School Time

One of my fondest memories is of teaching for a short while in a boy’s school. I had taken a break from my regular job. Finding a lot of spare time on my hands after finishing my household chores, I decided to enroll for a course in early child education. After interacting with adults for over 12 years of my working life, it was a bit strange to learn craft and colouring and come up with ideas that would engage children.

After I completed the course, I went to teach in a boy’s school. I was assigned the senior KG class. The teacher would teach while I was the `helper’. After all, I was a fresher. Classes would start at 9 am and the little boys would file in with water bottles around their necks and a satchel on their shoulders. In the last bench of this class sat a tall boy called Kunal. A good looking boy with a scrubbed face, Kunal was the brightest in class. His best friend was Mohit, who sat besides him.

Kunal and Mohit were seldom scolded or punished as they were the `best’ boys in class. But one day, for some reason, the teacher shouted at Kunal. He was mortified. His sad face refused to brighten up for some time. Even during the recess, he had this sad look. So I went up to him, held his hand and said, “It is alright, my son. You just have to do better the next time. You are a smart boy.” That is all I said. I remember that clearly.

When class was over, the rule was: the children had to pick up their water bottles which were placed on the floor besides the chair where I was seated, and then file past me in a single row. The children would call out, “Bye bye teacher’ and walk past. After several children had passed, it was Kunal’s turn. He picked up his water bottle, said bye and then stepped back to lean over and kiss me on my cheek. I was surprised and smiled. My eyes followed Kunal. He joined his classmates and pointing towards me, told Mohit who stood before him in the line, `I kissed teacher’. They both smiled at me and said in chorus, `Bye bye teacher’.

It has been some years since the incident. The boys must be in the final year in school now. I did not pursue teaching and went back to my regular job. Some days when I am very happy, the face of the two boys on a hot summer’s day years ago flashes in my mind.