I think a lot about this profession called teaching. Most of the present herds of teachers are in this profession, not by choice. Imagine, if most of us were provided with choices of being an engineer, doctor, software professional, a corporate yuppie or a mere teacher, what would be our choice? You don’t have to be very creative to visualize the respect an engineer, a doctor, a software professional…get from family, society, future in-laws and current and ex – would be-s and could be-s.

I had to carry out a survey among the various schoolteachers for a project. I was busy preparing the questionnaire. Suddenly I thought of this question. ‘If you were given a chance to choose your profession again, what would be your choice?’ I had to show the questionnaire and subsequent result to my project leader. I was secretly very happy with the list of questions I had on my register. This particular question was my favorite. I was eager to see the response. And more than that how my Project leader would sum up my findings.

Ok, the due date was coming nearer. All of us behaved like schoolchildren with our project leader. If he was about to take class, and we tried to squeeze in some drops of water down our throat in scorching heat of Rajasthan, and he entered the class a few minutes earlier, we happily forgot our thirst. Quenching thrist was not worth it. Our parched throats could wait. We ran back to class.

Well the due date had arrived. I was armed with my findings. He started to discuss the final results. It seemed a long wait. What the heck! My name starts with “A”. Why was he taking so much time? Suspense was building up inside me. For the first time I was experiencing the feeling ‘butterflies in my stomach’. Finally it seemed that my name was being spoken.

He asked the whole class, “can you figure out how many persons one would meet in his / her teaching career, if it covers a period of mere 20 years?”
The class was busy finding statistics. One stood up.
“Sir we need more data.”
“ Ok if a teacher takes 5 classes everyday. And each class consists of at least 50 children?”
“Sir, 250 persons everyday!”
“In which job, you think a person comes in contact with so many impressionable minds?”
Dumb silence!
“ See, a teacher really has the power to leave impression on so many young minds. Nobody, in any profession, comes across a large number of unadulterated minds for prolong period. ”

For the first time I realized, in this profession you are not dealing with text files, documents or machines. You are not coming in contact with any damn inanimate object! You are getting the opportunity to write on a blank slate. Just imagine, how many lives you are going to deal with? You are entering in a frail world. The echo of every careless action will be heard till eternity! Tread on this path delicately.

I have noticed certain trends that girls follow to make guys fall head over heels in love with them. And it works! This process transcends everything. No matter what is the background of guy, how highly educated he is, what responsible or powerful position he has, no matter whether he is (in)famous, evolved or ‘unevolved’, head of a country or a sweeper, an army general or editor, intellectual or moron. Just have faith in certain procedures, and you will leave him gasping for more!
You don’t need to be beautiful, stunning, intelligent and articulate. Just being a girl will do. Girl of any age, shape, size, caste, creed or color!
1. The first and foremost thing is never have one person as a boyfriend. A little bit of competition will always make him sit up and take notice. His mind will always be filled with yours thoughts. He will come up with something and try to fill your mind with his thoughts. But don’t fall for this trap. Always put it across, he is just one among hordes of boyfriends.
2. Whenever, visit him, pretend to take care of him and his household. Scold him for being shabby or neat, whatever is the case. Don’t even think for a minute that he will resent this. Whether you are a corporate executive or typical Bahenji , he will be completely bowled over with this diaphanous wife-y act.
3. Always make him feel that he is not enough for you. You are looking for something more. You know that something extra.
4. Be generous in using your body. Its one of your lethal weapons. Don’t save this “Brahmastra” for marriage bed for whoever will be your would be.
5. If he is interested in other girls, then shower him with your phone calls and kisses. But never for a minute, let your daily routine get disturbed. He is not worth it. Continue with you goals and “other” activities.
6. Let go of your self-respect, if he is useful to you in any way. Make sure to destroy, whatever little bit of self-respect left in him.
7. Never show laxity in reminding him, what a good gal you are, and he really don’t deserve you. Actually you are doing him a favor by sticking with him.
Gals try out these cool tricks. And enjoy life. Life is too short to waste on a one single guy.

Jennifer Capriati was playing at the US Open, 2003. I was watching her. Each of her actions was in great harmony with others. I was witnessing a great display of mind and body co-ordination; the rhythm her legs were showing, the fierce concentration in her eyes, how her mind was anticipating the opponent’s moves and body was slavishly obeying the mind! Although she did not win the crown, but still her image stayed in my mind. I was experiencing a strange kind of elation. I love watching sports. This was not the first match, I was watching. Then why this sensation of pure joy, that something good had happened to me?
Why could not I fathom my feelings? Definitely, I was not turning into a lesbian! But channel flicking came to my rescue. Yes! I was witnessing something, which was not a make believe world. I was viewing something, where you can not fake your shots, lobs, backhand, forehand……
You cannot get your way by projecting forged cuteness & loveliness. Donning accessories, acquiring unblemished complexion, a neat piece of silicon job at right places will not impress these spectators. Only plain hard work will do its magic. No doubt, my heart was filled with joy. Years of continued hard work, genuineness, grit, grime and determination are still appreciated by so many people all over the world. You are an achiever without the backdrop of exploitation, without fooling others, without shamming anything.