So that was my first day at school - I was in my mother's protective arms till the moment arrived. I was to get down and walk over to my bench, put my belongings on the bench, and sit down. But like many children, I just couldn't do it. I just couldn't think of staying away from my mother for a minute, let alone for four hours in a strange classroom with twenty hollering kids and a heavily-built, quaint teacher.
As Mummy had probably expected, I began with my sobs, that soon gave way to unnerving wails. Despite her repeated attempts at putting me down and let go, I continued to clasp my hands around her neck, making it impossible for her to untangle them. It could have been a funny scene, but for the life of me I couldn't remember if the other children laughed at it or gaped at me in wonderment of having witnessed the antics of a circus clown.
So eventually, Mummy put me into Kukreja Ma'am's arms, with my feet dangling in mid-air.
I do not remember when I felt asleep after crying fretfully for what had seemed to be a good twenty minutes. The class teacher meanwhile continued to address the students, reading out poems while they repeated every single line of them as loudly as they could. This, I realized after waking up from my morning nap in a stranger's arms. She put me down after realizing I was fidgeting, and walked me over to the unattended bench at the other side of the door.
'Good boys don't cry,' She said in a most polite tone, and smiled kindly. 'Just sit here, Pranay, Your mom will be here soon.'
'When will she come?' I asked between sobs, managing to speak through my quivering lips.
'Very soon, my child.' She said reassuringly and went back to teaching the students.
'I am a student,' She spoke aloud, in a sing-song voice.
'I - am - a - student,' the kids repeated.
'I study at Apeejay.'
'I - Study - at - Apeejay!'
It continued for another hour before the recess bell went off and the children ran howling into the playground.
I was, in the meanwhile, studying the classroom, having no other choice other than perpetually sniffing my blowing nose. The benches were colourful, some painted in yellow, some in blue, and the one I sat at was dark brown. Kukreja Ma'am walked over to me and asked me to come with her to the playground. I merely shook my head and spoke in a wimpish voice, 'M-Mummy'..
'Pranay.. I told you no.. Mummy will be here very soon. Don't you want to play with other children and have a good time.'
I continued to stare.
'Okay, forget it. Let's see what Pranay has got inside his little bag in here.. Ohh... you've got a Mickey Mouse on it. Wow.'
I smiled coyly. She took out my plastic box from the front pocket of the bag and laid it on the table. Removing the lids from its sides, her eyes seemed to sparkle magnificently.
'Yummy.. Aloo-Paranthas.. My favourite! Do you mind if I take a bite?'
I immediately took out a morsel and handed it over to her.
'That's so sweet, Pranay!' She tasted it and her eyes widened amusingly.
'U-hmmmmm.. Wow, these paranthas are de-licious.. Really nice..,' She took some more bites before she finally slapped her hands together into a clasp. 'Pranay, thank your mom for me.. Will you do it?'
I nodded.
'Gooood boy,' She ruffled my hair.
Just then a familiar figure appeared in the doorway, to which I stretched my arms. Kukreja Ma'am turned around to see my mother smiling as she entered the class. I carefully put the tiffin ox in the bag, zipped it and picked it up along with my water bottle. As I approached her, Mummy picked me up.
'Thank you Mrs Kukreja!' she said.
'Ohh never mind, Mrs Mathur. Pranay and I were having a great time together.. Ohh, by the way, the paranthas were really nice.'
'Ohh that.. .. Thanks.. I'll bring some extra ones for your toorrow if you like'
Kukreja Ma'am guffawed loudly at these words. And then I was carried out of the classroom. As I looked at the teacher from Mummy's shoulder, I saw her waving her hand politely. I smiled, hesitated for a while, and waved back.
