I fell in love when I was in class 1

I was in Standard 1 and 5th September was fast approaching. My class teacher Mr. Sinha was not coming to school for quite some time and temporarily was replaced by a young lady, Miss Jilla. She had a fair V shaped face and curly brown hair which came down only till her shoulders. She mostly wore skirts and I always wondered how she could pull up her socks (stockings) right underneath her skirt. My socks reached my ankles and were nothing less than irritation for me.
I don’t really know what it was but I really liked her teaching in class. Her bird like voice was symphony to my ears as I carefully listened to whatever she had to say. Normally this kind of attraction would be considered to be a distraction at that age (may be at any age) but for me it worked wonders. I completed all my homework assignments and tried to impress her by making an effort to read the subject beforehand.
All this effort didn’t go to waste as she started thinking of me as a ‘Good Boy’ and made my parents really happy seeing my interest in studies grow.
That year Teacher’s Day was on Monday and as our school remained off on weekends I got 2 complete days to prepare something for Miss Jilla. Impressed by a scene in a latest Hindi Movie I decided to give her a bouquet of Red Roses and a Card telling her about my inner feelings. For this I needed Money.
As I wanted to begin my task with good spirit I first went to my Father. He had a peculiar way of giving me money. He would ask me to sing the National Anthem without any mistakes and if he would be certain that I have passed the test he would happily extend his hand, full of coins, keeping his eyes closed and left it on me how much I would take. Normally I would never take advantage of the opportunity but this time it was different. Instead of taking my regular Rs 5 I took a Rs 10 note.
My next source was my mother. It was always difficult to get behind her but today I had to anyhow. I knew she cherished such occasions as she would make me do things in return that I was reluctant to do.
She Inquired “ Is your room clean?”
“Yes”
“Your Cupboard?”
“Yes”
“Desk?”
I looked at her in silence contemplating weather I should lie to her or not. What if she finds it out?
“I was just about to do it, Ma”
Prompt came the reply “ So you first do it and then come to me.”

Finally after working for hours I finished the job and ran straight to Mommy for the reward. My collection had gone up to Rs 15 and I could imagine the bouquet of Red Roses in Miss Jilla’s hands. Now I just needed money for the Special Card.
My last source was my brother but getting money out of him was not my cup of tea. Unlike me, every month he had a saving, which he used to keep hidden somewhere away from everyone’s eye (especially mine). Unfortunately for him few days back I had stumbled upon the Hidden Treasure. It was safely kept in between the cover of his History Text book. I just had to occupy my brother’s attention onto something, so that, in the meantime I could carefully uncover the book and take out the little amount that I desired. It was an uphill task.
The only opportunity that I had was at 4 in the evening, as at that time brother would be glued to the television to watch a Chinese kungfu programme. The one where heroes with white ghostly make-up cast spells on villains and would jump from one building to the other; I wondered what he liked about them.
It was four and for some reason Brother was not watching his favourite show. Normally I preferred such a sight but today it was spoiling my plans. I went up to him and in a very casual way told him
“ Isn’t the final battle between Mojimbo the drunken master and Kitari today”
This was enough. His ears widened up and eyes popped out. He at once looked at the watch.
“Oh shit, it’s already 4” he zoomed out of the room presenting me the opportunity that I needed.
It was only a matter of few minutes when I uncovered the text book with precision and scraped out 5 rupees from it.
On Monday I got up early and as I wanted to keep my plan a secret I reached my class before everyone and carefully hid the bouquet inside my desk. Slowly my friends came in. Everyone had got something for the teacher but I was sure no one could ever imagine my gift. The bell rang, we all stood up and it was time for Miss Jilla to come in.
I got onto my toes in excitement as streams of blood cells gushed through my vessels and I felt their movement all throughout my body. My heart was thumping in an unusual way, “will she like it?” I was getting nervous.

Just then the unexpected happened. Mr Sinha entered the class. As everyone went ahead to hand over their cards to him I stood looking at the door expecting her to make an appearance any time. But there was no sign of her. In that moment of cheer and laughter I experienced a muted atmosphere. I remained frozen staring at the desk motionless.

Coming back from school

I was in Standard V when we had shifted to a place quite far from our school. My elder brother and I had to make 2 stopovers before reaching home. It was a long bus journey and since before that I practically had no or little experience of travelling in Public buses, my travelling was taken care of by my Elder brother.
I remember every Monday morning Mom gave him weekly travelling allowance and guidance of how he should take care of himself and me during the journey. Sometimes I wonder it’s because of me he matured earlier than expected.
Any ways…
One humid June afternoon while coming back home from school we got onto a crowded Tin Bus. Somehow my brother managed to get me an empty seat and he himself remained standing overlooking my presence.
On the way we spoke about how Captain Planet got into trouble the previous day while protecting the Environment and his friends. We were quite excited to go back home and see the remaining drama. My brother had an eye on his wrist watch, keeping me informed that still an hour to go for Captain Planet to save the world.
“Even if the bus driver drives at the slowest of speed, we will make it”
The fact was that more than me he was excited to see the Cartoon.
Our bittersweet conversation took us through to the half way mark of our journey. At this point Brother got an empty seat 7 or 8 row in front of me. He was hesitant to go but the load of a heavy school bag and temptation to rest his feet for the remaining journey was too much for him to resist. Before taking the seat he warned me
“Don’t go off to sleep, Ok”
Out of a mix of Embarrassment and Irritation I replied
“I don’t sleep anymore” (In my mind I said “I wish I didn’t”)
The bus moved on. Breeze from the window blew over having an icy sensation all over my face. The banal world outside slowly started to bore me. I failed to recognize the passing streets, landmarks and direction that we were following. I decided to shut my eyes and rest for some time.
“I am not sleeping, I am awake” I incessantly reminded myself.
I just didn’t realize when I dozed off to sleep caring less about brother’s warning.
(The remaining part of the story is something that was experienced by my brother as my story from that point is just a childish dream)
The bus made its way from one stop to the other, slowly approaching our destination. It was still crowded with passengers and made it difficult for brother to keep an eye on me. Finally our stop arrived and brother tried looking back at my whereabouts. Not being able to locate me he got down of the bus realizing that perhaps I have made my way through to the other gate closer to where I was sitting. Few passengers got down.
My brother looked on. He couldn’t find me.
“Naveen! Naveen!” He exclaimed looking through the windows from outside.
His shouts were heard by no one as he struggled to jump to have a look at the other side where I was seated. He somehow caught the sight of my profile, with my head drooling from one corner to the other.
In the extreme moment of anxiety he had hardly taken a step towards the bus when the bus moved on and hence began the chase.
Our new home being closer to the outskirts of the city, the roads clear out and there is not much traffic over them. It’s unfortunately the precise point from where the buses start accelerating. Brother tried to chase the bus but his tiny tired legs were no match to the burning machine. He slowly lost sight of the bus.

In the meantime I had come back to my senses and slowly realized that there was something wrong. Not finding my brother around me I quickly understood that I had overslept. In seconds my sleep had transformed into a shock. I leaped towards the gate and asked the conductor to stop the bus. Once out of the bus I analyzed the entire location. It was a completely unexplored surrounding for me.
“How far was I from home?” I had no clue.
After the few initial moments of shock I made an attempt to plan a course of action. I decided that if I take the road opposite to the direction of the bus I would reach closer to home. As I moved according to plan I slowly came across structures which I kind of recognized.
It was only when I reached the Ice-cream shop I was sure that I was close to home. It had to be the store next to my place as I remembered the painting on the outside wall of the store miss spelt Taste as TEAST. From here I knew the way to home and a sense of relief smothered over me.
I was proud of my achievements and thought of the times when brother ridiculed me of not knowing any roads. An air of victory emerged around me. With happiness in my steps I started kicking a stone, keeping it away from the drain adjoining the streets.
Just then at the corner of the street I noticed a familiar face which due to tears and perspirations seemed to be a little unfamiliar. A closer glance ensured me that it was my brother.
I had never seen him in tears before. Weather it be losing a game or mamma’s scolding, he never cried. I always wished to see him cry but although it happened that day I felt extremely miserable. As I approached towards him he wiped his face, somehow controlled himself and looked straight at me. I had never seen this side of him.
I still remember those glimmering curved eyes, a moment where I sensed his panic, anger and fear slowly transform into relief, peace and content. We stood there for a moment looking at each other, finally I gave in. It became hard for me to continue staring at him and quickly put my head down.
He didn’t utter a word and started walking towards home. Behind him I followed.
Throughout the way I prayed that please brother don’t tell Mommy anything.
“I promise I’ll never sleep again”
With a circle of thought I entered home and without a word straight went into my room. Standing next to the door I heard my brother reply to mommy
“There was a lot of Traffic Jam, today”