When I look back to school years, it is sometimes difficult to believe that it was me! I certainly do not find any logic now about what I used to do; but clearly remember that I used to be fairly sure about being right during these acts. This is a diary of schoolboy - now coloured little-bit with nostalgia but written about the incidents as they actually happened in my life….
At the risk of being immodest, I must admit that I was extremely consistent in setting expectations about my behavior as a child. My mother was always sure that whenever I stepped out of the house, I would walk back with some trouble chasing me (sometimes literally in form of an irate neighbor or someone’s parents….).
Whenever she attended the Parents-Teacher meeting she used to be on guard and extremely watchful. Rather than meeting the teacher, she generally used to keep a close eye on the visiting parents. She was amazingly consistent in identifying the visiting parents who may have a word or two to share with the teacher about me. She would intercept them before they reached the teacher and pacify them with some genuine assurances about my future behavior and quick punishments delivered by her – She believed in quick justice ….. Many a times she used to give me a whack on the back and then ask about the incident! … I don’t remember her ever regretting for her action after understanding the issue!!
Once during a parents-teacher meeting while I was in 4th standard, one lady walked in the class. She was extremely angry and kept asking “Who is Yogesh?” My mother sprang into action and quickly met the lady. “He is my son. Please tell me what happened and I will take care. Lets sort it between us than involving the teacher”. The lady looked at my mother little irritated and said, “Well, everyday he threatens my son that he will kidnap him and my son comes home crying!!” My mother’s jaw dropped – even by the standards of my behavior, a charge regarding attempted kidnapping while I was in 4th standard myself was little too much for her to handle ….. Recovering quickly, she asked the lady ,”Tell me what happened please!”. The lady had calmed down a bit looking at my mother and said, “Every day your son drags my son towards the school-gate and threatens to take him away in taxi! It is good that school has security and they cannot go past the gate!” My mother turned to me and asked, “Do you really do that?” She even forgot to whack me before asking … perhaps hoping for a better result …. “Yes I do!” I said with courage and dignity of a revolutionary who is just about to hear his punishment in the courtroom. “BUT WHY?” she was clearly infuriated with my answer!! I explained, “Well, you see, he is a little weak boy and keeps crying over little things. So I am making him a little tough” …… “WHO HAS ASKED YOU TO DO THAT??” my mother almost screamed dispensing a quick justice on my back – this time with a double bonus. “I warn you if you ever go near him!” Then she turned to the lady and assured her that I would never trouble her son. By that time that lady also was little amused with my answer and walked away.
My mother was really upset and continued scolding me on our way back home ….. I clearly remember thinking “Why does the world not value it when you reach out to help someone from the bottom of your heart!!”
At the risk of being immodest, I must admit that I was extremely consistent in setting expectations about my behavior as a child. My mother was always sure that whenever I stepped out of the house, I would walk back with some trouble chasing me (sometimes literally in form of an irate neighbor or someone’s parents….).
Whenever she attended the Parents-Teacher meeting she used to be on guard and extremely watchful. Rather than meeting the teacher, she generally used to keep a close eye on the visiting parents. She was amazingly consistent in identifying the visiting parents who may have a word or two to share with the teacher about me. She would intercept them before they reached the teacher and pacify them with some genuine assurances about my future behavior and quick punishments delivered by her – She believed in quick justice ….. Many a times she used to give me a whack on the back and then ask about the incident! … I don’t remember her ever regretting for her action after understanding the issue!!
Once during a parents-teacher meeting while I was in 4th standard, one lady walked in the class. She was extremely angry and kept asking “Who is Yogesh?” My mother sprang into action and quickly met the lady. “He is my son. Please tell me what happened and I will take care. Lets sort it between us than involving the teacher”. The lady looked at my mother little irritated and said, “Well, everyday he threatens my son that he will kidnap him and my son comes home crying!!” My mother’s jaw dropped – even by the standards of my behavior, a charge regarding attempted kidnapping while I was in 4th standard myself was little too much for her to handle ….. Recovering quickly, she asked the lady ,”Tell me what happened please!”. The lady had calmed down a bit looking at my mother and said, “Every day your son drags my son towards the school-gate and threatens to take him away in taxi! It is good that school has security and they cannot go past the gate!” My mother turned to me and asked, “Do you really do that?” She even forgot to whack me before asking … perhaps hoping for a better result …. “Yes I do!” I said with courage and dignity of a revolutionary who is just about to hear his punishment in the courtroom. “BUT WHY?” she was clearly infuriated with my answer!! I explained, “Well, you see, he is a little weak boy and keeps crying over little things. So I am making him a little tough” …… “WHO HAS ASKED YOU TO DO THAT??” my mother almost screamed dispensing a quick justice on my back – this time with a double bonus. “I warn you if you ever go near him!” Then she turned to the lady and assured her that I would never trouble her son. By that time that lady also was little amused with my answer and walked away.
My mother was really upset and continued scolding me on our way back home ….. I clearly remember thinking “Why does the world not value it when you reach out to help someone from the bottom of your heart!!”
