Tution Tales

My mother is an interesting creature. I had specifically told her

never mention my grades to the tution teacher. Once they know
that you are the topper in your class, their eyes light up. Their
expectation of you skyrockets and you become an embarrassing
example of being the nerd in every batch.
“I’m not sure he’ll come first this time. His previous Chemistry
teacher had landed on a job and had to leave the city. It’s mid-
year and his exams are just three months away… He has no time
to prepare at all…” she said to the teacher.
‘Three Months!’ that is equivalent to a decade, I thought. A week
before the exams would be the time to prepare.
“If you can guide him once a week, I would be so grateful…” my
mother pleaded.
“He can come on Fridays at six. I’m sure he’s going to do well
here.” said the teacher. The teacher, Abhish Chatterjee was much
younger than he appeared. His cylindrical glasses and a low voice
gave him a sophisticated appearance. Even while looking at my
report cards, he was impressed yet calm. It showed, he would
treat every student as just the same.
On our way back, I said annoyingly, “Maa, I have plenty of time
for the exams. Please stop exaggerating every time!”
“I fear, that second boy Mitra will beat you by a mile.”
Finally, it was Friday. I was nervous about the class. I wondered
how the other students would be. Will they make fun of me for not
knowing or be mad at me for all I know!
At 6:03, I knocked on the dry, wooden door.

She was so engrossed, that it seemed she didn’t blink at all. I could
smell her hair from a mile away.
The class went on and I had already gotten bored of the day’s
topic ‘Thermodynamics’. Entropy and Enthalpy were twins

My eyes flew across the room in search of a distraction. The

pendulum mocked me with each swing. The ceiling fan had given
up on me and a year old Bengali calendar had no date to look
forward to.
I looked at her. It was the only question left for her to solve.
I knew alcohols (OH) had one less oxygen atom than the acids
(OOH).