| Monday morning melodrama. | | | | school". "But when? How and her bag?" asked |
| Venue - Gurukripa, II phase, J.P.Nagar, Bangalore. | | | | shocked I, and my eyes involuntarily turned to |
| The howling was relentless and showed no sign of | | | | the corner where the bag was thrown by the |
| losing its momentum. The girl's face was twitched | | | | young rebel and noticed its absence. |
| with agony and despair caused by multitude of | | | | The kind eyes studied my bewilderment for a |
| inexplicable melodies...stomachache being one | | | | while and then slowly he replied; "She was in the |
| among them. The milk that was forced inside was | | | | school at the dot of the bell and I had carried her |
| thrown out promptly with equal force. The | | | | bag while going to the mini forest". |
| pinafore, crisp with the touch of iron a few | | | | Suddenly, I recalled that her nondescript school |
| minutes ago, now adorned the girl in a crumpled | | | | was just at the other end of the mini forest- a |
| heap. The canvas shoes had already become wet | | | | stretch of land on each side of the road with |
| and dirty with so much of kicking and stomping | | | | tender trees and wild growth thoughtfully left |
| and the disowned school bag lay pitiably in an | | | | untouched by Bangalore Municipal Corporation. As I |
| undesirable corner of the verandah. | | | | stood there motionless and digested the |
| So, you have guessed correctly. It was MMSS- | | | | information, the chain of events flashed before |
| Monday Morning School Syndrome. | | | | me vividly: |
| I stood helpless and defeated watching my | | | | ...after their hunt for mushrooms and snails, he |
| resolute agenda of sending the girl to school | | | | was at the right place at the right time-the school |
| crashing down and was making a last ditch effort | | | | gate and the school bell..., the sound of laughter, |
| to extract a promise from the girl that she would | | | | rush, eagerness on those lively faces..., the inviting |
| write the alphabets during the day. It was then | | | | cries and the stretched hands..., and how my |
| that the old man, who was a silent and bemused | | | | daughter must have just given in, and her |
| witness to the whole hangama, suddenly | | | | resistance melting away..., grabbing the bag |
| proclaimed; "So Sangu, no school. That is it. Then | | | | unconsciously from those old hands, must have |
| why cannot we have a walk in the mini forest? | | | | disappeared in to that gay abundance, and how |
| After yesterday night's rains, I am sure, we will | | | | the old man must have lingered there for a while |
| have more of mushrooms and snails today." | | | | with an invisible tear in his eyes and then slowly |
| Lo, the change of scenario, the tear stained face | | | | turned his back to the bliss of childhood. |
| at once lit up and the duo set on their journey of | | | | My father-in - law is no more. The reluctant pupil |
| exploration with out heading my protestation for | | | | is now thousands of miles away in one of the |
| such over indulgent behavior. | | | | best universities and I am -the super mom- a |
| It was couple of hours later that I became aware | | | | teacher educator. |
| of the presence of the father -figure back in the | | | | However, the small drama of that Monday morn |
| verandah, reclining on the easy chair with | | | | remains the best lesson I ever had in |
| newspaper in hand and stammered; | | | | child-psychology. |
| "Where is Sangu?" Came the easy reply; "In the | | | | |