'Ma'am, may I come in?' a familiar sweet female voice halted my engrossed mind.
I was involved in checking the copies of my students. I did not heed the hustle-bustle commotions of students outside my cabin.
'Yes, come in,' I said without noticing the person.
'Good morning, ma'am,' the female voice addressed me.
I remained so engrossed at times that I had forgotten to take my lunch.
I had to finish the copies of my students very soon. For the last few days, I had been busy with the College Annual function.
I became a cultural program coordinator. Before I took on the responsibility, I had declined my students many times.
'I can't, I can't,' I said, declining them.
But in vain. They did not move on and stuck in my head. I got a hangover from their non-stop pleas.
'No ma'am, no ma'am,' my students stressed me. 'Please ma'am, please ma'am, you've got to become our cultural program coordinator.'
At last, I had to accept.
'Okay, fine,' I said.
'Thank you, madam. Thank you, madam,' my student said, overjoyed.
Then what, all responsibilities fell on me. And I had to work day and night.
Thank God, I got some good students who helped and supported me a lot.
Finally, the program was successful.
Our college principal, Mr. Dutta, and my colleagues praised me for the same.
As a result, I could not check the exam papers. I had to give the results after a couple of days. Still, hundreds of copies were left.
I didn't reply. In fact, I had forgotten that somebody was inside my cabin and waiting for my response. After a few minutes, I realized.
'Oh my goodness!' I said, surprised. 'Amrita and Pranjal, both of you are here. I'm so happy to see you.'
After three years, I was meeting Amrita and Pranjal. They were my best students. In fact, they were like my best buddies.
'Sorry for keeping you waiting,' I apologized.
'It's okay, ma'am,' Amrita said.
'Come hug me, Amrita, Pranjal,' I said.
We hugged together.
I felt like I had met my lost buddies, Mitali and Munmi, after so many years.
'Take a seat, Amrita, Pranjal,' I said.
Amrita and Pranjal were both seated in the chair in front of me.
I kept the checked copies aside.
'How are you both?' I asked them with a smile.
'We are fine, ma'am,' Amrita replied. 'How do you do, ma'am?'
'As always,' I said, 'happy and enjoying time with my students.'
'Okay, Amrita, Pranjal, what would you like to have?' I asked.
'Tea, coffee, or a cold drink?'
'No, ma'am. Thanks,' Amrita said.
'We met after so many years,' I said, 'and you declined, huh?'
I pressed the calling bell.
'Yes, madam,' Madan Khura said.
Madan Khura was our college peon cum chaiwala.
'Madan Khura, serve us three cups of tea and biscuits.'
'Okay, madam.'
'Madan Khura,' Amrita halted. 'We don't want anything.'
Madan Khura stopped.
'Madan Khura, how are you?' Pranjal asked, smiling. 'Can you recognize me?'
'Aree, Pranjal beta,' Madan khura blushed. 'Yes, yes, I can recognize you.'
'Madan khura, do you recognize me or not?' Amrita also asked.
'Aree, Amrita beti, you too,' Madan khura said. 'What a great surprise!'
'How about Reena, Madan khura?' Amrita asked.
Reena was the only daughter of Madan khura.
'She married last year,' Madan khura answered.
'In which place, Madan khura?'
'In Tejpur.'
'Okay. Good.'
'Madaam,' Madan khura asked me. 'Can I bring tea or not?' He was puzzled.
'Madan khura, you serve us cold drinks instead of tea,' I said.
'Okay, madaam.'
Madan Khura left my cabin.
"Now tell me about you," I said.
Amrita and Pranjal smiled and gestured to each other.
"Ma'am," both Amrita and Pranjal said, "please close your eyes." They both requested me.
"Why?" I frowned.
"Please, ma'am!" Pranjal said.
"Okay."
"Now put your hands forward, ma'am," Amrita said.
"What are you doing?"
For a fraction of a second, I felt that I was back in my childhood days when I used to play hide-and-seek. My friends would blindfold me, and naughty Raj would come from behind and push me hard.
I put my hands forward, and I sensed that something heavy was on my open palms.
"Now open your eyes, ma'am," Amrita and Pranjal said together.
When I opened my eyes, what I saw was a gift packet.
'Ma'am,' Amrita said, 'this is a small gift for you.'
'Ma'am, please,' Pranjal pleaded.
My eyes moistened with tears. It was like a special moment for me.
I accepted wholeheartedly.
Amrita handed me a card in my hand.
I frowned, trying to query her.
I saw a wedding card.
'So, you're getting married?' I exclaimed with joy.
'Yes, ma'am,' Amrita said. 'And you have to come.'
'Your wedding and I wouldn't come? How could that be possible? Why not, I will definitely come,' I said.
Amrita and Pranjal smiled.
I read the wedding date of Amrita and Pranjal on the wedding card.
As I read the wedding date, I was stunned. I stood up from my chair.
I could not spot anything for a moment. Everything appeared dusky, dark, and blank in front of my eyes.
I had fainted.
Then, I didn't know what had happened to me.
When I regained my senses after a few hours, I was in my bedroom. I found both Amrita and Pranjal sitting by me.
I felt sorry for Amrita and Pranjal.
They heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing me back to my normal condition.
'I am so sorry, Amrita, Pranjal,' I said feebly.
'It's okay, ma'am,' they said.
'How do you feel now, ma'am?' Amrita and Pranjal asked.
'I'm feeling better now,' I said. 'Thanks, Amrita. Thanks, Pranjal.'
After a couple of days....
Amrita and Pranjal visited again at my house. The doctor advised me to take bed rest for a few days.
'Ma'am,' Amrita said, hesitating. 'If you don't mind, can we ask you something?'
'Yes, Amrita,' I said. 'Of course, you can ask me anything you want.'
'What happened to you, ma'am, the day before yesterday?' Amrita asked in a low and concerned voice.
'Is there any problem with our wedding, ma'am?' Pranjal asked. His voice also sounded serious.
'No, no, Amrita, no, no, Pranjal,' I said, choking. 'I-I am happy for your wedding. In fact, in fact...'
I could not complete my sentence.
I could not control my floodgate of emotions. My voice broke, and I started wailing.