Wings To Fly

"Vidhi!" called out Renu Ma'am. When she got no response, she raised her voice. "Vidhi Madhav!"

- Niveditha Reddy

"Present, Ma'am," came the soft response.

Ma'am peered over her glasses at the classroom full of 5th graders she would be teaching that year.

At the far end of the room, she saw Vidhi with her hand half raised. "Let's answer our attendance a little louder next time, okay, Vidhi?" she suggested.

Vidhi blushed and gave a little nod when everyone turned to look at her. She ducked her head and kept her eyes on the floor.

Later that day in the staff room, Renu Ma'am was chatting with another teacher. "Veena Ma'am, I have a student called Vidhi Madhav in my class this year. She comes across as timid, afraid to even answer her attendance loudly. What was she like when she was in your class?"

"Oh, Vidhi was a brilliant student!" exclaimed Veena Ma'am. "But she wouldn't participate in sports or cultural activities. She kept to herself all the time I never saw her playing with the other kids."

Renu Ma'am had taught shy students before, but it was unusual for them to have no interaction at all with their classmates. She decided to observe Vidhi.

As the day ended and the students went home, Renu Ma'am picked up her handbag to leave. She noticed Vidhi still in the classroom, quietly putting away her things.

"Vidhi, don't you take the school bus home?"

"Oh!" Vidhi seemed startled. "No, Ma'am. I walk home-I live close by, in Jayanagar."

"Me, too! Shall we walk together?" Vidhi was surprised by the interest her teacher was showing in her. What will we talk about on the way? she wondered. "Of course, Ma'am," she found herself saying.

As they walked, Ma'am said, "My son will be back home from college soon. I think I'll make some samosas for him. What does your mother usually make for your evening snack?" 

"I live with my grandparents, Ma'am. I eat whatever my grandmother cooks for lunch."

"Where are your parents?"