Under The Clear Summer Sky

5 | a crucial incident

Usually, chance encounters and the subsequent conversations that would overflow were usually pretty mundane, hardly causing any impact on anyone's life. It was just one of those things that gave people temporary pleasure and entertainment.

Not in the case of Anu and Vineet, however. A chance encounter between their mothers was the turning point in their lives, giving them memories they would never forget; memories that shaped them.

Here is how it went. Nina and Anita ran into each other in the grocery store inside the apartment complex.

After the usual 'Oh, hey!', 'How are you?', 'I'm fine, how are you?', the chit-chat (the crucial bit) began.

"Are you feeling better these days? Anu told me you collapsed outside the grocery store."

"Ah, yes." Nina recalled the distasteful incident, which had happened about a week back. It had caused major disruptions in all her plans as well as her family's schedule. "It was dreadful. The doctors insist I have something wrong with my body. I tell you, what's really wrong is how much medicines they offer to me and how much those medicines cost. But that love of a child, Anu, I have to thank her. You have raised her very well."

Anita laughed, bashfully. She herself was of the opinion that no other girl in the world could best her own daughter. Just a parental bias.

"How is she doing?" Nina asked as she returned to inspecting the onions.

That child-" A sigh. "She has scored very low in physics this time."

"Anu? I thought she had started performing well in all the subjects. I recall you telling me she did well in the summer session tests."

"Well, she scored decently well in the other subject but physics...-" Anita leaned forward as if to tell a secret. "Physics is her weak point."

"I see," Nina nodded quickly, her thoughts leading to the next logical question. "Have you arranged a tuition for her?"

"Therein lies the problem." Anita stared at the tomato in her hand. "We only know one tuition center around here and I've heard so many rumors about how strict the man is. Apparently, he beat a student with a ruler. There are only 3 coaching centres in the city and they're all in central Pulan. That's a long distance to travel."

Nina, at the moment, felt extra glad her son didn't require the help of coaching centers or tuitions. Being brilliant was just all positives and no negatives. But she felt a little bad for Anu. A sigh left her lips as she wondered with Anita what could be the best course of action.

Suddenly, an idea struck Nina.

"What if...Vineet tutored Anu?"

"Vineet, your son?"

"Yes. He's very good at physics. He's won multiple Olympiads and he always gets a full in physics. I think he might be able to help her."

Anita thought it over. "But that child has to study too..."

"He's already done with the syllabus." Nina bragged. "It really won't be a problem."

Anita turned her shocked eyes to Nina's cool and calm ones. He was already done with the syllabus? And it was only July?

"Well," Anita gave her another surprised glance. "if it's no trouble for your son, we could arrange for the tuition. Let me know how much you would like to be paid-"

"No!" Nina exclaimed, placing her hands over Anita's. "This is not a transaction, Anita. Your child helped in my most dire of times. If anything, it's a repayment. I wish to help that child out, in return. She's a very good kid and if there's any help I can give her, I will."

Anita was moved to tears. "Thank you, Nina. I'll inform her of this."

After their shopping, both the mothers went back home with a grin;  Anita who was still feeling touched by Nina's words, felt happy about the fact that she had found a way to help her daughter. Nina felt smug satisfaction about being able to help Anuradha in return.

It was a win-win for them both.

✿

[behind the scenes]

Vineet: Mom, if there's one thing that I must thank you for, it's asking me to tutor Anuradha.

Mom: ?