‘I’m Madhav,’ I said.
‘All the best, Madhav,’ he said.
- Private classes seemed much better at Patna’s Pride. I explained my
situation to Verma sir.
'I see,’ he said. He stroked his chin stubble. ‘Not only do you have
to learn correct English, you have to also learn to deliver a public
speech,"
‘Exactly, sir. I am so nervous.’
"But you do know some English. You graduated English-medium,
right?’
I wanted to tell him I didn’t just graduate English-medium,
graduated from a place where even the grass grows in English.
I switched to Hindi to explain myself. ‘Sir, I can put a sentence
together in English. But all my effort goes into remembering the right
words. I can’t think of what I’m saying.’
'I understand.' Verma sir said. ‘When you don’t know the language
well, you are self-conscious. It shows in your confidence level. It
affects your personality. Not good for job interviews.’
‘Sir, this isn’t just a job interview. This is about the future of my
school and the students who study there.’
I showed Verma sir the book I had brought from the railway
station.
He shook his head. ‘No, not this.You don’t learn how to become a
confident English speaker from books found at a railway station. Else
the whole country would be by now.'
‘Please help me, sir,’ I said.
Verma sir became silent.
‘Why are you quiet?’ I asked, worried his silence meant I was a
hopeless case.
‘Well,’ he said. ‘I’m wondering how to go about this.’
‘Should I quit?’ I said.
He shrugged. My heart sank.