rubbed off to everyone in the class, except me. For I dreaded the “introduce-and-know-me-parade” that would follow.

“I am much eager to know you. But not just your names. I wish to know how you see yourself. Introduce yourself to me with your name and one word that describes you. Let me give you a start. I am Cedric, the clubby”, he bowed in front of the class dramatically, taking his right leg behind the left and gesturing as if he was taking off his invisible hat. It got the whole class started. That was quite unlike a Maths teacher, I thought.

Pointing to each one of us, at random, he went about listening and absorbing everything that fell on his ears and met his eyes. Every time a boy or the girl was about to finish, I would look aimlessly in a random direction or sometimes towards the ceiling. I doubted several times that he had noticed me doing so. When I was about to turn my sight out of the class, past the sun-lit window, this time around, he caught my gaze. Pointing at me, he winked. “Caught you”, he said.

My heart thumping and my body trembling, I rose from my seat. I licked my parched lips and moved my hand nervously over my face, in spite of me not wanting it. I failed miserably to stop myself from cutting a sorry figure and was on the verge of entering into my dark shell. Before that could happen, he patted on my shoulders and sat next to me as the place was vacant. Rather it used to be so, always. Leaning on the desk, he smiled and made his eyebrows dance. It fetched a chuckle for me. For, he appeared none less than the naughty “Jerry” from you-know-what.

There was something magical in his eyes, that held a helping hand to my sinking spirit.

“I am Aaron, the alien”, wobbled the nasal words from my scar laden, heavily stitched lips, betraying my timidity, venting out my pent-up frustration. Cleft palate and lip made me look different, probably like someone from another world for every Tom, Dick and Harry in the town, barring few and my family and thus sending me forever into my own world of dark gloomy quarantine.

“You are amazing Aron”, he corrected me as the bell rang to signal the end of the period and beginning of the new.


Photo by Mag Pole on Unsplash

60 Comments

pythoroshan · April 1, 2020 at 8:02 am

This was nice – the setting, the prose, the protagonists mind and apprehensions… all works 🙂

    Anagha Yatin · April 1, 2020 at 8:19 am

    Thank you Dr Roshan for this encouraging remark. I am glad you liked it.

Ravish Mani · April 1, 2020 at 9:58 am

Lovely story, Anagha. A ray of hope in light mood. This is very much needed in this time of lockdown. 👍

    Anagha Yatin · April 1, 2020 at 10:44 am

    Thank you for visiting and appreciating Ravish. So glad to welcome you on my blog.

Balaka · April 1, 2020 at 10:02 am

This was such a nice story. You never disappoint dear. Bring in more. This story reminded me of the Julia Roberts movie Wonder.
https://trinalooksback.com/2020/04/01/anxiety-anger-and-alienation/

    Anagha Yatin · April 1, 2020 at 10:45 am

    Balaka… love you for your support. Always look forward to see you on my blog.
    Will hop on to yours in a while. Cant wait to read what you have!

      Balaka · April 1, 2020 at 10:55 am

      thanks dear. I have been off blogging for quite some time. Now am back and you will see me more often.

        Anagha Yatin · April 1, 2020 at 11:57 am

        Same at my end Balaka. Wishing you the best, out of my own selfish motive, so that we get to read quality stuff at your blog!

Vasundhara Bhide · April 1, 2020 at 10:33 am

Very well written.. Enjoyed reading it… I must say its like A for Amazing story!!

    Anagha Yatin · April 1, 2020 at 10:46 am

    Thank you Doc for this uplifting remark. So glad to know you liked it. Thanks for visiting.

Unishta · April 1, 2020 at 11:09 am

We had a girl with a cleft palate in class and I remember how shy she was. Children find it difficult to accept ‘different’. I know my grand daughter used to ask a friend who had leucoderma why her skin was patchy….

    Anagha Yatin · April 1, 2020 at 12:00 pm

    Even elders too find it difficult to adjust to or accept the difference. Very few can see the person behind the difference just like the Maths teacher in the story. Thanks Suita for visiting. Hopping to your post in a while. Can’t wait to find out what you have in store!

Shilpa Garg · April 1, 2020 at 11:34 am

You are Amazing, Anagha!! Loved the way you have woven the story… interesting and captivating!
And we need more Maths teachers like him 🙂

    Anagha Yatin · April 1, 2020 at 12:03 pm

    World Will be better place for special children with such teachers, isn’t it?
    Thanks Shilpa for visiting and for encouraging words. So glad to have you on my blog.

Suchita · April 1, 2020 at 11:55 am

Teachers can be such a blessing for a student in need. Lovely prose Anagha.

    Anagha Yatin · April 1, 2020 at 12:04 pm

    Blessing for the humanity I would say.
    Thanks Suchitra for visiting and appreciation.

matheikal · April 1, 2020 at 12:45 pm

For every alien, there comes a friend from somewhere. That’s true. Nice narrative.

Sonal Gawande · April 1, 2020 at 1:30 pm

Very beautifully addressed the topic of cleft lip…though it’s a fiction but I’m sure every child or person must have felt the same

Shubhra Rastogi · April 1, 2020 at 2:24 pm

Nice story … loved it and glad to read your stories after a long time 🙂

jazzfeathers · April 1, 2020 at 2:27 pm

That so moving.
Love it. and I love your style. It flew under my eyes.

@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter – Living the Twenties

Tasha · April 1, 2020 at 2:56 pm

What a great start to the AtoZ. Such an uplifting ending, made me tear up. Best of luck in the AtoZ.
Tasha 💖
Virginia’s Parlour – The Manor (Adult concepts – nothing explicit in posts)
Tasha’s Thinkings – Vampire Drabbles

Tasha · April 1, 2020 at 2:57 pm

What a great start to the AtoZ. Such an uplifting ending, made me tear up. Best of luck in the AtoZ.
Tasha 💖
Virginia’s Parlour – The Manor https://www.virginiawaytes.com (Adult concepts – nothing explicit on blog)
Tasha’s Thinkings – Vampire Drabbles https://tashasthinkings.blogspot.com/
P.S. Apologies if you get this twice – I’m not sure it went through the first time.

Sushma · April 1, 2020 at 5:29 pm

Very cute short story!! Keep on writing dear Anagha!! And take care .

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:14 pm

    Thanks Sushama for visiting and appreciating.

jaya1966 · April 1, 2020 at 5:32 pm

That is indeed a wonderful and touching story with an amazing ending.

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:15 pm

    Thanks Jay for visiting and appreciating.

Suhani Suri · April 1, 2020 at 6:18 pm

Teachers are a very important part of one’s life …..I would love to have such a teacher in the upcoming years as I just got promoted to class 8……. Great story

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:16 pm

    Absolutely agree Suhani. Without a teacher the knowledge is never complete.

Keith's Ramblings · April 1, 2020 at 7:51 pm

A delightful story with an unexpected yet heartwarming conclusion. Also your words flowed effortlessly making it refreshingly easy to read, something I often struggle to do with word-smiths who go for style over substance..

My A-Z tale!

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:41 pm

    Thank you for the kind, encouraging words Keith. Thanks for visiting.

Swarnali Nath · April 1, 2020 at 8:26 pm

I had goosebumps. Seems like I am going to have them everyday from now, I guess. Waiting for more stories.

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:41 pm

    You are most welcome Swarnali. Thanks for visiting

CRD · April 1, 2020 at 9:37 pm

Lovely story Anagha. In the beginning I thought it was horrible on the teacher’s part to try to get a shy person out of his shell so quickly, but then towards the end you made me realise it was a story about acceptance of someone who was physically different rather than tinkering with personality types.

Great start to the Chellenge!

My theme for this year’s Challenge is “Idiosyncrasies of a Covidiot”
http://scriptedinsanity.blogspot.com/

Cheers,
CRD

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:40 pm

    Thanks Christopher

Namratha Varadharajan · April 1, 2020 at 11:01 pm

Such a refreshing tale Anagha! Enjoyed the hearty tone:)

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:39 pm

    Thanks Namy.

alpanadeo · April 1, 2020 at 11:10 pm

Teachers have all the power to lift up their student’s spirits. Especially, a few shy students need such kind of inspiration .

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:39 pm

    I agree you completely, Alpana. The teacher is the most influential person in a child’s life. Thanks for visiting.

Anuradha Varma · April 1, 2020 at 11:13 pm

Honestly I was travelling with your thread of thought.. Amazing…The setting, the protagonist, the descriptions everything…the art structure very well captured and articulated.

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:37 pm

    Thank you so much Maam. These words are none less than an award for me! Thank you for visiting.

msjadeli · April 2, 2020 at 1:15 am

It shows how much one person can make a world of difference. The teacher is an “angel with skin.” I very much enjoyed reading your story today.

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:35 pm

    One kind person can make a difference in his or her surroundings, no matter how big or small. Thanks for visiting and I am glad that you liked the story.

      msjadeli · April 2, 2020 at 11:20 pm

      You are very welcome.

TheDreamGirlWrites · April 2, 2020 at 1:42 am

Wow, this was a very unique start to the challenge!
Reminds of the scenes from Taare Zameen Par
Happy Blogging 🙂
A is for Accomplice
https://thedreamgirlwrites.wordpress.com/2020/04/01/accomplice/

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:34 pm

    That movie was the one that made everyone to sit back and take into consideration differently-abled reality. I love that movie too. Thanks For visiting.

Ira Mishra · April 2, 2020 at 3:53 am

Lovely tale…. Very nicely written

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    Thanks Ira for visiting

Mayuri6 · April 2, 2020 at 7:52 am

Always a pleasure reading your posts, Anagha. Always a dose of positivity at the end of them. Welcome back!

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 11:23 am

    Mayuri… I was waiting for this dose of encouragement for whole day and I got it😍Thank you so much for visiting.

Gleefulblogger · April 2, 2020 at 12:11 pm

I have had a teacher like him in college who made boring accounts look so easy and fun. Lovely with you art once again Anagha.
Your posts are gripping and captivating.

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:30 pm

    Oh wow, good to know that Dipika. I am sure accounts then must have turned into your favorite subject.
    Thanks for visiting and appreciating.

Sharmila · April 2, 2020 at 12:16 pm

Very nice anagha .I really love to read .keep ur spirit always on.

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:29 pm

    Thanks Shammi for visiting and for encouraging.

Shilpa Nairy · April 2, 2020 at 12:43 pm

Amazing Anagha!! Such a wonderful character and story around it. I was completely into classroom and experience it! We need to teach kids to accept different and not left those as alien.

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:25 pm

    Acceptance is the value that needs to be imbibed in the children from a young age, as rightly mentioned by you. Thanks Shilpa for visiting and adding to the story.

Sophia Hasan · April 2, 2020 at 1:30 pm

Beautiful story..very well written.. Anagha you are an amazing writer ..your stories are always interesting 👍👍

    Anagha Yatin · April 2, 2020 at 2:23 pm

    Thanks Sophie for encouraging words and for visiting!

Shweta Suresh · April 3, 2020 at 8:15 pm

Oh! That’s such a beautiful story. Reminded me a bit about a movie called “Taare Zameen Par”.

Rajlakshmi · April 8, 2020 at 7:58 am

Have always admired how you set the scene. Vivid and real. Great writing.

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