It was a usual chemistry class. Amay Pandey Sir was in his usual intellect and charm. I was in my usual meditative focus I had cultivated in those IIT days. Class was usual, filled with many friends and a few competitors. I was sitting in the second row, the optimum for Amay Sir's style of presentation: not getting too overwhelmed by his aura, nor being out of his sight. Then came the challenge. It was a piston-cylinder system which was leaking. It was being heated as well. The piston would go up or down? He framed the question twice. That was it. It seemed to be a normal trivia. But, it was not. I realized it when the answer eluded me and carried me deeper into my thoughts. I would not let it go either. I took up the challenge and put the problem in the category of 'constant contemplation' problem. These problems would be very tough only my subconscious mind in partnership with some higher intelligence could solve it. I went everywhere with my new friend: the leaky piston.
It was there with me on the cycle. My maximum attention on the problem, I only cared about not being hit by the vehicles. In the room, in the washroom, the mess, everywhere I went I argued with, coaxed and threatened the leaky piston. It was not yielding. Then, voila! in a flash it was there, it would go up. I rechecked my logic. I played it in my mind. It would go up! Was is it a special problem, sir did not suggest it to be so. But, it took all my thoughts to arrive at the solution. It must be special.
The next Amay Sir's class was here. I took my seat, felt a turn in my stomach and a bit of temperature. Did he remember the problem he asked in the previous class? Will he ask for the answer. Yes he did: "Soocha kisine?". There was a silence. There were all these geniuses in the class, they had not got the answer? I took a deep breath. Should I divulge my answer or will it be too outrageous, out of norm. I think it is best to keep quite. "Kisine nahi soocha?" he repeated. I thought he expects to hear the answer from someone. I had to tell: "It would go up". There was silence. He looked in my direction. "It would go up," I repeated. He winced and then grinned. "Senior se puch liya kya?" he questioned quiet surprised. I said I thought it out and explained it in short. "Badhiya yaar pehle kabhi koi nahi bataya iska answer", he said and gave that charming smile with dimples. I was pleasantly relieved but behaved as if everything was normal. But, I was excited to my bones and shivered a bit. He winced and smiled again, turned around and continued with his usual intellect and charm.
It was there with me on the cycle. My maximum attention on the problem, I only cared about not being hit by the vehicles. In the room, in the washroom, the mess, everywhere I went I argued with, coaxed and threatened the leaky piston. It was not yielding. Then, voila! in a flash it was there, it would go up. I rechecked my logic. I played it in my mind. It would go up! Was is it a special problem, sir did not suggest it to be so. But, it took all my thoughts to arrive at the solution. It must be special.
The next Amay Sir's class was here. I took my seat, felt a turn in my stomach and a bit of temperature. Did he remember the problem he asked in the previous class? Will he ask for the answer. Yes he did: "Soocha kisine?". There was a silence. There were all these geniuses in the class, they had not got the answer? I took a deep breath. Should I divulge my answer or will it be too outrageous, out of norm. I think it is best to keep quite. "Kisine nahi soocha?" he repeated. I thought he expects to hear the answer from someone. I had to tell: "It would go up". There was silence. He looked in my direction. "It would go up," I repeated. He winced and then grinned. "Senior se puch liya kya?" he questioned quiet surprised. I said I thought it out and explained it in short. "Badhiya yaar pehle kabhi koi nahi bataya iska answer", he said and gave that charming smile with dimples. I was pleasantly relieved but behaved as if everything was normal. But, I was excited to my bones and shivered a bit. He winced and smiled again, turned around and continued with his usual intellect and charm.
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