"He is an excellent student, so listen carefully children", said Headmaster Gangadharan.
"School is very important because we get our education from here. So stay in school and learn. When you reach your 10th there will be a public exam. Until the 10th everyone studies the same subjects. But from the 11th onward you can choose which subjects you would like to study. If you like math and science, you can study that, or if you like literature or social science you can study that as well. If you are taking science you can sit for the entrance exam to be a doctor and if you study math also you can write the entrance exam to become an engineer. I for myself want to be an engineer", he said.
Malathi's hand shot up in the air, stunning everyone except Vishnu.
"What is an engineer?" she asked. She was familiar with a doctor, she had visited the primary health center and when her Amma delivered her younger brother, Kartikeyan, she was in the hospital, but engineers are something she did not know.
Vishnu smiled and replied, "Engineers designs and build things, like machines, houses, roads, etc. If there is a problem that can be solved by designing equipment or a structure, then engineers do it".
Her hand shot up once again, "There are baby doctors and doctors for noses, are engineers also like that?"
"Yes, there are different types of engineers; mechanical engineers build machines, and civil engineers build buildings", replied Vishnu.
Her hand shot up once again. "What do you want to be?"
Vishnu laughed and replied, "I want to be a Civil Engineer, I like building structures".
Her hand shot up once more. "I think that is enough Malathi, let someone else ask questions", said a rather surprised Headmaster. But he was greeted by pin-drop silence either because the children were feeling shy or intimidated. Defeated, the headmaster said to Vishnu, "I think we can wind up now, it's time for their first period".
Vishnu bid goodbye to the class and while leaving he gave a special wave to Malathi, which would have made her red, but she was too dark for it to be seen.
In the first break, her classmates made fun of her for talking to the senior boy, but it put a seed in her mind. The school day came to an end for the day, but Malathi waited outside until Gangadharan closed his office and came out.
"Malathi, you are still here? What happened?" asked Gangadharan.
"Sir, how should I study to become an engineer?" she asked him.
A warm, happy feeling rushed into Gangadhara's heart. So he sat down on the steps to his office and beckoned her to sit next to him.
"Was that the question you wanted to ask Vishnu?" asked Gangadharan.
Malathi nodded. Finally, one child asked that question.
"Malathi, becoming an engineer is an excellent aim in life and I am glad you have an aim. And about the question that you asked, you can be anything you want as long as you will work towards that goal. For you to get into engineering, you have three major exams before that; your 10th, 12th, and entrance exam. Study well and pass those exams and you can get admission to a college that teaches it. Learn math and science well and you could get in", he said.
"I do study, but I do not top the class. Lalitha does not even study and she tops every single time, why is it so?" she asked.
"Malathi, everyone is born with some talents, Lalitha has a talent for understanding and remembering, you will be having some other talent. Tell me what you do well?" he asked her.
"I know how to grow vegetables, nothing else. I play chess with my Appupan, but I think he lets me win", she said.
"See you have a talent that Lalitha might not have!" he encouraged her.
YOU ARE READING
Malathi charitham (The history of Malathi) (Kalarikkal series - 2)
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