Bargains And Conversations

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 I was looking at the calendar today. 19 days of January are about to have gone by and I'm pretty much in the same scenario as I was last year. The difference is, I feel like someone else. I don't know why or how, but I just do. Somewhat like Edmond Dantes, but minus the vengeance motive, the external makeover and of course, the treasure. So basically like Bob the Titan, but with memories. 

I'm not able to put a finger on the correct analogy, but I've tried to provide two examples. If it were an exam, I would've been asking the teacher for marks even though I knew I hadn't written the correct answer. At least I've written something- that has to count, right?
The teacher we've all seen some time or the other: No, it doesn't.
But look! There's a semi-colon and correct punctuation and everything!
The teacher: So what if it does?
So doesn't that count for something?
The teacher: No. 
Not even one mark? Just one, please?
The teacher, with that stare we've all seen: No.
Really? After all this time? After all the years you've taught me? After all the times I cleaned the board and didn't cheat in tests? Even though I made you the best chart ever? Even after I never slept in your class? I didn't sleep even during "Tempest". That has to be worth one mark, right?
The teacher: No. 

A lot of students discover their bargaining skills when they have to convince a teacher to dole out more marks. That's one reason why ladies have better bargaining skills than men; guys look at the paper and know that they had expected lesser, so they keep mum and take the marks they can. Except the toppers; they're always meticulous with the totals. The rest are, well, resting in peace. 

Anyways, the conversation between any student and teacher in this kind of scenario is surprisingly similar to that between two romantic interests. I'm not being stupid or whimsical here. I've heard and seen conversations which seem too similar for comfort. 

A major similarity is the fact that these conversations are fun to watch, but terrible to be a part of. If it's any help, I can say that the teacher says 'Yes' more than the average romantic interest. I say this with some authority. I've been a part of these conversations often enough. The teacher one, I mean. The other scenario hasn't manifested itself yet. I've heard blow-by-blow accounts, but that's not the real thing.

Speaking of blow-by-blow, I made the mistake of watching the match between India and South Africa today. Blow-by-blow is what van der Dussen and Bavuma did to the bowlers today, and it was not pretty. 

Moving on to other news for the day. School teachers are angels compared to college professors. Not all, but definitely so when compared to some of the 'laid-back' teachers. (That 'laid-back' was a sarcastic one, in case you missed it.) Sweets in Calcutta are always the best, unless you're under the weather and feel like sleeping all the while. Then they seem irrelevant, though it's not their fault. 

Last but not least, it is recommended that a box of tissues are always kept close at hand while going through picture albums. For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about, they are pictures you can touch. No, they're not on your phone and you can't get them via Whatsapp. I'm calling it a day now. Adios!

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