The Music Class

She fell in love with her music teacher on the very first day of the class! He was a tall, dark and handsome guy in his twenties, like they write about in romantic novels. And she was in the last of her teens, very vulnerable! He smiled more with his twinkling eyes. And when he taught music to this group of five youngsters, his soft voice had a magical effect. In short, he was irresistible to girls. He did two classes every Saturday of one hour each, one starting at 6 PM, and the next at 7 PM. Each course lasted for three months. Our heroine of this tale and her friends had joined the 6 PM class. The 7 PM class was meant for those who wished to continue for the next level.

The teacher had a regular job on week days which did not pay much. So, he was running these classes in his two-room apartment, basically to supplement his income. A struggling young man, he was just starting his life. He planned to marry later when he could afford it. His girl students often used to banter about it and ask leading questions. He parried them blushing a little, with answers like 'let me meet the right girl' & 'I will let you know as soon I meet my future wife'. She wondered if she could dream to be his future wife!

She actually started dreaming! She had almost a proprietorial attitude about his apartment when she visited there to attend the class. She had noticed that the two-room apartment needed drastic changes. It hardly had any furniture items worth the name and the curtains were most ill suited, very shabby. The so called kitchenette displayed a few pots and pans. The crockery was woefully inadequate, just a few cups, glasses and dishes with which her teacher could not have entertained even a couple of friends. And lesser said the better about his bedroom!

This simply must change, she thought! First thing which came to her mind was a sofa set, black in color and of leather with a small center table. A round dining table with four proper chairs is a must. This can occupy the small space close to the kitchen. He should also buy some decent crockery and cutlery. A set of six will be just fine. Let him have some packs of paper napkins too. And curtains could be of orange or brown shade with white parallels. That will give some class to his apartment. She wished similar things for the bedroom too. And yes, why not a small, inexpensive carpet in the living room? All these things will not cost him too  much! Moreover, these days banks gave loans for almost any purpose. What is the problem, she asked herself!

She also realized that very soon, next month, her music class will have finished the course. It would be time to say good bye to the teacher unless she decides to take the next one, the 7 PM class. And after two months of their association, he had no idea about fer feelings towards her! She had to gather courage and somehow let him know! She would do it in the next class which was her last, she promised herself. And then, the last Saturday of her class arrived. Today or never, it looked like!

When she arrived that Saturday for her class, she deliberately came almost half an hour before time. She needed some time to confide her thoughts and feelings for the teacher. As she approached the main entrance, she was a little surprised by a lot of cleaning activity by a couple of guys. What was happening she wondered as she entered. And then she was stunned to see the changes! She found the apartment freshly painted. Not only that, she was greeted with the sight of a black, leather sofa set with a center table. There was a carpet too. And in the corner near the kitchen, there was that round dining table with four chairs around it. The kitchen counter, she saw was clean and tidy. On the shelf, there were new dishes, cups and glasses. And the apartment's door and windows had brown curtains with matching lining. She saw practically everything which she had imagined for the place! Was she dreaming?

How come this happened? Was it a case of telepathy, she wondered! And then he emerged from the bedroom. 'Oh, you have come early today' he exclaimed. 'Please have a seat and do not mind this last minute activity', he continued. She was tongue tied but managed to ask him about this sudden uplift of the place. He smiled rather shyly and then said, 'well, you will be the first person with whom I am sharing some good news. You remember how you and others used to tease me about my single status and about my marriage? You will be happy to know that I met my future wife exactly three months before. She had just graduated from my 6 PM class and had joined the 7 PM class. It was not a case of love at first sight as we met off and on for three months. It was rather gradual and then we decided to get married. But only on one condition, she had said. 'I am giving you three months to get your place properly cleaned up, ready and fit for a married couple. Only then, we will get married'! And she had given me a list with guidelines as to what she expected. 'I just followed her instructions. I barely managed to meet her deadline! We are getting married in a month's time. Of course, you  all, my students will be invited', he concluded.

The teacher then asked her as to why she came early. She replied that she will not be able to attend this last class for some reason and wanted to personally inform him. 'Does not matter' he said, 'I will arrange an extra class for you to make up'. And then he suggested if she would like to join the 7 PM class for the next level. "Not really', she replied enigmatically, 'It is rather late for that. You see, I do not want to join the wrong class for the second time'!