Nazira, 1998:
A young boy of standard five was escorted by the school peon to an empty classroom. He was perhaps the only student permitted the luxury of spending the morning assembly session in the comfort of a vacant bench right under the ceiling fan, while his would-be classmates were standing in the scorching sun listening to another of the Principal's soporific speeches. Of course, this arrangement would only last for a day and from tomorrow he would become one amongst them - ordinary schoolchildren bound to obey the regulations of the school, puppets in the hands of the institution's administrative machinery. But soon he'd realize this wasn't too high a price for what he was about to be blessed with - friends for life ! He placed his heavy bag next to another one on the front desk near the door and waited. It wasn't long before an army of audacious midgets stormed the room - wrestling, chatting animatedly, eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. A bunch of girls were giggling at me; apparently I had occupied their desk, or maybe I looked lackadaisical and dreamy - I dared not asked them why. The midgets burst into a furore of laughter. Before I could pull myself together, I was greeted by one of the harbingers of the commotion : "Hi new boy! They'd really mind if you don't move to some other desk. You can share my bench if you'd like to. What's your name?" And hence was the beginning of a new bond, a new friend, to be followed by several such bondings in quick succession, of which some would last for a long time to come.
Vadodara, 2001
I hated it when Dad was transferred to a different place. It took so much time to acclimatize, to unpack; I had to start all over again. The most difficult part was to get aquainted with complete strangers. Three years had passed since the young boy of 10 had gone through this ritual for the last time. Another new school. More new faces to read. But this time he was prepared, for he was now wiser, experienced in faking countenances. This time there was no eluding the morning assembly, no unfair privileges, no bizarre antics. I had already made friends with my classmates outside the school premises before it reopened after the summer vacations, so I was just an unrecognised somebody in a nonchalant crowd. Gradually, through my camaraderie(:D),I could garner the patronage, allegiance and friendship of several new 'allies', who stood by my side in every deed worthy of appraisal, each instance of bunking, acts of innocent mischief, or helping me with befuddling assignments, or sometimes thwarting a techer's best laid out plans to infiltrate the brotherhood we had unconsciously created over the years. Rahu, Bunny, Matey, Chobey, Bhaisi, Babba, Pappo, Chimi, Garvit, Arumai and Abhiram were some of the other unknowing members of this brotherhood, who would do their best never to let it down. Unnecessary to mention, they never did. When I left school, I was amazed at how a reserved, shy, down-to-earth person could have gained the company of so many comrades. The numbers, no wonder, have kept growing.
Roorkee has been second to home. It seems three years have whizzed by at a rapid pace. From the days at RJB to the present times at Cautley, there hardly has been time to conceive the slow, subtle changes, that have accumulated over time to result in bigger transformations that today seem so obvious to the eye, but are difficult to comprehend otherwise. However, one asset, needless to specify, has withstood the test of time, and perhaps, will continue to, for the next few decades. Wherever my fortunes might drive me to, I guess I'd always recall your hilarious capers and pranks whenever I feel out of sorts. And also this energetic phrase from first year : "Meta Rocks !".
Thank you so much for being a part of my life, which wouldn't have been as awesome without you folks. And take pride in that you have me too. ;)
Wish you all a HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY !
A young boy of standard five was escorted by the school peon to an empty classroom. He was perhaps the only student permitted the luxury of spending the morning assembly session in the comfort of a vacant bench right under the ceiling fan, while his would-be classmates were standing in the scorching sun listening to another of the Principal's soporific speeches. Of course, this arrangement would only last for a day and from tomorrow he would become one amongst them - ordinary schoolchildren bound to obey the regulations of the school, puppets in the hands of the institution's administrative machinery. But soon he'd realize this wasn't too high a price for what he was about to be blessed with - friends for life ! He placed his heavy bag next to another one on the front desk near the door and waited. It wasn't long before an army of audacious midgets stormed the room - wrestling, chatting animatedly, eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. A bunch of girls were giggling at me; apparently I had occupied their desk, or maybe I looked lackadaisical and dreamy - I dared not asked them why. The midgets burst into a furore of laughter. Before I could pull myself together, I was greeted by one of the harbingers of the commotion : "Hi new boy! They'd really mind if you don't move to some other desk. You can share my bench if you'd like to. What's your name?" And hence was the beginning of a new bond, a new friend, to be followed by several such bondings in quick succession, of which some would last for a long time to come.
Vadodara, 2001
I hated it when Dad was transferred to a different place. It took so much time to acclimatize, to unpack; I had to start all over again. The most difficult part was to get aquainted with complete strangers. Three years had passed since the young boy of 10 had gone through this ritual for the last time. Another new school. More new faces to read. But this time he was prepared, for he was now wiser, experienced in faking countenances. This time there was no eluding the morning assembly, no unfair privileges, no bizarre antics. I had already made friends with my classmates outside the school premises before it reopened after the summer vacations, so I was just an unrecognised somebody in a nonchalant crowd. Gradually, through my camaraderie(:D),I could garner the patronage, allegiance and friendship of several new 'allies', who stood by my side in every deed worthy of appraisal, each instance of bunking, acts of innocent mischief, or helping me with befuddling assignments, or sometimes thwarting a techer's best laid out plans to infiltrate the brotherhood we had unconsciously created over the years. Rahu, Bunny, Matey, Chobey, Bhaisi, Babba, Pappo, Chimi, Garvit, Arumai and Abhiram were some of the other unknowing members of this brotherhood, who would do their best never to let it down. Unnecessary to mention, they never did. When I left school, I was amazed at how a reserved, shy, down-to-earth person could have gained the company of so many comrades. The numbers, no wonder, have kept growing.
Roorkee has been second to home. It seems three years have whizzed by at a rapid pace. From the days at RJB to the present times at Cautley, there hardly has been time to conceive the slow, subtle changes, that have accumulated over time to result in bigger transformations that today seem so obvious to the eye, but are difficult to comprehend otherwise. However, one asset, needless to specify, has withstood the test of time, and perhaps, will continue to, for the next few decades. Wherever my fortunes might drive me to, I guess I'd always recall your hilarious capers and pranks whenever I feel out of sorts. And also this energetic phrase from first year : "Meta Rocks !".
Thank you so much for being a part of my life, which wouldn't have been as awesome without you folks. And take pride in that you have me too. ;)
Wish you all a HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY !
