Prerna

"My husband is a investment banker in the US," said my friend on the chat. I smiled. I had suspected that she was wealthy by looking at her pictures in front of their two-storied well designed house in upscale NewYork city. The clothes that she wore were also expensive.



I remembered the time we were girls. Those days most students went for tutions during their high school. The tution teachers were generally professors in the local university. They were acknowledged experts in their subjects and had several published papers in renowned forums to their credit. Needless to say, the quality of teaching in these tution classes was much higher than the quality delivered in the schools. Mysore, being a university town, was especially known for its teachers and the tution classes were much sought after by students like us.



Prerna and me went together for most of the tutions, including the Trigonometry tution. The Trigonometry tution teacher, besides being an subject matter expert, was also an excellent communicator. She was able to connect to the students very well and also had a good sense of humour. However sometimes she would be inappropriate.



Prerna's father was a middle level officer in the near by textiles factory. The cost of the multiple tutions was always a strain on the family every month. But the family managed - managed with pride. Prerna was always taken into confidence whenever there was a financial strain in the family and I never noticed her feeling small or guilty when she was short of cash.



That month, the family had got a new car. A car was a necessity for the family of five- two adults, two grown up children and Prerna's grandmother. Hence the cash flow that month was a little tight. During the month end, when it was the time to pay for the tution fees, Prerna, very innocently told the teacher, in front of the class, that her father wouldnt be able to pay that month and she would pay the complete amount the next month. Maybe she should have been discreet, but childhood is not discreet. A child trusts unconditionally. Which was why we, her fellow classmates, understood what she was saying.



The teacher did not. None of us were prepared for our teacher's reaction.



"If your family is short of cash are you not buying any groceries this month? If you are, how come you cannot pay the fees? Next month if you cant pay, maybe you should discontinue the tutions," she said. The class suddenly became silent. If someone dropped a pin at that moment, we all would have heard it.



The teacher and her family stayed in a huge bungalow and were quite well off. Her husband was a director in a company.Her response was totally uncalled for.



I dont know what Prerna felt that day. But I was shaken. That day as we walked back home, I told her, "If I ever become a teacher when I grow up, I will give tutions for free." I consulted my parents in the evening, and offered to pay her fees, but Prerna declined. She paid up the whole amount the next week.



Prerna was a very beautiful, graceful and well mannered girl. Other than the financial crisis the family faced, I did not find her lacking in anything. We were the best of friends for 3-4 years more. But eventually we lost touch with each other.



Therefore one fine day last year, when I got a friend request from her on facebook, I was more than glad to accept. I saw the pictures of her various Europe vacations and I was very happy for her. I could see that she was doing well in life. I knew she was not working, so I was curious about had caused the wheels of fortune to turn for her. Which is why I asked her where her husband worked.



And when I saw her reply, I couldn't help smiling.



"God ultimately levels everybody's life" I thought.`

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Note: Some parts of this post has been fictionalized to protect privacy of the people involved.