Children are intimidated and overwhelmed by new schools, teachers, books, friends et al. ‘Change’ is tough – even for children. They do adapt. But some memories linger forever. Do read this story….
I am Anandi. I want to talk about my first day at this school. We had moved to this city a few days back. My parents had just finalized my admission. We had not yet bought the books or the uniforms. They told the school principal that I would attend classes from the next day. But the school had reopened a fortnight back. So the principal felt I should attend classes right away.
She introduced us to my new class teacher, Malini maám and requested her to help me cope with the backlog. Malini maám was a friendly person. She said, “I’ll make sure she copies all the notes from the other girls. Anandi will settle down quickly. Please don’t worry!” My parents were relieved. They asked me to attend the classes and said they would pick me up after school ended that day.
Malini maám introduced me to the other girls during the short break. She changed the places of a few girls and asked me to sit next to a fair beautiful girl. I was wearing my best pattu pavadai(full-length silk skirt) and a blouse. I could see a few girls smirking and whispering amongst themselves. I squirmed and smiled hesitantly at the girl sitting next to me. She glared at me and looked away.
I knew this girl was annoyed because Malini maám had asked her friend to sit next to someone else. I didn’t know what to do. So I looked around nervously. One girl walked across to me and said, “Would you like to sit next to me? I think Maya is upset because ma’am changed Chaya’s place.”
I looked at this girl gratefully and said, “Aiyaiyo! I’m so sorry Maya. I didn’t mean to upset you. Yes, of course, I would love to sit with you.” I went and sat down next to her. Our Math teacher stepped into the class just then. The class suddenly became quiet. She smiled at me and said, “Just attempt today’s test and solve whatever sums you can. Vidya, will you give her all your notes today? She has quite a bit to catch up on.”
Vidya, the girl with whom I was now sitting, got up quickly and said, “Yes ma’am.” The Math teacher started writing some questions on the blackboard. I was shocked. I was not prepared for this test at all. The entire class had already started solving the sums on the answer sheets. I looked around and then at the blackboard nervously. I smiled slowly. I had already studied fractions in my old school. The first few problems seemed simple. The Maths teacher was writing out the word problems now. I wondered if I could solve them. I had nothing with me. No school bag. No books. Not even a pencil. I looked at Vidya and said, “Aiyaiyo. I don’t have anything with me. Can I borrow your pencil?” Vidya quickly placed a brand new sharp pencil in my hand, smiled at me and started working on the sums.
I smiled back at her gratefully and looked at the blackboard. I forgot everything for a while as I started solving the problems. I loved Maths. A few problems took longer to solve. But I felt happy because I could solve them all – even the word problems. I submitted my paper too. The bell rang immediately after that.
Malini maám was waiting outside. She looked at me. She knew I had changed my place. She smiled at Vidya but did not say anything. She started teaching a new poem. Vidya shared her book with me. I thought of my old English teacher. She had been an old kind lady. But Malini maám too taught quite well. I understood the poem. Some girls were writing down the meanings in their textbook. But some girls just listened.
We had a long break for lunch after the English period. I was feeling hungry. But I had nothing to eat. I was feeling thirsty too. I felt lost and lonely. I missed my old school and friends. I thought of the times we had shared together. Suddenly, I just felt like crying. I hated this new school. I didn’t even know where the washroom was.
I could feel someone shaking my shoulder. I looked around. Vidya said, “Come, Anandi. All of us usually eat lunch here.” I looked at Vidya and said, “Aiyaiyo. No. I’ll sit here if you don’t mind. I haven’t brought any lunch with me today. I’ll join you tomorrow.” Maya entered the classroom just then and said, “What’s the name of this Aiyaiyo girl, Vidya? She’s so cute. She too oils her hair, has a “chipkoo” look and wears ‘pattu pavadais’ like you!”
Vidya flashed her eyes at Maya angrily but did not reply. She saw the tears in my eyes. She just held my hand tightly and asked me to join them for lunch. She even showed me where the washroom was. I felt much better after I drank some water.
Vidya introduced me to all the other girls while we were having our lunch. I said, “Aiyaiyo! Wait. Can I repeat all your names again? Just to make sure?” All the other girls chuckled and laughed in a friendly manner now. They said, “Of course. You have joined our school only today. You must be confused. Where did you study earlier? How was your old school? How many friends did you have there?” Suddenly I started laughing. I said, “Aiyaiyo! I can’t answer all your questions at the same time. I’ll answer them one at a time. Okay?”
One girl called Priya held my hand and said, “Do you begin all your sentences with “Aiyaiyo”? I chuckled loudly and said, “Not always. Only when I am very nervous.” She hugged me and said, “Don’t worry. We’ll help you. You are our friend now.” I smiled back happily and said, “Thank you.” I missed all my old friends but I was happy I had made a few friends too.
I had mixed feelings the next day. I wanted to go back to my old school. But I was eager to meet my new friends too. But I was in for another big surprise that day. We had a Math period first. Shubha ma’am, our Math teacher, looked at me as soon as she entered the class and said, “Anandi, will you distribute the test papers to everyone?” I nodded my head and picked up the bundle from her hands. I looked at the name on each paper and gave them to the right girl. I knew most of the girls now. I almost dropped the answer sheets when Shubha ma’am said, “I want you all to clap for Anandi. She joined the school only yesterday. But she too has scored full marks in the Math test!”
The entire class started clapping for me. I looked around nervously. I was wearing my new uniform today. Vidya and Priya were clapping the loudest for me. Shubha ma’am was smiling too. I felt happy and thanked all my new friends for being so good to me on the first day. Vidya looked at me and said, “You are our friend now, Anandi. Are you still nervous? I didn’t hear you say “Aiyaiyo” today? I smiled at them naughtily and said, “Why should I be nervous when I have such good friends?”
I love my new friends and the school now. But I still think Maya and Chaya are very mean. Both of them are tall, fair and top the class in all the subjects. But nobody talks to them. I love being with Vidya, Priya and my other friends because they all stood by me and understood how I felt when I was came here for the first time.