My First Crush - Kindergarten Stories

I remember my first day of school. I was 4 years old and my parents decided to enrol me in a convent school near our house. I had no concept of what school was. So I was told that we were going to a fun place where I would be meeting lots of new friends. I was dressed nicely with a handkerchief pinned to my left shirt pocket. There was a brand new school bag, red water bottle with a straw inside and cartoon stickers on it. I thought we were going on a picnic. I was happily walking with my mom towards the school, completely unaware of what I was going to step in. As we reached school I saw parents gathered everywhere with their kids in front of a small building. I thought we came to see the circus. I got excited. As time passed I noticed that parents and kids used to go in some room and after a while, only parents would come out without their kid. Then I started hearing kids screaming from that room calling for their parents. I was terrified with fear. I remembered my mom used to say to me that if I didn't behave and listened to her then she would give me to a monster. I started recollecting all the bad karma I had done in recent past. I mean, there wasn't much to recollect as I was just 4 years old. Still, I was thinking hard. Maybe it was the glass that I broke or when I was caught eating soil or that dal curry which I poured on our bed. My brain was scanning all possible mishaps. I realised, 'This is it, man, your mom is giving you to the monster.' I thought she loved me. I looked at my mom with a hope that she would change her mind after looking in my innocent eyes. She just said everything will be fine and walked me into the classroom.

The class was of full of traumatised kids screaming their lungs out for their mom. All sort of bodily fluids were flowing out of their noses and eyes. Handkerchief pinned to their dress was hanging without any use. Teachers were giving toys and chocolates to kids to calm them down. My eyes were searching for the monster to whom I was about to get fed. Suddenly, my mom left my hand and said I will pick you up in 2 hours, be a good boy. I jumped on her, held her tight and started pleading not to leave me. But I guess the deal was done between my heartless mom and that monster. She left me with broken trust. And I joined the traumatised kids in their screams. Like laughter was contagious, so was crying. It seemed like an unending ocean of sorrow in which our boats were sinking. Out of nowhere like magic, there entered a lady in the class. She was wearing red Saari, green bangles in her hand were clinging on each other, her long black hair was reaching till her waist. I hadn't seen someone so fair till then. She took back the fringe of hair covering her face and sat on the chair. Time had stopped for me. The screams of kids around me were not reaching to me as if everything had gone on mute mode. I didn't even realise when I stopped crying. I was just looking at her in wonder. That was the first time I felt what it means to say Beautiful.

She introduced herself as Ms Pandit, our teacher. A big smile came on my face. Seemed like the Beast I was expecting to encounter was replaced by a Beauty. My mother would be surprised to see me getting ready with all the excitement for the school every day. I didn't know what was it. I just loved to be around her and listen to her talking. One Sunday evening I started crying because there was no school & I couldn't see her that day. I cried so much that I got a fever. My mom got worried and took me to Ms Pandit's house. There was no other way to calm me down. My mom explained to her why we came uninvited like that to her house. She just laughed and took me on her lap. She was talking to me something but didn't understand anything at that moment. It was like, 'This is it, man, I don't want anything else in life now.' For me, she was a time stopper. I still remember the time we spent at her house that evening.

Ms Pandit was someone Special.