Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Memories

Here I go again! I will again be talking about my school life, but just couldn’t help it this time. Day after tomorrow, I’ll be spending the last normal working day at school with my present group of friends. After that, we’ll be returning to school to sit for the Selection exam in January and the ICSE exam in February. And, after the exams, all of us will never study together in the same school. Different people obviously have different targets. I have always said that my friends did not share all secrets with me. There were certain things, which they never felt like sharing with me. Sometimes, I felt really lonely. Yet, during the last 12 years that I have spent with them, many such moments have also come when I have enjoyed myself a lot with them. Those memories will remain some of the most cherished ones of my life. So, after 12 years, I am feeling very nostalgic.

Our class (i.e, the present Class 10 C) was always the best class of the entire school. It was the best-behaved class of the school even if it was academically average. The teachers used to praise us so much. By the time we were in Class 7, we had begun to set an example for the entire school. And, Class 7 was so much fun! Our classroom was on the terrace. So, we could play everyday. Besides, someone discovered this very exciting game called hand cricket. There was a stage in Class 7 when, in the absence of teachers in the class, everyone used to play this game. Big matches were held. Class 7 was academically quite easy. So, we had a great time. Also, we had the best Class Teacher, Mrs. Shaluk Banerjee. Shaluk Ma’am is the perfect teacher. She is such a teacher who is there in every student’s dreams. And, she is so beautiful! She has been taking our English classes since Class 6.

Class 8 was also quite fun. An exhibition was held just before the Christmas vacation and we had a great time preparing for it. But, things started deteriorating from Class 9. Our class was suddenly flooded with couples! So many boys and girls became fond of each other overnight and started proposing to each other. I suddenly began to notice certain students talking very seriously about something and stopping as soon as they realized that I was trying to participate too. At first, I used to feel very bad. But, once I understood what their topics of discussion were, I made no attempts to interrupt their animated discussions. I was least interested in numerous rumors which ere being created day by day. It’s not as though they would never talk to me. I still managed to remain on very good terms with Sritama and Mekhala. They still used to think that I was a very good friend.

The situation worsened further in Class 10. Our class completely lost its reputation of being the best class of the school. We had obviously lost a lot of reputation in Class 9, but in Class 10 it became horrible. But, my relationship with some other friends improved. Soorma, Sukanya, Gourav and Arittra became friendlier with me. Sritama and Mekhala were, of course, always there. But, the teachers have become fed up of Class 10 C. “This class is really horrible”, says our present Class Teacher, Mrs. Mita Das. The teachers will be really happy when Thursday ‘ s classes are over. They’ll finally be able to bid goodbye to Class 10 C. Some students will come back in Class 11, but this batch will never be there.

Yet, we are a bit sad. Yesterday, we had our last feast together. We have been having these feasts since Class 4. They’re awfully fun. At the end of 12 years, I feel I must mention the names of a few people who have made my school life really colorful. Its not that all of them have always done the good things, but by doing the bad things also, they have been a source of entertainment. They are (apart from my parents) Chandralekha Didi( my only home teacher till Class 8), Sritama, Mekhala, Soorma, Sukanya, Arittra, Gourav, Tathagata, Bejoy( for being good friends), Aloy( for making us laugh so much), Shaluk Ma’am, Mita Banerjee Ma’am (Chemistry tuition teacher), Debarati (her mother actually, for cooking tasty dishes for us) and Krishanu( for being such a tough competitor and increasing my desire to occupy the position of the topper of the class).

11 comments:

RB said...

School years are really some of the best years of one's life. I still remember most of the incidents from almost every year spent in school.

Cherish the dreams forever. And good luck for your exams. :-)

Unknown said...

Since I have heard all these names and learnt about all their activities over these past years, I am also nostalgic. I will miss getting updates on all these folks.
Best of luck for your exams and for all the new friends you will be making.

Subhadip said...

Playing hand cricket was one of my favorite pastime in school. All the school buses used to report to school a bit early. So these guys started playing hand cricket just outside school for about half an hour. Although I didn't take the school bus, I used to go early, just to play. Did you also have the one-bounce, one-hand catch rule?

RB said...

B. O'Hemian
Oh, we had that rule while playing bat-ball in general. Way back! :D
Also for another game where you had to pile up marbles. What was it called?

R said...

You'll never forget those moments. Those people. And mostly it'll make you smile.

Kick those exams hard. All the best. (=

Butterfly said...

@Richa
Thanks.:-)

@Woodsmoke
Maybe you'll get updates on some of them(those who will study with me in the same school),but most of them will be missing.
Thanks for the best wishes.:-)

@Shubhadip Da
The one-bounce, one-hand catch rule? No, we didn't have it. We didn't really have too many rules.It was very simple.:-)

@Rohit
Finally, you are back!:-)
It's been such a long time.
Thanks for the best wishes.:-)
I am trying my best to kick these exams hard.

Banvri said...

I was feeling nostalgic while reading your post :)

i think no can forget school time :)

n i think change is always accompanied by lil bit of sadness :)

best wishes for exam ..do well n start ur journey towards ur goal :)

Dhrubo said...

Your post made me sad.It was beautifully written and made me miss school all over again.School life was so much better than college now.The innocence is lost.We are more devious,selfish.
Its great that you count your academic competitor as a friend.My best friend once used to be the "rival".Once you leave school,the rapid pace of "growing up" is very disconcerting to me.
By the way,I too experienced the "love-bird" phenomenon.It was,as you rightly say,a nightmare.Disgusting.You are lucky that they didn't drag you into the mess.
All the best for your exams.

Kavyaa said...

beautifull!! poignant!
one can't go trhu ur post without getting nostalgic oneself...

(im EXTREEmely sorry for being in hybernation all this time. can't promise to be very regular...exams are round the corner...but i shall make it a poin to read ur posts regularly!:))

P.S..- so so so??? how did THE last book rate as compared to all those gigantic expectations and anticipation??? btw, don't play the spoiler..i still haven't read it!)

Anonymous said...

all this made me remember my class 10th .....my school was till 10th and then we all shifted to different schools.....it was probably the best school yrs of my life........

Butterfly said...

@Deepti Di
Thanks a lot.:-)

@Dhrubo
My academic competitor and I were never good friends.But, we were not like rivals either.
And yes, I am still thankful to my friends for not dragging me into the love-bird phenomenon!A heap of rubbish...that's what it was all about.:-)
Thanks for the best wishes.:-)

@Kavya
Hi!What a pleasant surprise!:-)
Well,if we had expected to give the last book a rating of 10/10, it has got a rating of 9/10 just because of the 35th chapter(called King's Cross)of the book. At least, this is my opinion. But, the rest of the book was beautiful. Much better than the fifth and sixth books.
But, you know what, I read the book for one whole day 15 days before my pre-selection exam. I think you shud read the book immediately even if your exams are just around the corner.:-)

@Deeps
My school has the 11th and 12th classes also. But, most people will be opting for Science. So, they'll shift to the CBSE schools.