A phone rings in Cambridge.
"Hello. Dr.Venki here."
"Hello Dr.Venki. Good morning. How are you old boy?"
"Good Morning. May I know who I am talking to?"
"Congrats man, for winning the Global prize for Chemistry."
"Thank you very much for your wishes. But, May I know who I am talking to?"
"Come on Venki. Dont say that you have forgotten about me."
"I am really sorry, but I cannot recollect your voice. Can you please identify yourself?"
"How can you be so forgetful Venki dear?"
"Er... Mm... I am frightfully sorry that i am not able to recollect your voice. If you don't mind can you please identify yourself?"
"Oh.. I don't believe it. Are you really serious that you cannot identify my voice?"
"Please...I am really sorry and I want to apologize to you for not remembering your voice. Can you please tell me who you are?"
"Ah.. I understand now. All scientists are a bit forgetful. I have seen that in lots of movies. Like the great scientist that you are, you are also a little bit forgetful, aren't you, my boy"
"Yes sir. I guess I am. Now, if you could please identify........"
"I am really annoyed that you cannot recollect me."
"I am really sorry sir. But i really cannot. I must be getting old. Now, if you could please identify...."
"How can you forget your old teacher, the one and only Nambirajan?"
"My old teacher? Nambirajan? I am sorry but your name doesn't ring a bell."
"Now.. this is too much Venki. How can you forget your old Chemistry teacher?"
"But sir... I really do not recollect you."
"Come on Venki... How can you forget your Chemistry Department's head in the Chidambaram University? After all I taught you chemistry during your Under Graduate course in Chemistry. How can you forget the teachers that helped you reach, where you have reached now?"
"But sir...Its not that I have forgotten my teachers. I have lots of respect for my teachers. But you see, I am not a Chemistry graduate. I did my major in Physics. And I moved out of Chidambaram when i was 3 years old. I never attended any school, leave alone college in Chidambaram. I think you are mistaken."
"Glad to have talked to you son. I am really proud of you. I am really proud of my student winning the Global prize. You have made me one proud teacher, son. Do you remember me telling you during your first year course that one day you will win the Global Prize? You have proved me right boy. I am really proud of you. I cannot wait to announce this to my team at the Chidambaram University. "
"But sir. You see ......."
The phone disconnects abruptly.
Dr.Venki faints.
(c) Vijayaganesh Sampathkumar -2009. All Rights Reserved.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
he he he... poor scientist..
ReplyDeleteTo me, this is true to the other way round. How often we relish our school days memories? Do we ever care how the school is doing these days? Do we ever think for our teachers whom we respected most and given credit for our success in our schooling days? Is teacher – student relationship lasts only till student is associated with teacher?
ReplyDeleteYes. True. We do tend to forget the earlier days, especially school days and teachers. However, i feel that its a natural human tendency to generally forget about things happen at our young age, those teachers and friends who have made an impression and impact on us will always be remembered.
ReplyDelete