Our school timings were fixed, morning 7am to afternoon 2pm.
Eight classes of 45 minutes each and a half an hour lunch break is what each
day comprised of.
Everything was pre planned and we had been trained to wear
white shoes and a white skirt on Fridays while the plain jane uniform of a
white shirt and the (awful) dark green skirt ruled on the other days.
The time table for each day was different and we were
intimated about the same well in advance. So, every night before calling it a
day, we removed a few books from the school bag and inserted a few others,
making sure that nothing was being left out.
Planning worked and it worked very well ! Rather the ones
who were forgetful and messy, were often seen standing outside the class
holding their ears, legs or some part of the anatomy.
And then, we grew up.
Life was my new teacher, every situation made me
learn a brand new lesson and I was the only pupil in my new class. Nobody in
the world could fathom my situation, my learnings and my feelings. The battle
had to be fought all alone. Where did all the planning go ?
Planning is vital but more important is to take life as it
comes.. Every class is not fixed here, like it was when we were at school. New
lessons, new chapters, new learnings and unexpected unit tests.. planning could
fail you at times..
But,I remember it was fun standing outside the class occasionally,
while children of the neighbouring section mocked us and we scowled back at them. It's okay, if you were expecting Rajma-Chawal in your lunch box and what stared back at you this afternoon was bitter gourd, infamously famous as Karela..
Lets plan to eat the 'Karela' well.. The present is all that we have :)
