Yesterday when I reached home after a long day Rinku reminded me that we had to deposit the school fee so that Ridhima can be at her preschool on the very first day - that is today 16-06-2016. We reached Paddchinha (Footprints, Ridhima's first school) in the late evening and confirmed them that the payment would be made in the morning once their office opens. They then handed over her new school bag along with a few books, a pink tiffin box and a water bottle.
Ridhima was excited! She didn't breath till midnight and kept on going through the books reciting poems all by herself keeping us in chorus again and again. By the time she slept we byhearted everything in her syllabus too and were exhausted. We crashed into our beds- totally spent.
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| Pre- school kit |
Today was the day, she was all awake the moment I talked about her books and the bag in the morning. And it started! She almost re did her annual curriculum in flat 30 minutes and went on repeating it. We coaxed her into eating so that she doesn't go hungry in the school. She, by the time learnt how to open the water bottle and the cute lunch box. Kept her book properly in her bag and by 9.30 am Ridhima was all set for her first day at school (ok preschool).
We got a bit late but reached her school anyways, I bid her good buy and went to office. Later Rinku called me informing that within 10 minutes, she wanted to eat her lunch and head home. Rinku somehow managed and later brought her home. In the evening when reached home I can see that she still is in her own world, screaming, painting, playing and doing what not. I just got a lesson from her on how to hold pastel colour and the on how to draw a picture. She warned, when I wanted to pick up my own colours and paint as I wanted. You can guess who happiest. Yes! Its ME :)
I do not remember clearly of my first day at school but there is one incident that my parents still tease me for. Turned out, I did not want to go to school (there were no preschools at that time) and mom somehow managed to drop me at a nearby school. I was afraid and angry at the same time, all I could do was to pass some stool in my pant and showed that to the teacher so that I could be sent home. Boy that worked! In next 10 minutes the teacher herself dropped me home.
My parents were worried. One fine day I saw Binay (later a lifetime friend) my neighbour's son going to school wearing fine school dress and carrying an alluminum box (back packs were rare) that contained shiny books and pencils. Papa was brushing my teeth and I whispered in his ear "pappa if you get me the dress and the box I will go to school." He took me to Shyambazaar (in the then Calcutta) the same day bought everything I needed. Got my admission the very next day and I started my school. I perhaps never ran away from study after that day.
