Lost memories, forgotten faces, and a teacher’s homecoming. Dive into Dr. Molly’s reflective poem, exclusively on Different Truths.
You wake up with that urge... Time to get ready. You must reach the college on time, Which saree to wear with matching accessories Rummaging the boxes of beads, studs, and bracelets. O, the matching stone is fine in one pair of studs Where has its back portion gone? The right blouse... inner wears... Are those scattered all over? Time on and off on my watch. It needs new batteries. Peeping at the clock while hastily dressing up. You have to catch the right bus to reach college. Where Is this the venue you were invited to for the talk? Seems the home department has changed much. Crowds of students jostling fast. No faces are familiar. Yes, you need the washroom to freshen up. After all, you need to look as prim as ever. You who flit past those bright corridors Smart, enthusing all… What should be the opening sentence of your speech? Something, catchy... or a meaningful quote... Wait, what was the topic were you Asked to deliver the lecture on? In the haste of getting ready, had I taken The notepad, on which I scribbled some points After a long study and search on Google. First, freshening up – Where is the washroom? You have reached the venue... You have ample time. The compulsions were strong to use the toilet. Now getting into this there is no urge... Anyhow I will spend some time here to satisfy the system. Am I tense to feel like going into the toilet? Why should I be? Meantime, where did I put my handbag, purse and All before coming here? While reaching college it seemed one was Floating over the ocean of strange faces, and voices... Where is that staff room, the safe room, Where do I keep my bag? My throat is getting dry. I wish for a glass of water. Dizzy... Faces float fast... Let me lean on this wall, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Hah! Do I recognise a familiar face? Voice, or faces, voices? "Ma'am, you here? Such a surprise! You are as smart as ever, well decked as ever!" Sheela, Milon! My once-upon-time students and Colleagues are now in big positions. Are they running their colleges now? Help me find my bag dears... I kept it somewhere here. Where shall I go? Is this the place I am invited to for the talk? "Mam, did you come from home? Alone? How?" Questions that keep you baffled. Home? Where is my home? O, my birthplace... Maybe My Amma is waiting for me there. But, how shall I reach her? You need to catch the right bus to Kongorppilly. Buses that way, are few and far in between. See, how I waited and waited for these in my student days, Back from that far-off Maharajas College, Ernakulam. But with my bag and money missing, How can I…? Hush! There’s an announcement from the auditorium for The meeting. Are they waiting for me and my speech? I need to hurry up. Dears, help me get there. Bag and all we may search for later. I have made real preparations for my speech there. Do your eyes water up? Are you busy searching for numbers on the phone? Sheela, Milon, what is this? Take me there to speak to them, to those students. Indeed, I have lots to tell them! Those days I was working and working on that! "Miss, take rest. You are tired. Come sit in our room." Why Do you cry while you talk, dears? How many times have I told you, Life is not meant to be all-in cries... No! Laugh it out. We are all motleys in the crowd. In different roles. Mark each moment, make each moment... Think of this moment. How happy am I to meet you? Both of you, my dearest ones. See how your ma'am is all hale and hearty! Though I'm a bit confused, You asked me for the phone numbers. How can I? Even in those days of the past, I was bad with numbers. Let me rest for a while. See, these days I get little sleep. Often, I wake up with memories of things to do. Hah! Let me stretch. I feel like closing my eyes... My poor eyes! They need a rest. What all, how much they have seen!
Picture design by Anumita Roy
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