Special Guest Lecturer

Being the elected president and secretary of the college science club they were in charge of the guest lecture that morning.  They verified the auditorium for all the power points and the sound system, the guest gift, the water bottles etc. and one was telling the other “I don’t know what sort bore that doctorate lady from UK is going to be and that too happening as the first thing in the morning I have to be alert till the end since it’s my job to propose the vote of thanks……….. “ Stretching herself she said “Got up early today to tie a sari….”

“Don’t worry, I will chip in in case….. But even if both of us doze off there is one ‘enthu’ junior already present there with her note and pen….. I can grab it from her “said the other laughing.

Hand in hand they walked out to the reception to receive the guest.

The introduction of the guest was by the HOD who said that she happy to tell the gathering  that today’s guest was old student college  who won the Tamil Nadu young scientist award  for her post graduate research and was the best outgoing student of that year. More than all these  she won the British scholarship that had helped her to pursue her research at UK and today she had come to share  her findings and she was happy to welcome her brilliant student to address the gathering.

The guest thanked her teacher for this sky high compliment and started her talk “As the alumni of this wonderful institution I am proud to address this august gathering with my research findings.” And turning slightly towards the two girls she winked at them and said “Before I do it I would like to assure my student friends that I will not bore you.”

The two girls were already down in the dumps when that ‘enthu girl’ was led to the stage by the HOD and the entourage with fanfare. Now a sharp arrow had been pointedly thrown at them! They were embarrassed beyond words. They never anticipated that a girlish looking person who was sitting in the front row before time, dangling her feet could be the guest lecturer of the day!

The guest had actually arrived early and being an old student she went and sat in the front row without any fuss or formality!

The two girls somehow made sure that they met her in private and profusely apologised to her for their uncouth behaviour. “ I could have done the same in your position” she said it with a smile “and you can easily blame it on the size!”