 Teacher’s fate
by A.F. Dawood
He was a nattily clad, handsome
man of 32; he was a teacher of English Literature in a private school in
the metropolis; he was dedicated to his profession, strict in discipline
and punctual in attendance. Of the 30 members in the tutorial staff, he
was the only one that was outspoken and fought against grievances in the
school.
 He did not tolerate bossing around and interference in his work by
the management or the principal, and this attitude of his brought him
into conflict with the management of the school, especially the Managing
Director, a man in his late sixties. He had many a brush with the
Managing Director and so he was earmarked as the trouble-maker in the
school.
One day when he entered the school, the bell rang; he rushed to the
office to sign the attendance register. The MD was seated in the glass
cubicle from where he could see everything around. “Mr. Erick, you’re
late”.
“My bus was stopped by the police for checking”.
“It’s not my problem. I’m telling you’re late.”
It’s only five minutes, I’m always punctual.”
“Late is late, you must admit that.” The MD emphasised.
“I didn’t deny that. Did I?”
So you’re posing a question to me?” “I asked that question because
you’re making such a big fuss.” Erick retorted.
“Do you know to whom you’re speaking?”
“Yes, to the MD of the school.”
Now Mr. Erick Bello is in prison. He does not understand how he came
upon this fate to be in prison. He has just completed one week in prison
and this is the eighth day.
His mind sank in a whirlpool of thought. He was in the A/L class
teaching English Literature when the woman messenger said.
“Sir, the boss wants to see you”. “Go and tell him I’m teaching
students who are sitting the examination”.
The messenger took the message and came back .
“Sir, he told you to stop the class and come now”.
Tell I’ll come after the class is over. As soon as the class was over
Erick walked to the MD’s office.
The MD’s face portrayed anger and he talked to Erick in a belligerent
mood.
“I say, do you expect me to meet you in your class.” “I sent you a
message I’m coming at the end of the period”. Erick replied in a rough
tone.
“You must come when I want you, and not when you want.” “You’re
talking of this examination. In fact I called you to discuss your
examination result.
In the result released recently 15 students have failed and another
15 have got borderline passes in literature. This is the result you have
produced.”
“Do you say that’s a poor result? That’s the best result compared to
the other subjects.” “You needn’t talk about the other subjects. It’s
not your concern.” The MD shouted.
 “I must talk because you’re talking rubbish. Of the 90 students we
sent last time 60 students have obtained A, B and C passes. My result is
more than fifty percent”.
The MD was subdued by this explanation. He muttered in his breath.
“For your information, I must tell you this time in science 40% passed
while in maths 45% and in Sinhala 50% passed. And mine is the best
result 66% in English Literature.”
Eric replied arrogantly and was about to walk out when the MD stopped
him. He took a letter from his drawer and showed it to Erick. “This is a
letter written by you, this is your handwriting.”
“Yes, I wrote that.”
“So you come to school to write love letters?”
“It’s none of your business. It’s a matter between the girl and me.”
Erick grunted.
“I think you don’t know who she is.”
“I know. She is Neetha in the A/L Commerce class.”
“She is my niece. I won’t allow her to marry a man like you; you’re a
good for nothing.”
“You idiot, repeat that word.” Erick barked at the MD.
“I said you’re a good for nothing.” Erick lost his temper; the next
moment Erick’s both hands worked furiously on the MD’s face. The MD
collapsed. There was a commotion in the office; the staff and the others
gathered at the scene. Erick walked home.
He remembers the day when the police came in the night and tapped his
front door. Erick himself opened the door and saw a couple of police
officers standing; there was a police jeep parked outside the gate.
“You’re Mr. Erick Bello?” asked the Inspector. “Yes.” “You had a problem
with the MD of the school and you assaulted him.”
“Yes, under grave provocation.”
“Do you know what happened to him”. The Inspector questioned.
Erick did not know what had happened to the MD and so he remained
speechless; he stared at the inspector.
“Do you know what happened?” The inspector repeated the question.
“”I don’t know.” Erick mumbled out.
“He died this evening; so we’re taking you into custody.”
Erick was in his cell, ruminating his fate; he was engrossed in
thought, when he was shaken from his reverie by the jail guard’s voice.
He was right in front of his cell; he was aghast when he saw Erick.
He was Wilbert, the gate-keeper of the school where Erick had worked.
Erick stared at him in wonder. “Sir, why’re you here?, what happened?”
“I’m the cause of the boss’ death”. |
