The Turning point(4)

We became more of buddies and a group was getting formed and a dozen of us with diverse interests . Our School never had a good sports team or did well in extra circular activities.Perhaps there not been good infrastructure, talented players, well only Lord knows.We were misearable in cricket. Last year we lost in preliminaries by 73 runs and gave away 50 extras.

Again we came to know there is a cricket tournament , thats going to be held in January second week. And the team selection as usual would have been horrible.Me, Marx and Nixon thought of writing a team of our own and selecting our own team.We sat after the class hours and deciding a 15 member squad.We could not a find good paper and took the School letter head paper that was in the teacher's desk which was there.Anyways , no one is not going to use it .We named our own 15 member squad.Our group and few pominenet players including Vikas as captain.He was the senior in school and captaining the school all the time.

We were happy in our minds, that this team atleast looks good in something."Hey , whats up?".Its our school clerk Vinod.He has been around with school for a pretty long time and well, we told him about our daily happenings and our own team creation.He was laughing at it.He had a big file with him and kept the apper with him and we were lost in our conversation and left for the day.

As we became buddies(3)

Well, as days passed, our relationship grew from just classmates to pals and buddies.There was a defacto group of friends getting born. Ashok, me, Sethu, Vinay, Hariharan,Marx,Nixon,Ravi,Charles,Hareesh, Blesson.We sat near to each other , occuping the middle rows of the class.We had many things in common-attitude, humour(same level), humanity, passion. Ashok was a quiet a studious guy, he was intelligent.I was really fascinated by his aptitude in Mathematics and Computer logics alongwith his communciations skills.He was one outright contender for the top studious guy in our whole batch.As the results cams in for the quaterly results, Ashok was second in class losing by a mere few to the class topper, Mary.

Ashok's family was in Dubai and comes to the country once in 6 months.Although he was enjoying the place, he was lonely in the new place.As the friend circle grew , we had great times.He was not interested in drinking and smoking, but was mad about music.There was not a single music album he was not aware of , and he sings good.
With help of Ashok, I also skipped a few grades to the top and he was teaching me the hardcore physics, the mindbogglling chemistry with more ease. He must have been a teacher in his last birth.Anyways, we all had our private tuitions .

And here we are , in our Xmas vaccation, I was planning to be in my Mum's place.And all of us had some vaccation plans.Ashok was to stay a few more days with grandparents and move onto new house somewhere 10-15 miles away.Well,he never spoke on his personal front .

5 years ago..........(2)

It was the 11th grade/standard.I have been in the school since kindergarten and joined the science stream along with many of my batch mates, whereas lesser population joined the commerce stream.We are put into XI A, and they into XI B.I could see new faces in our division , and there came this guy...He was normal in stature , with looks that could be said to be handsome, with a face reflecting such innocence that anyone would classify him as naive.But his movements and walks were swift and with pace.And guess what , he fond a place near me in the class!!.
I am shy by nature , even to look at the girls, I would have to sweat a lot. to speakBut with all the courage I had, I turned towards him."Hey there, Whats your good name?". With a smile, that reflected of a young baby smile, he replied "Ashok and your name?" ."Dennis.Where are you from, I guess you are a new admission to our school?". He said"Yes, I am very much new to the place.My Mother's ancestral home is nearby and stay with my grandparents.Basically I am new to the country and was born and bought up in Dubai .I have been there for all these years".

Hmmmm, so new to the country even!!and in the school, where we are the famous villains.And the first hour of the academic year started.The new people had to introduce themselves.The new girls were not as pretty , and I rued that.The guys looked smart, anyways Ashok was the least ranked in the smartness department.Anyways, we have a life of our own.I was busy with our folks with our chit chats and daily news.As I was leaving, I could see Ashok with such delight and it made me think , whats this guy excited about?."Hi Ashok, what are you so delighted about?"."Look at the greenery .Its so beautiful!!!!".I get it, he is from a desert, so greenery is new for him.Ok, let him enjoy his time.Basically , there was one thing I noticed in this guy.He is very friendly- he is getting mingled up quickly unlike other new faces.And best-he is liking this whole place, which we ourselves over the years did not feel much great about!!!!.Thats our great school.

Captaincy Encounter (1)

After almost 5 years , we have come back to our Great High School, and what more better occassion than the Annual Hall of Fame Induction of Our School.I can see a large audience,as I am entering the school gates.Theres so many talkings and Anxiety going around here.I have never seen such a large population for the last few functions I have been around.I can chip in anytime, my home is just 20 metres away from our high school and have been here since ages.

Well, this is the Day!!!The day that 5 years ago, I saw foresaw for him , as we walked across the victory ramp and perhaps this is that day that our school - Boys and Girls of all ages and all generations, Teachers and Management wanted to see, tell or show- to mark a respect , gratitude to a young boy who took the captaincy of a young school team , who were the "born natural underdog"s to a team that became "the invincibles".

And like many of me , it was the 'Captaincy Encounter'. The Induction of Asok , popularly known as Asoka, into the School Hall of Fame.

I can see Manu, Shriya in that remote corner.They have not changed a bit even after this 5 years."Hey Manu.Remember your Vice Captain?", I asked."Buddy, you have changed.You have become more pale.Do not tell me you have become a bookworm and forgot lovely edibles out in this world".I just laughed."Nopes, I have recovered from a flu, and hopefully you will not see any of this after a while.How are you Shriya?Hope you are doing good in your graduation?".Shriya was about to say something , before her little Nokia 2600 rang and she had to step away.

"Did you see Asoka.He has not arrived yet.I know there is another 15-20 mins for the function to start, but I rather love to see him after all these years".True, no doubt, after all these 5 years , where we spend talking over phone and email, this will be the first time, I would see him.Wonder how he still looks.Intbrings back the memories, 5 years ago........