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The midsummer vacation after Std IX was very important for me. There were mangoes and jackfruits but I didn't involve in them completely because I had taken a strong decision to try my best to score in Std X. So, I continued reading my books in Std IX. The Teachers had advised us to come to school on the 1st week of May to start classes of Std X, instead of 1st week of June because the result of Std X ( SSLC ) was very important in those days. We were the 1st batch of the school & everyone was anxious about the performance of the school. We were only 40 students preparing for the examination in Std X. As directed by the Teachers, all of us came to school, on the 1st week of May 1988 itself. Two or three days passed. But Jolly was absent. Our Teacher asked us to go to her house and enquire about the reason behind her absence. The Teacher meant only two or three persons - but about nine or ten girls including me, went to her house. On the way, all of them came to my house, climbing the steps, ran through the rooms and climbed down the steps. When we reached her house, it took some time to open the door - she was alone there on that day. Seeing all of us, she came out to the courtyard , started conversation while some of the girls were watching the flowers in the garden. She had almost forgotten the Teacher's words but she assured that she would come to school from the next day onwards.
It was towards the end of May that the SSLC examination result was published. Therefore, I was also waiting for the result - my senior's result in Std X. The 1st rank holder's pictures and descriptions would be there in the newspapers. Similarly, the 2nd, 3rd rank holders, their schools, parents - everything would be there. In the inner pages of the newspaper, the other ranks - upto 14th or 15th rank holder's pictures would be seen. Finally, the day came on which the result was published. You wouldn't believe this. The 1st rank holder Laly Varghese was from our nearest school - St Peter's English Medium School, Kadayiruppu - an unbelievable truth ! I don't remember how did I first hear about it. I ran to Puthiyaveettil house to read the news on that day itself. Kochechi gave me the newspaper. I think she was also proud about the news because Basil would face the examination in 1990.
I read the news and watched the photos many times. Usually, the ranks were bagged by the schools in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. Now, I have a doubt that whether the 1st rank holder was Laly Varghese alone or it was shared by another person also. However, I was mesmerised by the news. I read the news many times. When I read the word, "Kadayiruppu", my village's name in the front page of the newspaper, I couldn't control myself. I read it many many times and returned the newspaper. Kochechi said, "study well, Diya, this year you are also facing the examination". The next day, I again went to Puthiyaveettil house as usual, brought the newspaper to my house, read each & every word in it. On that day also, I read the word "Kadayiruppu", in the front page of the newspaper many times.
A function was arranged in our school to honour the 1st rank holder. As it was a Govt function, it was arranged in our Government School. I think it was in June. All the students were there. We were the seniors, we were at the back of the hall. All the officials made speeches. My eyes were on her - the 1st rank holder. She made a short speech in Malayalam. This incident made me a little more confident to study well in Std X, I think.
67
The midsummer vacation after Std IX was very important for me. There were mangoes and jackfruits but I didn't involve in them completely because I had taken a strong decision to try my best to score in Std X. So, I continued reading my books in Std IX. The Teachers had advised us to come to school on the 1st week of May to start classes of Std X, instead of 1st week of June because the result of Std X ( SSLC ) was very important in those days. We were the 1st batch of the school & everyone was anxious about the performance of the school. We were only 40 students preparing for the examination in Std X. As directed by the Teachers, all of us came to school, on the 1st week of May 1988 itself. Two or three days passed. But Jolly was absent. Our Teacher asked us to go to her house and enquire about the reason behind her absence. The Teacher meant only two or three persons - but about nine or ten girls including me, went to her house. On the way, all of them came to my house, climbing the steps, ran through the rooms and climbed down the steps. When we reached her house, it took some time to open the door - she was alone there on that day. Seeing all of us, she came out to the courtyard , started conversation while some of the girls were watching the flowers in the garden. She had almost forgotten the Teacher's words but she assured that she would come to school from the next day onwards.
It was towards the end of May that the SSLC examination result was published. Therefore, I was also waiting for the result - my senior's result in Std X. The 1st rank holder's pictures and descriptions would be there in the newspapers. Similarly, the 2nd, 3rd rank holders, their schools, parents - everything would be there. In the inner pages of the newspaper, the other ranks - upto 14th or 15th rank holder's pictures would be seen. Finally, the day came on which the result was published. You wouldn't believe this. The 1st rank holder Laly Varghese was from our nearest school - St Peter's English Medium School, Kadayiruppu - an unbelievable truth ! I don't remember how did I first hear about it. I ran to Puthiyaveettil house to read the news on that day itself. Kochechi gave me the newspaper. I think she was also proud about the news because Basil would face the examination in 1990.
I read the news and watched the photos many times. Usually, the ranks were bagged by the schools in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. Now, I have a doubt that whether the 1st rank holder was Laly Varghese alone or it was shared by another person also. However, I was mesmerised by the news. I read the news many times. When I read the word, "Kadayiruppu", my village's name in the front page of the newspaper, I couldn't control myself. I read it many many times and returned the newspaper. Kochechi said, "study well, Diya, this year you are also facing the examination". The next day, I again went to Puthiyaveettil house as usual, brought the newspaper to my house, read each & every word in it. On that day also, I read the word "Kadayiruppu", in the front page of the newspaper many times.
A function was arranged in our school to honour the 1st rank holder. As it was a Govt function, it was arranged in our Government School. I think it was in June. All the students were there. We were the seniors, we were at the back of the hall. All the officials made speeches. My eyes were on her - the 1st rank holder. She made a short speech in Malayalam. This incident made me a little more confident to study well in Std X, I think.
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