when mornings still meant mornings
as in waking up with the rising sun
when mom made smiling sandwiches
which made breakfast super fun
when exercise meant running to the bus stop
and then finishing homework on the way to school
when not wearing a uniform on birthdays
was a highlight and considered uber cool
when morning assembly seemed like a task
and you tried your best to skip it, faking sickness
when you tried to spot your favourite teacher
and with your friends, in detail discussed her dress
when last benchers were always the trouble makers
and the front benchers were shunned as a ‘teacher’s pet’
when you had silly water fights with the pesky boy
and thought that’s the only way he could get you wet J
when you stole glances at the cutie in class
and wrote paper chits across benches to your friend
when you didn’t hear a word and sat through boring periods
hoping that before you die they would end
when being loved back meant he would look back at you too
and if he spoke to you, it was like added bonus
when friends meant the whole wide world to you
and for all their faults, you would take equal onus
when the only success you knew was scoring well in exams
and beating the rival ‘HOUSE’ in the annual sports meet
when the famous five rupee canteen samosa with a coke
was considered as the best possible victory Treat
when looking good was all about a crisp white shirt and polished shiny shoes
and on that wearing a ‘CAPTAIN’ badge made you totally stand out
when you felt super guilty, embarrassed and hurt
if a teacher got annoyed and in front of the class, on you they did shout
when lunch always meant going home to eat with family
and mom enquiring all about your day
when you told mom all the little little details
just avoiding the boy talk and the study talk in every possible way
when you looked forward to 5pm every evening
to go out on your cycle with the ‘colony’ friends to play
when you begged mom to let you stay out a little bit longer
but she just wouldn’t, because the rule said -‘No late nights on a regular week day’
when every time that good old landline rang
who the call was for was an unanswered mystery
when you suddenly jumped up from dinner and ran after dad said
“it’s your friend; he wants to know what he missed in class in History”
When phone calls were monitored by parents
and a day out with friends meant supervised movie and lunch
when you believed that everyone is good and trustworthy
and that’s why your best friend was not one, but a huge bunch.
When watching television was a luxury
and your only source of entertainment was fighting with the sibling
when you still believed in organising and being meticulous
and for the next morning, set out each and everything thing.
When going to bed was peaceful and stress-free
and mom came and tucked you in with a loving caring peck
when no negative thoughts lingered as you shut your eyes
and life hadn’t made you into this wreck
somehow in the race of growing up
we all switch from our initial track
in a never ending quest for success and happiness
on life we almost declare an attack
we lose all those lovely days of peace
and their innocence is what our life then starts to lack
I guess they were always right when they said
“Cherish every moment of this, school days never ever come back”