What's her mistake ? - 40

“My name is Nammu. You can call me Nammu. I know that you are tired after coming back from school. Am I making you feel bad that I am taking away your play time?” asked Nammu Aunty.

“No!” said the 15 kids in unison. Nammu Aunty smiled.

There were all about 12 to 14 year old kids. It was the first day. So there was expectation on each kid’s face. Here is someone from the city who has come to teach us something. Let us see what it is – was the expression I could easily recognize.

“Let us have education. Especially general knowledge and some fun with mathematics!” declared Nammu Aunty.

The children clapped.

A boy stood up and said “Nammu... Amma!” since he could not just say Nammu. All the kids said  in chorus“Ho! Nammu Amma... Nammu Amma... Nammamma”

“It is easier to call Nammamma than Nammu.. Amma” said a girl of 13. She looked the boldest among the lot.

Nammu Aunty smiled broadly. “Kids! You know what it means by Nammamma? My Mother! Thank you kids!” she said in a choking voice and then recovered herself to say, “Let us begin with some general knowledge”

All the kids became silent.

“Can you tell me what are the names of the planets?” she asked and pointed her forefinger to a boy and told, “You tell my dear boy!”

“Eight. Earlier we thought it was nine. Now the scientists have proof to say that Pluto is not a planet”

“Very good. You have kept yourself abreast with the latest information”

Like this many questions and answers were exchanged. Nammu Aunty was quick. She had not forgotten her earlier knowledge. She had also updated her knowledge to the latest.

She was a natural teacher!

She then touched upon the subject of hygiene. “It is very important to be hygiene. Most of the diseases attack us because we are not clean. Which are called the Pancha bhutas?”

A hand went up.

“Ok, tell me dear!”

“Sky, water, air, earth and fire”

“Very right! Out of these five, the fire cannot bring us any disease except when it burns us. Correct?” she said.

There were many affirmative replies.

“That leaves us four. Sky is too far. This boils down to three. Earth, water and air. Most of our diseases come from these three. We have to be careful how we conduct ourselves with these three Bhootas”

Kids were listening with rapt attention.

“We have heard of bacteria and virus being carried by water and air. The water, if has impure particles, is not good for drinking. What should we do if we do not have clean water?”

The kids just watched Nammu Aunty eagerly awaiting her reply.

“The water if boiled well does not have harmful bacteria. Boiling the water before drinking helps us to keep healthy” Nammu Aunty said.

“The air has some bacteria. We talk about air pollution also. When there are too many vehicles throwing out smoke and if the smoke enters our nose and mouth we cough. Do you know why?”

The kids were waiting for Nammu Aunty’s reply.

“The Oxygen quantity to our lungs gets reduced due to the smoke. So, we cough. The smoke and the dust which goes inside our lungs cause problems to our lungs”

“People were smoking inside their office during the 60’s. Then slowly the smoking was restricted to outside the office. Now public places are not for smoking. Even if we inhale smoke exhaled by a smoker causes problems to our lungs”

“The Government earlier printed a warning on cigarette pack smoking is injurious to health. Then they changed it to smoking is hazardous to health. Now it says smoking kills. Funnily people who read the warning do not smoke. But the people who smoke do not care to read the warning. The worst part is that one of the government’s highest revenue earners is cigarettes. I am sure you are all good boys and girls and never ever smoke. Promise me!” she said in a serious tone.

There was a murmur of acceptance from the kids.

“I think for the first day it is enough. Do you know which the most dangerous diseases in the world are?” she asked.

One boy said, “AIDS!”

The intelligent girl said, “Cancer!”

Nammu Aunty’s face became ashen.