A CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE

                          

The staff room is buzzing with chatter and laughter. The bell rings, the Principal, students and staff members gathered  for the school assembly. They begin with a gratitude prayer for the coronavirus free world

The first period was of English. The teacher, Miss Rosie ,all students favourite teacher entered with an infectious smile, friendly nature and greeted the students. She had an aura of sincerity and authority around her. All students enjoyed her classes.. Today was a paragraph writing discussion where students were given a homework on creative writing 'how they spent their time during the lockdown'. All children were full of vigour and vitality, raised their hands to narrate their experiences during the lock down. Rosie Miss vigilant eyes found Ankita, a happy -go- lucky child, vivacious ,seemed to be very quiet today. She had a diary with her.

Rosie Madam asked Ankita to read out her paragraph .She replied that she had her experiences to narrate. Miss Rosie insisted Ankita to read out her feelings to the whole class . 

She read, “ I remember, opening my eyes and saw deserted streets, parks and alleys, , a girl with a forlorn face bearing a memory of the glorious days that were. I wanted to know, what happened to the happy streets I had left a year back, the palatial houses with colourful roofs, the trees I climbed when I was younger and under whose faint shade I used to sit and play with my friends in hot, sultry evenings. 

My mind gets boggled up with so many queries, the answers to which I might never get. Here sitting indoors and cocooned in my home amidst this crisis situation of Corona .I wanted to know what happened to the friends and their families I grew up with and who watched me grow..? As I sat in my balcony and scrolled the WhatsApp on my phone. I saw my friends and relatives who passed away. Ankita took a deep breath and further read “ what could  an otherwise emotionally strong person like me could do, was to cry .”In between my hysterical sobs, I could only analyse that life is so short-lived that it took a virus called Corona to wipe out the whole humanity.”

Furthermore ,I analysed how my life has transformed from a perfectly normal one to be full of fear and confusion.  Why don’t we talk of love and life ? I wonder why I was spared ,but for what? Seeing more people die, to watch some more innocent lives lost and to be part of those who are senselessly killed by this disease.

Reading this, tears rolled down from her face . The whole class was overwhelmed with emotions. Miss Rosie empathised with Ankita, and came closer to her, touched her arm warmly, took her diary and pretended to read the pages from the diary. 

Miss Rosie confidently read and completed the feelings with a sore throat said “People came forward, donated money, provided help and uplifted their friends and acquaintances by providing jobs and other necessities . The Frontline Warriors worked day and night to make the lives of people meaningful. It took one year of vaccination and few precautions and the Herculean task of Ankita recalls the lines of Richard Bach, “ you can never be given a dream without being also granted the power to fulfill it overcoming this mammoth disease was resolved . People's life changed forever and came back to normal.”

Rosie Miss quoted the profound lines of PB Shelley “if winter comes, spring is not far behind” and further added for a progressive era ,compassion in the hearts to be kept in the mind . The whole class applauded , and cheered for Madam. Ankita's eyes twinkled on seeing how just a change in perspective can really make a life worthwhile. Finally ,the bell rang and we found Ankita smiling and playing with her friends. Rosie Miss with contented heart went to the staff room.                               

Rosie ma'am went to seat in the staff room and sat . She took out her wallet and opened it with affection .There was a picture of a boy with mesmerizing eyes and beautiful smile. Jai, her elder son whom she had lost in the pandemic . She recalled Jai's words who always inspired and motivated her . “mom , you are woman of dignity with strong heart, so please uplift the moods of your children by your positive thoughts and ideas” Suddenly, she saw her daughter Timsy who came and hugged her as she was sitting next to Ankita in the class. She said, “I am proud of you Mom “ “ You are an epitome of love and firmness “She further said, “Today , you have encouraged Ankita and made the whole atmosphere in the class so optimistic Jai brother and I are proud of you. “  

 Two years passed, later Ankita joined an NGO along with Miss Rosie and her friends to help the people suffering from Covid 19 and the year went by like spring leaving behind the fragrance of sweet and cherishable memories. Memories of us laughing, joking, playing, working and growing together all the while. Together we lived one more year in the true sense of the word living. We fought but then we loved to , we quarrelled but then we reconciled too, we cried but there were times when little smile was enough. Finally, a day came when Ankita ‘s father got transferred to Mumbai. she had to leave the school, she remembered the quote by Rabindranath Tagore , “meetings and partings are the go of the world” They say moments passed by faster than we realise . Just when Ankita thought that she was getting to know the the essence of life, the end of the journey came. When she had to leave that school and go to a new city but the words of Miss Rosie to be good human being remained in her heart. 

After few months, she read Mariah Carey words in a magazine, 

“ When you feel that hope is gone,

Look inside, you are very strong

And you will finally see the truth, That hero lies in you.”

Today ,she writes in her diary that now she feels that people of the world have channelized their energy in the right direction, setting their adrenaline pumping through their veins, to make them physically fit and mentally strong and thus let the brain and brawn walk hand in hand. Right now we are in cloud nine with the cherished result of vaccination. we people indeed have the strength to win and the attitude to succeed. “Finally Miss Rosie taught Ankita the following quote “life is a test of attitude, not aptitude, you win some you lose some, but it is the spirit that matters” Surely these lines reflect that people such as her madam Rosie are true spirits which have been the guiding force for Ankita and all the people of the world .  

After a year Ankita was felicitated in her new school for doing humanitarian service for the society. On the Award Ceremony day, she saw the Miss Rosie was sitting in the first seat as she was the Chief Guest for the occasion. It was a moment of pride and glory for Ankita to receive an award from her mentor, a warm-hearted woman who taught her the real meaning of life. Ankita thanked God for creating souls such as Miss Rosie who have widened the horizon of thinking of children. That night she slept with happy and contented heart. She imagined herself to be a bird who had been given wings to soar high in the sky in order to fulfill her dreams