My Naughty Days

I was shopping with my 4-year-old daughter at the big supermarket in the city. We were browsing through the book section of the super-market; still undecided what to buy for her. I turned around, hearing someone calling out my name. I was searching among the shoppers, trying to put a face to the voice, but couldn’t. I was taken by surprise when the lady standing right in front of me came forward and caught me in tight embrace exclaiming at the same time “look ! who is here ! My favorite student!”

Now, I am in my early thirties, a homemaker for the past 6 years. Ever since I finished my senior secondary education around 14 years back, I had not been living in my hometown. I was now back at my parental home temporarily, waiting to join my husband, who had taken up an overseas assignment.

So naturally, I was taken by surprise when someone called out my name and recognized me even after so many years – obviously from my school days. Though it took me a few seconds to recognize her, once my initial surprise was over, I was overjoyed to meet my “Madam”. She looked so different from the days I knew her. She was wearing a churidar-kurtha, an attire she never wore when I knew her. And now had long hair, again so different from the Madam I knew.

Though we hadn’t seen each other for the past 14 years, we had kept in touch – though irregularly. So she knew about the major happenings in my life, about my marriage, me becoming a mother….

One thing about her that hadn’t changed with the passage of time was the warmth and affection that she exuded along with a youthful spirit. She was very happy in seeing my daughter as I introduced my little one to the best teacher I ever had.

We talked about my classmates and how many have changed over the years. She was so happy to see me in my old self – complementing me for not changing a bit. Even her daughter and son who were with her and who knew me from my school days agreed to her opinion.

On our way back home, I was in an upbeat mood. Meeting Madam after so many years was such a wonderful feeling. But I kept wondering about her comments of me being the same old self – am I really? I didn’t feel myself that way. I am not that naughty, outgoing and daring teenager that she used to know. The years bygone has mellowed me down quite a bit… But my feelings of love and affection for my school and Madam hasn’t changed a bit..