Perspective: Professor Nyra Sanjani
Here is Emily with brown hair that brushes across her shoulder. In class her brown hair distracts me. It's always shiny and straight. Sometimes she tosses it to the side. Sometimes she twirls it.
The class of 58 students is split into smaller groups and they discuss the latest novel we're reading. I overhear Emily speaking and her thoughts are interesting. She's articulate when she wants to be, which is a trait I admire.
The difference between Emily and other students is that Emily knows my secret. She swears it was by accident. She swears she'll never tell anyone.
Months ago, I was attending a party of like-minded adults when Emily showed up with a friend. The party was located at a friend's home -- invitation or recommendation only. I decided to observe her, to see what a wholesome girl was doing at a place like that.
At the party she looked nervous and out of place. Her eyes wandered and her shoulders hunched forward. She and her friend were timid. When she saw me, she froze, while I remained calm. I asked what she was doing there, she said her friend brought her along. We had a private chat and she said she'd never tell anyone. She left the party soon after, by her own accord.
My brief daydream ends when class is over. Students are discreet about checking the time and they pack their things when class ends. It's the moment I'm on my toes again because I'll be fielding different questions from different students.
When most of the students leave, Emily is still at her desk. She's standing by her laptop and she summons me. I'm tall and she's petite with a slender build, so the power imbalance is even great when I stand beside her.
"Can you sign this for me?"
Of course, I tell her. Helping students is what I'm here for. Emily wants to enroll in the graduate program for a master's degree and she asked for my support. My signature is required in addition to all the support I've given her.
We bend over at the same time. Being tall and working in close proximity with others means there are accidental views down a woman's top. I always do the professional thing and look away.
But with Emily, I take a quick look. I'm certain she's doing this on purpose because she's standing in a position that gives me full view, and because she doesn't look at me. She faces her computer while she talks.
She's wearing a white bra. Her breasts are small and she wears bra padding to give her chest a perkier shape.
My eyes dart away and I sign the form.
We both stand upright and she smiles, thanking me. I sense a bit of tension from her. Yes, she flashed me on purpose. I took the bait and looked at her chest. Do I regret it? Not yet, but maybe I will later.
***
It's amazing how powerful breasts are. The round curve at the bottom. The softness of the skin and flesh. The different shapes.
And then the nipples. The most illuminating part of breasts. I've seen countless breasts over my lifetime -- I'm 46 years old -- and it's always the nipples that I want to study. Most of the breasts I see are from the locker room shower or sexual encounters. I also view online pornography.
I masturbate in the faculty bathroom thinking of what Emily's nipples must look like. By her hair and skin color, I'd say she's bright pink. By the shape of her jaw and nose, I'd say her nipples protrude like pencil erasers. Prominent facial features hint at how nipples are shaped, in my opinion.
When I'm done I grab a cup of coffee in the faculty lounge. Two guys are talking about an upcoming movie they want to see in theaters, and Magda is having coffee alone at a table while flipping through phone messages. When the guys leave, Magda turns to me.
"Took you long enough," she chides, putting her phone away.
I shrug. "There was good material today."
Magda knows about my campus masturbation routine. Sometimes we give notice and take turns, so we don't end up masturbating next to each other in different stalls by accident. Wouldn't that be funny?
"Think of anything good?"
In addition to being masturbation friends, Magda is also a participant at the same parties I mentioned earlier. It's a dark secret of this university, and across academia and education. We attend sex parties with plenty of kink. Usually we play with other teachers.
Occasionally there'd be students (over the age of 18, of course), which is the true prize. That's rare because we have to protect our reputations as educators of society. But it does happen if the student proves herself.
I pull out my phone and look for Emily's Facebook page. I show an image to Magda and she nearly chokes on her coffee.
"What's her name?" she asks.
"Emily. She's the student I told you about, the one that saw me at the party a few months ago."
"Are you going to fuck her?"
I laugh. "Allow me to make things clear. I. Don't. Fuck. Students."
Now it's Magda's turn to laugh.
"Then why did you masturbate so long thinking about her? Your skin looks glowing. You're shining. Oh yeah, you're hot for her."
I put my phone away. "She flashed her bra to me -- accidentally on purpose. In the classroom of all places. She wears bra padding, you know. Since then, all I can think about is her nipples. What they must look like."
Magda sips her coffee and makes the 'mmm' sound. Either from her drink or the thought of Emily's nipples.
"I need to go," she says. "I wish we can continue this conversation, but I have a job to do."
"Likewise."
"Perhaps you can tell me more, you know, after Emily's nipples end up in your mouth."
"Doubtful."
Magda winks and takes her mug of coffee as she leaves the faculty lounge.
***
Professors are required to have a certain amount of office hours per week. It gives students a chance to swing around to discuss anything. It also gives the university a feeling of warmth, with office doors open with teachers inside.
This magical period is meditative for me. I get work done because my office is on the quiet side of the building, plus I have a great view of the campus. Because I teach English, that means I have to grade a lot of essays. I use my time to speed read to see where my students are.
Whenever I hear footsteps, I know if it's for me or not. If the footsteps slow down before reaching the door, it's for me. I assume it's because students hesitate before speaking privately with their statuesque stone-faced teacher (which is me).
The footsteps slow and I look up and see Emily at the door. She is happy to see me, glad that I'm sitting alone in my office. The feeling is mutual.
She puts her things down and we make small talk. Sitting across from my desk, the natural light shines on her white face and illuminates her brown hair. Her eyes are green. Precious emeralds.
There's something about her today. I've been dealing with students for almost two decades. Most of the students who come to my office are young women.
My guess is Emily wants to talk about the graduate program.
My assumption is correct when she speaks. Ambitious students often talk about their future. I'm the former Chair of the English Department -- a job which rotates between faculty -- so I possess helpful advice.
But still, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, as the saying goes. We've had private conversations before and she's always relaxed. This time, talking about academics, she sits upright and stiff. She pulls her brown hair back a few times. She looks too pretty for a boring conversation. Too formal.
Finally it comes.
"Can we talk about the party?" she whispers.
Her lips curl when she asks. It's more than being nervous. Emily is intimidated. My office is my realm, lined with my reading books and awards on the wall. Even as we sit across from each other, I'm in a higher position because of my height, and she has to look up to me. Tiny girl.
"Only if you close the door," I say.
Like a good girl, Emily gets up and closes the door. She's an obedient one. Then she sits before me once again.
She clears her throat, as if giving a canned speech. "I'm interested in attending the next event. To be blunt, I don't need your permission to attend. But I'm telling you to be respectful, to clear the air when we see each other."
I remain silent for a few seconds, staring at her. My eyes versus hers. It's a losing battle for her. She's intimidated, but I'm transfixed by her beauty.
"You're an adult. You can go wherever you want."
She gulps, "Thanks, I just wanted to give you a heads up. So yeah, we'll be seeing each other there, and I'm sure it'll be awkward."
I should let this issue go. She's an adult, after all. She's free to attend whatever sex party she wants.
However, I care for her, as a student and person. I think she's sweet and deserves the best in life, so I give her notice.
"Here's something to think about," I say. "You're applying for the master's program because you think it'll help your future career. Did you know that two of the women who run the master's program attend these parties?"
Emily is shocked. She knows the two professors I'm referring to. The women I'm talking about are bookish, English wonks, who read countless books a year and enjoy reading long thesis papers.
For a newbie like Emily, the thought of women in their 40's and 50's engaging in such sexual practices bends the mind. It's outside the bounds of reason. It's proof that Emily is stepping into a world she knows little about.