Voice of the angels

Time and again, life shows me deeper meanings of existence in simple yet powerful forms. When I feel my life is like a dry desert, God shows me a little source of water as though telling me there is an oasis nearby. Yes, the feeling of being loved and wanted is something indispensable, as far as I am concerned.

Whatever be the source of love, the warmth one receives is what counts. But when the source itself is so overpowering, so special, so divine and amazingly flawless, the goodness and love radiated from it tend to get doubly absorbed by the recipient.

It was, perhaps by chance (not choice), that these little angels strode into my life. I was assigned this task of teaching them a group song for the school annual day function. The school was where I had studied till some six years ago, my alma mater! (Bharat ka swarnim gaurav kendriya vidyalaya layega, as my heart recollects!!…) Even after coming to college, I have never been able to forget the sunny days I have had out there with my childhood friends… But going back to that place again after such a long time filled my heart with both amazement as well as a bit of weirdness. Most of my old teachers had left the school and there would be hardly anyone who would recognize me… Nevertheless, my first day at school made me feel like a phoenix after a rebirth and all my fears seemed burnt to ashes as there were a few people who did identify me!!!

The school premises were overcrowded with children of all age groups who were waiting to board the school bus. I was yet to meet my angels! I felt thrilled at some corner of my heart as I searched for their classroom.

When I finally entered that fourth standard classroom, inspite of all the confusion that prevailed there, they could make out why I was there. In the moments that followed, we started what looked like a strenuous teach-sing-learn session.

 

The song I had chosen was a classic Malayalam patriotic number by Vallathol Narayana Menon, and my angels had to first break the barrier of words to get the tune right. But as is evident, difficulties get magnified only with age. The courage and enthusiasm of a child are incomparable to anything else in this world. Two days, and we were already through with half the song!!!

    At the end of the fourth day, the whole song began taking shape. I was dumbstruck with the excellent grasping power of the tiny tots. Everyday I would wake up, get ready and anxiously wait to meet them. By now, they too started developing a liking towards me. Some of them would wait restlessly outside their class to see me coming, and once I would enter, some fight would definitely be on for me to make peace.Then their non-stop “Akka, miss…” etc. Some would simply flank me asking hundreds of questions they could think of! (Like one of them asked me, “Akka neenga yenga classku miss a varengala? Fourth B ku vaanga, A classku pogadhenga!”) ..It was fun with them.

Slowly I found all their names with the help of their teacher, as I thought that would be the best way to their hearts. They seemed impressed when I began calling them, “Sowmya, Aravind” etc, instead of pointing a finger to identify them.

The more we met, the more we began liking each other. If I would not go for a day, they would become doubly eager to meet me the next day and find out what had happened to me the previous day. I loved all this attention!

One day I would scold them finding mistakes with their singing and tell them, “ I am not happy with your performance!”, keeping a stern face. The very next day I would receive a doubly enthusiastic, more perfect performance from them, in their direction of getting that, “Very good, great job!!!” from me. And they would all give me a big grin at this much awaited appreciation.

Then the day we brought some senior guys to play the keyboard and tabla, my angels simply went ecstatic! The enthusiasm that children have is infectious and catches people unawares. I was no exception! I was there to teach them a simple song and they went teaching me the lessons of happiness, joy and love all the way!!

As the big day dawned, the children got more enthusiastic about their performance. They were given different coloured ribbons to be worn on their wrists and in the white and white uniforms, they truly looked like angels having descended from the heavens! The two hours I got to spend with them before the show were equally eventful. I got a chance to play with them, listen to their adventurous tales! Their sweet kisses and hugs are something I will forever treasure in my heart. And one of them truly surprised me saying he remembered me as his neighbour when he was hardly two years old!! I was touched when he said he would never forget me. Afterwards I got a chance to meet his mom who too acknowledged the same. I told myself that love is perhaps the only thing that multiplies with time and such moments are what life is worth being lived for!!!

Finally the destined hour came and my angels sang merrily, sounding a thousand resonant bells in the ears and hearts of the listeners! I was overjoyed and speechless for moments later. We celebrated the success of their wonderful performance with chocolates and they all left waving happily at me.

And as somebody has rightly said, happiness cannot be attained without an untiring pursuit. Without the blessings and wishes of the motherly figure next door, my above pursuit would not have been successful. Hence, I dedicate this piece especially to her on the eve of mother’s day! I also wish all other mothers who have loved me as their own daughter, a very happy mother’s day!!!!!!!