A visit down the memory lane...

Thirteen years,changed buildings and absolute silence from my part made me skeptical if anyone would recognize me. Finally, I made up my mind and decided to go and visit once again. After a few enquiries I found my way. Then I realized it had been thirteen years down to the last hour...since I talked with anyone at my old school. From the gate I could see it was lunch break.
The last bit of hesitation in me vanished at the sight of playing children and I marched into the school and asked a kid where the staff room was. She pointed to the room at the corner and walked away before I could thank her.
There was a little apprehension in me as I was about to enter the staff room. Just then, a woman came before me and gave a startled look...For a moment none of us spoke. It was a long time since I met her and it showed in the stray grey hair, small wrinkles on the forehead and under the eyes. Then we both smiled and then she said, "Hey you are NM. Kaisa hai". She was my first ever class teacher at KV and my Hindi teacher who taught me to literally speak, read and write hindi. I was feeling proud that she remembered me. Then grabbed my hand and took me inside and introduced to other teachers there.

I saw KK madam sitting acroos the table and opening her lunch box. She was one of the most important people in my life. She introduced me to Bhagavad gita and would take infinite troubles in preparing us for a plethora of competitions in the city. I went over and just stood there...watching her and couldnt wish her. Just bent and touched her feet. She hugged me and tried very hard to look away and hide the swelling tears. Next to her sat my class teacher for class 6. She remebered me after a few moments and within the next few minutes they all enquired about everything about me. I was at the centre of their attention and they would introduce me to everyone entering the room for next few minutes as "our former student". On knowing that I did not have lunch that day, a plate full of snacks was placed before me. Two of the teachers gave me half of their lunch. One from north India gave me roti and palak sabji while my hindi teacher gave me pulihogare in the lid of her lunch box.
They talked of how naughty I was and I replied with a wink that I had been punished by all of them.

After sometime, my music teacher came in followed by vice principal. Me and KK madam went around the school. Went in to library and I smiled on watching the whispers while librarian madam was talking to me. In the music room, nothing changed much except that the old creaky harmonium gave way to new synthesizer. Class IB with children from NE, north, south India sitting next to each other and singing the national song. The exact line they were singing was 'Majhab nahin sikhata aapas mein bair rakhnaa'(religion does not teach us to hate each other). I felt I knew why despite being deeply religious, despite seeing so many acts of terrorism by so called jihadists I could never get myself to hate any religion. It was in classrooms such as these that my teachers taught me acceptance of all religions and respect diversity. I sat there and we all sang together.
Spent about two hours with my teachers and towards the end, one of them said pointing to KK madam...you made her day. To which I smiled and uttered under my breath, she made my life.
I feel really grateful to have such teachers...It just reinforces my conviction to be a good teacher. Probably it is the only way I can pay tribute to these great souls.
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