Little Swami is five and has been going to this kindergarten class since two months now. At his age, school is no more than a place away from dear Mom where they are teaching him how to sit quietly for five hours in a day. This age is too tender to grasp the power of education. He has a couple of best friends, Rahul and Vaibhav who like to tease him, eat up most of his lunch and play with him. But they all get united against the class's bully, Manu. What can another five year old have against Swami. Nothing really, but its the inherent difference in the means and approaches of the powerful and the frail.
Boys spend time together in school and go around as a group. The male idiosyncrasies catch on early, probably as soon as we strike friendships. So, these boys boast about their Dad's income, asserting the same with all ten fingers and suggesting the biggest monetary unit they have heard of. They imitate the actor from some song they heard last evening on the television. They did not understand a word but try hard to copy some cool style and beat the rest in their group. Swami's parents are very particular about TV, so he watches the other two with utter sincerity and amaze, and hangs on to the seemingly cool friends.
Swami comes to the school in a richshaw. He likes its color, as it is new and couple of shades different from the rest in the school. So, his Grand Pa has specially arranged for his favorite grand child to be picked by this rickshaw only. Why not! Swami is the twinkle in his eyes. But Swami does not like the rickshaw driver,Munshi Ram as he is slow and always late. Whenever the kids are late to the school, they start complaining about the slow driver. This old man blames the kids' Moms first, but then readily accepts the delay, with a smile.
Recess time is the most exciting time of the day. In quarter of an hour, a whole lot of hectic schedule has to be completed. Boys need to have lunch in the class itself and then they go all over the campus of their small school. The younger you are, the lesser you know, the more restless you are. They climb up and down the stairs, into each of the class rooms, stopping by each of the interesting place. Some times arms in arms, or chasing each other.
Principal office and staff room are the places not to be frequented. You don't shout near it but just whisk past. Principal is supposed to be a saree clad fat woman, with glasses. She sits in the biggest office and conducts a near forceful morning prayer. Only rain Gods can save the kids from this prayer. The fun part is to open one eye and look around, at what the others are up to. If the class teacher is not looking, you may push your friends around. But don't get caught, because then you may have to visit Principal ma'am !
Then comes the end of the day. By this time, Swami and his friends have gone through five hours of games, fun, companionship, stories and some times punishment. They fell down, rolled over in the dirt and their school dress is in real distress by this time. The excitement of these five hours will be shared enthusiastically with the Moms for the rest of the day. One day they will grow and their girl friends will replace Mom. But these days will remain in their memories as the best days ever, and the Mom, the Grand Pa and Munshi Ram as some of the most un-selfish people ever.
