The bus stood purring, Puneeta was late!! She started sprinting, and the driver waved her impatiently in. First day in the new school, too!
There was a massive traffic jam at the Mullanpur, as some trade union was taking out a procession complete with red flags and slogan-shouting workers. The entire stretch of 5kms had to be crossed , at a crawling pace and honking vehicles followed. The school verandah was deserted ,and the class-rooms were humming with activity. The neatly dressed children sat on their benches,and some of the brats rudely stuck out their tongues at her and some shook an admonitory finger at her. Other kids from the bus ran ahead and into their classrooms , in a trice. Puneeta was left standing in the porch,from where she could see the principal’s office and the clerk’s office . A stately looking woman emerged from one of the doors, clad in sky blue sari, and a brown blazer. She peered at her over her half-moon spectacles . “New student ?” It was more of a statement and less of a question. Puneeta nodded dumbly. She whipped out her wrist from underneath her blazer,looked at the time , and bored her eyes into Puneeta’s head. “You are late!” She pronounced. Puneet half-heard the judge’s gavel thumping in accent.
"Science ?" Again , the same assertive tone . This time Puneeta found her voice -"Yes , ma'am."
"First floor", She jerked her head , followed by a grunt, which Puneeta took to mean 'scram'. So She was literally running up the stairs , when she overtook a smallish girl, slowly navigating the steps. She too, was attired similarly, in a navy blue skirt, and a white shirt with a tie . The stockings were missing. 'Class eleven'. Puneeta's mind registered.
"Hi! Can you tell me where Class eleven Science is ?"
The small girl stopped, panted, and gave a gorgeous, buck-toothed smile .
She thrust out her hand -"Meghna Chauhan, XI Science ! Et Tu Brute !"
The smile broadened. Puneeta gave a smile and grabbed her hand , nodding.
Straightaway, the small girl launched into her antecedents , her last school, friends , "preferences", books etc. She wouldn't let Puneeta get in a word edgewise. Puneeta smiled. This girl Meghna has a lock of hair , which she kept tossing ,so much like Rekha , Puneeta thought.Rekha was her best friend and desk mate in the last school.
They had reached XI Science, a loose wooden board proclaimed. The class was in progress. A very fair, pretty lady , with a top-knot, was teaching something. She was clad in a pink and white tant saree, which emphasised her ample girth. She said something, and the class guffawed.
"Yes my dears, " She turned her attention to the newcomers, before announcing their names .Both secured an empty desk by the door , and Mrs. Banerjee, continued to expound her brand of humor on Macbeth.At the end of the class , Mrs. Banerjee announced, "I need some strong armed girls to carry this load of notebooks for me to the staff -room."
Puneeta chatted happily with Meghna as they carried the load.
Mrs.Banerjee thanked them with a dazzling smile of perfect pearly teeth encased in heavily glossed pink lips.
Puneeta was happy. She could tell, she was going to enjoy the new school.
First day in the new school, too!
The school verandah was deserted ,and the class-rooms were humming with activity. The neatly dressed children sat on their benches,and some of the brats rudely stuck out their tongues at her and some shook an admonitory finger at her.
Other kids from the bus ran ahead and into their classrooms , in a trice. Puneeta was left standing in the porch,from where she could see the principal’s office and the clerk’s office . A stately looking woman emerged from one of the doors, clad in sky blue sari, and a brown blazer. She peered at her over her half-moon spectacles .
“New student ?” It was more of a statement and less of a question. Puneeta nodded dumbly.
She whipped out her wrist from underneath her blazer,looked at the time , and bored her eyes into Puneeta’s head.
“You are late!” She pronounced. Puneet half-heard the judge’s gavel thumping in accent.