It was my first day in school as a teacher, a day when I entered with a thousand hopes and dreams. After completing my graduation, I was able to get a job as a private teacher. Although the salary was small, still I was optimistic as great things come after hard work.
"Welcome Miss Farah! It's great to have you as a part of our team. Wish you all the best."
I heard these words from a teacher who was standing in the corridor to welcome me. She brought me straight to the staffroom and introduced me to other teachers. At first, I was a bit nervous, but their kind behavior made me feel better. The vice principal summoned me to her office and handed over a slip about my periods in different classes.
After the assembly, I went to class 6 as my first period was there. When I entered the class, the students were gossiping and some were playing with their friends. But as soon as they noticed my presence, they all sat in their seats. After the greetings, I introduced myself.
"Hello, class! My name is Farah and I am your English teacher."
After the short introduction, I also asked their names. They were looking enthusiastic. The first student stood up, but just then I heard loud noises from other classes, so I asked one of the students to close the door, so I could hear them. But just then a teacher came and opened the door. She looked stern and rigorous in her appearance. She uttered some words raising her eyebrows.
"Who permitted you to close the door? It is strictly prohibited. "
At first I couldn't say anything, but after getting some courage I spoke,
" I'm sorry! I am new here, so I don't know the rules and regulations. But next time I would be careful."
But she didn't say anything further and left the class in a blink of an eye. I was amazed by her behavior, but still I didn't let my pupils get distracted. After attending the five periods straight, it was recess time. So I went to the staffroom, where all the teachers were having their lunch. They also invited me to have lunch with them, but I refused.
I saw the same teacher with cold behavior who was sitting on one side of the staffroom. She was different from others and was doing some paperwork. I looked at her and she gave me a stern look, but I ignored her.
In a few days, I was a bit familiar with the staff. Miss Afshan was the funniest teacher on the whole staff. She guided and helped me at every step, so soon I developed a good bond with her.
After a few days, we were having lunch together, and the same teacher with a stern look, came to us. She was a bit acquainted with the Afshan, so she came to ask her something related to the syllabus. After she was gone, I asked Afshan about her.
"Why does she look so rigid? Does she always show the same behavior?"
She laughed and replied.
"Yes! We felt that in the beginning! But now we are habituated to it, so don't worry soon you will also become acquainted with her."
"Perhaps! But I don't see any possibility yet. Lol"
After a few days, it was a deworming training day in our school. All the students and teachers were gathered in the hall, where an officer gave important precautions to deworm the children. He taught the necessary knowledge and skills to the teachers to administer deworming medication. After the training, all the teachers gathered to receive the banners and medicines from the deworming teams.
The same stern teacher told something to the teachers. I also participated in their gossip and shared my point of view. Perhaps she didn't like it and gave me a very hard reply.
"I don't think, you should say this!"
"What did I say? I just gave my point of view." I replied.
"Whatever! But you should be in your limits."
"Enough is enough! What's your problem? Why you are so rude? I am tolerating this behavior for so many days. You should learn the etiquette to behave with others." I gave her a hard reply.
She left the place immediately and I also went into the staffroom. Afshan also came behind me and asked me to calm down. She wanted to change my mood, so she said politely.
" You'll see, soon she will realize her mistake and will come to apologize. "
"Yeah right, she'll do that when pigs fly," I replied ironically.
But the opposite of this happened when after some time she came to me and apologized for her behavior. She uttered some words and hesitated.
Sorry, Miss Farah! I shouldn't have behaved in this way. I am an introvert and hardly got acquainted with the new people."
I didn't make it further and also apologized for my words if I said anything wrong to her in anger.
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