@!ex$$w0r!d™ ©

When i was about 7 or 8 years old i had a dream.My cousins,3 of them were alumnus of Sainik School founded by the 1st Defense Minister of India,Mr VK Krishnamenon.It aids in preparing its students to gain admission in the National Defense Academy.Though i was not too keen to join the armed forces i was curious to know what actually happened inside.I wanted to know how one of the most reputed schools in the state functioned.So i decided to give a shot at the complicated admission procedure(for a 9 year old) just to know what happened inside.The candidates had to appear in an entrance examination followed by an interview & medical check up.I still remember the morning when the good news came that i got an admission.

I bid farewell to my teachers & friends and went on to join the institute.History repeated itself in a way when i couldn't stop crying for the fact that i had to live in a boarding school,away from my parents much like my 1st day in LKG(moments earlier i was making fun of my would be friends crying at the prospect of parting with their parents).

But as we don't understand the difficulties of lying in a pit helpless until & unless we fall into one i too had to wait for my moment of misery.The old "Hari Om" at Chinmaya Vidyalaya had to give way to an alien "Good Morning Sir"(with a military salute).Lazily crawling out of bed at 7 got replaced with a 5 30 alarm & reporting to the parade ground for a strenuous PT by 6.My luxurious routine at bathroom was replaced by queuing up for your turn along with a strict 3 minute deadline or face the punishment.I enjoyed the bread & jam served as morning breakfast though.School van got replaced with a march past.Seniors had their say with a small indiscipline- like having a small fold in your bedsheet,improper arrangement of your cupboard,not polishing your shoes,untidy uniform,speaking a word in malayalam-all leading you to horrible punishments.The much dreaded school hours turned to be my rescue.That was the only place where i could relax.Much to my dismay(unlikely till then) classes got over at 1 30 & had to be back with my strict taskmasters in the hostel.After lunch i had to answer for all the mistakes i did in the past 24 hours to the house captain.The irritating punishments would commense in the hot sun.The 4'0 clock games added to my frustration when i would be looked down upon for my poor skills.It would be again followed by queuing up for a chance to "take bath".Then came the study hours till 10 30(for a 6th std student) during which i was often made to stand for sleeping.This is how i passed a working day & i wondered how mad i was to spoil my 5th std summer holidays,working hard to get into a jail.My parents would pay a visit twice a month since we were not allowed to go home except for Onam,Xmas & annual leave(mobile phones were a new technology)."It seems as if i am in a zoo"-(a line which i wrote in a letter to my parents which was leaked to my class teacher,though embarassing then- a cherished memory now).

Things as usual got better with time especially by aquiring the seniority status as i got into the act of a taskmaster.Some of my best moments in school life followed.Being a boys school we had no qualms in cracking any jokes fearing about what the fairer sex would think.I still cherish the times we celebrated winning a trophy by dancing and hooting all through the 365 acre campus not to forget the tears shed when we lost the trophy by a whisker.Stealing 'soft' puris from your neighbours plate in the mess to 'soaping' the mess bhaiyya to serve that xtra big chicken piece.Learning to sleep without my head falling over during study time to perfecting the art of cheating during exams.Getting a boot exemption from the institute doctor to skip the PT complaining of some pain which never existed to playing cricket in the dormitory with one of us standing as a security to escape the prefects.Scientifically constructing lies to get away from that punishment & intentionally punishing that oversmart junior.Those big little fights we fought to satisfy our ego to confessing our mistakes.Life was a celebration.

As i mentioned earlier i had no plans of joining the armed forces which convinced me to finally withdraw after 3 years.To conclude i would say boarding school life is a mixed bag.It gives you moments which is hard to eraze be it sweet or bitter.Given a chance i would go back and correct a lot of things.

But afterall HINDSIGHT is not a great quality,nor is it a sign of wisdom.

NEWS BITES
With the Euro finally coming to a conclusion,personally it's been a satisfying football season.As often feelings evened out with my favorite Manchester United securing a double with the EPL
& Champions league title and England failing to qualify for Euro.Kerala crashing out of the Santosh Trophy without a semi final berth for the 1st time in a decade was dissapointing.Though one has to admit the deserving teams finally were crowned the champions.Coming back to Euro Spain has been brilliant throughout.The find of the tournament has been Arshvin of Russia(Expect some big clubs signing him next season).The team of the tournament was Turkey.Their never say die attitude was sexy to say the least.I would have loved a better fought finals to end a brilliant tournament.