Twenty one

Twenty minutes ago he got a call from Pearl that she reached the meeting room. Still not finding her, he was about to call her when he saw a girl sitting at the last corner desk.

His eyes squinted a little. The girl's head was down on the table. Her ears were covered by big headphones. The girl's silhouette was too aloof and bleak.

For a second he doubted but remembering her biodata, he guessed about her identity right. She is the one. Months ago after getting Pearl's data and her written papers, he was impressed by her work. What excited him the most was her age. She will be the first.

Smiling at the teacher who asked the question, he answered. "She is already here."

"Huh?"

"Where?" Everyone looked around the classroom instantly. At first, no one noticed Pearl's presence, till she herself stood up and walked to them.

Because of headphones initially, Pearl heard nothing and knew no one's arrival. However, when everyone was standing at the front of the class talking to each other, she noticed some changes and voices. Looking up from the desk she glanced at the man standing right in front of the podium.

For the next few seconds, she only stared at him. And in those seconds, Shubh Wright also stared back at her. Those four eyes were judging each other.

With a smile when Shubh spoke about her presence, she stood up from her seat to make her presence visible to those teachers for convenience.

When Shubh looks back at her again, she bows him as a greeting.

In front of everyone's eyes, she walked towards the front row of the desk gracefully.

Bowing her head lightly to all those teachers she greeted them too. Once facing Mr. Wright in her front, she politely smiled and introduced herself.

"Good afternoon Sir. My name is Pearl Sen. Please accept me as your student."

Shubh's face lit up by her words and actions. Though it wasn't much, but, in those few seconds, he noticed and recorded her character statement.

Everyone says that in one meeting we shouldn't judge anyone's character. But for Shubh he only accepts his students, whose character statement he can authenticate blindly within one meeting.

His old eyes with experience, after all these years, can easily tell who acts fake and who is genuine. He can judge someone in a minute of their behaviour and actions.

He had heard about Pearl's family background. He knows not just about Sen's but also about Mallaya's. At first, he imagined her to be an arrogant student.

Today this meeting was set up by him mainly because he wanted to meet her personally. He doesn't want rich spoiled kids but knowledgeable students for himself.

The arrogance, which rich family kids carry, can never bring hard work and passion for their research. Wasting his time on such kids is totally worthless for him. That's why he always selects his students personally.

Today Pearl's humbleness and aloofness at the same time for everyone excited him very much. The confidence she had when she looked at him with judging eyes, was commendable for him.

Such confidence can only be earned once you have that capability that no one can question you. He never had such a student and precisely he believed this student would be his last.

Extending his hand he patted her head in acceptance. Nodding his head he said. "Good girl. From now on you are my student."

"Thank you."

"You checked out the campus." He asked.

"No."

"Okay. Look around, but we will be working in an old building most of the time."

"Hmm."

"After two weeks, meet me at 8 o'clock in the morning in my office."

Pearl nodded back and said nothing more. She isn't trying to act strange to him but because she had nothing to say, she didn't say anything more.

Shubh finds her character amusing but nowhere offending. Her answers looked terse to everyone but he understands her brief words completely and the best there.

When the teachers around them heard their conversation, they totally felt like they were talking in some alien language.

Even though Shubh had selected Pearl months ago, still a basic interview should be taken before accepting anyone officially.

However, Shubh's words and actions always defy common sense for them. And to honour such a man, Pearl also came.

The way she behaved and talked, which she rarely did, can offend anyone. But here, Shubh's face was glowing with happiness. As if he is the one who was accepted by Pearl.

"How old are you?" One of the teachers asked.

Pearl's baby face cannot hide her age. They tried not to focus on her age, but no matter how much anyone tried they couldn't overlook the possibility of her age.

She looks very young for a doctorate degree. For doctorate and Phd. degrees, students who apply are normally in their late 20's and up to their late 50's even.

Pearl glanced at the teacher for once before answering slowly. "Twenty-one."

"..."

"..." The whole room fell silent. Everyone either stares at Pearl or either Shubh with a questionable and unbelievable gaze. How can such a young kid go for such a high degree? Impossible.

"Sorry?" One of the teachers asked with her raised brows.

"..." Pearl didn't repeat. Answering the same question with the same answer is useless for her.

Shubh by now was able to guess her reasons and the way she might behave. Giving those teachers a low chuckle Shubh answered them once again. "She is twenty-one years old."

Those faces immediately turned to Shubh. They looked at him as if he was stupid or trying to make fun of them by saying that.

"But…? How?"

Looking back to Pearl, one of the teachers asked concernedly. "Are you here for post-graduation?"

"Or graduation instead?"

"Are you here to play or something?"

"What is going on?"