page 3 ( 50 ) Entry to High School

     page 3
               ( 50 )      

     In VIIIth Std, I joined in Government High School, Pazhamthottam.  The school campus was a new experience to me.  The High School section was in the main block, a two storeyed building.  Next to the main building, there was an open place, for the School Assembly and a stage was built there.  Then came the Upper Primary section, all of them one storeyed tile roofed buildings.  When I walked forward, I could see the Lower Primary classes.  I wondered to see how small they were.  I couldn't believe that once I was also such a little one.  After that. I entered a vast playground, which was lengthy but narrow.  On one side, I could see boy's toilet.  To go to the girl's toilet, I had to walk a little more distance.   I said to myself that the designers of the ground & toilets were  people who could foresee the facilities of students.  

     The students from Government Upper Primary School Kadayiruppu were asked to sit in Std VIII A .  After sometime, a Teacher came and announced that  I, Geethu, Neethu & Rani should go to 'C' division.  Accordingly, taking our bags, we went to 'C' division.  I sat near Fausia, a girl wearing a veil, from Muslim community. It was for the first time that I was sitting in a class together with a girl wearing a veil.  But what amazing me that I didn't feel any difference between my old friends and my new classmates wearing a veil.

     In order to reach my school I had to travel by bus.  Though the nearest   bus stop was near the English Medium School,  I walked to the bus stop near the Upper Primary School, Kadayiruppu, during the first three days  because I was afraid to  wait in the nearest bus stop alone.  I was the farthest student from that direction from our school.  After three days all my fears  disappeared and I walked to the nearest bus stop and everything was ok.  The next bus stop after Government Upper Primary School was near Government Hospital, Kadayiruppu.  The hospital was a small one.  Sometimes an eminent doctor would come and take charge there.  Then everyone would go to the hospital for treatment.  When the doctor got transferred, the patients also would go to some private hospitals.  After the bus stop, there is a junction of four roads.  The Kolechery - Perumbavoor bus would go straight, pass through Pattimattam and finally reach Perumbavoor.  One or two buses which ran through Kolenchery - Perumbavoor route  would turn right, go past Government Lower Primary School Kadayiruppu , then finally reach Perumbavoor.  There are some buses which turn left, in the Kolechery - Aluva route.  If you look at the right side, you can see Geethu & Neethu's house, the Temple of Karikkode and the bus would reach the bus stop near Pazhamthottam, after sometime.  All of us would get down there.  The conductor would collect our bus charge as a whole because we would travel by bus utilising ST ( Student's Ticket ).  I think  the amount was 10 paisa at that time.  For this reason we were not allowed to sit on the seats. The matured people who pay full charge only were allowed to sit on the seats.  When all of us got down the bus, it would continue its journey and finally reach Aluva.  From the bus stop, we had to walk about 10 minutes to reach our school.

     Now, I am going to tell you an important event in my life.  I am revealing this because I have no other choice before me.  At that time, my growth was like a jungle tree near an embankment which situated near the paddy fields.  My mind had already changed.  This change had occurred in my body also. The pure air, pure water, mangoes, jackfruits and tapioca made my growth  a little faster.  The women labourers looked at me and murmured,"she has grown almost like Maji.  She has reached the age to give in marriage to someone".

     I was going through one of the toughest periods in my life.  When I looked at my body, I was filled with sadness, anger and humiliation.  When aunt Laly was in my house, my mother told her, "you go with her to the textiles to purchase brassiere for her.  She won't like my presence".  When I & aunt Laly were standing in the textiles, I didn't look at any of  them.  I stood there as a humiliated & insulted person.  Aunt Laly & the staff in the textiles selected brassiere suitable for me.  I was thinking about all my classmates - everyone's chest looked like a IVth Std student's chest.  Only the failed ones in the class wore bra.  "Now I will also join with them", I couldn't control my mind.

     One day, Maji came to my house when she and her mother came near our house to mew the grass.  She looked like a grown up woman capable of doing every household works.  She said,"this happens because we belong to backward community.  The rich girls how much food they take they wouldn't have to wear bra at this age".  I was surprised to hear it.  I knew that Maji  also started to to wear bra at an earlier age.  What is the relationship between caste & wearing bra ?", I have thought about this many times.  My conclusion was there is a hidden relation.

     After the bra was purchased, wearing it was a problem.  In Pazhamthottam school, there was a uniform.  It was a new experience to me.  Rose coloured top ( blouse) and green skirt.  Under the top, we used to wear a petticoat.  I feared that the others would notice bra worn by me.  Therefore, after wearing bra & petticoat, I would call out,"ammi, where are you ?"   Then my mother would appear and pin my bra to the petticoat together so that no one would notice my bra.   After this incident, aunt Molly  stitched my petticoat's upper part widely.