How are you baby? –A Tribute to Phili Teacher

How are you baby? –A Tribute to Phili Teacher
Dammam Bala

Dec 23, 2009... This quotation is urgent; that query needs to be answered by today another hectic working day in Dammam. That day morning, I didn’t expect a call from Radhika. She never calls from school like that... “Something is wrong!” I was telling myself.

“Bala... There is bad news; Phili teacher is dead!”- Radhika’s voice was cracking and she was about to weep.

”School ka buddi teacher mar gaya kya”- that was Binu; “inngine kaya pidichu pogum teacheru marichu poyo.. ende mone school focus bookile photo kanichu”-said Varghese. It seemed that Phili teacher’s news had already spread across Dammam and Khobar, quickly.

Phili teacher! Short in stature; slightly dark in complexion. She was more than 60, I guess. Even though Radhika happened to be Phili’s colleague from 2002 onwards, my acquaintance with Phili happened very recently a couple of months ago.

“You know Bala, I am in School foundation day team; as usual Phili is in charge
of lyrics. We need to pick her up in the evening. Her home is near Paris center-seiko”- that was my wife Radhika.

“Hey Radhika, don’t you know how difficult it is to drive in Seiko area? Why do you trouble me like this?” – I was complaining as usual, only to budge to her demand in the end. When we reached Seiko building area that evening, some one had ‘double parked’ his car, for my advantage and I parked my car behind. Radhika got down from our car, went and grabbed that fragile old lady who was standing near an optical shop. Literally Phili had to be guided to our car and lifted and put inside the car like a baby, into the back seat!

”Good evening, Mr.Balan and Sorry for the trouble I have given you” – Phili’s voice was quite young and enthusiastic, not matching with her body, battered by wear and tear of age. That day and a few more occasions, Phili happened to travel with us and her conversations with me lasted only for few minutes, nevertheless she impressed me a lot!

”You have got a nice car, Mr.Balan; I have learnt to board your car now without Radhika’s help. I bless your car”- said Phili one day with her usual grin.

“Radhika said you are interested in music; which are all the musical instruments you can play?”- Phili was curious to know. “No instruments, Maam; I am just a singer”- that was my polite reply (My failed experiments with key board and guitar are worth not mentioning said my ego!)

Phili’s way of speaking English and her diction looked very elegant to me.
She has served IISD for more than 22 long years. Always gentle towards children, pampering them positively.. That was Phili’s Style! Her interaction with them was not just limited to studies, dance/lyrics the list is endless.

“How are you Baby” – was Phil’s patented greeting; children, fellow teachers, headmistress, even Principal would have been a baby to Phili’s motherly heart, I thought!

Phili, the noble soul is not with us today. “Good morning. I am not attending school today. Planning to celebrate Xmas at home”- read the sms from Phili,
on that ill fated day. We never imagined that she would collapse in the morning due to a massive heart attack and leave us for ever, even before the medical help could arrive!

Month after month, year after year Phil patiently taught the kids, held their hands while they wrote alphabets, corrected their note books, pasted stickers in their papers, compiled them into book-lets and she did all these things without any complaints, she simply loved her job. She lived in Saudi with her husband, while her grown up sons and daughters stayed in India.

Now that Phili has become history, the school management is working on the modalities of sending her body to India and helping her grief stricken husband.

Even though Phili is physically not with us any more, there is no doubt that her silk like greeting “How are you baby” will be echoing across the walls of IISD for ever.