"Ding ! Ding! Ding! " went the school bell..even the birds that were chirping in the mahogany trees stood up on their wings! There was a frenzied rush all over, each of us trying to become a 'Local Champion' {usage of this phrase courtesy : 'Indus Ladies'} in the 'mini - running race'....
Though the school bell goes at 3.30 p.m., I would have to be waiting for my brother to finish his karate class and pick me up at 4.00. That day, too, as usual in the process of waiting for him, I was trying to complete my home-work, ensconced for good in one of those wide cement benches,enough for a pot-bellied man to lay himself !!
I was simultaneously also playing a sponsor to a host of thought--processes : about having to feed 'Ahalya', my pet-goldfish...then go to the terrace with my comic book and mamma's special snack, 'Seedai'....hm! I've got to do some final touches to the greeting-card, I'm making for my class-teacher..it's her birthday tomorrow..then.."Hey! who's that ?"I realised it was my school watch-man, asking me something; "Yemma, innum veetukku pola? mani anjavuthu". ( 'hey kid, why haven't you gone home yet? it's already 5.00)
Oh! my God, that was indeed a sheer shock!!?? Me, the sheepish, told him in what I thought was a "chivalrous " tone.(?) : ''Onnum prachnai illa thaatha, enakku veetukku pora vazhi theriyum." ( No problem ..I know the way to my home). With my book-bag in one hand and my lunch-bag, in another, I set out on my "Adventurous Voyage"!
All the streets looked the same..adding to my dilemma, was the white bougainvilla creepers, my only identity to find my home, adorning almost all the houses in the street.!! I was clearly stranded at a cross-road, wondering which way to take. 
'Ayyayo ..now the man seemed to be coming near; he and his dirty lungi and the shabby moustache. ..eeks!
Tired and worn-out, hungry and scared, I stood almost frozen....
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