It was one of those mornings when i nicely slept through all those healthy abuses that my mom lovingly hurls at me when i dont get up on time. After acting as a loyal companion for 12 long hours, sleep finally disowned me at 12.55 but it was too late.....i was late for college again.
Skipped a bath and marinated myself in perfume to avoid causing a class genocide before rushing downstairs. Just when i thought that i might be able to make it for the lecture on time i glanced at the road which was practically empty. After running a good mile to the railway station, thanks to unavailability of autos ( nothing new there), i finally managed to jump into the 1.20 local. On seeing me slip into the prized fourth seat, the other three ladies didnt seem too happy. More so, when i asked them to shift... what the heck i wanted to sleep people.
But naah...the wonderful fruitsellers in the train didnt want me to miss out on any action in the train so they happily kept appearing from left, right and centre, forcing me to change my position from time to time to allow their movement. I made a mental note to ask my professor who taught us 'Reporting' if there was a legal act which restricted the entry of these annoying hawkers in the train because I for one wasn't exactly enjoying their presence. More so because it forced me into the fat woman sitting next to me twice .....For goodness sake, I definitely didnt deserve that disapproving expression she dished out at me on those wonderful occasions.
I looked around for some source of entertainment...damn nobody was fighting that day. What had struck these ladies suddenly? I was thinking about this boring inaction when I happened to see a charming kid in the train with lovely eyes and a naughty smile ...
One look at him and a big smile lit up my face too. He was selling a stack of notebooks. He kept screaming “das ka ek das ka ek”. After flashing one of those ‘See I have the best book in the world’ types look he tried to bribe me with that extra sweet smile of his. Though I proudly claim that I am not one of those softies whose heart melts at a wink, I think I had falsified my own claim that day. Never been the kind to shell out money from my own pocket to buy something which can be even remotely useful yet, I couldn’t help buying one of those notebooks, which the boy carried as if it were treasure.
It was only a moment later that it struck me that in a way the books were his treasure. After all he didnt have to live at the mercy of others or even beg for that matter, only because of the heavy bundle that he carefully balanced between his tender hands.
At that very instant the amusement that I initially felt changed into respect for the child. I felt good all of a sudden, here was a mortal who was capable of taking care of himself, his young age not being a deterrent, his poverty was his biggest shield because in a way it helped him in becoming self-dependent.
I looked at myself, I had everything that the child could only dream of, a home to call my own, parents who take care of me selflessly, good health, education and much more than the basic necessities of life. Yet I keep cribbing all the time.
But with a quick glance at the beaming child infront of me, I decided, Cribbing –not any more.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The Shift In Life...
There was a time when we would run all the way upto school, sleep throughout the morning assembly under the pretext of being deeply involved in the prayers and then wait for the fun day to begin.
The temporary seating arrangements would keep changing by the week. But one would constantly keep hoping that one of the days we would accidentally get to sit next to our crush in the classroom.
Incessantly chatting with the teachers. Trying your level best to make sure that they favor you over the rest.
Making friends with all the dons of the class, for help during Pangas
Eagerly waiting for the P.T period and cursing the lazy teacher when she wouldn’t let you go play, conveniently claiming that it is pouring outside.
Taking good advantage of your prefect title whenever you are in a mood to bunk.
Slipping out of the class right under the nose of the teacher when you simply can’t stand her boring lectures
All along making her believe that the prefect is out to do some good for the school.
Seeing a fellow student being thrashed by the principal with a weapon as lethal as the school handbook.
Suppressing the big nasty smile that appears on your face when your friend gives a funny sounding reply to the teacher.
Teasing the teachers for their funny accents, linking them up with each other and making fairytales out of that.
Making place for your partners in crime in the school loo which serves as a fantastic hiding place when a dangerous class test is under progress.
Running helter skelter when you get the news that the principal is on her way to your secret hideout.
Purposely taking part in extra curricular activities so that you get a good solid reason to stay out of class during the Marathi lecture.
Tactfully including all your favorite classmates in the dance events just to have a gala time during the never ending practices.
Crying your lungs out when you get your first bad remark
Praying that the pen mark would miraculously get erased by the time your parents get hold of the calendar.
Dreading the Open-day which your teachers eagerly look forward to.
Hoping that atleast this time the teacher wont start comparing you with your brilliant sister infront of your mum dad.
Hitting the closest mall in the city with your gang each time the exams get over.
Shrugging off the ghastly looks passed by the mall employees when you march ahead with your jhingbang with the clear intention of window shopping
Yet waiting at each counter with an expression which says that you are too keen to buy the expensive looking product at hand when all along you know you have nothing but a 100 rupee note in your pocket.
Going down to the old and reliable (read cheap) McDonalds at the base of Crossroads and hogging on a Chicken McGrill and a McSwirl.
Waiting with bated breaths to see as to who amongst your group members is kind enough to pay the bill this time.
If people have surpassed that kindness long ago then getting out all your chillars and pushing it out on a plate much to the waiter’s disgust.
Hopping into a bus and buying tickets for twelve. Muffling the horrified scream that escapes your lips when a super intelligent friend absent mindedly tears off the tickets right infront of your eyes.
Praying with all your heart that the TC’s are on a strike that day and scanning the bus stop from a distance for signs of the blue clothed man.
Loving the adventurous day spent with your group and wondering how you all would do without each other in the times to come
Shrugging off the idea of separation after school, promising each other that the group will remain intact, the meetings and outings and the fun part will not evaporate as time passes by.
But then the time does pass by, best friends who could not live without each other’s company learn to face life all alone.
Maybe they become so independent that straying away from your older lot becomes the most natural thing to do....
But yes there are some weirdo’s like us who can’t help but cling on to those very memories which we consider as the glorious days of our lives.
And for us poor souls, rewinding and forwarding the cassettes of those memories in the tape recorders of our minds, becomes the chief key to leading a pleasurable life ahead.
The temporary seating arrangements would keep changing by the week. But one would constantly keep hoping that one of the days we would accidentally get to sit next to our crush in the classroom.
Incessantly chatting with the teachers. Trying your level best to make sure that they favor you over the rest.
Making friends with all the dons of the class, for help during Pangas
Eagerly waiting for the P.T period and cursing the lazy teacher when she wouldn’t let you go play, conveniently claiming that it is pouring outside.
Taking good advantage of your prefect title whenever you are in a mood to bunk.
Slipping out of the class right under the nose of the teacher when you simply can’t stand her boring lectures
All along making her believe that the prefect is out to do some good for the school.
Seeing a fellow student being thrashed by the principal with a weapon as lethal as the school handbook.
Suppressing the big nasty smile that appears on your face when your friend gives a funny sounding reply to the teacher.
Teasing the teachers for their funny accents, linking them up with each other and making fairytales out of that.
Making place for your partners in crime in the school loo which serves as a fantastic hiding place when a dangerous class test is under progress.
Running helter skelter when you get the news that the principal is on her way to your secret hideout.
Purposely taking part in extra curricular activities so that you get a good solid reason to stay out of class during the Marathi lecture.
Tactfully including all your favorite classmates in the dance events just to have a gala time during the never ending practices.
Crying your lungs out when you get your first bad remark
Praying that the pen mark would miraculously get erased by the time your parents get hold of the calendar.
Dreading the Open-day which your teachers eagerly look forward to.
Hoping that atleast this time the teacher wont start comparing you with your brilliant sister infront of your mum dad.
Hitting the closest mall in the city with your gang each time the exams get over.
Shrugging off the ghastly looks passed by the mall employees when you march ahead with your jhingbang with the clear intention of window shopping
Yet waiting at each counter with an expression which says that you are too keen to buy the expensive looking product at hand when all along you know you have nothing but a 100 rupee note in your pocket.
Going down to the old and reliable (read cheap) McDonalds at the base of Crossroads and hogging on a Chicken McGrill and a McSwirl.
Waiting with bated breaths to see as to who amongst your group members is kind enough to pay the bill this time.
If people have surpassed that kindness long ago then getting out all your chillars and pushing it out on a plate much to the waiter’s disgust.
Hopping into a bus and buying tickets for twelve. Muffling the horrified scream that escapes your lips when a super intelligent friend absent mindedly tears off the tickets right infront of your eyes.
Praying with all your heart that the TC’s are on a strike that day and scanning the bus stop from a distance for signs of the blue clothed man.
Loving the adventurous day spent with your group and wondering how you all would do without each other in the times to come
Shrugging off the idea of separation after school, promising each other that the group will remain intact, the meetings and outings and the fun part will not evaporate as time passes by.
But then the time does pass by, best friends who could not live without each other’s company learn to face life all alone.
Maybe they become so independent that straying away from your older lot becomes the most natural thing to do....
But yes there are some weirdo’s like us who can’t help but cling on to those very memories which we consider as the glorious days of our lives.
And for us poor souls, rewinding and forwarding the cassettes of those memories in the tape recorders of our minds, becomes the chief key to leading a pleasurable life ahead.
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