Everything seemed grey and gloomy whitish while I made way for my first class with the kindergarteners. Apparently, the designer must be a manic depressive or someone who is obsessed with grey. The walls, ceilings, and boards were dilapidated and at some places, they had been almost non-existent though their remnants completed the structure and my new workplace Bijnaur Govt. School. Torn pages of last to last year’s syllabi were pinned here and there on the soft clay wall written in black and dull handwriting with certain misspelled words like ‘Grammyr’ instead of ‘Grammar’ and ‘Syllabye’ instead of ‘Syllabi’ which simply portrayed the dreadful conditions of the government schools. Though the place had nothing of great importance yet the Department’s struggle to take out something from that nothing be it the use of painted marbles to teach the number system or teaching food chains by way of the paper folding game was admirable.
My entry to this structure resembling Hogwarts cum Colosseum though bereft of those cinema-Paradiso moments was quite unfortunate. I had been penniless and desperately in want of a job. Therefore after a bit of soul-searching and compelling my acquaintances for helping me to get a job I ultimately landed up getting into this profession.
It was on the 2nd of May. My thoughts were calling it a doomsday as if Meliodas and Mael were to face each other. I had a speedy recovery from my bitter thoughts as soon as I stepped onto the threshold of my classroom. The ceaseless buzzing of the classroom and the display of the unlimited amount of energy the students contained came to a standstill when one of the paper airplanes manufactured with great precision flown from one end of the classroom hit me during its flight.
I ignored this mesmerizing welcome when I witnessed this rebellious act was performed by a gang of troublesome kids eyeing me suspiciously as if I were an alien trying to invade their territory.
After having a good dosage of the singsong way of the good morning I made way for the teacher’s chair only to discover that some innovative kid was using it as makeshift support for the unhinged door at one end of the classroom.
It was the first day of the class so it began with a general introduction which ultimately came to a halt, all credits to one chubby kid who was trying his best to direct the attention of the class by waving a certain packet in the air artfully.
“What is it, kid?” I asked on noticing his hand swaying sideways.
“First..day..sir. A present was brought to give you,” he blabbered and trying his best to put words into place.
I was delighted to hear that he was so considerate towards a poor guy like me. Taking a few steps closer, I tried to acknowledge his kindness and receive my gift when he spoke again.
“My mother got a present …and she did not want that… called everyone in our family and they also not wanted that a… so she said to bring it to school giving it to you!”
My acknowledgments petrified and I retreated after hearing this unrequited truth. I thanked him half-heartedly. At the same time, he was told that gift could not be accepted because it was against the school policies.
Soon after this incident, things were normal again. Our lectures continued as they should and I finished the first lesson only to discover the practicality among students. The students were well versed with their routine and the interaction with them revealed their innocence.
“Who gives us eggs?” I asked after teaching them about poultry and poems on animals for about an hour. Several hands went up in the air and I chose one of those little enthusiasts to answer.
“Mom” was the reply. Thinking the child had not understood the question, I rephrased it,” From where do we get eggs?”
The same child answered, “From the fridge!”
I was often left speechless with such accidental witty remarks during my class. I had now begun to enjoy their presence.
My first day with the kids had almost come to an end and I was putting my notes back into place when I heard a deafening shriek.
There was a bunch of kids all assembled at the far end of the classroom making loud noises as if in pain. I tried to interpret the problem while they kept on shouting and saying “Couch” which ultimately made no sense.
There are some moments in life where you get to know your inner strengths and what’s really interesting is that you get to know your weakness too. While I tried to figure out the cause for such an outburst of emotions among the students, I observed that all of them were looking at my feet. To study the cause I looked down only to discover that I had a fear of cockroaches. The kids were glaring at the dark-brown cockroach still mumbling “Couch”. My head started reeling and my throat became dry.
It was not excessively long when I realized that I had fainted and some kid who had been telling everyone that sir was scared of cockroaches and had passed away was the one who had brought some people as my aid.
The day finally ended and it gradually dawned on me that truth and innocence are what rests in children and that’s why they are the living representatives of God. The way they indulge in a casual fight still wearing that smile of ingenuity reminds me of Mallory Hopkins when she said-
‘Life is short. Smile while you still have teeth.’
