Robert never expected that he would land up in such a rural area with hills and greenery of the campus as he was hailing from a big urban background. The journey by a Mahindra from the big city the vehicle running through the cities, rural areas, and the hilly jungle was a trip to shoot with eyes and store in mind as it was in the early 2000s the beginning of the handset which was a common man like Robert couldn’t afford. Early dawn journey departure journey arrived at the campus around late night but before midnight traversing through the Naxalite groups active in the darkness of the night. Robert had a companion in Harish both accompanying the driver and going through some sort of anxiety till the vehicle entered the campus gate.

Day one – Both Harish and Robert got inducted into the job on the very next day with an assigned timetable that has to be followed as per their subject expertise and qualification. The institution was built on a farming land of 40 acres of fertile soil with all basic amenities. As it was a residential institution accommodating 500 boarders strict rules and regulations were to be adhered to by both the student community and teaching fraternity under the close observation of the orthodox secretary belonging to the minority community. The food was homely and tasty standard of the dining hall was hygienic with waiter’s serving the teaching professional’s on separate table meant for male and female staff who were from various states. Living room quarter’s for male staff and male students boarders were barricaded from the female section. All was fine for the first day, but the second day revealed the strict code and conducts that was to be followed, failing exit door will be shown.

Day Two - There were two religious teachers Moulvis who played the dual role a warden cum religious teacher for the boarders divulged the rule that opposite sex teaching professional’s are not allowed to interact in the campus, library. The exception was during morning tea break which will be served outside the library or the staff room to discuss about the student related issues and marks sheets etc. Those staff who defy these rules faced immediate termination without prior notice, especially male staff and for female staff a warning notice to change otherwise face termination.

Day three – All the class room were furnished except teaching professionals were not allowed to sit in the class room as they were no seats but only table. Majority of the attention seeking behavioral problematic students were the boarder’s and not the day scholar’s. Those teachers with psychology were able to cope up with such students otherwise bullying of the teachers by students was a common trend. Robert reminded himself recalling the Hollywood yesteryear classic that he had watched ‘To sir with love‘, came handy for him to deal with unruly students for the classes he was handling. Whereas Harish was an introvert with a weak communicative English had a time especially dealing Pre-university students. Hence on and off he used to confine himself to his living room, when Robert confronted him for staying off he cited that less number of student’s presence made him to abandon his classes.

After a month – Robert discovered to his dismay that Harish had made a great escape from the campus in the late night when everyone were asleep. It was a foregone conclusion as Robert knew that Harish was feeling uneasy from day one. Robert remembered the fact revealed by his colleagues that if anyone survives for one year in that institution, that individual can survive anywhere in the world, as the rules and code of conduct was stifling individual personal space, liberty and freedom of speech. Apart from the above the unruly student in every class room starting from sixth grade it was an uphill task to teach and cope up with the challenges day in and out. Corporal punishment was in practice then, but Robert as an extrovert and as a child psychologist could browbeat the bully student with mind war and winning their and mind with empathy as he gave his precious time on Sunday inviting students to his living room by listening to their woes and inner pain of being away from home, parental care. Apart from teaching his other skills in humor, imitation, dancing, drawing he become a popular teacher for the student community as well as with the teaching fraternity for his antics in acting. These multiple skills of him made a minority community single mother of two kids fall for his charisma. Ayesha was a single mother of three kids with a charm wooed Robert with a silent grin during tea break. The smile bloomed into romance which caught the eyes of other staff too.

At a critical juncture Robert stepping in to help him and his single working mother had total change of attitude in this kid finally accepting Robert. Ayesha accepted Robert as he never had lust which she experienced on one occasion when they stayed in a stay inn for a day and night. it was clear that he wanted to solemnize their relationship with a ritual of exchanging of golden rings on each other fingers which he wanted to gift himself and he was clear that he never expected any material gains from her. When the new academic year began, Robert was shown the exit door by the management, not to be cowed down he took the mantle of the post as the Head of the institution which was upcoming in the town. The management was furious that Ayesha was continuing to meet Robert at his new office, hence she too was terminated by the management. The mantle of supporting himself and Ayesha, her kids fell on Robert. As they belong to two different communities they were compelled to live separately due to social norms and to upkeep their self respect intact. Later on Robert was able to find a job for himself and his better half in a residential institution in another state close to her native place. Robert was able to get admission to his religious affiliated school for the kids of Ayesha to pursue their education and they lived to work together as husband and wife. Once in a month he allowed her to go and meet her kids ,but he was unable to accompany her as he was the head of the institution with an huge responsibility on his shoulders.

To conclude those were the years of a forgotten era in India that there was no moral policing and individuals had the freedom to choose their life partner’s irrespective of the caste affiliation, unlike now moral policing active all over India. 

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