( 3 ) The incidents after Degree Course

      ( 3 )

         The  incidents   after  Degree  Course  

     After  my  Final  Year Degree  examinations,  I  was  going  through  a  terrible  situation.   I  doubted  whether  I  would  pass  the  examination  or  not.   So,  I  decided  to  undergo  fasting  -  avoid  supper.   This  continued  till  the  result  was  published.   My  mother  didn't  know  the  reason  behind  it  and murmured  against  me throughout  that  period.   I  prayed, " God,  if  you  exist,  please  give  me  a  pass mark.   After  this  prayer,  the way  in  which  I  prayed,  made  me  surprised.   I  said, "God, if  you  exist".  How  could  I  pray  like  that  ?  It  denoted that  I  had  lost  my  belief  in  God.   When  I  faced  the  reality,  I  was  totally  upset.   Without  belief  in  God,  how  could  I  live  ?  At  the  sametime,  I  realised  another  fact  - I  had  become  a  youth.   I  had  survived  my  childhood  and  adolescence  stages.   I  was  twenty  years  old  then.   In  India,  a  girl  acquires  maturity  for  marriage  at  the  age of  eighteen  years .  This  disturbed  me  very  much. 

     It  was  at  this  time  that  John  Sir  ( Fr John  ) who  was  the  Principal  of  a  parallel  college  in  Pattimattam, along  with  another  Teacher  in  that  institution  came  to  our  house.   All  my  family  members  were  present  there.   He  wanted  to  know  whether  I  was  willing  to  join  in  his  institution  as  a  Teacher.   It  would  be  a  surprise  to  all  of  you  to  hear  that  I  was  interested  in  Teaching.   He  came  to  our  house  to  select  me  as  a  Teacher  because  he  knew  that  I  was  a distinction - holder  in  Std  X.   He  didn't  know  my  performance  in  Pre  -  degree  Course.   "What  will  be  his  reaction  when  he  knows  my  Degree  result  ?", I  thought  fearfully.   My  mother  was  speaking  to  them  continuously.   She  described  my  brother's  all  mischievous  acts  and  showed  them  some  of  the  pictures  drawn  by  him.   Now,  I  remember  that  my  brother  had  a special  aptitude  to  draw  pictures. 

     However,  before  joining  as  a  Teacher,  I  had  to  purchase  some  sarees  and  learn  how  to  wear  it.   So,  I  went  to  Kolenchery  with  my  mother  ( though  unwillingly ) , bought  three  or  four  sarees.   I  don't  remember  the  exact  number.   To  wear  a  saree,  the  blouse  and  underskirt  were  to  be  stitched.   Therefore,  I  think  I  joined  as  a  Teacher  after  one  week.