One Step At a Time

Dear Student,

"To be a part of a child's life and celebrate his every little success forms the greatest moments of any teacher's life."

There are days, more like moments when you are downright confused, messy and in a haze of a crazy spiral mess. The more you share the more varied views or advice you receive. And if, you are not completely sane and in one of those moods it affects you the most, dampening your mood and spoiling your day. It's not just you whose affected but the people you hang out with; your colleagues and if you're a teacher the worst hit party are your students. They bear the brunt of your mood swings. But is it right or is it mental? It would be unwise to say, you're correct and blame your students for everything, "Hey I was stressed out and you added to it" or "It's all your fault, kids these days I tell you no respect for elders or teachers." et al. I mean it's easy to jot down excuses and blame others, why do we not look at our faults? It could have been us and not them.

From the past one week or so, I've been listening to this; "You're too friendly or you care too much. It's okay to care for your friends and family. But there is a line between a student and a teacher. You shouldn't be friendly with them, at least not outside the class and blah blah." End of story what all that yielded was;
1. Not to be friendly to students.
2. Only be strict.
3. Do Not Care, there's a line that divides you.

I freaked up, big time. On one hand I've had some exceptionally awesome teachers, who went on caring for us like we were their own kids. And the best part was, they loved us; loved me, were friendly & caring, heard us out even if they couldn't help us and always, always gave us advice; not the bookish one but of their own experiences. And I realize we respected them, still do and even remember them, are in touch with them, if not all some. They taught well, maybe they weren't perfectionist, no one is or maybe they were. But they respected us, us students. And looking back now, I don't remember how they taught me or if, they ever made a goof-up in class, what I do clearly remember is, how they made me feel. Heck, they didn't even lose hope in me when I and my so-called friends thought I was a lost cause. After all, all we need is a bit of love, hope & lots of faith.

And today I finally took the courage to ask my mum, "Hey what kind of a teacher were you?" And you know what she told me? "I was friendly, caring; I was new obviously so it was not a cake walk everyone is at one point but I maintained good relations both in and out of class. Experience and perfection in teaching comes with time, when delivering a lecture. But friendliness it should be there from the start. And what you need to have is patience, lots of patience."

This reminds me I read somewhere, "It doesn't matter if your student is 5 years younger to you or 15, he or she is your student & if you treat them well, they will treat you well, and respect you." After all to gain respect & friends one should be the same. You get what you give.

There will be hundred's of people who will advice you, but only ten will truly do and mean it. So today, my confusion has resolved and I'm sorry for being mean and selfish and for being angry when there was no need, anger is never the solution. I love you guys and that's it. I've loved every single student of mine that I've taught till date and In shaa Allah will do in future too.

And an ending quote, "The best thing about being a teacher is that as they grow, we grow with them."

-love, Fatima

P.S: The opening and closing quotes of this letter are from, Make A Difference page couldn't help but share.

Passion Colours Everything !

Passion Colours Everything !

Could I gain thy love tonight?

Could I hold you tight?

And never let you outta my sight...

And walk down the aisle in white !

Waking up in the middle of the night,

I fear losing you even in my dreams,

Don't drift apart my love...

Or else I'll be lost in this eventide !

Tears stream down my cheek...

Mumbling inconceivable words...

I cling to you like a child,

Not letting you leave my sight...

You peck my cheeks,

You kiss my lips,

You hold me close,

And soothe my ruffled soul...

You feel my sorrow,

You feel my pain,

Even in your despair,

You cajole me and ease my fear...

Slowly the clock ticks by...

And the solemnity sweeps away,

Life now sounds melodious...

As love and joy gleam in my eyes !

-Fatima 

P.S: Wishing you a very happy and prosperous New Year Guys...Hope you have a fun filled and exciting year ahead...Take Care !

Brewing Desires!

Brewing Desires!

Though it was too early but she had nothing to do, being Sunday the whole day was spent idly doing chores she didn’t wish to do or reading novels. She thought of preparing an early dinner humming soft songs, she was stirring pots on one hand and kneading the dough on the other almost ready with the dinner. It was time for him to be back home when the winds started blowing and the clouds gathered and it felt that it could rain any minute; when she remembered that some of the clothes were left on the roof and went to fetch them.

The wind blew rashly and it was seemingly difficult to manage her sari and locks of hair that flew. In fleeting seconds the rain started falling in sheets and the very reason of collecting clothes was long forgotten. Lost in her own world she began dancing drenching to the core and reveling in the rains.  

The smell of earth, the thundering clouds and the dark sky with the droplets slashing the window and wallowing trees engulfed her and she basked like a kid.

Her sky blue cotton sari had clung to her like second skin becoming almost see-through with her wet hair cascading down her back. The sound of her bangles and anklets sounded like sweet melody as the bittersweet symphony reverberated throughout. 

This is how he found her when he reached the rooftop himself drenched from the rains and the tiredness in him slowly started seeping away. He was bewitched with his patience slipping away as he watched her from a distance hoping to catch her attention but all in vain. Slowly yet steadily he walked towards her hugging her wet form from behind, when he heard her gasp.

“Zaid”, she stiffened at first but then relaxed in his hold as she recognized the touch and let her head slump back to his shoulders, “When did you come? I didn’t expect you this soon!” 

 “Hmm…just some moments ago”, he replied all the while burying his face in the crook of her neck nuzzling and inhaling her scent. She could feel his warmth all around her and his heartbeats going intense even in that splattering rain. 

She tried to escape his hold and run but he buckled her back to himself holding her securely over the stomach by one hand while he entwined the other with hers.

“Let me go the clothes are soaking”, she pleaded her voice heavy and laden with helplessness and desire. She questioned herself, how could he manage to snap her self-control within seconds and that too just about every time but she never got an answer. 

Instead of leaving her or replying to her, he pressed his body more into her gently trailing his fingers down the entire length of her. The flimsy excuse of the sari she wore did nothing to help; neither did it conceal nor reveal yet it aroused him in ways and made him do things. She felt herself going weak and bit her lips to hold back the moan that threatened to escape.  

He slowly turned her towards him, brushing her hair aside cupping her reddened cheeks kissing her closed eyes and brushed his lips against hers. She fluttered her eyelashes, his gaze intoxicating a mixture of both love and lust that she could no longer resist. She hugged him closely giving herself completely wrapping her arms around his waist kissing his heart.

In one swift move, he lifted her in his arms and raced towards the bedroom with a teasing smile as she buried her face in his shoulder.

The clothes lay where they were long forgotten and the rain got more intense and thunderous with each passing minute.    

-Fatima

In The Blue of Night...

He extended his hands towards the fireplace to take in the brisk warmth; his eyes were fixed over the window on the snowflakes which were floating from the heavens dreamily. Their flow reminded him of her gait, she floated exactly like this and ever since their wedding he could hardly keep his hands off her. The thought brought a sly smile to his lips as he stood up slowly and stretched himself, perhaps he should try to warm his wife up a bit. A slight sound caught his attention and he turned around and saw her leaning against the door-frame with a slight smile lingering on her lips, the very sight of her roused him.

She was dressed in simple bare red sari with a golden low cut blouse that accentuated her curvy frame with just anklets and red glass bangles adorning her, her waist long hairs were damp from the shower earlier and were unbraided just the way he liked. His feet were fixated to the floor as he stood there almost in trance, his eyes not leaving her gaze even for a moment drinking her beauty. She slowly walked over to him and stood across interlacing her hands around his neck all the while not breaking the stare, his hands on their own accord twined around her waist interlocking her in a tight embrace and burying his face in her neck taking in her scent and reveling in her warmth.

Parting from him slightly yet standing close to him her eyes held a mischievous glint as she kissed the corner of his mouth and heard him groan, the very sound sent tingles down her spine making her weak in the knees; neither words were uttered nor a touch yet his unnerving intense gaze was arousing her in ways she could not name distracting her from everything else. Without uttering a word she turned around leaning against the wall that was beside her to calm her racing breath; when he didn’t follow her, disappointment started rising in her but before it could get her she felt the lights dimming and his hands touching her caressing her waist. She couldn’t think anymore, her eyes closed and her hands travelled from his chest to the nape of his neck all the way to his hair as his lips found hers, his hands grazing her waist and trailing to her spine all the while.

She didn’t have an idea how much time had elapsed as they stood against the wall plastered together and lost in another world, it was not long before he lifted her in his arms and lowered her down on the bed. Her chest was heaving up and down but she didn’t have a moment to breathe before she found herself in his arms again. 

Mayank, she tried to speak in an almost inaudible voice, Dinner is waiting. 

Dinner and afters are all right here, he didn’t miss a beat as he proceeded in the path that she had started for him tonight.  

-Fatima

P.S: First paragraph courtesy Ivre...thank you for writing it! :)