10/10/2024
The bell rings. Thirty pairs of eyes turn to Suhani. Thirty voices start chattering at once. And just like that, the throbbing begins.
Suhani's been teaching for fifteen years. Fifteen years of lesson plans, parent-teacher meetings, and the constant, unrelenting headaches.
She'd tried everything. Painkillers left her groggy. Meditation apps couldn't drown out the chaos of her classroom. She was running out of options and patience.
Then, on a desperate Tuesday afternoon, she stumbled into Ayurvedism in R T Nagar. The store had been there since 2004, a constant in a rapidly changing Bangalore. The air smelled of herbs and promise.
"Headaches," she mumbled to the shopkeeper. He nodded, understanding in his eyes, and reached for a small green jar. Nagarjuna Tusker Balm.
Suhani asked. Another balm? But desperation made her reach for her wallet.
That night, as the familiar pain crept in, she unscrewed the jar. The scent hit her first - strong, medicinal, oddly comforting. She dabbed it on her temples, the cool sensation a stark contrast to the fire in her head.
And then... silence.
The pounding receded like waves pulling back from the shore. The vice grip on her skull loosened. For the first time in years, Suhani felt her shoulders relax.
The next day in class, a student dropped a book. The loud thud would normally have sent shockwaves through Suhani's head. But this time, nothing. She touched her temple, feeling the lingering coolness of the balm. And she smiled.
Word spread. Other teachers noticed the change in Suhani. Gone was the constant squint, the pinched expression. In its place was a woman renewed, tackling fractions and phonics with newfound energy.
Now, that little green jar has a permanent place in Suhani's bag, right next to her red grading pen. It's not just a balm, she tells anyone who'll listen. It's freedom. It's the focus. It's the ability to pour herself into her passion without pain holding her back.
In a world of fleeting trends and empty promises, Suhani found her constant. In a tiny store in R T Nagar, in a little green jar of Nagarjuna Tusker Balm.
Who knew relief could be so simple?