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Dove's Flight
We seat ourselves at a comfortable corner from where stage is clearly visible. It is the scholar badge ceremony where Dove is going to get her scholar Badge for achieving excellence in academics. My heart is surging with pride and mute satisfaction that she could do it all on her own despite a mother lost in her own tangles.
"Get up Anju, time for school”, my mother’s soothing voice called. “No mummy its so cold outside. Besides everything taught is Greek to me. Why can’t you tell Daddy to let us stay home”. I yelled in desperation. “What will happen to your school going habit if you stay home all the time. Now hurry up and get going.” Reluctantly I got up.The school dance troupe is presenting a dance ballet and we sit enthralled. It’s time now for school choir to sing Vande Matram and I sing along at the discomfort of the one sitting next to me.
“After the tête-à-tête you will have to sing a song of your choice, on our radio show on India.” The radio Prague presenter informed. Ee mere vatan ke logo zara aankh me bhar lo paani…resounded the radio station as the programme came to its end.She comes fluttering by at the announcement of her name, looking desperately for her Mom and Popsy from the stage, oblivious of the presence of Ashok Ganguly the Chairman CBSE. Not able to spot them in the crowd of parents a faint disappointment is traceable on her face, otherwise beaming with happiness.
“Well you are not as dumb as you pretend to be. I saw your drawing on the school main board. If you try a little harder, you can easily get a yednicka,” challenged my Czech science teacher. The next day I got up at four and with my photographic memory mugged up the whole chapter. I did get that yednicka, although without understanding a word of what I answered. My Mom was happy. Getting a yednicka, my brother was to get it later when he topped in Charles University, was no mean feat.The whole school claps for the achievers as they bow to the audience of proud parents. You would have been proud too, if you were here, Mom. Your balodi has done it.
*yednicka = 1 - the highest rank in 5 point scale** balodi = a little girl