School Souviner Final Draft

BHPV SCHOOL
MEGA REUNION
1978-1993 Batches
Nostalgia
Pulling my blanket tighter over my head, I
tried to ignore my mom saying, “Get up, it
is getting late”. She opened the door and
went onto the Daaba to water the plants. I can
sleep another 10 minutes before she is back. The
strains of Suprabatham were ringing in the air as
mom came back in yanking the blanket from me
followed by yanking of my sister’s blanket.
Suprabatham means Saturday. “It is second
Saturday, there is no school” I said hopefully. She
gave me a look and said “No it is not. Get up now.
Can’t believe girls sleeping so late. You should
wake up by 6am ….”.
There was more admonishing from her, but I
ignored that as I got up from my bed reluctantly.
Folded the blanket, put it away along with the
pillow and then proceeded to fold the cot as the
maid started cleaning the room. My mood did
not get any better as I was picking out my
clothes. I slept late last night as we were out all
evening playing in the park and then not being
able to resist a couple of hide and seek games
which meant I did not start my homework till
after Chitrahaar.
I started brushing my teeth, everything seemed
to move slowly today. My sister started banging
at the door, “Vijji come out, I will be late. You
always make me late”. “I just came in, and I don’t
make you late” I shouted back. Can’t believe she
is bugging me again. “You are so selfish” she
shouted back. “I am not, you could have gone
earlier than me instead you wait till last minute
and then complain” I retorted. Daddy was home
as he had B-Shift this week and he made his oft
heard resolution “When I build a house, doesn’t
matter how many bedrooms I will make sure we
have 4 bathrooms”. He followed that with “Be
nice to your sister”.
I came out as quickly as I could as my sister was
1988 Batch
Vijji Suryadevara
fuming outside. Just because she is younger,
they always take her side, I thought. As I started
packing by school bag the smell of Puri and
Potato curry wafted in. My spirits were
immediately lifted. I love Puri and mom made
the best Potato curry. She is a great cook but I
normally dreaded Saturdays with the boring Idli
and the inevitable Coconut chutney made from
the Coconut used for Puja that morning.
As I was leaving the house, my sister called out
“Wait for me I am coming too”. Together we did
some Olympic level speed walking through the
milk booth ground and then rushing to the Jack
fruit tree near the community hall where the
Vinayaka Chavithi celebrations were going on,
sprinting to the school as the school bell rang.
I rushed to my classroom in Bose block to put my
bag before joining the morning assembly. I tried
to stay behind the other girls as my shoes were
not polished, and I did not want to be pulled up
for bad uniform. The assembly went on as usual
the National song – Vande Mataram, followed
by Prayer and Pledge and then announcements
and a message by our principal Purushottam sir.
As he told us about the importance of time and
how we should do our work now rather than
postpone for later, I wondered how he was
always so well put together. Shirt tucked in
perfectly, belt buckle shining and those shoes – I
can see them shine all the way from here. Most
of our teachers are so well put together I mused.
Some 10th class girl was doing the thought for
the day - “A friend in need is a friend indeed”. It
was time to sing the National Anthem.
The rest of the day moved rather quickly. I was
December 2019
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