I still remember the day, as if it was only yesterday. It
was 7.40 in the morning and I had just lined up outside the school gate with
all the other early arrivals. They all were looking at me, or was I just too
conscious? I wouldn't know. I was simply too busy trying hard not to look them
in their eyes, just in case someone found me interesting and wanted to talk to
me. I kept looking here and there. My nervousness was way too obvious from my
body language. With my shoulders bent and head hung as low as possible, I
waited and waited till at around 7.50 AM the watchman finally opened the doors
to “my would be second home”.
Not really knowing what to do next, I simply followed the
herd of students. As I passed the watchman, I said “Good Morning Bhaiya”,
something my parents had taught me to do. His reaction told me that I had done
something completely unexpected. He stared at me for full 5 seconds as I kept
walking straight feeling his gaze on the back of my head. It must have been the
fact that I was the only one who wished him. I was quite shocked to see that none
of the kids greeted him, “what a shame?” I thought to myself.
Anyways, overcoming the watchman’s intense glare, I entered
the school premises and, and simply kept standing. It was too much to take in.
A tall building with a very small field space suddenly hovered over me. The intensity
of bright yellow was eye catching. I stared around trying to take in every
little detail that I could. May be, doing this while standing at the center of
the assembly hall was not a good idea. Every one kept on giving me those weird
looks. That weird “out of place” feeling crept in and I again became conscious
of my movements. I realized that I was the only one who had no surety in his
movement. All the students seemed so confident and smart. I was jealous.
I was just beginning to settle with those looks when the teachers arrived on the ground. Well, that was
it! I completely lost every bit of self confidence. I simply froze. One of the stern
looking teachers was fast approaching towards me. I felt dreaded. “I need to
move, right now” I remember thinking to myself. I garnered all my courage to
muster just two words to the nearest standing kid. “Class second?” I asked,
“Upstairs, right side” came a swift reply. The approaching teacher was just 5
steps away now. I simply beat a hasty retreat towards the direction of my new
class.
I had successfully ignored the first dangerous encounter for
now, but what about the kids in my class?
“How on earth will I talk to them? Will they want to talk to me? Will
they be my friend? Will they accept me, or make fun of me?” all these questions
were making my mind go numb as my legs kept moving. I was moving at a snail’s
pace and yet, I reached there within 5 minutes. “Damn” I cursed. I remember seeing
the label outside the class reading in big bold letters “2nd B”. I
did think of going back to the safety of my house for a second but that thought
quickly vanished as I saw another teacher coming towards where I was standing.
I had to go inside now. “Okay Snehal, time to take the plunge and meet your new
class!” With heavy and highly unsure heart, I entered the class.
“GOOODD MOORRNNINNGG SSIIRRR” came the sound of at least 30
kids.
“Aah Crap! What have I done?” I thought to myself. “Good
morning Kids, I am your new teacher!” I don’t know how, but I managed a broad
smile.
