Читать книгу Lucky You - John Duke - Страница 11

A week before Louise dropped Eliot off at the airport, Jalal had arrived in stinking hot Jaunpur and the school driver Rajamata had met him at the train station and had driven him to the school and at the same moment that he approached the home of his childhood, Madan the school principal stepped down at Kajgaon station on the train from Kolkata. He had travelled all the way from his wife and children in Darjeeling.

He carried his case across the tracks and down the narrow path between to rice paddies and onto the road and then rolled it along the road the short distance to the school, a green double story building that was once the home of Jalal Singh and his parents and was now Madho Patti Junior Elementary School. Those who saw him wheeling his case gave little recognition to the principal other than sometimes a nod of their heads. Jalal and Madan greeted each other in a way that two people would, when they had come together for just the second time, formally, matter of fact and after a little while Jalal reminded Madan of the obligations of their beliefs so they went to their different rooms and lay their mats down on the floor.

Your wife and children are well in Darjeeling?

They are thank you Jalal. And your wife, how is her health?

I have come here from Bombay and Cochin where my wife has entered a sanatorium to help her get over some problems with her digestive system. She will attend this sanatorium and then I will return to Cochin. In these two weeks we have much to do Madan, but I must tell you, I have some news. I have not been idle back in Australia. I have employed two graduates, two young teachers to teach English at our school. I have recruited them through Jaunpur University. Their names are Karishma Singh and Scheweta Gopal and I know that the parents of our students will be very happy.

This is very good news Jalal.

It of course means Madan that you will not have to teach English anymore and you will have more time to concentrate on the administration of the school, the finances, the timetable, talking to the parents. All of those things.But I have other news Madan. I have employed a teacher trainer from Australia. His name is Eliot Wilson and he comes highly recommended, with lots of experience as an English teacher in many countries. He will arrive in just over a week and he will spend his time in the classes of our two new graduates helping them to become good English teachers. You will have to cook up food for us three at meal times.

But Jalal, this must be very costly, are you sure that we can afford it, where is the money to come from?

It is not your worry Madan, I have undertaken to cover these expenses myself. Just think what the parents will say when they know that their children are being taught by a teacher from Australia and how many other parents here and in Kajgaon will want their sons and daughters to come to our school.

I suppose you know best Jalal. Is he a follower of Ananda Marga?

No, but I have checked his past. He is a family man, his wife has recently passed away. He comes with a good reputation and he has a job to do here for eight weeks and he will be gone. He arrives on about the eighteenth so we will have to prepare for this. I will only be here for about five days until he settles in but he and I will have to share the room. Because of this, I think that we should put another ceiling fan in this room.

More expense Jalal, we must be careful with our budget.

The finances are my problem Madan. Well tomorrow morning we will have to start early, straight after breakfast we will go to the office and start planning and in the afternoon we will go into Jaunpur to buy a few things in preparation for Mr. Wilson’s arrival.

Yes Jalal and I will have to prepare myself for a lot of cooking he said in his head.