" Yea that’s how she always yells." Varsha said with exasperation.

"I really thought that she was going to be a sweet person. My sister was taught by her and she told me that Mrs. Reena was their favorite teacher" said Annie quite surprised with the happenings during their math class. "Well your sister's batch must have been cuckoo! How can she be anyone's favorite?" Advik rolled his eyes. "Appearances can be deceptive and I guess Mrs. Reena is the living proof for that." "Someone told me she has problems at home." Mithun added. "Then why is she coming to school and ruining our day!" Feroz said, with a look of pure anger. He had just received a thorough scolding from Mrs. Reena for something as trivial as failing to bring his math notes. "Seriously. The way she was yelling, as though I just bit someone". The others laughed. Even Feroz had to smile at his seemingly funny phrase. “If she has got any kids, I pity them." said Simran, still giggling.

Mrs. Reena, had been taking math classes for tenth graders for about five years now. Everything was fine at first. She was an excellent teacher and all her students had adored her. They came up to her during their free time and used to share their tales of misery caused by the regular home works and weekly tests. They also used to discuss about their various hobbies and interests with her. She laughed at their jokes, she enjoyed their company and found them quite lively. Though she did admonish their misbehavior, she made it a point never to shout at any of her students. She didn't have any need to either, for they all loved her and behaved well during her class.

However two years ago everything had changed. Her husband had passed away, leaving her all alone with their son who was still a toddler. It had been quite a challenge to return back to normal life, days had become a constant struggle. She had to work twice as hard to provide for her family. She felt herself preferring to be alone rather than in the company of her students. She was highly stressed and it had begun to take a toll on her. She grew short-tempered and was easily irritated. Even a single giggle from her class was enough to set off her bad mood. The math class in the morning had been a disaster. She was well aware of the new found hatred for her among the students. She paid no attention to it, or at least tried not to. She tried to ignore their words of hate being whispered behind her back. The way they burst into peals of laughter every time she entered the class, they were definitely laughing over some inside joke about her, she was sure of it. After things had returned back to normal in her life, she tried to get back into their good books, but any sign of willing friendship from her part was met with mockery. Frustrated, she often wondered how she had ever liked these hateful bunch of kids. She had another math class to take in the afternoon, she dreaded having to face those kids again for the second time on the same day. She was quite sure that they weren't too eager to meet her as well. She contemplated calling sick and going home.

She entered the class when her mobile rang. The children burst laughing at the sound of her ringtone. "Hello" she said meekly into the phone. The students quietened down and were straining their ears trying to catch the conversation. "How bad is it? Have you taken him to the doctor yet?" Mrs. Reena sounded tense, the students were now listening with rapt attention, curious to know how 'bad' was what? And who had to be taken to the doctor for what? "Are you sure?" she sounded slightly scared now, there was silence for a few seconds, "Yea bye". She got off the call and opened the math text book. She was determinedly looking at the book, when she addressed the students her voice came out all shaky and cracked. Her eyes were now visibly welling up with tears. The students were taken aback.

"Is anything wrong ma'am?" asked one of them, in a concerned voice. "It's nothing" Mrs. Reena said, trying to control the tears from rolling down her cheeks. "Are you sure ma'am?" asked another, Mrs. Reena was surprised to see that it was Feroz, the boy she had scolded quite harshly in the morning. All were now looking at her with expressions of concern. The sudden affection proved too much for Mrs. Reena who now couldn't quite control her tears and sat on the chair with her face buried in her hands. All the kids surrounded her and asked her what was wrong. She told them about how her son who she had left at her mother's place for a few days had high fever and might have to be admitted to the hospital. The students provided her with words of comfort and some even tried to make her laugh. Every one of them was determined to try and cheer her up, she couldn't help but smile at their efforts. She was suddenly filled with luminous warmth at the unexpected affection that was being shown to her. She looked at them all adoringly and felt such comfort as she had never felt before.

That day she returned home with better spirits then she had been in for a long time.

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