This is a true incident that happened to me when I was in 12th... this dates back to 2003... and I remember it even today!
It was morning assembly. Our Principal announced that there would be the CBSE Inspection the next day. I didn’t give much thought to it. The rest of the day was normal. Later at home, I finished my homework, studied for the oral test in Business Studies, pressed my uniform, polished my shoes and whiled away the rest of the evening.
Next morning at school, our Principal again reminded us of the Inspection. That was it! I clearly remembered that I had forgotten something; but couldn’t remember what it was. A shiver ran down my spine at the mention of ‘Inspection’. Was I in perfect uniform? Were all my notebooks complete? Yes, everything looked fine.
During the second Business Studies period, I saw our Principal, Vice Principal and the Inspector pass by our classroom. I noticed that the Inspector had a particularly serious face. Our Vice Principal called me to the Class door and told me that the Inspector would like to meet me in half-an-hour. I looked at my watch. I wasn’t listening to my teacher. I was straining to hear the dying footsteps of the Inspector. I came back to the present suddenly, when my teacher called me for the second time, “Cauvery! Tell me any five contents of the ‘Articles of Association’!” I stared at her for a few seconds thinking all the time “The five ‘What of What’?” Somebody murmured the question again. I thought hard and told her two of the eight contents she had taught us. She was satisfied with my answer, though she was still frowning at me.
“Half-an-hour”, I told myself, “Half-an-hour”. I was doomed; I knew it before it could happen- I was doomed, accursed, bedeviled… that’s the boundary line of my vocabulary. The fan was switched on, but I was sweating-profusely! I looked at my watch again. It was already ten minutes since I talked to our Vice Principal. “Slow down!”, I whispered to my watch. I felt like Alice, falling down the rabbit hole and the acceleration of gravity acting on me was not 9.8 ms-2 but was somewhere near 35ms-2. Before I could come out of the trance, a girl from ninth standard came to my class and called me. I half jumped into the air. I walked out of the class. I looked nervously down at my watch again.
I was ten minutes early for the scheduled meeting. I walked jerkily, wobbled half the way to the Computer lab, where the Inspector, our Principal and Vice Principal were supposed to be. A class was waiting outside the lab. I saw our Vice Principal through the glass door of the lab. She had a very cute, chubby and encouraging smile on her face. Then I saw the serious face of the Inspector again. I guess I staggered back a few steps. I couldn’t bear to look into my Principal’s face. Our Vice Principal motioned me to wait outside for a minute. “Why?” I screamed within myself, “Why?” “Why delay my doomed hour by a few minutes?” I still couldn’t make out why I was called. I was sure I was in perfect uniform. As far as I know, all my notebooks were up-to-date. There was a sudden commotion behind me. I spun around- a ninth standard was having a library class. A few of them who knew me, smiled and waved. I waved back. I saw two teachers sitting on the other side, looking at me in askance. I couldn’t face them. I stared at the Computer lab door. I saw shadows move. I clasped my sweaty hands together in a last minute prayer.
The door opened, I held my breath. I adjusted my glasses. Our Vice Principal came first, the Inspector second, followed by our Principal. I hoped I didn’t look too much of a stupid git. The Inspector had almost gone past me when our Vice Principal spoke, “Sir, Cauvery is here” I was almost about to say, “I’m sorry sir, all my books are up-to-date. I’ll do better in the next exam. I’ll never misbehave again.” I was so surprised to hear him speak before I could. I was more surprised at what he said, “Hello dear madam! What are you doing here?” I couldn’t believe my ears. I was almost sure there was a mistake until the Inspector gave me a vigourous handshake. “How is everyone at home?”, he asked me. “Home?” I reflected. Oh! Yes, this was a friend of my mother’s. I’ve seen him just once before. I realized all this too fast and out of my mouth came a tiny, “Fine, thank you, sir!” All this time, my heart was thumping against my rib cage. “Tell your mom that we met”, he continued. “Yes, sir” “All the best to you!” “Thank you, sir” And he was off. I’m sure the entire school could’ve heard me sighing. “Phew!”, I exclaimed and returned to the class.
Inspection...!!
Thank goodness for little mercies
I know or I think I know now, that when I get up tomorrow morning, I will see the sun rise, I know I will sip hot coffee, I know I will wear warm clothes, I know my frens will greet me. I know I will walk to college, I know I will sit by a window in class, I know I will take notes(or pretend to!), I know I will smell samosas from the canteen, I know I will hear the birds sing in chorus, I know I will hog lunch, I know I will read a book, I know I will talk to my parents, I know I will paint, I know a few other things.. but I dont think of them often. Today, I do.
When my leg aches, I thank goodness for having bestowed me with legs that ache, than not give me legs at all. Thank her(I believe goodness is a feminine form:) ) for giving me eyes that burn from lack of sleep than not give me the pleasure of sight at all... thank her for giving me a tongue that gets burnt because of hot coffee than not being able to taste at all... thank her for giving me hands that grow tired than not be able to write and paint at all... thank her for giving me ears that go pop in a flight than not be able to hear the birds... thank her for giving me parents who scold me for my mischiefs than not bless me with them at all... thank her for the fun loving buoyant sister than not having given me an older brother... thank her for the frens I have than the many foes I've made... thank her for every fulfilling day than those that seem empty... thank her for today and not expect a miracle tomorrow. Thank goodness for the way life has treated me and shaped itself... including the downfalls and rainy days... for unless I've been through rainy days, I wouldnt appreciate sunny days as much as I do them now. If I didnt fall, I wouldnt know what it takes to get up... So, thats why... thank goodness, I fell! Because I believe: "Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat... or a Fall..!!" :)
