School, Friends, Memories: Ankita Agrawal

Ankita (CS-AB) takes a trip down the memory lane and recalls her school adventures and friends with whom she learned to be herself.



IT WAS 27TH JANUARY 2007 EVENING.COOL BREEZY WINDS WAS BLOWING AND BIRDS WERE CHIRPING. OUR FAREWELL FUNCTION HAD JUST ENDED INSPIRING IN ME A PROUD FEELING OF BEING A PART OF SUCH A FAMILY, FAMILY OF “MAHARAJA SAWAI MAN SINGH VIDYALAYA”.I FEEL SO RESPLENDENT IN CALLING MYSELF A “MANSINGHITE”.

AFTER THE FUNCTION WE ALL THAT IS ME AND MY FRIENDS ROSHNI, VRINDA, BAHULA, SHIROMI, ADI, ARCHIT AND ARJUN WERE SITTING IN THE SCHOOL CANTEEN REMEMBERING OLD TIMES AND PLANNING ABOUT OUR FUTURE. ACTUALLY WE WERE SO ENERGIZED AND EXCITED AFTER LISTENING TO THE INSPIRING SPEECH OF HERR HIGHNESS RAJMATA GAYATRI DEVI, GUEST OF HONOUR OF OUR FAREWELL THAT WE WERE NOW READY TO FACE THE WORLD OUTSIDE.
BUT FROM INSIDE WE ALL HAD AN EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWN, AS WE ALL KNEW THAT THIS ID PROBABLY OUR LAST MEETING IN SCHOOL AND THAT NOW WE WILL NO LONGER BE CALLED “SCHOOLITED”(IN OUR SCHOOL LANGUAGE) AND THAT FROM TOMORROW THERE WILL BE NO WAKING UP EARLY FOR SCHOOL, NO STANDING OUT FROM LINE FOR DIRTY SHOES AND UNIFORM, NO CLASS.

NOW SITTING ON THE ROUND TABLE WE ALL STARTED REMEMBERING THE TIME 12 YEARS BACK, WHEN WE ENTERED AS TINY TOTS IN CLASS 1ST. I STILL REMEMBER THAT DAY WHEN, WITH MY LITTLE FINGER IN MY FATHERS HAND I STEPPED IN THE BIG GATE OG THIS SO CALLED “BIG” SCHOOL. MY FATHER KNEW MANY PEOPLE AROUND BUT I KNEW NO ONE JUST MY FATHER.

NOW STARTED CLASS DISTRIBUTION PROCESS. EACH STUDENT WAS ALLOTED A SECTION EITHER A, B, OR C. I WAS GIVEN SECTION A AND WAS SENT TO A LADY – FAIR, SMALL, AND SWEET FROM FACE. SHE WAS AVIS MAAM.TODAY SHE IS JUST LIKE MY SECOND MOTHER.

AND THEN BEGAN MY JOURNEY IN MSMSV.CLASS 1ST WAS REALLY FUN – NO TENSION, SOME FRIENDS, SOME FIGHTS, LITTLE CRYINGAND OFCOURSE A “LITTLE” STUIES.

IT WAS A BIT DIFFICULT FOR ME AND I BELONGED TO A HINDI BACKGROUND FAMILY WITH JUST MY FATHES SPEAKING ENGLISH. FOR A GIRL LIKE ME TO ADJUST IN AN ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL WAS A BIT DIFFICULT. THIS EVEN REFLECTED IN MY RESULTS. THOUGH I, WITH THE SUPPORT, HELP AND DETERMINATION OF MY MOTHER I MANAGED TO GET “A” AS AN AGGRGATE. BUT STILL I WAS WEAK AND THUS MY TEACHERS WITH THEIR MUTUAL AGGREMENT DECIDED TO SEND ME TO “LEARMING CENTRE”. IT WAS A PLACE WHERE ACCORDING TO MY TEACHERS THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE A BIT OF DIFFICULTY IN STUDEIS ARE HELPED AND TAUGHT BY MIXING STUDIES WITH FUN BUT ACCORDING TO US IT WAS A PLACE WHARE THE DUMBEST STUDENTS WERE SENT.IT WAS A PART OF MY LIFE AND I GOT THROUGH THIS PHASE ALSO. I MADE FRIENDS WITH DEEPANSHI, DHANSHREE AND ROSHNI.ACTUALLY WE WERE SAME IN HEIGHT, MAY THAT BECAME A REASON WHY WE WERE FRIENDS. NOW WHATEVER BE THE REASON, WE ENJOYED EACH OTHERS COMPANY. WE USED TO JUST RUSH THROUGH THE GROUNDS IN RECESS WITH OUR TIFFINS FOR SWINGS. WE USED TO SHARE, CARE AND PLAY TOGETHR.

THE TIME FLEW AND WE WERE IN CLASS 3RD. I STARTED THINKING; I WAS BIG AS NOW I STUDIED BIG SUBJECTS LIKE SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES EXCEPT FROM MATHS, ENGLISH AND HINDI. THAT YEAR ALSO BROUGHT WITH IT A SWEET GIFT FOR ME, MY BROTHER. THAT WAS THE BEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE. I SHOULDERED ALL THE DUTIES AND OFCOURSE THE RIGHTS OF BEING A BIG SISTER. AND IN SCHOOL THIS NEW YEAR GOT WITH IT A NEW FRIEND PURVA. SHE WAS IN MY FATHERS KNOWN AND THUS WE CAME REALLY CLOSE. OLD FRIENDS WERE THERE BUT SHE BECAME MORE IMPORTANT TO ME. WE USED TO SIT TOGETHER, TALK A LOT IN CLASS AS WELL AS ON PHONE WHEN AT HOME. THOSE WERE REALLY NICE MOMENTS.
WE WENT TO RANTHAMBORE TRIP, AN EDUCATIONAL TRIP FROM SCHOOL. IT WAS FUN. WE PLAYED TOGETHER, EXPLORED NEW AND ADVENTUROUS PLACES THERE, MADE NEW FRIENDS. IT WAS 5TH STANDARD; WE HAD SHARED 3 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP. OUR TEACHERS USED TO CALL US BEST PALS. EVERYBODY ADMIRED OUR FRIENDSHIP. IN THIS CLASS BOTH OF US WERE REALLY LUCKEY AS WE GOT OUR FIRST BREAK IN OUR SCHOOLS ANNUAL FUNCTIONS STAGE PERFORMANCE. IT WAS LIKE AN HONOUR TO HAVE THIS IN JUST 5TH STANDARD. EVERYBORY IN SCHOOL THATIS TEACHERS, SENIORS STARTED KNOWING US. BOTH OF US TOOK THIS OPPORTUNITY SINCERELY AND USED TO PRACTICE A LOT. THE ANNUAL FUNCTION TIMES ARE THE BEST TIME AS DURING THIS TIME IF YOU ARE ANYWAYINVOLVED IN THE FUNCTION THEN YOU CAN EASILY BUNK THE CLASS. IT WAS LIKE AN OFFICIAL OR LEAGL BUNK AND BOTH OF US, THE FISHY MINDS, USED TO DO THIS A LOT.
GRADUALLY 5TH STANDARD PASSED AND WE CAME IN 6TH, THE JUNIORS OF OUR SCHOOL. SHUFFLING OF SECTIONS TOOK PLACE AND ME AND PURVA WERE SEPARATED. NOW AGAIN I WAS IN A NEW ENVIRONMENT WITH NEW PEOPLE AROUND BUT DEEPANSHI WAS THERE. SHE HELPED ME A LOT TO ADJUST. I MADE NEW FRIENDS AND MY FRIENDSHIP WITH PURVA FADED AWAY. I WAS A KIND OF A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN BOTH OF US AS BOTH OF US NOW HAD A DIFFERENT GROUP OF RFRIENDS AND WE WERE HAPPY. OUR FRIENDSHIP WAS STILL THERE BUT THE INTENSITY, BONDING WAS WEAK.

NOW I HAD A GROUP OF 6 FRIENDS. THE BEST PART WAS THE ONE OF THEM WAS CHRISTIAN AND ONE MUSLIM. IT WAS REALLY ADVENTUROUS AT LEAST FOR ME TO EXPLORE THESE NEW RELIGIONS. WE ALL USED TO ATTEND ALL THEIR RELIGIOUS AND FAMILY FUNCTIONS. IT WAS A KIND OF NEW FEELING FOR ME.I REALLY ENJOYED GOING TO CHURCHES AND DARGAHS.

NOW SINCE WE WERE IN 6TH STANDARD WE ALL USED TO BEHAVE AS MATURE TEENAGERS THOUGH CHILDLIKE SOMETIME. WE USED TO HANGOUT IN DIFFERENT PLACES OF JAIPUR. THERE WE USED TO SEE GUYS STARING US AND I ALWAYS USED TO WONDER WHAT AND WHY WERE THEY STARING? AS IN SCHOOL ALSO THERE WERE GUYS BUT THEY NEVER USED TO STARE US. WHATEVER, WE DIDN’T CARE, WE JUST USED TO ENJOY.

AT THIS POINT, TDS, TRUTH DARE N SITUATIONS BECAME AN INTERESTING GAME OR BETTER CALL IT A PASSTIME FOR US. TRUTH WAS A LITTLE BORE AS WE KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT US. DARE WAS FUN AS WE LIKED PLAYING PRANKS ON EVERYBODY AROUND.

TIME FLEW SMOOTHLY. STUDIES WENT HAND IN HAND WITH FUN. AND NOW CANE 7TH STANDARD WHERE WE REALLY DISCOVERED WHY GUYS SO CURIOUS TO KNOW ABOUT US AS INSIDE US EVEN WE FELT THE SAME FEELINGS.

WE FELT THAT EVEN WE WERE BEING ATTRACTED TOWARDS THEM. THE AURA WAS CHANGING. THIS WAS A SIGN OF MATURITY ACCORDING TO US. HOW KIDDISH WE WERE NOW I THINK. THIS WHICH WE THOUGHT AS A M ATURE THINGWAS THE MOST IMMATURE THING I COULD HAVE EVER DONE. BUT AFTER ALLWE WERE GIRLS. THEN STARTED THE LONG LIST OF PROPOSALS, REJECTIONS, CRUSHES, BOYFRIENDS, AND AFFAIRS.

I IN MY LIFE I HAD NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD EVER FALL INTO A RELATIONSHIP BUT IT HAPPENED. I WENT INTO A RELATIONSHIP. THIS I DID NOT BECAUSE I LACKED SOMETHING OR I WAS EMOTIONALLY WEAK BUT BECAUSE HE GARNISHED MY LIFE.

HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO HANDLE SITUATIONS, HOW TO REACT TO SOMETHING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT TAUGHT ME LESSONS LIFE. I WITH HIS ADVICE BECAME INDEPENDENT AND AT THE SAME TIME IT ALWAYS REMINDED ME OF MY LIMITS. AT THIS POINT, I NEVER THOUGHT THIS PERSON IS RIGHT FOR ME OR NOT OR CAN I SAY FOR THE WHOLE LIFE WITH HIM OR NOT BUT IT WAS JUST THAT HE UNDERSTOOD ME, CARED FOR ME AND THE SAME WAS WITH ME.

HE BECAME ONE OF MY BESTEST FRIEND. THOUGH WE ARE NOT INTO RELATIONSHI TODAY BUT STILL THAT BONDING REMAINS. THE BEST PART I LIKED ABOUT HIM IS THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO DIFFERENCE IN OUR FRIENDSHIP EVEN AFTER BREAKUP.THIS I THINK IS THE TRUE RELATION. BREAK UP WAS OUR MUTUAL DECISION BUT THE TENDERNESS REMAINS.

MY FRIENDS SAY HOW I OVERCAME BREAKUP BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THEM ITS EASY TO ACT AS LOVING THE ONE WHOM YOU REALLY MIGHT NOT LOVE BUT ITS VERY VERY HARDER TO ACT AS HATING THE ONE, WHOM YOU REALLY LOVE.
BUT THEN I TOLD THEM – STAYING FAR NEVER BREAKS RELATION, STAYING NEAR NEVER BUILDS UP RELATIONS. IT’S A LINK BETWEEN HEARTS WHICH NEVER ALLOWS YOU TO FORGET EACH OTHER.

THIS FOR PEOPLE ONE OF THE MOST DISASTEROUS MOMENT OF MY LIFE BUT FOR ME IT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE.I TRUSTED THAT PERSON AND FOUND A PRECIOUS FRIEND. SO ULTIMATELY I WON A FRIEND NOT LOST A PARTNER.

NOW ALL OF US DECIDED TO FOCUS ON STUDIES AS IT WASW HIGH TIME. 10TH BOARDS WERE APPROACHING. I HAD TO FULFIL MY PARENTS EXPEXCTATIONS BECAUSE THEY WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN MY LIFE. I STUDIED FOR THEM AND I FELT VERY HAPPY AS THE RESULT WAS AWSOME AND MY PARENTS WERE PROUD OF ME. I HAD ACHIEVED ONE SUCCESS OF MY LIFE.

NOW EXPECTATIONS GREW. EVEN MY CONFIDENCE IN ME GREW. I TOOK ADMISSION IN ONE OF THE COACHING INSTITUTE FOR THE PREPARATIONS OF IITJEE . AGAIN SOME OF MY FRIENDS LEFT ME AS THEY CHANGED EITHER THEIR SCHOOL OR THEIR CITIES FOR BUILDING UP THEIR FUTURE, FOR PREPARATIONS.

LIFE TOOK ME TO THESE PEOPLE WITH WHOM I AM SITTING RIGHT NOW ON THIS CANTEEN TABLE AND SERIOUSLY LIFE BECAME MORE BEAUTIFUL. THESE FRIENDS HAVE BECOME AN ETERNAL PART OF MY LIFE . THERE IS SO MUCH WARMTH AND LOVE BETWEEN ALL OF US THAT TODAY WHEN WE ARE MILES APART ALSO I FIND EVERYBODY VERY NEAR TO ME. THIS I CALL FRIENDSHIP. AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY SCHOOL LIFE.