We have all heard ‘Books are Best Friends’. I was a little taken aback though, by the concept of both 'best friends' and 'books being best friends'. Why best friends? Why not just friends? Why not just positive supportive relationships? What makes best friends appear in the same sentence where the subject significantly is 'books'?  Over the years, my realisation has been that best friends won’t be around us forever. Yet, we all want to be understood, respected, valued, heard and be able to develop a sense of belonging. It won’t hurt to have someone our back in times of crisis. But it is also true that not all who listen and understand us, become best friends, or, stay with us forever. Sometimes, these personalities become part of moments that are whole on their own. After that, they leave and go wherever they are supposed to go. Even when I write all this, I also feel that it is important to be surrounded by an environment of genuine niceness. ...

In a recent attempt to remember directions and be punctual, I lost my way to the staffroom. It was Break time and everyone was interested in swings, slides and their friends. A huge part of me agrees to be comfortable in crowds, a straightforward part of me is not. I asked a girl in Nursery for the way. She directed her finger at a room across the courtyard of the school. Strangely and thankfully, the girl stood there watching me, chewing her fingers. She had a running nose, wore a loose tunic and black slacks. On seeing confusion on my face, she walked towards me, took my hand and led me to the staffroom. Kids watching stories on a screen The picture is from the same day, of Class 1 watching a video about a Cow and a Cat. The whole story is a rhyming song. Of how children should carry handkerchiefs and how they should cover their nose and mouth while sneezing. The video shows: A Cat and a Cow are roaming around in a green field. The Cat finds a pond and jumps into it. ...

Last to last year it was raining when I remembered about you. Then, last year again it was raining when I remembered about you. This year too it was raining when I thought about you. I think it is a coincidence. I wasn’t planning on writing to you. You hardly know the words to reply. To be honest, I am also not looking for a response. The sky didn’t smell like it would rain today. However, come morning 7 a.m. and it started raining. Rained till 9:30, I think. Didn’t really keep a track of time. The grounds and gardens are cool. It hadn’t rained for one week and I thought it’d rain yesterday, but nothing. Every conversation with autos these days always mentions the number of days, clouds and condensation have not showed their magic here.  Anyway, enough with ‘rain, why ran?’ Dear September 1 whatever year, hope these words find you. I have progressed from the missing you department to miss you only on weekdays. Oh, it’s not a sad thing at all. People here don’t think it is...