It was the year 1979.The princess was in the IX th standard.She travelled daily by a state transport bus from Gariahat to Carmel High School at Jodhpur park.A stern Subbu remarked"The next two years are very crucial and I wish that you perform very well."
Studies were getting tougher.Maths, History and the languages were favourite subjects.The English teacher was a soft Hitler....A lovable teacher who walked with a cane in her hand.Had the media been around she would have been in the limelight.A strict academician with the interest of the wards in heart, Nayaki thanks her profusely for instilling the values of sincerity,discipline and punctuality in all her students.The history teacher was softspoken,a sweetheart and the girls admired her. Biology and Geography were interesting but Nayaki didn't have a flair for the other science subjects."Why do I have to test the tubes and spring the balance moaned the girl?I care no less for the elements and the symbols.The molecular weights are heavy and the atoms miniscule.Do I care if iron ore is smelted or copper anodised?I am neither a Tata nor an Ambani and why would I invest in the industrial production of steel or drill deep into the seas in search of oil?I have been sent to this earth with some other purpose I guess !!!!and why am I wasting precious time learning Greek & Latin?The gases are odourless, senseless,the salts tasteless,the acids pungent , the alkalis baseless and the mixtures colourless compounds with complex solutions..... bemoaned Nayaki.The chemistry maam was a terror and her equation with the Nayaki always an imbalance.A roar would send all the girls scurrying for safety and in the process a few chemical changes would take place....irreversible changes like the breaking of test tubes leading to an appointment with the principal at all odd hours and Yes.....The 1980 Madhyamik batch was rocking....a fun loving set of carefree playful but ambitious girls with dreams in their eyes, focus in their minds and goals to attain........
