Coming to Chandigarh

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.