Episode 2: The Arrival

By P. Janavi

Boarding the bus was a hell of an experience during my schooling. While in the bus I have myriads of thoughts flashing. My brain digests each of them and decodes it,while my heart pounds so hard as though it would just come out of my mouth. Seated by the window I would get to see beautiful scenery as the bus passesby that would get unnoticed otherwise. The company of that particular friend makes my journey special. There would be days when I don't get to see the beautiful scenes but instead would be buried into my subject books as I would not be prepared to face my tests. I would be tensed while viisiting the unread topics thinking that I am the only one not prepared for the test till my friend boards the school. She would blow me off my feet with her even more tensed face. I was of the opinion all this time she would be my saviour of the day .I thought she would help me during the test while she herself would come unprepared leaving me distressed. We would sit together to discuss and explain topics to each other. We would prioritize developing secret codes to help each other during the tests rather than study. Is not sharing is caring? Our entire class had mastered it. The corners of the classroom was earmmarked for the toppers

to pass on the answer papers to the nearby needyones, what remains as a surprise was, I was considered one of the 4 toppers expect in math, passing on answers on an eraser with answers all over it, peeping into the topper’s answer sheet ,passing on chits were some of the basic tricks of sharing. All of this would happen under the teachers surveillance but still it goes unnoticed because some deliberately choose not to notice it like my P.T teachers . We always thought we were smart enough to outshine the teachers. Well, the big favour never reached me. As I am told I am one of the toppers. My ego being boosted , favours are rejected by me. I realise, now, what schemers my friends were? They did not want me to get that elusive marks. The comparison of marks by parents was another bane of school life. Screeching halt puts a full stop to my rumbling thoughts. The nightmare to be faced. The harsh reality of life. Having reached the school we would leave our bags behind in the class. We would head towards the assembly. The assembly would go on and on .....as it would have long lectures, speeches and exercises. But on test days it was a bumper offer as we would miss our first period class. Passing love messages through the human chain, blushing while standing next to their crush ( lucky Or unlucky me only got to witness it) and running funny comments about ongoing skits on the stage are some of the sweet memories of school life.

By P. Janavi