A Tiny Thought

In our school, all sections from upper primary classes will get a chance to conduct school morning assembly for a week. I was in Class 6th and it was our class responsibility that week to organize assembly. The morning assembly included a prayer, quoting a “Thought for the Day”, delivering the NEWS headlines, School Anthem and National Anthem. Getting a privilege to read the news headlines in the assembly is a prestigious moment for myself at least 😊. At my home we buy only Malayalam newspaper. But I falsified my class teacher that we get English newspaper regularly at home and I have the confidence to present the news headlines. Perceiving my engrossment and enthusiasm, my class teacher granted me to present the news headlines for the next day assembly. My happiness was out of bounds. I was sleep deprived that night and was waking up every hour to assure that I don’t over sleep.

Next day, early morning I went with my father to a news agents shop and bought “The Indian Express” newspaper. Reaching back home, I jotted down all the major headlines of the news in a paper. Yes!! I am all set for reading the headlines. With full zest I went school. Morning bell for assembly rang. Prayer and “Thought for the day” was done. Now it’s my turn to deliver the news headlines. I took over the mike and commenced reading out each headlines. Everything went well (By the time when I delivered the last news head line, I was over the moon 😊). On a closing note of the news read, it’s a custom by the reader to wish the listeners a beautiful day. So while I was wrapping up the news headlines, I wished the spectators a “PHOSPHORUS DAY”. Did you get me??? Yes, instead of saying “PROSPEROUS” I mispronounced it to “PHOSPHORUS”. The entire school couldn’t resist laughing and the serious session turned out to be hilarious. My class teacher expressed her discontent in my presentation later that day. The 12-year-old me was totally flustered by my own performance on the day (May be due to the extravagant hype and expectation bubble fabricated in my mind burst out miserably😕). I badly needed to be back home. Somehow I managed to be in the class whole day and when the last bell rang, I rushed to the parking slots where the cycles are parked. I unlocked my maroon color ladybird cycle and flew home without looking hither and thither.

My school is very near to my home (approx. 2 km distance). I reached home within 10 min and directly stretched to the kitchen to solace the “bad day” mood. My mom was holding a cup of milk to suffice my appetite (Perks of having a stay-at-Home-Mom 😉). To express my dismay on the day, I stroked her hand to avoid the milk she served by cursing the day and with my luck, milk spilled out to the floor. Do I need to explain more on how a mother will react to such a situation?

Above all her scolding and beating, I was penanced to clean the floor too. Can a day be better than this? 😂.

Later in the night, I explained to my mother on what happened in the school. She then asked me – Ammu(my pet name), Today evening when you hit my hand, what you think is the reason that the milk spilled out ? You spilled the milk because there was milk in my cup. Had there been coffee in the cup, you would have spilled coffee. The point is whatever is inside the cup, is what will spill out. Therefore, when you are upset like today, whatever is inside you will come out. It’s easy to mock up, until you get rattled. So we have to ask ourselves, “what’s in my cup? When things don’t work out as you expect, “what sheds out? It’s easy to show your distress by harsh words and anger. But you will always be clutched by those bad-spirits. Instead thrall yourself with kind words and humility. You become what you choose to be Ammu, always remember that!! Little did I really understand at that point. But I discerned that my reaction to the situation was incorrect. Never have I reacted to any hapless days with a grin or rough deed to anyone further.

Now when I look back, what a powerful lesson had she taught me? On days when life feels so fragile, delicate and fleeting, I get always reminded of this incident and her words. This tiny thought has the power to secure my life!! This act which I have quelled 18 years back have the divination to repair what’s broken, as opposed to letting the jagged pieces cutting us.