The last day before Diwali holidays

 

         The day all students look forward to-the day before vacations. The beginning of holidays. Tempting. In my school, there is a 15 day long holiday each year for Diwali. Diwali, the "festival of lights", is a Hindu festival celebrated in autumn. It signifies the victory of good over evil.

 

         October 17, 2014 was the last day of the school before the Diwali vacations. The teachers had asked the students to bring some snacks for a Diwali party for this day. It was the first time we had heard the word ‘party’ from the teachers. In the morning of the particular day, I sure was pretty excited. I reached school. Everyone looked normal. The party was going to be held in the last period of the day. Till then, we had to study.

 

          Finally, the wait was over. The last period came, and we officially declared ourselves free from studies for a fortnight. As soon as the bell rung marking the beginning of the last period, all students who had brought snacks opened their packets of chips and other stuff. They started sharing their snacks. A nice, friendly atmosphere was created. I liked it. Our class teacher came into the class and exclaimed, “Hey everyone! Started without me?” Before we could respond, someone called her from outside, so she left.

 

          Now things started to get a little bit ‘polluted’. Snack wrappers were lying everywhere. I should tell you, unknowingly I even sat on one. My friend Gautam and I were eating our snacks and passing our time, waiting for the last bell for the day. The next thing that happened was certainly not expected by me. Rain started to pour down in the class in a horizontal direction coming from somewhere behind me. I took about 2 seconds to process the thought, during which I completely got soaked. Instinctively, I looked behind. Three guys were emptying their carbonated soft drink bottles on the rest of us.

 

          I shouted one word “Hey!” and bolted to my left to avoid the drinks. They kept on emptying their bottles and swirled them at full speed. God. Two of them were spraying on the two groups formed at the left and right sides of the class, while one sprayed in the center, where only Gautam and I were sitting. Then, out of nowhere, the class teacher marched into the class and stared right into their eyes. They dropped their bottles on the floor. The teacher was extremely angry with them. Poor guys, last day celebration ruined. Still, there should be some limits on the way you party.

 

          People of my class tried to cheer our class teacher up. I hadn’t seen our teacher angry ever before. The whole class had become sticky with the drink. The teacher finally gave in and started giving sweets to all. She tried to take things into her own hands. She tried her best to organize a song game. But the game was a total failure. The children made groups and sang their own songs in the loudest voice they could. Their way of enjoyment. Not mine. Gautam and I quietly sat in our places. Within moments, two large groups were formed around us-one immediately in front of us, the other right behind us.

 

          I didn’t get it. It seemed like we were the kings of the class while the others sang to us. The only problem I had was that the songs weren’t melodious at all. In fact, they were causing some serious noise pollution. It didn’t feel nice. The Central Pollution Control Board had to be notified. I seriously wanted to get out of there. But the stadium was jam-packed. I wasn’t able to move a muscle. I felt like curling myself into a ball. I felt helpless, to be precise. Then a great personality of our class yelled my name and asked me to sing. That was the last thing I had thought of doing that day. All started to shout my name. Come on. Everyone looked at me with big round eyes. Now, what did they expect me to do? Although I was enjoying all the attention, they ultimately got bored of asking me and started singing their songs again.

 

          The bell rang. Holidays! The moment every student of my school was waiting for. Finally, the period got over.  A few of us felt relieved, while others wanted to continue the party forever. Each person was telling the other, “Happy Diwali, my friend!” We literally ran down to the ground towards the buses. This was probably the first time I had experienced a real school party.

 

-  Manas Trivedi

 

 

Learning the GUITAR

          You a guitarist? Yeah? No? If you’re not, go right now to a music shop and buy one. Really. This is one of the best suggestions I could give to you. Let me ask you something, what according to you is the best instrument in the world? Some of you might say drums. Others, the piano. I say, the guitar is the coolest instrument in the universe. You disagree? Just once, play the E minor chord on the guitar. You’d know why.

          My brother Mihir, in 2010, went on a strike. He demanded a guitar. If his wish was not fulfilled, he wouldn't agree to whatever my parents and I said. I don’t know why, but my parents really fulfilled his wish. I kept opposing them, saying that Mihir would just buy it and keep it as a decoration. And yes, the same happened. The guitar bought was a black acoustic guitar. It looked quite cool. But for the next three years, the guitar gathered dust in the storage area.

          In March 2014, finally I decided to try out the guitar. The exams were over, so there was nothing to stop me. I tried to learn some chords by watching videos on the internet, but the videos I saw totally disappointed me. I lost interest in the instrument and it was kept in the storage for another month.

          When the school reopened in April, I was promoted to the ninth grade. I made a lot of friends. One of the friends I made, Siddharth is an experienced guitarist. I saw this as my chance. I tried to extract whatever was possible about playing the guitar. He gave me quite a lot of good information and asked me to watch the videos of this person named Marty.

          I have to call Marty my first guru of guitar. His way of teaching is better than everyone else I’ve seen on YouTube. I learnt my very first song, or tune from him. Summer holidays came. I remained glued to the computer screen watching his videos all day long. There was this one thing that bothered me a bit. The strings, when you start to play, really dig into your fingers. Though my fingers hurt a lot, that didn't stop me from learning the guitar.
 

          In May, during the holidays, I came to know that a guitar teacher had come to teach in my society. My joy knew no bounds. I joined the class the very first day. The teacher’s name is Sachin. He is a very nice guy. And an incredible teacher. He started his teaching with a lead song. Playing lead for the first time is impossibly hard. First of all, if you’re a right handed person, I’m sure you won’t have any control over the fingers of your left hand. The right hand only does the strumming part. The left hand has to go to the correct place on the guitar’s fret board and then press the string. I thought of playing the guitar left handed. In that case, I’d have to only do the strumming with the left hand. But that was even harder. Just about then, I thought of giving up.

          Still, I continued the classes. After some days, I got some control over my left hand. Though the hand was not speedy enough, I was able to play the correct notes. Within a month of serious practising, I was able to call myself an amateur guitarist. I must say, I became good at it. I was able to play fluently.

          Then I gave my first ever performance on the guitar. On the Indian Independence day, I with my three friends played the national anthem in front of a real audience. Within 15 days, on Ganesh Chaturthi, I performed solo with my guitar and my voice. The guitar accompaniment increased the performance quality and I was able to put up a good show, all thanks to my guitar.

          I still am learning more songs and this learning is endless. And please, please learn the guitar if you haven’t. I have experienced that it reduces stress and relaxes and rejuvenates the mind, along with being a great way to pass time. I thank Siddharth, Marty and Sachin sir for their guidance and making me the guitarist I am.

-         Manas Trivedi

 

My guitar