A Tribute!!!

This incident, is the one,which has had a lion's share in making me whatever I am today;And also in helping me to reach wherever I am today!!Going back in the memory lane to my good old school days;I was studying in 9 th standard at that time.... .My parents and relatives seemed to be very excited(I dunno why??) about the fact that I had reached 9th standard,which was considered to be touger to manage than the 10th(So what!!!) .Even before the school started I had to hear a whole range of 'Best of Luck's' and 'Good wishes' over the phone. The creation of such an atmosphere around me finally resulted in myself joining an English class so as to enhance the probability of getting a good score in that subject.
It was 6o'clock in the evening. We were seated in a very well furnished class with a shinning green board in the front.I was feeling a bit awkward as I had'nt attended any classes ,related to school academics, before;Iyer Sir entered the class at around 6:15. He was a very jolly person,and he immediately made us comfortable by his soft-spoken mannerism and his jovial nature. After entering the class, he gave a very sweet smile and said the following--:" Dear children, for today,I want to tell you a story.Listen very carefully to it as it has to say something in itself...Let's see if you can get that thing.The story relates to an incident which happened in ancient arabia. There was a caravan of arabs moving through the desert.The Arabs in the caravan were good people, and were praying to God for their safe journey back to their destination.Suddenly they heard a voice; Someone was speaking from the skies!! "My children, collect as many stones as you can, for you never know, which will turn into a diamond.At the end of the day, you will be both , happy as well as sad!" The voice stopped speaking. The arabs pondered over what they had just heard. Most of them thought that, it was God, who was speaking to them. They reached a decision that they will collect stones,but not more than their capacity to carry,as they still doubted the fact that how can the stones turn into diamonds! They collected stones in their way,as many as they could. when they reached their destination,they were taken aback when they saw that the bag which carried worthless stones a few hours back was now filled with real diamonds!!They had now become the richest of the merchants in Arabia!! Suddenly sadness ruled the place;Everybody kept feeling that if only I could have collected somemore ,I could have been more richer than the other merchants."
Sir stopped speaking. We had got the message .It was crystal clear. "Collect as many stones as you can,for you never know which will turn into a diamond."
I have remembered it since then,and will continue to remember it in future as well. By Gods' grace, everything worked fine with me after that. I was now, in the third year of engineering.
One fine morning I met a classmate of mine who lived in Iyer Sir's colony.I had always respected Iyer sir as an excellent English teacher. I casually enquired about Iyer sir.The guy looked at me and said "tujhe pata nahi?" i asked,"kya?" ."Arey Iyer sir to 6 mahine pehele expire ho gaye".
I was shocked to the core.I felt very sad that day. English language had lost a good servant,and we had lost a good teacher !.This Blog is a small tribute to him, from me.