Try and outsmart a teacher!!!!

I was always fond of music from the days I could remember. I learnt Hindustani and along with that keyboard at the age of 12 and could play it quite well. I always used to like playing national anthem and our school song on keyboard. I could also play the same on harmonium, seeing which our Music teacher selected me in daily prayer and group songs. Though I had average voice, I was made the key player of the group to play the instrument. I was so proud of myself. I started showing off to my friends.

How did I know that appreciation comes with a responsibility?

In KV, every month end, we have group singing competitions. Our music teacher was heading Ganga House and as she herself was a music teacher for entire school, she could not afford to lose. We knew this rule from the day she joined our school and became head of Ganga House. She was the most strict teacher I happened to see in that school, she just does not take any nonsense from anybody, so generally we don’t even dream of playing pranks or have any excuses with her.

As the days for competition neared by, our practice sessions exponentially increased. Just before the final day, we had the most awful practice sessions ever. And as key instrument player, she wanted me to be just perfect.

We had even skipped our lunch for practicing. It was very tiring, especially for me. One small mistake and we had to repeat the whole song. My mouth was going dry and fingers were often getting stuck by playing so many times. I decided it was time I did some action to save myself from that gruesome practice.

We had a five min break, though my thirst was quenched, I decided to go ahead with my plan. We started singing again but I wasn’t singing, I was only giving a lip movement. For one entire cycle of song, our music teacher couldn’t make out that I wasn’t singing. I felt so happy; I couldn’t help smiling and thought I had outsmart the most strict teacher in the school and came a hard slap on face.

I couldn’t come out of the shock for some time and then I realized what had happened. She didn’t say anything and our practice resumed as usual. I started singing loud enough for her to hear.

We again had a 5 minute break. All friends came to me and asked what had happened. I didn’t tell them anything. I knew everybody would laugh at me so I just acted as I didn’t know the reason as to why she slapped me. They all pitied me and commented badly on her but inside I knew what had happened and why. I felt very bad and decided I would never try to outsmart my teacher again.

Believe in yourself and the world would believe in you!!!

I was in 6^th class ‘B’ section. There always used to be a tiff competition between 6 ‘A’ and 6 ‘B’. 6 ‘B’ always used to outsmart 6 ‘A’ in studies and sports both except GK subject. Not that we were not good in GK but then there was this guy, who used to claim of one man army play in GK competitions, we couldn’t do that, we could beat the other section only as a team.
One day our class teacher announced GK contest, inter section competition. Sparks started flying between both the sections. That guy came to our class and as usual challenged ‘one man army play’ on behalf of his section.
As class monitor, I took the responsibility of facing that guy all by myself. As teacher’s pet and favorite among friends, I had to keep up my image.
With such responsibility on my small shoulders, I went home and started skimming through all newspapers I could get hold of. I wasn’t satisfied, I asked my Dad to prepare me on latest happenings in News. We stayed up quite late and discussed things.
At around one in the morning, before I climbed my bed, dad casually asked me ‘What is Michael Jackson’s real name?”Which was followed by “Where is he from?” I had no answer and having no answer was demoralizing for me for the responsibilities I took.
I had to plead my Dad for the answer, when he gave me, for the 1^st time I thought Dad is out of his mind. It just can’t be possible. He is trying to fool me around. Though he read my mind and told me earnestly to believe in him, I didn’t and obviously it just went of my mind.
Next day everybody were exited and we all were chewing our nails while going through all other classes and imagining the outcome of the challenge (More of a Do or a Die situation for both the sections.) Finally the class teacher came in heading the other section students marched by that one man army guy.
Rules were announced. . No answer – neutral result but the question which went unanswered - plus two, one man army play i.e. one team member would face entire opposite team on behalf of his entire team would get plus 5.
Both the teams started of as team play. Questions flew on science, social, math, English. We were falling behind with 5 points. We were giving a tough fight but could not cover up the margin. Time was running out with everybody sweating.
When the last 5 minutes were announced and we still had 5 points to cover up, I took the risk of playing ‘one man army play’. My team was ready to compromise on losing rather than one man army thing because we had a little philosophy “As team we win, as one we lose”.
Finally my team believed in me and I geared up myself to face that ever winning one man army guy from other team. We were given 3 chances to ask questions. I couldn’t answer two of his questions, my hope went dry, it was my turn to ask questions, first two went answered, with two minutes remaining and last question which would decide the fate of section ‘B’ I was almost about to withdraw . But I still racked my brains for one last question which could beat him, when 50 seconds were announced, I asked “What is Michael Jackson’s real name and where is he from?” The other team started laughing. The ‘guy’ asked me “What do you mean what is his real name, Michael Jackson is his real name”. He started giving out comments on my stupidity, soon comments flew everywhere and class teacher had to pitch in.
Her statement gave us new hope. She said, after hearing the answer if she is convinced she would give in the points. I gave in my trump answer “MICHE JAYKISHAN” and he is from “INDIA”.  Total silence, I thought my own team would roll on floor laughing one me, I just hoped Dad’s answer was right.
Teacher asked me how did i know the answer, i told her Dad told me and she gave in 5 points, and we won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My class was like Pratyusha you’ve done it finally. When I was floating in cloud 9, that guy came and congratulated me and pushed me to cloud 10.
I came home running and excitement blasted in my heart to give in the news to my Dad. When he came back from office, before he removed his shoes, I shouted this news and ran to him, He didn’t believe at first  then he cracked his stomach laughing, I felt so bad.
He asked me “Did teacher hear the answer?” I said “she was the one to declare us winner”. He again laughed loud. Mother pitched in, I had to narrate everything. She also laughed and hugged me and told me Dad has played a fool with me. Tears immediately ran out, how he could ever do this to me when it was the most important competition in my life and I had told him the responsibility which I took in.
Then finally he said which I never forgot till date and would never forget.
“The entire class and the class teacher believed in you because you earnestly sincerely believed in yourself or rather in that question and hence it reflected in your eyes, voice and attitude. So always believe in yourself and the world would believe in you!!!”