This situation is something I never even thought would come up. The next batch of students (the 2011 batch) have just entered college, about 2 days back. This didn't bother me till today evening, when I heard my name almost screamed out. Surprised, I turned around, only to see 3 girls ogling at me happily.
I must have looked really clueless, because after about 10 seconds of me giving them all a collective blank stare, one of them said, "We're from your school. Don't you recognize us?"
[ For all those of you who are reading this post, a small bit of background information. I completed my Grade 10 abroad, and joined this school near my hometown in India. The transition wasn't easy. Language, culture, social life...everything was different. And the kids at school did not make it any easier. They were the reason I felt alone, for the first time in my life, for 2 entire years.
After those 2 gruelling years of High School, all I wanted was to wipe out each and every memory attached to that place, especially the students. Things were completely different with the staff, though. A few of them influenced me so much that I can't begin to imagine where I'ld be right now if they hadn't been there for me. (More on that in another post.)
So, back to the irritating lumps of flesh that called themselves my fellow classmates. They were amused to see me struggle through the first few days of school, called me a show-off because I was so insecure to speak to them in any other language other than english, watched me from afar as I tried to get used to my new lifestyle; never once lending a hand; and always quick to jeer and poke fun.
Ultimately, I got back at them. But I'm wandering. So now you know why I hate them so much. And why I wouldn't want a constant reminder of what I went through during those days.]
Right. Back to the present.
So there I was staring into these people's faces, not knowing what to say.
Me: Oh. I...don't quite remember any of you.
Girl 1: You don't? My sister, H, was your senior. She used to talk harshly to you. You forgot when she bullied you during the first week of school because you were new?
Me: (shocked) H? No, absolutely no idea.
Girl 2: But we remember you!
Me: Yeah, I see that. (Of course you do, you jerks! Even though I created some strong negative feelings in the course of getting even, I made sure NONE of you would forget me.) Ok, I've got to get going.
Girl 1: See you, then.
That was the end of the encounter. But it reminded me of a time in my past that I tried really hard to forget. And it all came flooding back. The loneliness, the laughter in the distance...and I find myself in a place I never again wanted to visit.
I must have looked really clueless, because after about 10 seconds of me giving them all a collective blank stare, one of them said, "We're from your school. Don't you recognize us?"
[ For all those of you who are reading this post, a small bit of background information. I completed my Grade 10 abroad, and joined this school near my hometown in India. The transition wasn't easy. Language, culture, social life...everything was different. And the kids at school did not make it any easier. They were the reason I felt alone, for the first time in my life, for 2 entire years.
After those 2 gruelling years of High School, all I wanted was to wipe out each and every memory attached to that place, especially the students. Things were completely different with the staff, though. A few of them influenced me so much that I can't begin to imagine where I'ld be right now if they hadn't been there for me. (More on that in another post.)
So, back to the irritating lumps of flesh that called themselves my fellow classmates. They were amused to see me struggle through the first few days of school, called me a show-off because I was so insecure to speak to them in any other language other than english, watched me from afar as I tried to get used to my new lifestyle; never once lending a hand; and always quick to jeer and poke fun.
Ultimately, I got back at them. But I'm wandering. So now you know why I hate them so much. And why I wouldn't want a constant reminder of what I went through during those days.]
Right. Back to the present.
So there I was staring into these people's faces, not knowing what to say.
Me: Oh. I...don't quite remember any of you.
Girl 1: You don't? My sister, H, was your senior. She used to talk harshly to you. You forgot when she bullied you during the first week of school because you were new?
Me: (shocked) H? No, absolutely no idea.
Girl 2: But we remember you!
Me: Yeah, I see that. (Of course you do, you jerks! Even though I created some strong negative feelings in the course of getting even, I made sure NONE of you would forget me.) Ok, I've got to get going.
Girl 1: See you, then.
That was the end of the encounter. But it reminded me of a time in my past that I tried really hard to forget. And it all came flooding back. The loneliness, the laughter in the distance...and I find myself in a place I never again wanted to visit.
