Back to School for 30 minutes

Friday, 5th February 2010,
Time 1:19 pm to 1:49 pm

I was having a hard time without a text book at Sunday school during the last few weeks. So yesterday, I was able to find some time to go back to my school, my Alma mater (St. Joseph's College) to get it. This post is about the thoughts that went through my mind during that 30 minutes.


It's been about 6 years now since I left school (April 2004). Time is exactly 1:19 pm when I entered the gate and came out at 1.49 pm. Just as I enter the gate I thought that things would look the same as in the past. But, unfortunately I was wrong.... Just as I try to pass the security zone, it's like entering a High security zone, where I had to get a n ID card and fill out a form as well. Ohh... Gosh! That's crazy. Rules seemed to have become very strict, seems like not even a fly could enter the area without a pass.

Somehow I sneaked in and just went around the premises to see the surroundings. Many things have changed..... Almost everything! except the staff rooms. :D

Environment seemed to have dried up and no grass in quadrangles at all. Quadrangles were like deserts... But, the small trees which we used to play 'Gus maaru' have grown big, just like us. I straight away went to the staff room to find Pius Sir. Along the way while I was passing the classrooms, I saw some of my old great teachers at some classes teaching the last few minutes of the day. When I left school, they had black dark hair, but now..... It has come gray or white and some of them have lost their hair completely. It was a nice feeling to have a walk on those corridors. Old wonderful memories of all sorts of crazy things we did, were going through my mind on every step I take. (Places where I was punished-kneeling down for hours, playing 1-bump in class rooms, hide-outs, everything!)

I had to wait till the end of days academic work to meet Pius sir. Until that time I went to the canteen to have a snack... During our days, on the way to the main canteen there was a danger zone where we had to pass a dog cage. Fortunately it has disappeared. Some canteens have changed their places and have become modernized. The staff at canteens were the same as in the past, except that they have grown old.

While I was walking along, I saw that some of buildings have disappeared and new tall ones have come up. Seems odd to me. And some of them seemed like old ruins. Not painted for years.... Also I behaved just like the way I used to be (According to my rituals in the past-washrooms, drinking water taps etc.), going to some places doing all the stupid stuff like in the past... :D

Suddenly, the final bell rang, it was just like the old days for me. I was watching everyone rushing to class rooms, picking up books and getting ready for the final prayer. Everything wonderful and precious. What a moment!
The prayer ended and I was waiting near the staff room. Some of the teachers recognized me at a glance and I had a small chat with them. I was very glad to have a word with them. (Everyone asked the same set of questions, except my name) It was very nice to see that they are still there, doing their invaluable service to make lives better of many generations.

Finally, I got what I wanted. But, upto now I missed out one special place where I was sometimes afraid to go because it was always dark (because they don't turn on the lights all day). But it's the most sacred place in the entire school - The Church. I entered the church from that unique door which I always enter in the past (out of the 24 doors) and sat down on my favorite same old seat, prayed for few minutes. Church was also full of crazy memories, even though it is sacred.

Somehow, time has come to go back!
So I decided to leave this Wonderful Dreamland which gave me the chance to live back 30 minutes of school life.

- Universal Vishwa