This is about the first day of the 3 years that i spent in military school Enter soldier into newly conquered territory. But triumph, high spirits, strong wills were exactly the opposite of what i experienced. As I made my long journey from gate to school, a fat black guy plunged into my life, from the shadows. Meekness at heart rendered 'hands-into-pocket' business essential but as my fingers drew close to that 80% cotton(that's a wild guess), the word "Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo" split my eardrum in half for a dumbstruck 45 seconds {Vishwanath is my name and very obvious exaggeration is my game}. Anyway the bottomline - no hands in pocket in this school. I'm yet to figure out in what way it might consequently disrespect the seniors, but finally i ended up immensely thanking god of cheating me of one of the fundamental rights of a timid guy.

My next observation was that, for standing in my line, i required permission from my seniors. I once again did not forget to appreciate god for where my dignity lay. The drop of the pin echoed during the assembly but the imposed self-control was straining to break free and 'thank god, we've reached class' was the attitude of my classmates as far a my view could penetrate. Then, in class, I was riddled with questions like bullets at a jackrabbit by a mentally ill hunter. As I made a valiant effort to scrape through the crucial decider moments, the disinterest began to show. Further enquiry led me to conclude that half of them didn't have the patience to decipher english into hindi.

My decision that they might be friendly if I would speak in hindi, was tested as I watched one poor guy getting brutally assaulted by the others. the victim, I guess, must not have realized that the compliments that he was delivering them just might happen to provoke them. I forgave them for their misdeeds as i analyzed that they don't have any authority beyond the four walls of the classroom.

Approach lunch break and one day scholar happens to observe that his box is empty as he takes it out of his bag. I could judge the fate of that ill fated food since I witness the incident like a repeat telecast with another guy, who struggles in vain to keep a piece for himself. I shiver as i draw my lunch box out but find that the baorders are way too shy, since I'm a newcomer. but in the back of my mind, I realized, the shyness was not to stay.

The day ended with no more significant details apart from meeting the 'exquisite' line-up of teachers, one of whom(later to be found), the Pranayam king, was to be my class teacher of a class of 20 - repeat 20 - and when I went to tell him my 10th grade marks makes a fabulous realization "oh thum hamari kaksha main hi padhthe the?" {Oh you used to study in my class?"