The Aura to Remember...

It was going to be a new change for her..Lots of things had changed since the last few days..She had actually left her childhood for adolescence..And so the behavior of mommy..all the minute creatures present within her conflicted every moment about the mystery of life..and she had to witness it all...and now it was the place...yes...she was moving to the hot and torrid Chennai from the "garden city"..and she just hated these change of schools that could not be escaped with all this..along came the pain of mingling with new classmates and teachers for an introvert like her..how the heck when she was barely found talking even at home..did her own people "really" know her? there was such a turmoil within..and still serene at appearance..but didn't turn out as bad since you need to succumb to nature's most evident law of adaptation! Well...not until it was one year in Chennai and there came the usual parental urge to study in the best school in the city..yea...the manufacturer of toppers of every possible exam in this world. And she deserved it...for all the 1st ranks she carried..the latest one of the 8th grade pushed into the stack..But it was 9th now..and unsurprisingly she cleared the test to be admitted into the assembly line of the manufacturers..Science had split filtered into PCB..and for an innately worrisome person like her..every subtle change was a hurdle taller than her..not too much time had passed since it was 1st mid-term time..she never compromised with studies...it always came first..or rather last..wait a minute...that was the only thing in her life..

hmm...she gave her best...every answer sheet came as a surprise...and the report card broke all records...the string "4th" against "Rank" took her attention..eyes popped out...nerves froze.."is this mine?" was the first thing she could ask herself..and then followed those worrisome questions..how would I go home? This was the first time I would let my people down.."4th rank???? Is that where she stood in a section of 50? Had she ever seen anything worse than "2" before? shame shame...she quietly slid the card into her bag not knowing when it would see the sun again..

Next day at school, people had to resubmit their "parentally signed" cards..Hers hadnt seen her since yesterday..Well...there is always a "tomorrow" waiting to deintensify those tickles in the stomach...every "tomorrow" passed transforming into "today".."Students! Today is the last day to submit the report card.." shouted the class teacher after a week...urrghhh? What would she do? Sign it herself? trash it away? the only thought that hovered as she went back home...spent the evening presumably studying...doing her homework...and then dinner time...her dad would be home soon..she lacked every peck of courage required..what would dad say? she ran to her school bag...out came the pink card swinging over her...creating goosebumps all over again..."probably no...I still have tomorrow morning..before I leave for school...atleast will not have to face dad for long after the disaster is disclosed to him" she thought..

After the sleepless night and a peacefully tensed prep for school, came "the time"! was she alive for 12 years now for this moment? dad was scanning every sq.cm of the newspaper in the veranda...school bus had honked..time couldn't forgive more..this had to be it! with face as pale as the uniform she stood with the pink devil behind her.."Papa...ye sign kar dijiye...yahan pe"..she said..He looked down for a moment..trying to cover each row and column of the devil...and then the devil's nest which hosted the "4". Glasses were off his eyes now...staring deep into her moist eyes..."4th aaya hai? 4th? kaise? huh...Jao..I dont want to say anything...All my hopes from you are belied now"...these aspiring dads...rightfully live a second life in their child..aiming to accomplish all non-accomplishments of their first life..and her dad headed that species..and worse was he never yelled at the apple of his eye..yet the wonderfully pinching remarks were enough to get those tears on the lashes rolling over her cheeks...she rushed to take the bus..this religious freak, unable to endure the aftermath, was questioning her God every moment since that day had passed..how foolish can you be to fish for positives in a negative situation like this? she never understood..

this determined juvenile was challenged enough to display her competence..soon came the quarterly exams...and the same pink devil showed up..haahhh...this version wasn't as beastly..it read "2nd"!!!! it was "2 points" in the total that dileneated the topper from her. Yes, Just 2! And she was looked upon for it...because no one in school ever had the courage to compete so closely with "Sammy", who was a consistent topper in that school since 3rd grade. Our dear girl was feeling lighter than ever today..the hurdles didnt seem that tall now..well o well..human nature...always discontented...and the justification was "it feels worse to be just behind than to be behind". Nevertheless, it was worth rejoicing; something to share with dad the same day..dad was happy too..even with the pretense of parental dissatisfaction..it was the other version of numeral 2 (the difference in total points) that made the moment worth..the good omen that she was habituated to, seemed quite within reach...the "pinky" that appeared after a calm december vacation was far from a devil...the numeral "1" on the half-yearly report looked blissful...nothing had made her feel on Mt. Sukh ( happiness) before...yes! our girl was back in her persona..and more so, the aura of feeling supreme in the school could only take her higher..she had broken someone's 7 year record..she had made her dad proud again..and yet again...felt so very normal to experience the praise from teachers and fellow mates..the word had soon spread about Sammy's broken record, and hastily came the crowd to greet her in the break periods..She was delighted to flash the pink angel in front of dad...he had stepped another ladder up than his daughter.."very good beta...am soo proud of you"...thankgod! hopes still existed ;)...

well well...this wasnt yet over..she so truly says...when theres dukh..its just to get you ready for the overwhelming sukh...the school management had announced a new decision to give away Medals to each section's topper starting that year...and another to the class topper..could she believe it? why the sudden rain from heaven...?? the next day when the entire school assembled, each section's and class's topper bowed to receive the well polished metal strung around red satin..our girl was definitely her section's topper..it didn't end here though. After all the section toppers of 9th grade received their accolades..came the most awaited moment to call out the shining star of Class 9..Did she hear her own name? ohh yes she did..her heart bumped over her..blood streamed faster than Schumacher's F1..those canvas shoes had never been lighter..

our dear girl was the star, of the school, of her parents, of relatives, of all the uncles and aunties mom dad knew, yet again...and more so unfortunately, a benchmark for her sweet little dimpled sibling. She had proved herself again..and the aura was impeccable..The Leo was back in the Cave!