I had just completed my M.A.(English) and was hoping to join some college as a lecturer, a dream nourished since adolescence. One day a fellow, knowing I was a good student, approached me with a proposal. His plan was to run a private tutorial and was half way through implementing it. He promised me a salary-based teaching position within six months along with a two-wheeler. For the time being, he wanted me to take classes at Rs.100 (at that time even Rs.100 was too good for me) per class. In spite of my parents' warning I decided to go for it. The very first month, I remember, he paid me one day before the due date and said that he wouldn't owe a penny to anyone even for a single day since he descended from Puri, Jagannath Dhaam and was a Brahmin with pious forefathers. I was proud of my decision. However, for the next three and half months he didn't pay me a single paisa saying he was going through a difficult time although I knew that students were paying him regularly. Unable to bear the cost of transportation (as I had to hire a rickshaw everyday) I gave him a notice threatening to leave. He didn't pay any heed and remained aloof. Finally, I left his place although I missed my students who kept requesting me not to leave. After that whenever I went past that place and saw the sign board hanging, I was reminded of the Rs.5500 he owed me and felt like cursing him. I reminded my self the biblical admonition about cursing. But then it so happened, I applied for a post of lecturer in an MBA college (where I happily completed the first four years of my teaching career) I got a call and was told that there would only be a brief interaction with the interviewer. But I was asked to take a demonstration class which I wasn't informed about and was least prepared for. I saw senior faculty members sitting among the students and watching every move I made. However, thanks to those marathon 55 classes for which I remain unpaid till date, I was confident and to-the-point. All the decision makers lauded my performance saying no one could ever guess that I was a fresher. The very day I got my appointment letter. I thought, “Who says gone are the days of Christian virtues”. It’s true I was deceived by the blighter, but my labour didn't go unrewarded. Today when I look at his sign board, I say "May God Bless you. I am happily duped"