Having registered for the school alumni meet. I was eager to reach the school some 25 kms away. I got up late as I had been in office pretty late L and quickly got ready to leave home. I would have barely driven 4-5 kms and a huge NIKON ad reminded me that I had forgotten to get my SLR :-(. But I decide to move on beating the traffic from NOIDA to Delhi.
As I turn from AIIMS to the Aurobindo Marg - it reminds of the memories of college and school days and Priya who stayed somewhere close to that turn. Parking near the school gate, I am greeted by the Guard with – Kaiso ho! I look at him and see no change except a bit of white streaks in the beard. After the usual namaste / bus badhiya I move on.
I enter the school reception (lobby) and looks as if nothing has changed… I look around and figure out that the PTA is just about to over… Then I notice a banner that welcomes the alumni with the location - CONFERENCE ROOM! Conference room??? 2nd floor… did I get that correct… I am forced to ask for direction - which of the three connected buildings do I take – for as long as I could remember there was no conference room in the school!
The warmth of a new teacher directs me. Will I meet any of my old teachers and classmates? As I step on the terrace of the old building – I see a conference room and music room that I was not aware of! -))
The first sight in the conference room is that of Chitra Mam (my chemistry teacher). For many years and especially the last 2 years of my schooling Chitra mam was someone to be afraid of, to try and remember if the homework had been done and if I had got my lab work right! But this time I am overjoyed to see her. It was a great feeling when she affectionately said “Namit come here” – the feeling is simply too good to be described. I get to meet many teachers Renu mam, Shobha Rani mam and many others…I was overjoyed. But then my eyes where searching for friends and familiar faces from class or batch.
I quickly make my way to reception desk and look at register – the closest batch that I find is some 8 years junior… I move back to the conference room to spend some great moments interacting and trying to catch up with teachers while I wait for Sid (the only classmate who promised to make on the yahoogroup). As the new “princi” makes it to the room we have some speeches by the Association secy and some games. After the lunch and a bit of basketball with Melkar sir – I wander around in the school looking at the improved play area. Then some usual advice from teachers comes my way – “beta shaadi kar lo” …I look back and my memories take me to the room when I first proposed & to the days of enjoying x-mas party and v-day celebrations.
Finally, I make it back home promising by myself of coming back each year and being the coordinator of my batch!
visit my school http://www.stpauls-delhi.com/
Sunday, October 16, 2005
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