React or Respond

 

How dare you laugh in my class? A baritone voice echoed all over the room. An eerie of silence went all over. No one was even moving their head. It looked as if the whole class had turned into a statue. The voice was of Mr. Jason, Our Chemistry teacher. He was barely 5 feet tall but even the "Eiffel towers" of the class were afraid of him. He never hit or scolds anyone but used to kill student's esteem with these venomous words. How dare you laugh in my class? He repeated. This time even louder. Don't you have any respect for your teacher? I think you behave in this way at your home also. I know you have no respect for your parents too. Ryan, who was on the receiving end was silent.

He bowed down his head. Look at me? Shouted Mr. Jason. If you have committed any mistake, have the courage to accept it. Ryan was still silent. Why are you wasting your time here? Today, when you go home, tell your parents that you are a disgrace to them. I was sitting just behind Ryan and was trembling. How was Ryan acting normal? I thought. He was just not responding. Mr Jason went on piercing Ryan's chest with his words and he continued to ignore them and remained quiet. If anyone would have been in his place then would have cried surely. Tomorrow, you all have your test and all those who get more than 200 marks out of 360 marks will be shifted to A1 batch. Mr Jason announced.

A1 was the dream batch of every student as the best faculties used to teach there. The student there also has many privileges like asking queries whenever and to whomever they wanted. They were always given special attention. I was in A3 batch. I didn't know Ryan much. But one thing I knew that it would be very difficult for him to go home and study for the test. I failed on the previous two occasions to upgrade myself to A1 batch. I thought to give up my sleep that day. The next day I was acting like a Zombie while giving my test.

Everyone met on Monday. I knew that my score would be no less than 200. I was just waiting for the administration people to put up the marks on the bulletin board. How many marks are you getting this time? Ryan asked me. I was blabbering about my marks to everyone and that might have caught his attention.

 More than 200. I replied and you?

 I don't know. He said.

 You didn't check your answers?

After the test, I went home and watched a movie. He replied.

As I was about to ask him how he dealt with the cursing of Jason Sir, the admin guy shouted, " The marks of the test held on Sunday are up on the bulletin board and those five lucky ones who have been upgraded to A1 batch are requested to leave this classroom with all their belongings".

Everyone rushed towards the bulletin board. In a few seconds, the area was swarmed with students. After a few minutes of struggle, I found my name. But there was no up-gradation sign. I got 204 marks. My heart sank. I was about to cry. I went to my desk. There was small window nearby. I went to the window and started crying so that no one could see me. All my efforts for nothing? I said to myself and continued crying.

What happened? Someone patted on my back. Nothing! I replied while wiping my face. Ryan was standing with his bag and notebook in his hand.

Are you going home? I asked.

No, I have been upgraded to A1 batch. He replied

I was shell shocked.

How much marks have you got? I asked him. I didn't see my marks. I just saw upgraded written before my name.

Ryan shook his hand with me and was about to turn and walk away.

How did you manage to study that night? I asked him. He was smiling. What to manage? I had my syllabus covered beforehand. Jason sir was using such harsh words against you; if I was in your place then I would have cried the whole night and had failed in the test. Well, I did not listen to what Jason said. Even I don't remember if something that like ever happened. We will come across many people in life who will say many things to us but it's with us if we want to listen to them or not. We have a choice to either react or respond. I choose to respond. I know it was wrong on my part to laugh in the class. I apologize for that but the rest doesn't matter to me.

Take care brother, he said and walked away.