page 3 ( 65 ) The Final Examination of Std IX

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     There is a reason why I wrote a paragraph annoyingly about the people  of Kadayiruppu.  It remains a wonder why even a person didn't hear my mother's abusive words in her highest pitch. 

     I was preparing for the Final examination in Std IX .  In our Church, an Annual gospel meeting and a drama were proposed to be conducted.  Two Youth Association members met my father in Kadayiruppu junction & asked him to buy  tickets for the drama.  My father replied that it was not sure whether all of us would come because my final examinations were taking place.  Hearing the reply, those two youths started laughing at him and said,"what is special about her ?  Is she always studying ?  There is no girl like her in Kadayiruppu.  Every family has taken a ticket for the drama."  My father returned home that day angrily.  He said that two youths in the Church teased him because of me.  For all other children, examination was only second to the Church activities.  What made me sad was that I & Nitha were competing to get maximum marks  in the Final Examination.  The Teachers had also great expectations in us in the Final Examination of Std X.  The Examination in Std IX was a trial for the next year's examination.  And even the people of the Church spoke against me!  

     At that time, my father mentioned their names, but  now I totally forgot them.  On the day of the drama, my parents with my brother & sister went to the Church in the  evening.  But, I didn't go.  While reading the book alone sitting in the middle room, I became afraid  because of the  thoughts of robbers & ghosts.  I went to the bedroom and sat in the cot in a corner.  After sometime, I lied down on the bed.  Slowly, I had a nap for sometime.  I raised from there when my father knocked at the door. He angrily told me that I stayed in home, to sleep.  I was greatly hurt by that statement.  When all parents desire their children to learn their lessons correctly, especially during the examination time, in my house, the reverse happened.  The Church unit behaved like that to my father because  he is poor.  Students from rich families usually didn't attend Sunday School classes.  Like that, students from English Medium School also were rare in Sunday School classes.  I am sure that these people did not have behaved like this in rich people's houses.
     At this point, I want to point out one more thing about my family and circumstances.  I have already mentioned that my neighbours were very rich.  Their ancestors attended Holy Qurbana  at St Peter's & St Paul's Church, Kolenchery.  Hence, there were no people from my neighbouring families to go to Valamboor Church.  Moreover, my neighbours Mr Johny & Mr Varghese used to attend a prayer meeting which was being conducted in Mr Devassia's ( brother- in - law of Johnny & Varghese ) house. Varghese & Johnny had three sisters.  Mr Devassia was one of their sister's husband.  He was a renowned preacher of Jesus Christ as well as Professor in St Peter's College, Kolenchery. As a result, my neighbours came back, after  02.30 p.m. on Sundays.  Therefore, on Sundays, I used to go to bring  newspaper in the evening.