A Teacher's life is thankless at times. One never knows whether the effort put into moulding a generation of young students is worth it or not.

Over a teaching period of a decade, one gets used to ungratefulness from students. 1/10

A MBA student who was coming over to collect his hall ticket, called up another student to check up whether I was in the premises. He was apparently relieved when the answer was in the negative, for it appears he wanted to avoid meeting me for some strange reason. 2/10

And, to think that, this student was one of the few who had spent hours in my house over a two year period and had even rung me up at odd hours seeking advice on professional matters. 3/10

I was in for a very pleasant unexpected surprise once in Kuwait.I was outside the Examination Hall, when a young Indian girl wearing abhayah came out, having finished her final year Bachelor's examination. I vaguely remembered the face, for I dont teach Bachelor's Students. 4/10

She collected her books, looked at me and there was a moment of indecision on her face. She hesitated, but gathered courage, walked up to me. I looked up from where I was sitting. She asked;

"Sir, were you the person who took the first class for us when we joined?" 5/10

I remembered when I had seen her. I had taken the Orientation Program for her batch of Bachelor' Students in October 2007.

"Yes, I did take the Orientation Program for you when we were operating from the old premises", I replied 6/10

"Sir, I still remember one advice you gave that day - 'Whatever happens, write the exams in the first attempt and never absent yourself from the examination and you will be a graduate' - Sir, I have followed that advice to date and am grateful to you" 7/10

Taken aback slightly that a student took the pains to come up to me and thank me for the one small advice I gave all those years back, I felt a lump in my throat and said,

"I hope you have cleared all your First year and Second year papers so far" 8/10

"Yes sir, I have and I will complete the final year now god willing. Thank you sir", and she departed as dignified as she approached me.

A simple thank you for a small advice given years ago. It made my day. I felt a strange sense of accomplishment 9/10

It also taught me a lesson - that I should say thank you more often to people who have helped me all these years on many varied occasions. I should never take them for granted.

Thank you, young woman, you taught me a valuable lesson 10/10