Lazy, balmy summer evening it is, as I sit on my couch, thoughts taking
me back to my childhood memories of how I used to play. Most common
enactment was teacher, the first thing any girl as a child would. I
would play “teacher teacher” ( don’t ask me why I spelt it twice that’s the way
it is :P) when my mum used to take her afternoon naps. Kindergarten days by
then, I used to wear white cotton sleeveless body frocks which my mum used to
get it stitched by tailor ( all in white :|).
So, I see the right moment making sure my mum has been sleeping for a
good 10 mins ( you see I couldn’t wait any longer) and pick up what’s required,
my mum’s dupatta, handbag and a towel. Why a towel ?? LOL story, my teacher
used to have long hair, in stark opposite of which, I used to have a pixie cut
( haha pixie sounds more stylish in true words it’s boy cut) so to get the feel
of long hair I used to wrap the towel on my head and twist it, viola!! I have
long hair :D. My teacher used to wear a sari, what do you think I have the
dupatta for :P, I used to tie the dupatta around me, the best my little fingers
could , all I cared was about the pallu (mind you the pallu should be so long
that it must be sweeping the floor), tucking in, tying up all those sorts of
things were least cared about and then the handbag. I am good to go.
So I here go with
some old books, papers and sketch pens( Why red ?? when I have 12) to the first
room of my home. As I enter, in a low voice “Good Mooooooooooooorrrrrning
Teeeeeeeaaacher”, no there are no students for a 5 year old teacher it’s just a
room (yes!! students are invisible to you I can imagine them :P) and it was me
who said that (Ya!! that’s right it a double act). “Good Morning” the teacher
me says as I used to sit on my study table chair. Taking the attendance and
asking students if they have completed the homework, I used to pick imaginary
students and scold them for not doing their homework. Then comes
my favorite part, correcting books yay! ticks, ticks, ticks,
scribble, ticks, ticks, ticks, scribble ( read signature :P). Then the recess
break (the bell rings in my mind exactly as it rings in school), followed by a
games class, and then school’s done.
After few years we moved to another city, my little brain realized that
I was not playing “teacher teacher” anymore, so, one fine afternoon I decided
to play. The house we lived had so many plants, trees, saplings, flowers and
every type of plant species around it, the reason being the owner was a botany
professor. Unlike my old house this did not have a front room (so what we
always have options), I made the plants my students. So, here is how it goes.
One side of the house had trees who were my secondary students, plants being primary students( oh god!! I patted myself for the creative
thinking). This time I was more than a teacher, I would roam all around the house, you can say an inspecting teacher(fact is
there is no place to sit anywhere, where would I midst plants and mud ?? :P),
with a wooden ruler. So, I used to start with primary students, asking them to
study well, learn tables and scolding some naughty students who I caught
fighting (two branches were entwined *smiles sheepishly*). Slowly, I move to trees secondary students,
they don’t listen when I try to get their attention and so I start hitting them
with the scale. Result, trees without the leaves.
P.S. More candid craziness to follow...!! :D
