Kailash - My first known best friend

He is my first best friend (At least to my memory). First I met him when I joined L.K.G in Bapuji Matriculation School, Ambattur. He was the tallest boy in the class and a north Indian. My mom spotted him and asked him to take care of me (Maybe being tall) in the class (I remember this scene to some extent). And she made me to sit next to him. From that day, I’d a good time with Kailash. Though I never knew anything about friendship, but his activities have started registering in my heart. I don’t remember anything now. Except Kailash, I don’t remember anybody else faces (How they were that time) who studied with me in that class. Even I can’t remember my teacher’s face. I used to score first rank and Kailash used to score second rank in the class. My mom never lets me or brother to go out to any friend’s house. Once she allowed me to kailash’s house. I do remember visiting his house, somewhere near railway gate of Ambattur Railway Station. His mom gave me a big glass of juice. Kailash studied with me till first standard. After this, he was shifted to another class, and I was upset. The distance between us also grew since we were very young to understand all these things. Finally, after fifth standard I went to another school. I met Kailash after few years and he has changed a lot. He has discontinued his education and doing some local business. He no longer remembered how he has supported me and helped me during my earlier career and he is the first one who taught me what is friendship and who is a friend. Just do whatever you can to a friend but don’t keep expectations. But he remembered me and talks nicely. I haven’t met him for the last 12-14 years and I have no idea of what he’s doing at present. One day I want to meet him. Though I don’t expect him to hold same kind of affection (what I’ve towards him now) towards me, I wanted to do something for him. When I think of Kailash, one incident comes to my mind. I used to take always first rank in my class. In my L.K.G and U.K.G, I’ve scored first ranks in all tests and exams. But in First standard, I used to have problems with teacher. I’ve never got beaten up by any teacher in my first two years. But my first standard used to scold me very often and she had some grudge towards me. Any my rank also started oscillating between 1, 2 and 3. In home, I used to get heavy beatings from my mom when I take second rank. One phase where I hated education is my first standard and teacher’s face always frightened me. From second standard onwards, I used to continuously score first rank. I’ve no idea whether my dip in studies is due to teacher or myself. Once what happened, I got a progress report which had second rank. I went to home. That day, whole compound were looking at me with sympathetic eyes when I was getting beaten up my mom with a cane. Couple of people has come in support of me but in vain. My mom can’t tolerate if me or brother scores any other rank other than first. After beating me, she has also refused to sign on progress report. If I don’t take this report to class with signature, my teacher will also scold me. Two days passes like this. Third day, it was a deadline. I was discussing this with Kailash and Farook was also there in my bench. Farook told me, “ Just put your Mom’s signature and submit. In my home, I never show the progress report. I myself put the signature and submit. Nothing will happen. Kailash after seeing my pathetic situation also told me to follow him whatever he says. So I signed as my mom and submitted the progress report. I was bit afraid when submitting the report. Teacher saw and just took the report with her. I felt very happy and relieved when she didn’t tell anything. Afternoon, when my mom came with lunch, Teacher took the report and gave it to mom saying that I’ve signed myself like my mom. I was shocked to hear that. How did she found out? Because I’ve signed in pencil since we never use pen till fifth standard. So that evening, I had nice beatings back home.