Eleven
Goa, wow! Someone has a good life,' Vidya said with a pin in her mouth. She
stood on a stool in her room, fixing a poster of Aamir Khan in Dil Chahta Hai on
the wall. I, her tutor, held the pin tray. So much for my position of authority.
'Goa is your brother's idea. I really don't need this break from work,' I said.
'Of course, you do,' she said as she stepped down. 'It will help you get over the
earthquake.'
'What will help me get over the earthquake is work, and the money I make to
pay back those loans. This trip is costing us three thousand bucks.' I came back
to her desk.
She took her seat, opened her book and slapped each page as she turned it
over.
'Can you act more interested?'
'I am not a good actor,' she said.
"Very funny. So did you do the calculus chapter in your so-called self-study
mode.'
'I did self-study as you did not have time for me,' she said.
'Anyway, I don't understand it. As usual, I suck. What is all this "dx dt", and
why are they so many scary symbols?'
'Vidya, you are appearing for medical entrance. Don't talk like...,' I stopped
mid-sentence. I opened the calculus chapter. Some spoilt brats have to be
spoonfed even the basics.
'Don't talk like what?'
'Like a duffer. Now pay attention.'
'I am not a duffer. Just go to Goa, manage your business, make money, insult
people who don't salivate for maths and don't make any time for friends. I can
manage fine.'
The last word 'fine' had the loudest volume.
'Excuse me. Is there a problem?' I said after a pause.
'Yes, calculus problems. Can we please start?'
I explained calculus to her for an hour. 'Try the exercises in the end. And read
the next chapter by the time I come back,' I said as I finished class.
She kept quiet.
'Vidya, why is it that sometimes making you talk is like extracting teeth.'
I am like this only, you have a problem? Only you have the right to ignore
people?' she threw back. Her eyes turned moist and her long fingers trembled.
Before moisture turned to rain, I had to exit.
'I'll be back in four days,' I said as I headed to the door. 'Who cares?' she said
from behind me.
'Eat on time and don't stay up late,' said Ali's dad as the train signal went off.
Ali was too excited to care for his dad's instructions. He reserved the top berth
for himself and climbed up. Omi said his pre-journey prayers.
'Ali's ammi doesn't care. He is a piece of my heart,' Ali's dad said and his eyes
became moist. 'Sometimes I wish I had not married again.'