In the quiet town of Aryalaya, life moved at a pace that let resident's gossip, complain, and, most importantly, observe. Here lived a man named Tejas Babu. He was a middle-class schoolteacher with a knack for pretending to be someone he wasn’t. Tejas was the embodiment of self-promotion without real substance.
To the outside world, Tejas appeared to have high moral standards. He was an epitome of love, loyalty, and ethics. You would often see him in the local market, hand in hand with his wife, Sita. He would passionately declare to anyone who listened, “The love I have for my Sita is like the sun, unwavering and eternal. She is the backbone of my success. Without her, I am nothing!”
However, the townsfolk, especially his colleagues, had learned to take Tejas’s words with skepticism. What he didn’t realize was that behind the scenes, his reputation as a devoted husband was as thin as the lies, he told. Tejas might have been the most disloyal man in Aryalaya, but his clever manipulation of words let him project the image of an ideal husband. The truth was, his affection for Sita was as fake as his moral high ground, and everyone knew it.
Sita was far from oblivious. The quiet, unassuming woman had accepted her reality. Tejas’s grand love speeches were just public performances, a part of his daily facade. Regarding his “loyalty” to her, Sita understood better. He had a reputation for disappearing after school hours, often leaving her wondering where he truly went. But she had more pressing matters, like raising their children and managing the household.
Tejas Babu’s behavior at school was equally well-known. In staff meetings, he sat with a smug grin, always ready to share his “wisdom.” Much of it came from overheard conversations or random internet quotes. He was quick to take credit for any small success and the first to blame others for his failures. “This student’s report card was successful because I guided him through every step!” Tejas would say, as if he hadn’t spent most of the semester in a haze of half-finished lessons.
When things went wrong, it was never his fault. “The curriculum committee didn’t understand my vision,” he would insist. “But I shall carry the burden of their incompetence.” Or, “That project failed because the other teachers didn’t follow my brilliant instructions. I had already predicted it.” But no one ever challenged his grand stories. They didn’t need to. They all knew Tejas Babu was, at best, a harmless fool and, at worst, a walking joke.
The principal, Mrs. Kumar, learned over the years to indulge Tejas’s boasting instead of correcting it. She viewed him as a necessary source of entertainment, especially when staff meetings became dull. Her favorite tactic was to praise his “innovative” methods with a straight face, fully aware that his ideas were recycled nonsense. “Tejas,” she’d say with feigned admiration, “I’ve never met a teacher so deeply invested in developing students’ emotional intelligence. Your approach is truly revolutionary!”
And Tejas, unaware of her sarcasm, would puff up with pride. “Thank you, Mrs. Kumar. It’s always been my dream to impact the youth of this country and mold their minds into ethical, responsible citizens!”
Behind closed doors, however, the staff would burst into laughter once Tejas left the room. “Can you believe he thinks he’s actually changing the world?” one teacher would say, shaking his head. “He’s the biggest fool I’ve ever met.”
Despite their amusement, they all continued to feed Tejas’s delusions. Mrs. Kumar, always strategic, knew that keeping him in his bubble of self-importance worked in their favor. As long as he felt happy with the false praise, he wouldn’t notice how thoroughly overlooked he was. In fact, she used him for the same reason everyone else did: to distract, entertain, and lighten the otherwise monotonous life of school administration.
One fateful day, however, the laughter came to an end in the most unexpected way.
The school was organizing its annual “Teacher’s Excellence” award, which recognized teachers for their efforts in various areas. Tejas Babu, ever the opportunist, convinced himself that this was his moment. After all, he believed he was the most ethical, devoted, and innovative teacher in the district. He never considered that someone else might win this award.
When the night of the ceremony arrived, Tejas was already rehearsing his acceptance speech in his mind. “I am deeply humbled by this honor,” he imagined saying. “I promise to continue working for the greater good of education.”
But fate had other plans. The award went to another teacher, Mrs. Malini, a quiet, hardworking woman who had spent countless hours tutoring struggling students. She was known for her kindness and selflessness.
When the announcement was made, Tejas’s face went pale as if he had just seen a ghost. He blinked in disbelief as Mrs. Malini took the stage to accept the award. For a moment, he stood frozen, unable to grasp that the recognition he felt entitled to had slipped away.
Then came the moment that shattered his carefully constructed world.
As the ceremony wound down, Mrs. Kumar approached him, sensing that Tejas needed a gentle dose of reality. “Tejas, can I have a word?”
He nodded, forcing a smile, still hoping for some consolation prize. Mrs. Kumar leaned in and spoke in her usual calm tone. “Tejas, I need to tell you something. It’s about how you carry yourself.”
Tejas, eager for praise, interrupted, “Of course! I know I’ve done so much for this school. My methods, my vision, my commitment—I’m just ahead of my time!”
Mrs. Kumar looked him in the eye and replied, “You don’t get it, do you, Tejas? You’ve been playing this game for years, but you’ve never been real with anyone. The loyalty you speak of is empty. Your ethical stance is just a mask. You take credit for things you didn’t do and blame others when things go wrong.”
Tejas stood there, his heart racing. “What do you mean? I’m the most loyal man in this school! I’m the most committed teacher you’ve ever seen!”
Mrs. Kumar shook her head. “No, Tejas. You’re the most disloyal, opportunistic person I’ve ever met. You’ve been fooling yourself all this time. We all know it, and we let you carry on because it was entertaining. But you were the only one who didn’t see it. The joke’s always been on you when you casually used to joke on other competent and more realistic teachers behind their back.”
Tejas’s mind raced. Was this true? Had all his years of boasting and pretending been in vain? He had convinced himself of his greatness, but now, at this moment, the truth pierced through. His reputation as a teacher, his supposed integrity—it was all smoke and mirrors.
The final blow came when Mrs. Kumar added with a sigh, “You’re not the person you think you are, Tejas. And you never will be, not unless you learn to stop pretending and start learning things rather than copying. Let others speak for you, let your work speak for you and let your words rest until you know something real meaningful that is truly yours”
Tejas stood there, stunned, as the realization sank in. His carefully crafted image had been a house of cards, and one gust of truth had knocked it down. He had spent years elevating himself at the expense of everyone around him, but in the end, he was nothing more than a puppet dancing to his own ridiculous stories.
And so, Tejas Babu - once the self-proclaimed most loyal, most ethical, and most talented teacher - was left with nothing but his own reflection. That reflection now revealed the truth: he had been a fool all along. The truth and better sense prevailed as always.
Moral of the Story:
"The truth always catches up with those who wear a mask of deceit. Boasting without substance not only fool others but ultimately deceives the person wearing the mask."
Dive into the heartfelt world of Hindi and Urdu poetry with Naveen Kumar Jannat. Read shayari, nazms, love poems, and soulful reflections on life and emotions.