June....Everytime this year of the month, wherever I am, I become that young girl for whom school going was a task, literally. In Kerala, June is a month which is famous for its monsoon and the never ending floods. Its that time of the year when school gets reopened after the long summer vacation. I still remember the day when my mom used to carry her bag, my school bag, me clinging to her one arm and everything under a old three fold umbrella. One big wind and that umbrella used to blew up ending us in getting drenched. I still remember how my mother used to hold me really close as if somebody will snatch me from her right away. Growing up, I realise that is what I miss the most. It also takes me back to our daily conversations, when the roads were flooded with mud water, how we used to curse the people who will go in big cars by splashing the water on pedestrians. I still remember she would tell me that one day we are going to have a big car and Dad would drop both of us in school and college. Its ironical that now we got a "big" car like we wanted, we both got license and she still runs to catch her bus to reach her college. Where as me, pushing myself out of bed, running to get the punch-in at my workplace at sharp 7 am. Life became all about running now.
June is also special as I said, its when schools reopen. The smell of new books, bright new shoes, uniforms, teachers, friends - its all about that. I still remember how in the initial few days, I used to complete homework, do everything on time and then after a few weeks, I would become a sleepy head again. Being in school, I remember the times when I hated being in school, the time when I literally wanted to be at school. I was not a very bright student, not a pet of teachers nor I did have any close friends. For me, everybody were my friends. When years passed by, I got the best of my friends from there, I never thought they would have such an impact in my life and they would be there for me, no matter what. And slowly I did not want the school to get over, I fell in love with my school, teachers and of course those idiots- my friends. School became my second home. It still is.
Its also about that day when I can go to school in my new dress, give chocolates to everyone because its my birthday. My aunt says that night of June when I was born, they did not even have food, except for the few bottles of water which was available at hospital canteen. She calls me the "Dinner stealer" still. And I love getting to know that they still love me as much as they did.
The month of Monsoon also take me back to those rainy nights when our family (almost 8 members) used to the sit in the work area (area close to kitchen) where my mom, grandmother and aunt used to cook delicious, spicy and hot fish fries for everyone and we used to have dinner together. At times, there will not be current and we would end up having dinner in the dark, entirely. That aroma of fries, the moments where I would sit on my Appoppan's (Grandfather) lap and he would feed me with food, the cool breeze in monsoon, that fade light of Chimney lamp, everything is still afresh.
June - Its indeed a month of Monsoon, School and much more !
What is your memory about June ?
