through the eyes of a child..

Why can't this teacher stop chewing so much ghutka. Hasn't the health teacher told him how bad it is for his health? Maybe if he stops chewing he will some day be able to open his mouth and teach us properly, instead of just spitting all over poor Lata in the front row. She seems to have gotten a new pencil box. Her mother must have gotten another house to clean somewhere. Maybe one of those fancy kothis near our colony.

I wish I had a watch just like the blue one Rajesh got. His father bought it for him from the Budh Bazar. Lucky boy he is. Both his parents work at some big government person's house. Look at him showoff! I bet he doesn't even know how to read the time properly. I know what time it is...and I also know what day of the week it is. We were taught that in class 1. Today is the day I get those wonderful sweets and maybe some more pocket money. Today is Tuesday and right now it's the time for me to..... Oh there goes the school bell! just as I was about to say run.On that thought, I should run, today the neighbourhood minister is visiting the Temple with his family.. maybe..just maybe, I will be able to collect enough money to buy a better watch for myself.


Evening school is good. I detested attending morning school. Getting up early and sleeping off during classes became a bit too much for the teachers to handle..and also for maa and paa. Finally paa decided I should help maa and study a little bit in the mornings, and go to school in the evening. It works fine!

Thankfully, I did not get my uniform dirty today. I have to keep it clean, Maa would have not finished washing my only set of good clothes, so I think I will just wear my uniform without the tie and go to the Temple with maa.

I better run, have to wash my face and comb my hair and I hope maa is ready as well....

Here we are.. Maa had to make me run, we were late, and today is a day if we don't reach the Temple gates and be seated  first, we will miss out on a lot!

So many cars! So many people! already there are so many people from our colony gathering near the front of the Temple gates. Maa says we should visit each deity and pray. So I bow my head down, while my eyes keep meandering, keeping a check on the space at the temple gate...

We made it! Maa and me are at the front of the gate and we are seated comfortably enough. This is good. This means all the devotees visiting will provide us with prasad and money.. more of the sweet prasad than money. I love the different kinds of prasad people offer to the Gods and Goddesses. Maa will never buy such sweets for me. She says it isn't good for me, but truth be told, I know paa will shout at her for squandering money on such things. Which is one main reason why I like to come to the Temple on tuesday. I get to eat...and I get to keep the money some of these devotees give us. Paa says I can save it or use it as my pocket money. Works for me! I love buying the ice candy from the ice cream man after school.It feels so nice, specially in this hot weather.

Seems like somebody has bought a new car. The head priest has come out to bless the car and chant some mantras. This is when I feel my palm itch, there will be money and a good amount of it being distributed today. The head priest is also going to earn alot.

Oh no, there seems to be a jam in front of the Temple again. The Metro Bus is stuck.There's a girl staring at me from the bus..is she eyeing my money? I should hide the money in my pocket. Maa is pulling my hand and asking me to come forward for some more sweets...

The moment the traffic jam created by the rush of devotees' vehicles visiting the temple was cleared off, Maa dragged me home. I wanted to travel by that metro bus, but maa said we should save our earnings and walk, although she did treat me to my favourite cola flavoured ice candy bar. Oh well...now I shall wait for next Tuesday..till then I will bury my money in the mud pot under my bed.

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So I travel by the metro feeder sometimes, and yes, I did get caught in a traffic jam on a Tuesday outside one of the most famous Temples in my area..resulting in the feeder bus being stuck for a good 30 minutes. My wandering eyes caught sight of a little boy and his mother at the steps of the Temple collecting Prasad / Money, whatever came their way. The post is just my way of scribbling the thoughts of the little boy which probably would have been running through his head.