Shyamali

A short Story by G.Balasubramanian

The platform number one in Nizamuddin railway station was very busy. The Trivandrum Rajdhani express was about to leave. A number of people with huge luggage were walking past to get into their reserved compartments. Being summer, the day was quite humid and the passengers were forcing themselves to the train as it was fully air conditioned.

"Would you please move Sir?" Raghunath asked the canteen waiter who was loading the food and water. He forced himself into the carriage. "Hurry up Leela.. get in quickly.." He moved ahead to their seats. Fortunately both had the bottom row seat opposite to each other as they has planned and reserved.

"Thank God. We got these seats.. otherwise sitting in different places we can't enjoy the journey." He was convincing his wife on his small achievement.

Passengers walked one after the other.. and the train departed on time..

Raghunath's eyes wandered around and his attention was focused on the middle aged woman sitting on the lower side seat. He was looking at her for a pretty long time.

"Hello, Raghuji.. what are you looking at? Kya ho gaya?.. ise dekthe rahna achcha nahin hai..What would people think?"

He laughed and turned around..

"Sir.. " the lady on the opposite seat walked towards him. " If I am not wrong, you are Mr. Raghunath.. who worked as the Maths teacher in Meerut school."

"Yes.. yes.. by the way .. Are you Shyamali?"

"My goodness... nearly twenty years has passed. you still remember my name.. 

"  Her eyes were moist. She bent down and touched his feet.

Leela was feeling bad about her assessment.

"How are you Shymali?.. How is your sister.. Sridevi?"

"Wow.. you remember her too.. She is settled in Dubai .. she has two children.. "

"What about you..?"

"I am working as a senior manager in the bank..."

"Your family....?"

She was quiet for a few seconds.. "Do you remember what I told you last time when I met you...?"

He recalled their last meeting before she left the school. She had come to the staff room to take his blessings. "Do well in life, Shyamali.. Study well.. Get married.. Have a happy life.." Raghunath had blessed her..

"Sir..  I will marry only if I get a husband like you..." Both laughed.

Shyamali said.."Sir.. Till now I have not got a person like you to be my husband..."

Leela heard it and was shocked..

Shyamali turned to Leela  "Madam, You are very lucky to have a husband like Raghunath Sir.. A wonderful person.. humane, positive and understanding.. It was he, who changed the way of my life..."

Twenty years before Shyamali was studying in a central school, near an army campus,  in class nine. Her elder sister was in class eleven. Both were reasonably good students. Shymali was an introvert. She never used to mingle with others. She was always withdrawn and looked after her work only.

Raghunath was teaching Mathematics to class nine students. One of the days, as he walked into the classroom, he found the students were quite noisy.. "Why don't you settle down and be quiet?" he asked and everyone assumed the seat.

Jayashri who was sitting in the front bench was completing her practical note book in Science. Raghunath looked at her as she was absorbed in her work.

"Jayashri, Is it Science period or Mathematics? Can you please stop doing that?"

"Sorry. Sir" She closed her note book. Raghunath's eyes fell on a geometry box on her table. He just took it and opened it  and commented.

"Very nice.. Where did you buy it?" he questioned.

"Sir. I don't know. My father purchased it for my birthday possibly from Singapore." Jayashri replied.

"Good". As Raghunath walked ahead he looked at Shymali who was sitting next to her and asked "Shymali, what did your father get you for your birthday?"

Shyamali stood up silently but offered no answer .. "I am asking you.." Raghunath continued..

Jayashri stood up "Sorry sir.. She doesn't have a father. She lost her father when she was in class three."

Tears were rolling from Shymali's eyes. Raghunath was ashamed of his question. " I am sorry.. Shyamali.. I shouldn't have asked. I was a fool.."

The entire period was a very dull work for Raghunath. This incident haunted his mind for a number of weeks.

Three months later, the school was getting ready for the inter-house competitions. Raghunath was the House Master for Tagore House.

As he walked into class nine, he asked Shyamali.. "To which house do you belong?"

"Sir, Tagore House.. that is my house. In what program are you participating?" he asked.

"She never participates in any program, Sir" Jayashri replied.

"Please meet me in the staff room, Shyamali.."

In the afternoon, when Shyamali met him, he was trying his best to convince her to participate in any one of the programs.." a character in the drama?"

"No sir.."

"What about debate...?"

"Not at all Sir.."

"Ok.. you will sing a song and participate in the music competition.."

"Sir.. I have not learnt any classical music.."

"Never mind.. any film song.. any prayer song?"

" I know only a bit of Narayaneeyam.."

"good.. Sing that..."

Days passed by. The students had assembled for the music competition. When 

Shyamali's name was called, she moved to the stage hesitatingly. One could see the fear in her eyes, nervousness in her body. She was sweating.

She stood before the mike... closed her eyes. folded her palms as if in a prayer...and then..

"Agre pashyami............................" she started singing a few verses from Narayaneeyam dedicated to Guruvayoorappan.

Her voice was absorbing.. and the whole auditorium clapped as she started.. the claps continued for a few minutes. Shyamali continued her song..one could see tears rolling down her eyes. There was perfect silence now as everyone saw the tears rolling down her eyes.. Raghunath wiped his eyes.

As she finished her song, the entire auditorium stood up to celebrate her performance with a continuous standing ovation. No wonder, she got the first prize.

"Thank you, Sir.." Shyamali met Raghunath in the evening for the motivation he had given..

She became a celebrity in the school. She was no more an introvert. She was liked by all.. One could see a glow in her face...

Her interaction with Raghunath was constant. Every time she had a problem or a question, she used to say.. "Raghunath Sir, is there to help us.."

When she left the school at the end of class ten, back to Kerala, along with her uncle... she met Raghunath.. she stood silent.. " I am speechless.. I don't know what to say..  But sir.. will I meet you again.. somewhere .. sometime.. Will you remember me then?"

"Shymali.. the world is small. God willing, we will meet, somewhere, sometime.. I must see you grown up .. with your family.. husband, kids.... and in a good job..."

"Thanks sir.. but if at all I want to marry.. I need a person like you to be my husband..." Both of them laughed...

As they were lost in their memories, "will you please switch off the light? it is too late now.." the train attendant was requesting them. 

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