Episode 87 - The Ugly Duckling

Back at the medical room, the conversation between the three friends continue




Vi - So, if all that was a big misunderstanding, What is actually going on with you and Adi Sir?


A (stressing) - Nothing.


Vi (trying to act clever) - What was going on with you and Adi Sir?




Angela stared at her while Vidurshi rolled her eyes giving a sheepish look




U - Don't stare. Answer. Letters, Gifts, Isharey! Inn sab ka kya mathlab hai?


Angela gives out an annoyed sigh and,




A - You know Utkarsh. These letters are a two way communication system between those who ask for counselling


Angela, pointer both her index fingers at herself and,




A - And those who provide counselling.


U, Vi - What?


Vi - Tum letters likhrahi thi? But wasn't Aditya sir doing that?


A - He specifically told you guys he wasn't the one replying to the messages. Par tum logon ne already apna mind banaliya tha, (feeling proud of herself) ki Adi Sir hi yeh nek kaam kar rahe the!


U (shocked) - Mathlab. Tum "Swan" ho?


Vi (shocked) - What? You mean the one who wrote amazing articles and signed their name as a picture a swan. Wait. Notice board waali swan aur counselling letter waali ek hai? Aur woh Angela hai?


A (mocking) - Taaliya'an, You guys finally figured it out.


U - Par tum toh Diary likh ti ho, Articles aur Letters nahi.


Vi - And you don't even let us read it.


A - I know! But then I was unknowingly leting someone read my works. Our English teacher...




[Flash back resumes]


Back in the semester 2 of grade 11, Angela enters into the staff room to meet Aditya sir. It was few days after he joined as a teacher,




A (impressed) - Sir? You wanted to meet me?


Adi - Angela right? I read you assignments. Your usage of words, the flow, the creativity. It's incredible. You have a real talent in writing.


A (smiling) - Thank you sir.


Adi - You should seriously consider about being a writer.




As Aditya sir appreciated her, Angela was at first pleased. But she didn't stay the way long. With eyes full of dispair and a fake smile on her lips




A (without being emotional) - I'm not sure if you're aware of this sir, but I'm not someone who can dream of a future.


There was a moment of pause and Aditya sir couldn't speak.




A - Agar kuch aur bath nahi hai toh, I'll take your leave sir.


As Angela left, Aditya sir looked at a strong-minded Angela both proudly and with sympathy.


A few days later, Aditya sir met Angela on the corridor and stopped her to talk. He handed her his phone with a open webpage, as she scrolled she realized,




A (surprised) - Yeh toh meri poem hai.


She reads the comments on the blogs, smiles and looks at Aditya sir. She continues to smile and read while Aditya sir was happy to see the smile on her face,




Adi - You don't always need the future to fulfil your dreams.


Angela looks at Aditya Sir with a big smile and gleeful eyes.


Next week, as the students were settling down for the class, Aditya sir looks at Angela, taps his phone and through lip movement asked "Posted?". Angela noded her head vigorously while Utkarsh stared at her.


After the class, she meets Aditya Sir by the table and talks while Siyali asks Utkarsh what the matter was while he remained clueless.




Adi - Tum apna naam likh kyun nahi rahi ho.


A - Because I don't want anyone to know its me.


Adi - Don't you atleast want your friends to read it?


A - Nope! Too bad that they'll never even know it even exists.




Angela winks and is about to leave when,




Adi - By the way, what's with the swan?


A - Naam nahi toh sahi, apne work pe apna mark toh chodna chahiye na, sir.


Adi (curious) - But why swan?


A (chirpy) - Angel has wings. Swan has wings.


Adi (loud) - And so does every bird.




Aditya sir laughs as Angela leaves with her friends.


A month later, students were gathered around an area. Angela and friends comes to the spot wondering what it was, Vidyut comes out of the crowd,




Si - Vidyut? Yeh kya ho raha hai?


Vd - Adi sir's new notice board. (Impressed) It's more like school social media or something. There's like an amazing articles, and then there are little like, love buttons and spaces to leave comments. So impressive.




The gang looked confused and sneaked into the crowd to see a portrait large shaped notice board which looked like an FaceBook post. An article with a quote in an A3 paper was clipped on and little boards with a marker to write comments. Angela widened her eyes and walked backwards and disappeared. Next minute, she was knocking Aditya sir's room door. As he opened, she barged inside and,




A (in super speed) - Adi, Tell the truth. Are you an angel sent from heaven to make all my wishes and dreams come true.


Adi (confused) - Say what? And Adi? (Angry, funny) Yeh Sid ke wajahse sab bigad gaye. Adi Sir!! I'm your teacher.


Vi - Pause!


[Flash back pauses]




Vi - Angela, Par tumhara dream toh NGO tha na.


U (realising) - Exactly. Tum trip par bhi batha rahi thi. Yeh Writer ke sapney ke baarey mein tumne kisiko bathaya hi nahi.


A - Haan. Main nahi chahti thi ke koi jaane. There was a reason I didn't even sign my name in my own posts.


Angela looks at them seriously and continues,




[Flash back resumes]


Aditya sir sat on his bed correcting papers while Angela was using his laptop sitting on his work desk,




Adi - I still don't understand why you want to keep writing anonymously!


Angela who was looking at the keyboard looked up the screen and turned towards Aditya sir, finally ready to explain herself,




A - I always thought of myself as SRK from Kal ho na ho. Someone who made people smile. Someone who taught people how to live. Par jab logon ko SRK ki bimari ke baarey mein patha chala, everything changed. His words "Kal ho na ho" jo pehle motivating lag rahi thi, jeene ka tarika sikha raha tha, baad mein depressing lagne laga. Anything said by a dying person doesn't motivate or make people happy. It just makes them depressed and sad.


Angela said keeping her chin on her fist and elbow on her lap while Aditya sir looked at her intensely. She smiles and puts both her palms on her lap and,




A - And you were also right about the swan thing. It's the swan from the ugly ducking. All she wanted was to belong, but she couldn't. Even when the ducklings were accepted her, she wasn't able to belong. Because she knew was different.


Adi (funny) - You know, that's not how the story goes!!




Aditya sir tried to stop her from getting sad instead Angela smiled and nodded that she knew.


[Flash back pauses]




Vidurshi and Utkarsh looked as if they were drowning in sorrow.




U (mumbles) - Toh agar secret hi tha, toh ab kyun batha rahi ho?


A - Because the secret is out. This had to come out during the presentation of the proposal for the AV club proposal to be accepted.




Utkarsh and Vidurshi looking down slowly nodded as they were still sad,




A (cheerful) - Hello. I just said AV club plan was approved.


U, Vi (excited) - Really???


A (happy) - Yes.


U, Vi (excited) - Treat! Treat!




Angela rolled her eyes thinking and,




A (excited) - You can have my this week's deserts.


"Yaay" Utkarsh and Vidurshi screamed and gave each other hi-fis while Angela laughed.


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