PAZZAGE OCT 2021

I lay on my bed, trying to think of something
positive.
The day I’d changed schools, I decided not to
tell my best (and normal) friends. Finally, on
July 9th, I mustered up the courage to do
something which, to me, was very stupid. In our
school friends’ WhatsApp group, I posted a
message saying that I’m leaving the school. The
person I was most nervous to tell was my best
friend, Samyuktha. I tried but failed. Then,
finally, she found out. She saw the message in
the group. Normally, you’d think that she
savagely replied “Ha! Good for you!” but I’m
telling you, she is not normal, which is why
we’re best friends. We talked for about two
hours, reminiscing about the old memories we
had during fifth grade. The petty fights, the
drawing-random-stuff sessions we’d have in the
library, fighting over boys, playing dress-up as
our favorite characters… well, it was sad
thinking that I won’t be there to do those with
them anymore.
That day, I spent my entire night crying. You’d
think I moved on, and believe me, I did. But
then a few days ago, when September was
starting, I cleaned my table and shelf. I took one
of my old notebooks and kept it on the shelf in
our hall, but while I did that, one of my class
group photos fell out of the shelf. I picked it up
and opened it. I gasped. It was a photo—one
that my class had back in 3rd year, 2017, the
year I joined my old school. I took out the
following year’s photo and seriously, I never
imagined I’d be so emotional. I wept over a
four-year-old photo.
I moved on again. I started studying for my
exams. Then this talk about fees came into our
house. My mum mentioned that it’d been
reduced since no buses were running, and that
reminded me of the bus I used to be in when I
was still in my old school; bus S. Every day
around 7:30, there’d be an ear-drum-breaking
horn around the corner of Thrikkakara temple,
and I’d run for it. I’d slip into the seat next to my
bus buddy, Badhra. And then I remembered
that I wasn’t in that school anymore. By June 1st
of 2022, I’d be sitting in a new bus. Walking
along new corridors. Rushing to the library and
remembering Samyuktha’s not there in it.
Sitting in class, surrounded by an unfamiliar
atmosphere. Thinking of that, you’d think I
smiled. But I was way too new to the school.
The change happened too quickly.
My classmates helped me feel at home in 7B.
On my birthday on August 10th, Anvitha (my
best, best, best friend), told my computer
science teacher, Tinu ma’am, that it was my
birthday. My entire class wished me that day.
Samyuktha wished me. Anvitha wished me.
That day, I knew it. I never felt so happy.
I adjusted. My teachers helped me understand
the concepts. I wasn’t unhappy. My new school
is the best, but I’ll never forget the memories
I’ve made in the old school, and I’m not
stopping from embracing the memories I’m
about to make in my new school.