As I sat down for another round of JEE preparation, I suddenly turned nostalgic and had to write this. Maybe it was that I was listening to my “old” songs (which I used to hear during the school days), but I suddenly remembered my school days, and the memories started pouring into my head again.

I remembered my Xth class, with our gujju gang and all the fun we used to have. Harsh and I sitting on the first bench and him fooling around all day while I pretended to study. The irritated look because of me on Vandana ma’am’s (Hindi teacher) face. Ah! Too good to be true. Eating from everyone else’s Tiffin during the recess :P. Yes, I was the fruit-seller and was famous for bringing fruits everyday in my Tiffin and brutally stabbing the fruits before consuming them. >:). Waiting at the intersection of Dadabhai Road and S.V. Road for someone special and then leaving for home.

Ahh..Padmaja ma’am. I haven’t met another such an understanding, mature and cool teacher! I could not have had a better class teacher (one of the reasons was that she knew how to turn active volcanoes dormant. More on this later). She was an excellent teacher, relying more on concepts then rote memorization. She was patient when we were moody, helpful when we were in a problem, excused us for our immaturity and understanding enough to give us a second chance. You were amazing ma’am, and I hope you don’t ever change, and keep on masterfully molding the wet clay placed under your skillful supervision.

Jennifer ma’am’s class, probably the only class in which our section was completely serious ;), and the only class in which we (okay fine, I) couldn’t make smarty pants comments, and after Hindi, the other class in which I was not sure I would pass in school. Not because of ma’am’s teaching skills, which are superb, but because of her dominatrix (is that even a word?) correction. But you too were amazing ma’am. Guess we needed someone to keep us under control :).

I remember dreading open house, because I always knew that I had screwed up my exams. And almost all the teacher’s would undoubtedly say “He has a lot of potential but he hasn’t performed as well as expected. He can definitely do much better than this” :). But….padmaja miss, sweetheart that ma’am is would also add “Don’t worry, he will do well in his boards” so that almost active volcanoes turned dormant again.(The almost active volcanoes are my parents, ready to you know….burst!).

Well of course I didn’t do well in school because bunking classes and attending gaming pubs was then the norm for me. Probably had only half-attendance in my tuitions :P. Obviously since I was so addicted to the pubs, any cancelled/rescheduled tuitions turned into gaming sessions :). And so did special school functions like Republic Day, Annual Day ;).

Well, then came the tuitions. Jayaram (Jai Aram!) sir’s classes were one of my favorite! That man truly was his namesake (Jai Aram!) and the classes were some of my favorites! His homework was negligible. But he was a very good teacher and good at what he did. Well I also liked it because I met some of my best friends and got to know them there! We had loads of fun making fun of the JNSiites on their faces (and behind their backs too). Also since his classes were late, I reached late *wink, wink**.

Those days were some of the best in my life, and even though now, when we have all moved on and gotten busy with our new lives, hardly having time for past remembrances, I sometimes remember the bygone days and my eyes moisten up. Thank you very much esp. Priyal, Nandini, Tanvi, Jaitun, Harsh, Aarsh, Padmaja ma’am, Jennifer ma’am and many more for some unforgettable days and amazing moments.

With regards,
Khushman :'(