The Civil Disobedience Movement

So, Mrugank was appointed as the teaching assistant for a course much to his dislike and the professor (whom we will name P), a well known whimsical, inconsiderate pedantic.

When the course started, the professor wasted no time in stamping his authority and stubborness on meek Mrugank. Any resistance, would be dealt in a stern threatening tone. Mammo, the obedient, buckled down like any other desi grad would. P would often derive saddistic pleasure in seeing poor Mammo scurry to/fro from his lab (5 minutes by a brisk jog) to the classroom. His favourite tactic, was to request for things one at a time. When Mammo protested to P by email, P in his quirky way apologized nevertheless. Mammo quickly reformulated his opinions regarding P - he is just clearly misunderstood, he is nice at heart.

Oh! a bit too quick. Next week, P summoned Mammo to the class, which Mammo duly obeyed. Little did Mammo realize, P was playing a dirty game. As soon as Mammo entered and took the last row seat, P commanded Mammo in full view of the class to go get him a bunch of papers lying in his lab (5 jog minutes away). P was back in form. Mammo couldn't refuse. It would be denial in public. For a moment, he contemplated not standing up and feigning that he had not heard P. But that would only mean, a re-iterated and probably a more gesticulated command and even more severe humiliation. Hello! P was clearly in the driver's seat. Mammo was fuming but too meek to resist.

And then realization dawned upon Mammo. He got up obediently, bowed to the prof. and humbly replied - "will be back Sir". He then went out of the door, never to return. P waited like a jilted lover on the Baltimore Harbour. Students swore that P looked at the door more than a couple dozen times. (P 's eyes are usually transfixed on the projector's blue bulb in front of him or on the roof of the class). Mrugank basked in the glory ala the Swami of Malgudi and a humble disciple of the Mahatma.