Beginning of my school life……
Even now when my dad sees me off to hostel, I just keep looking at him til he goes away from my vision. The way he used to accompany me till my school when I was at the age of 4. I don’t remember the first day at school, the only thing I am able to recollect is the way to school and way back and some days in class. I never used to miss any chances of having a walk with my father. Early mornings he used to get up and go to a house to buy milk. I used to accompany him most of the days. There was a granny who used to give us milk. She was too old and skinny. My dad used to tell me lots of stories; Story of a princess, angels, Cinderella and many more. He used to teach me also. I used to admire him for the knowledge he has. Anything I ask, he has a perfect answer for that. I used to wish to become like him when I grow up. I never let my mother to make me ready for school. He always used to make me look perfect in the ironed uniform and tied up hair.
On the way to school I used to hold his index finger. He used to carry my school bag. Daily he used to walk me school on the way to his college. I used to feel so proud walking with my father. I used to tighten my hold on his finger as I neared school. The very sight of school used to make me feel nervous and a sudden realization that I am going to be away from my parents. Even now I feel the same leaving my home for hostel. I used to wave my hands at him and keep looking at him as he walks away. He used to turn around and give actions with hands asking me to go inside class. I used to be at the edge of crying then. I managed every time not to cry.
It was a Monday. With heavy heart I was walking to school with dad. He bid me and went to college. I was missing home after the two long holidays. Being at home with dad, mom and sister was like heaven for me. Every Sunday evenings in ‘Dooradarsan’ there used to be movie at 4.00pm. When it gets over me and my sister used to feel so sad since that was an indication that the weekend got over. Friday evenings were what we always waited for. So that Monday I tried my maximum to control my emotions but it ended up in vein and tears started overflowing from my eyes. Class was not yet started. Classmates crowded around me as I started crying. It took no time for our class teacher to come and she started asking me why I was crying. I had no reasons and felt ashamed to say that I wanted to see my mom. I lied that I was having head ache. It was then our classmate Ramya’s mom came to leave her at school. She stayed just opposite to our house and the very sight of her made me tensed. She came to me and asked me the reason why I was crying. Our class in charge talked with her and told her that I was crying out of headache. I controlled my tears and asked ramya’s mother “aunty can you take me to my home?”. I never thought that would happen, my teacher allowed me to go home. Aunty took me to home and as I neared home I was feeling panic because that was my first experience of bunking. I had no idea how my mother was going to respond. I reached home and aunty explained whole thing to mom. She got surprised seeing me. She could easily understand that it was my homesickness. I was really tensed but some how got okay as aunty left. And the next fear was how I would face dad. He used to come home and have lunch daily. When he came, I got really tensed and was embarrassed as well. I could hear dad’s sound sitting in my room and I dint come out to talk with him. I could hear mom talking to him about me. He came to me and I was afraid whether he will scold me for telling lie. But it dint happen. He just asked me to sleep and he went for lunch and hurried back to college. I felt so bad for telling lie and I never did the trick again (never means never in school). The regret in me killed the pleasure of being at home. That was the only experience of bunking class at school.
Never had I cried again in school till my 2nd standard. It was our annual exams going on. Exam was from morning to noon. Mom used to come and pick me from school. I had a classmate Sreelekshmi; a girl with short hair. She was crying that day when my mom came to pick me. The reason was that her father did’nt come to pick her. My mom tried to console her. But that did’nt make much effect. Not very late her father came and took her home. After that I went with my mother to home. There was only one more exam. After that we were to leave to granny’s home where all my cousins are there. We had packed clothes for going there. The day before going, I and my sister were just so restless. The next day exam got over. I was waiting near the pillar for mom. There were so many students and parents as it was the last day. I felt little sad when I found my mom was not there. But the thought of going to granny’s place cheered me up. I kept thinking about the time we going to spend there. Time passed. Number of students in the compound started decreasing. I saw sreelekshmy walking home with her father. She waved hands at me. I too waved hands at her. I sat down the pillar and kept on looking at the road. I started feeling tensed. I started thinking a lot. I still remember I was afraid if they left to granny’s place without me, ‘might have forgotten me?’ so many thoughts went through my mind and there were only very few students in college. Seeing them I started crying. Our headmistress was a sister; Sister Agnes. She was checking classes. She came to me. I told her my parents and sister left to granny’s home without me. She knew my family very well and knew that due to some reasons my mom got late. But I was uncontrollable; kept on crying. Sister took me to her convent which was attached to school. She tried to console me and gave me a glass of milk and biscuits. Milk was something I hated. Out of compulsion I had a sip of it and realized that it’s not sweet. I never drink milk without sugar. I had no clue what to do and then I saw my mom walking towards convent in a black with blue sari. I have no words to explain how happy I became. I ran to her and hugged her. She held me tight and asked me why I cried and also told she will never leave without me. I felt so happy for the reason of seeing her and also for saving me from that sugarless milk. I think that was my first experience of hostel food.
Though I always used to feel sad to go to school, those were the best days ever I had in my life. I had lost contact with all my friends I had there once I left school after 4th. Now facebook gifted me back many of them.