‘Nice to meet you’

A new school always gives me the jitters. More so now, because I am joining mid-term.This time it’s an all-girls school … a convent school. Should I be nervous? So far, it’s been co-ed. I’ve heard the girls here are smart, and also naughty. The nuns are said to be sharp and not amused by nonsense.One evening, I was walking around town getting a feel of the place. The sun was slipping behind the hills, birds were settling into their nests, and, after the noise of the city, the quiet was blissful.Rainy meetingSuddenly, the weather changed and a cold wind blew in. I shivered in my thin cotton clothes. I had forgotten my jacket. Then, much to my dismay, it began to drizzle. I sighed. So much for taking in the sights! Up ahead I saw a bus shelter. I hurried up to it. By the time I got there, I was drenched. My hair was plastered to my head and the clothes clung to my body. My shoes were full of water and, with every step I took, they squelched and squealed.I muttered under my breath. I heard giggling. A group of five girls sat huddled in the corner, far from the rain, snug and warm. I made my way to the other corner. My shoe squealed and squawked with every step I took.I heard a song, and then a drumming … the girls had started providing background music. Soon the whole group was keeping time with my shoes. I was, apparently, the evening’s entertainment.After what seemed like ages, I made it to my corner and sat down. I plonked myself onto the seat. Crash! I was down on the floor. I lay there groaning with five faces looking down at me. I was mortified. Illustration: Shivani Lakshman They helped me up.“Are you okay?” asked one, suppressing her giggles. The others were not so considerate. They were laughing loudly.“Fine,” I mumbled, mustering as much of my remaining dignity as I could.“That seat is broken,” continued the giggling girl.Of course, now I could see that it was indeed broken. I mumbled thanks and ran out into the rain. Their laughter echoed in my ears even after I got home and shut the door.***Days later, I went down to the market. I needed books, pens, pencils, erasers … and, importantly, an umbrella. I put the other day’s mishap behind me and looked to a fresh start.I was browsing through the book shop when I heard loud whispering behind me. I turned around and froze. It was the five girls! Again! I ignored them. I picked up the stuff I needed and walked to the billing counter. I collected my change and bag and walked out.Framed!As I stepped through the door, a loud whistle blew. The shop came to a standstill. Men in blue ran out from every corner of the shop. One of them grabbed my hand, another grabbed my bag. I was marched to the manager’s room. The contents of my bag were put out on display on his table. And there lay the culprit. A stapler. I had not paid for it. Illustration: Shivani Lakshman “I did not buy a stapler,” I pleaded plaintively,“Of course you didn’t. You were shoplifting,” he answered gruffly.It took a long while to tell him that I had no intention of shoplifting and that I had no clue how the stapler came into my bag. As I passed the coffee place next door, I saw the girls. They smiled and waved. I ignored them. I now knew how the stapler came into my bag.***From then on, I was careful not to go anywhere near the girls. If I saw them, I walked off in the other direction. However, one day, they finally caught up with me. They were trying to be friendly. They told me their names — Lakshmi, Manju, Rose, Alka and Uma. I nodded and introduced myself. I was aloof and distant, not letting my guard down. The conversation went on to their school, teachers and the headmistress.Nicknames“Botany miss, is a terror. She is forever spying on us…”“Maths miss is worse. She doesn’t know anything and tries to correct us. But, thankfully, she’s gone. We have a new teacher this year. Hope she will be better than Tiger Thangam…”“You call you teacher Tiger Thangam?” I asked incredulously.The girls nodded. “You want to hear the rest of the names? Fish Fry is our Botany teacher, Ducky our Physics teacher…”“Our headmistress is Bucky…” Laughing as they recited the nicknames.***On the first day of school, I walked into the classroom just as the bell rang. There was a bunch of flowers on the teacher’s desk. A red heart on the blackboard. I smiled. The class stood up.“Good morning, Sir. Happy Teachers Day!” they sang out.I looked at the class and I saw them. They were at the back. They looked like they had seen a ghost. I knew this was their handiwork to welcome their new master and embarrass him.I smiled. “Good morning, and thank you girls. I have already met some of you…”“Oh no…” I heard a whisper.