Category: Back to School

Flipped the script! 😊

Many monsoons ago it was a cloudy day. The sky was overcast and the Sun was trying to peep through the clouds. It was summer holidays time and just before the onset of the monsoon season. With time to kill and desire to get some fresh air I set out for a walk. My path took me through a wooded area. Saw couple of shadowy figures in the distance. It was the SiRash combo. Si a sicko 👎 and Rash his rash sidekick 👎. Both of them bullies, meaning they were insecure and cowardly, up to no good and always craving for attention. Known for imposing their views on anything and everything and acting like they were God’s gift to humankind. 👎 Anger, hatred and jealousy were their driving forces. 😡 They were always on the lookout to pick on someone. Generally picking on anyone who they thought wouldn’t respond or object to anything offensive said by SiRash. On occasions I would ask them to back off if I felt they were unfairly targeting a person they thought was vulnerable and too meek to respond. Let’s put it this way: We weren’t exactly close friends. I always wondered why folks who could drill some sense into them chose to remain silent. 🤔 Either they wanted to avoid trouble or were just glad not to be picked on. Whatever it is, if bullies are not confronted, they take it as a license and approval to carry on with their bullying ways. This day I was just interested in enjoying the weather, the cool breeze and natural surroundings. Was hoping that SiRash combo were also out for the same reason. No such luck, true to nature they started taunting me hoping to get me riled up. Soon we were in a wooded area where the canopy of the trees covered the entire road in shade. I was determined not to play into their hands by responding back. I walked briskly ahead of them even as the taunting continued. I think they were disappointed to not hear me say anything. A little further ahead of the wooded area the road forked. Just as I was about to take the right road I turned around. They were looking very expectantly for me to say something. Instead, I smiled and flipped the script by flipping a finger. 🖕 Message sent without a word said! 😂 I walked on the right road, and it was bright and sunny as if to indicate a small battle won. Disappointment writ on their faces they took the left road, which was still dark, covered by cloud. Groping in the dark and looking for their next target probably. I couldn’t care less!
Acknowledgements: Image for the story created using Google Gemini Nano Banana 2 using prompts

Stupid school prank – Nab the “thief”

To kill boredom at school me (and a few kindred spirits) used to play this prank. Here is how it used to play out: Look for some object in the school bag, say a pen or a box. Deliberately hide it in another classmate’s bag. Make it look like you lost something and are frantically searching for it. Ensure that your “searching” is noticed. Then announce that you lost your pen and you had it when you came to school. Organize an impromptu search of everyone’s school bag. Open the “thief’s” bag and claim he stole it. Throw a few punches and ask other friends to join in the fun. Let the “thief” off with a strict warning not to steal anything in future.

Looking back it was stupid thing to do but I can assure you it was fun at that time when you were administering the beating.

Note of caution: Got to be careful in selecting the “thief”. It’s got to be someone who’s strong enough to take the blows and gentle not to retaliate 😀

The day I wish I wore diaper at school!


I am writing about the only time that I took part in an elocution competition. Hard as it may be to believe I don’t like to give speeches, especially scripted ones.
There are 2 reasons: I am not a natural public speaker and I am not good at memorizing things. If I try hard to memorize something I forget it, I can remember things that I never cared to memorize. Anyways, I digress.

In secondary/middle school, much against my own wishes and better judgment, I agreed to take part in an elocution competition. And almost regretted doing so the very next moment. I decide to give it my best shot.
Couple of weeks time to prepare for the competition. Not too bad!
My dad writing me the speech. Even better!
Next came the hard part: memorize and practice. After 10 days of struggle the speech starts sounding a little interesting too. Woo hoo! half the battle won!
Day of competition: Some bad speakers and some good speakers before me. Man, I was starting to have visions of winning a prize. Good confidence boost!
My turn comes. Time to talk the talk. Start a little jittery. Practicing alone and speaking in front of a crowd are two different things, I realize. Still I strive manfully. The first paragraph goes through relatively smooth. I sound better than I am because of the quality of my dad’s writing. Starting to relax a little bit. Wow, I am getting into the zone I think. Then disaster strikes, old failings emerge. I forget the text. Boom, the wind goes out of my sails 🙁 I glance through the speech where I got stuck. Not a good sign. After couple more glances through the speech I stumble my way to the end of the speech hoping that the ground would swallow me. Was I going to get relief now? No, I had to hear the school topper speak next. The guy is simply amazing, he’s speaking as if he’s to the manor born. Makes me feel more miserable about myself. He was great but I was in no mood to hear and enjoy it. Was too worried about myself crapping out. Maybe if had a diaper on, it would have saved my day 😀

P.S. It’s ironical that my job today requires me to host calls and speak most of the time. Would rather prefer to think and solve problems myself rather than speak. But it is what it is and you do what it takes to get things done. At least I don’t have to memorize what I am going to say and I can use my twisted humor too!