Adjusted relationships

"Well, I think you should call her"

I looked at my mom, not fully convinced. Actually, not convinced at all. It was the birthday of my old teacher. Had it been anyone but her, I wouldn't have thought twice before dialling his or her number and trilling "Happy birthday!". But now...

It had been several months since I'd met her. We had parted on decidedly bad terms; she declaring that she'd officially 'kicked (me) out of the Academy', and I vowing never ever to go back to her again, even if she begged me to. I found myself another teacher and she, I suppose, found herself many other students.

I remembered the numerous times she'd yelled at me, reducing me to tears. The ten years I spent training under her were the ten most teary-eyed years of my life. And her last outburst had been the last straw. That's when I decided to quit, for good. That should've been the end of the story. But it wasn't. Mom wasn't going to let that happen.

"You supported me at that time, remember? You were so totally on my side!" I said reproachfully.

"Yes, and I still think you were right to quit. But then, she is your teacher, you know..."

"Was", I mumbled.

"No, is. A teacher always remains a teacher, even if she isn't actively teaching you anymore."

"What, once a teacher always a teacher?"

"Yes! Go ahead. Call her. She made you. No matter how bad you feel now, you do know that she's the reason why you are what you are today. Call. You owe her at least that!"

"Uhm..."

"Well, it's up to you. Your call!" With that she walked out, leaving me alone with my cell phone and my conscience. I sighed. I didn't have enough balance to call from my cell phone. And as for my conscience... Well, I didn't call her. Not right then, anyway.

A week later, I decided I'd rather just grit my teeth and do it, rather than let mom make me feel guilty. And so it was, that I found myself outside her room in school, nervously clutching a cheap bouquet and a Dear Teacher card. I took a deep breath and walked in. I knew from experience that she could raise a frosty eyebrow and ask me to leave her alone. Or worse, pretend she was stone deaf till I walked out of the room. I was prepared for all that.

But what I wasn't prepared was the warm hug she gave me, or the genuine joy that seemed to sparkle in her eyes when she saw my card and flowers. We ended up having lunch together. We had a nice, long chat... Something we certainly hadn't done before. I found her an interesting person, to say the least. The conversation was animated, and I enjoyed every bit of it. It was nearly two hours before I decided to get back home, but before leaving, I promised her I'd visit her, at her place, soon.

It was nearly a month before I could make good on that promise. As I sat in her living room yesterday, eating my way through a plateful of green grapes (something we both love), my eyes fell on a faded, wilted bouquet by the side of the TV. She saw me looking at it and smiled. "I can't bring myself to throw it away", she said. "That's the only thing I received this birthday". As we sat there, smiling at each other in a comfortable silence, I realized I'd found myself a new friend. It's a weird relationship we have. I still learn from her, and she from me, as we keep up a continuous flow of 'gyaan'. Of course, she still doesn't want me back in her Academy, and I don't want to be there either. But friends we are, and, something tells me, friends we shall remain.

You know, sometimes, it really pays to listen to your mom!