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( 39 )
One evening, my mother went to Puthiyaveettil Johney's house and returned after some time. Then she declared that kochechi asked her whether I was willing to give Balarama to Basil & Jimmy. Instead they would give me "Poompatta", another children's magazine. "Poompatta" means "a butterfly". I was excited to hear the news. I had seen "Poompatta" in many of my friends' hands. Taking two or three Balaramas, I ran to kochechi's house. She told me, "Diya, these boys are nagging us everyday for "Poompatta". That's why we have subscribed it". She went inside and came with the new edition of "Poompatta". I gave her Balarama. From that day onwards, Balarama & Poompatta were exchanged between us. I remember a character in Poompatta - Kapish - a monkey who rescues his friends from dangers and who can stretch his tail upto whatever extend he wanted.
In our class, all the girls except the last benchers had formed two gangs. We used to find the faults of the other gang and gossipped to others . Most of my classmates were coming from same place. Some of them were neighbours too. But , the boys & girls didn't talk with each other. Our class had two entrances - one from the front and the other from the back. One day after an interval, Jordi was entering through the back door. Then, our classmate, Renu, who was standing near the entrance, called him, "Hey, Satan !", and she laughed loudly. All of us were shocked. Renu was not a member of my gang. She was soon surrounded by some of the girls in our class. Renu spoke, "Jordi is a naughty boy. When he teases me, I call him, Satan". All of us talked about her impudence. At last, we concluded that they were lovers.
The next day, when I was coming to School, I saw a lorry and its name was written as "R J Ltd". Therefore, after reaching school, I told my friends that even on the lorry's boards, their names had appeared. The entire class was silent on that day. During the intervals, everyone whispered about it . Near our class, on the front courtyard, there was a big tree. It was not straight but slightly bent so that we could easily climb upon. I don't know how to describe its shape now. We used to sit on that tree. On that day, the boys sat on the tree and discussed something or other. The other gang in the class nicknamed me PVPOC. We got this information from some girls who were doing spywork for us . This name was formed by taking the 1st letters of male Teachers. They said that when these Teachers entered the class I had an excitement. This news made me mentally tired. But I thought for a moment, "Do I have an excitement when these Teachers entered the class?" "No", that was the answer. But I was sad that my name was associated with Teachers.
We, being in the opposite gang, decided to 'conduct' the marriage of Jordi and Renu, symbolically. We selected a boy as priest. Now I don't remember his face or name, then another one as a sexton, he was Saiju. We wondered how her father allowed her to play with boys. Renu declared, "I have no shame in associating my name with Jordi, but when you spoke about my father, I felt sad". Then, the spyworkers brought the news that Jordi, the priest & the sexton were crying, sitting on the tree. Now, I wonder from where I & my group got the courage for doing all those things. I think one reason was because we were the seniors of the school.
I think it was in one of those days electricity reached my house. Switch on to get the light from the bulb was new to me. "These are the inventions of science. Most of the inventions are made by the westerners. Why?", I thought. Hardwork , but how can I work ? Can I become a scientist ?" My lot was to prepare jackfruit seeds for curry. Maji, after her failure in the Xth Std exam, had joined a parallel college to pass the failed subjects. It was the system in Kerala at that time. There were a lot of parallel colleges throughout Kerala. The failed candidates would join there and they would teach them that subject thoroughly and make them pass.
Our Mathematics Teacher Chandrakanth Sir was very efficient. I understood everything he taught us. Our Science Teacher, Paulose Sir also was very smart. I have many things to say about him. The Teacher who taught us Social Science was Govindan Sir. He was almost like a sanyasi. He didn't look at our faces. He would enter the class, begin by writing on the board the questions and answers. The next day, he would call each student near him and ask those questions. Those who hadnot studied can stand in the front corners and after learning it by heart only , they could return to their seats.
( 39 )
One evening, my mother went to Puthiyaveettil Johney's house and returned after some time. Then she declared that kochechi asked her whether I was willing to give Balarama to Basil & Jimmy. Instead they would give me "Poompatta", another children's magazine. "Poompatta" means "a butterfly". I was excited to hear the news. I had seen "Poompatta" in many of my friends' hands. Taking two or three Balaramas, I ran to kochechi's house. She told me, "Diya, these boys are nagging us everyday for "Poompatta". That's why we have subscribed it". She went inside and came with the new edition of "Poompatta". I gave her Balarama. From that day onwards, Balarama & Poompatta were exchanged between us. I remember a character in Poompatta - Kapish - a monkey who rescues his friends from dangers and who can stretch his tail upto whatever extend he wanted.
In our class, all the girls except the last benchers had formed two gangs. We used to find the faults of the other gang and gossipped to others . Most of my classmates were coming from same place. Some of them were neighbours too. But , the boys & girls didn't talk with each other. Our class had two entrances - one from the front and the other from the back. One day after an interval, Jordi was entering through the back door. Then, our classmate, Renu, who was standing near the entrance, called him, "Hey, Satan !", and she laughed loudly. All of us were shocked. Renu was not a member of my gang. She was soon surrounded by some of the girls in our class. Renu spoke, "Jordi is a naughty boy. When he teases me, I call him, Satan". All of us talked about her impudence. At last, we concluded that they were lovers.
The next day, when I was coming to School, I saw a lorry and its name was written as "R J Ltd". Therefore, after reaching school, I told my friends that even on the lorry's boards, their names had appeared. The entire class was silent on that day. During the intervals, everyone whispered about it . Near our class, on the front courtyard, there was a big tree. It was not straight but slightly bent so that we could easily climb upon. I don't know how to describe its shape now. We used to sit on that tree. On that day, the boys sat on the tree and discussed something or other. The other gang in the class nicknamed me PVPOC. We got this information from some girls who were doing spywork for us . This name was formed by taking the 1st letters of male Teachers. They said that when these Teachers entered the class I had an excitement. This news made me mentally tired. But I thought for a moment, "Do I have an excitement when these Teachers entered the class?" "No", that was the answer. But I was sad that my name was associated with Teachers.
We, being in the opposite gang, decided to 'conduct' the marriage of Jordi and Renu, symbolically. We selected a boy as priest. Now I don't remember his face or name, then another one as a sexton, he was Saiju. We wondered how her father allowed her to play with boys. Renu declared, "I have no shame in associating my name with Jordi, but when you spoke about my father, I felt sad". Then, the spyworkers brought the news that Jordi, the priest & the sexton were crying, sitting on the tree. Now, I wonder from where I & my group got the courage for doing all those things. I think one reason was because we were the seniors of the school.
I think it was in one of those days electricity reached my house. Switch on to get the light from the bulb was new to me. "These are the inventions of science. Most of the inventions are made by the westerners. Why?", I thought. Hardwork , but how can I work ? Can I become a scientist ?" My lot was to prepare jackfruit seeds for curry. Maji, after her failure in the Xth Std exam, had joined a parallel college to pass the failed subjects. It was the system in Kerala at that time. There were a lot of parallel colleges throughout Kerala. The failed candidates would join there and they would teach them that subject thoroughly and make them pass.
Our Mathematics Teacher Chandrakanth Sir was very efficient. I understood everything he taught us. Our Science Teacher, Paulose Sir also was very smart. I have many things to say about him. The Teacher who taught us Social Science was Govindan Sir. He was almost like a sanyasi. He didn't look at our faces. He would enter the class, begin by writing on the board the questions and answers. The next day, he would call each student near him and ask those questions. Those who hadnot studied can stand in the front corners and after learning it by heart only , they could return to their seats.
Why was our Social Science Teacher like that, not looking at other's face ? There were many stories about it . But I would't believe any stories. I believe a story only if I confirm. Now I feel why didn't I enquire about his family. It was a mistake from my part.
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