Page 107 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

When three didn’t come to the office every day, I paced around, lost in contemplation. “Am I upsetting
them? Is something wrong with my administration?”
One day, I asked the caretaker to call them to the office. After one hour, they walked in and sat across
from each other.
“Sirs and miss, it has been brought to my notice that you all have been away from this office every day
this week, why is it so?” I glanced at Tengyel. “Sir, can you tell me why?”
He shot me a cynical smile. “Nothing.”
“Don’t resist the urge of your virtuous opinion, please. I am open to suggestions.”
Mr. Tengyel cleared his throat and cut to the chase. “Um, you shouldn’t have scolded that old man. He
is my grandpa’s friend.”
For a moment, I couldn’t reply. “Oh, I am sorry about that. I didn’t know he was your grandpa’s friend,
but we must respect the school policy, too, don’t you think so?”
He smirked away.
I tapped on the table. “Mr. Tengyel, how come you never helped me cyclostyle question papers? You
saw me doing that, didn’t you?”
Mr. Tengyel huffed and protruded his chest. “I am not Buddha. How would I know?”
“How you wouldn’t know? You are a full-fledged teacher. You’re supposed to help me with school
administration.”
He turned away, grunting.
“Now, Miss? Your opinion, please.”
She shook her head, grinning.
“Mr. Keltsho?”
He hung his head.
The school looked uninhabited with only me in the office every day. In class, Mr. Tengyel sat on the
chair and let students do self-studies. The NFE Instructor left the school on medical grounds and never
returned.
A few months later, a new NFE Instructor joined the school. He worked beyond the call of duty. Mr.
Tengyel and Mr. Keltsho reported to the office on time.
The following year, we received a grant from the World Food Programme. And a cook arrived before
the school reopened. I handed over the WFP charges to Mr. Tengyel. All forty-seven students received
mid-day meals from the school.
And misapprehension between the staff and Mr. Tengyel resolved. Even with village folks.
I bore no grudge against anybody, as long as there was no interference in school.

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