Flashback (1980's)
In mid 1980's my dad got transferred and we came to Chandigarh. Chandigarh is known as city beautiful and is comparatively much smaller and slower as compared to Delhi. I was 11 years old and it was totally a new experience for me. It was a mid term and I had to get admission in a Gov't High School to save my academic year. From a Convent School in Delhi to a Gov't High School in Chandigarh, it was a huge difference. I still remembered I was awed by the amount of noise in the school and the classrooms, the way the teachers spoke in Hindi and Punjabi and the way kids behaved.
For the few days (out of superiority complex) I did not talk to kids around. They tried to be friendly but I never bothered to talk to them. But as the time passed by my attitude started costing me dear. I used to look at kids laughing and playing. Sitting alone in my seat I longed to be one of them; but my pride always stopped me from doing that. I got very lonely. My teachers liked me as I had a strong academic base from Delhi. This made me all the more alienated for the students around.
One day a girl (she was totally Punjabi speaking and we had a huge language difference) came and pulled my cheeks. She smiled at me. I did not know how to respond. But she was the only one who never laughed at me every time I prayed before lunch. I smiled back and her eyes twinkled. It took me a moment to realize that I had a friend; but it taught me a life long lesson about the power of smile. From that day onwards I started smiling at kids around, and within few days I had friends around. Nobody could tell the difference between me and them. But that girl was always with me...I taught her English and she taught me Punjabi and we were closest friends.
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2 comments:
oh shalu... that one really gave me goosebumps..
for one, the smile thing.. we used 2 have this shuffling done at school every year, as we had around 10 divisions for the same batch, to make sure that lobbies are not formed among the kids..
d 1st day of the new academic year, the teacher would tell us each, which class we were going to.. we just go there n find a place n sit.. the girl who walks in n sits next to you, smiles at you.. n then you become best friends for dat academic year!! dat 1st smile used 2 hold a certain magic... of kids walking in with the same feeling.. apprehensive whether they'll be accepted..n relieved at that acceptance..
n about the new-admissions.. well i've done all my schooling in the same school.. n i was always one of the 1st kids to reach out to the new-admissions of the class.. u've soo well described the shell they create for themselves n the way they open up later... it made a lovely read!
n hey, have i ever thanked you for being soo nice to me when I first came over to chandigarh? I really felt like a new-admission in that new world.. but u were the very 1st of all the angels that were sent to me then!
Usha...you know me...I always try to smile coz I have learnt from my past experience. This girl Jatinder Kaur really taught me a valuable lesson of life. As far a being good to you is concerned Usha...I must say that you yourself had the power of attra ting people with your smile and bubbly nature.
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