"A Teacher"

"And that's how you solve the equation" the Maths teacher concluded.

As he turned around he saw most of his students noting down studiously, few puzzled, few still clueless but still engrossed in their notebooks. There was this particular student which caught his attention. The most brilliant student of his, looked disinterested. The one who always intrigued with interesting possibilities and alternate theories was silent today, staring out of the window.

"So Roll no. 46!" the teacher called out in his usual tone (with his love of maths he was always fascinated by numbers and used to address his students by their roll number instead of names).

"Would you like to help us with this problem" he asked as he wrote a tough one on the blackboard.

The student got up, went to the board, and within a few minutes filled the whole board with a detailed spotless solution with a commendable precision. 

"Class dismissed!!" the teacher declared.

"Not you 46!" the student heard as he was about to leave class. "Sit down besides me" he said making a gesture with his hand. "You have a bright future son!" he said. "You'll make it big in Math" he added.

The student shook his head in negation and said "Some equations don't add up sir!" 

"Like what?" the teacher probed.

"Bublee (Daughter of his maid) is dying and the doctor said they need 3 lakhs for the surgery, her mother couldn't even get close to half of that money even if she sold everything" the child said with a shivering voice. His mind was too young to deal with the harsh reality, that not all children are lucky enough to get what they need, be it even life!

"I will take up medicine as a career Sir!" the boy said firmly as he stood up. His voice echoed his determination for the cause. A light had been ignited deep in his soul with unfathomable reflection in his eyes.

"Good bye Sir" as he exclaimed, the teacher stood there wondering. There was a child who did not follow his heart but somewhere down he was still happy for his student. That the world probably lost a good mathematician but yet gained a far more noble soul - a determined being with a spirit to serve.

That day a lesson was taught and learnt in the classroom. As he looked up the blackboard the thought for the day made perfect sense:

"In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn."