Gone are the days!!!

When the school reopened in February,
And we settled in our new desks and benches!

When we started off with the scribbling of our names in the desk,
And queued up in the book depot for the new books and notes!

When our parents bought us lots of Junk Foods to survive in the hostel,
And how miserly we ate those to try and last until the next parent visit !

When we wanted no Mondays after the Sunday holidays,
Yet managed to wake up early for school on Mondays.

When we chased one another in the corridors in intervals,
And returned to the classrooms drenched in sweat !

When we had little bit of lunch in the hostel,
And rushed to Dolly's and Lolly's for the better lunch!

When a single P.T. period in the week's Time Table,
Was awaited more eagerly than the holidays!

When cricket was played with writing pads as bats,
And Neckties and socks rolled into balls!

When few played "Football" and "Basketball" in scorching sun,
While others simply played "book cricket" in the confines of classroom!

When we used to watch Live Cricket and Football telecast,
With the sound muted in the hostel TV room at midnight!

When few rushed at 3:30pm, to "conquer" the Samosas or the four piece biscuits served at Tea,
While few others had "Dungha Mithai" , "Pim Pom" , "Tamanna", and "Wai Wai" at 4 o Clock!

When we got our marks checked by Panda,
And remained scared of his traditional toxing.

When we waited for the Principal's birthday more than ours,
Just to get that once in a blue moon good dinner which we termed as BADA KHANA!

GONE ARE THE DAYS....

Of Sports Day, and the annual School Day,
And the one-month long preparations for them.

Of the stressful Quarterly,Half Yearly and Annual Exams,
And the most enjoyed holidays after them!

Of tenth and twelvth standards,
When we spent almost the whole year writing revision tests

Of fights but no conspiracies,

Of Competitions but seldom jealousy! 

We learnt,
We enjoyed, 

We played,
We won,
We lost,

We laughed,
We cried, 

We fought,
We thought.

With so much fun in them, so many friends,
So much experience, all this and more!

Gone are the days, when we used to talk for hours with our friends!
Now we don't even have time to say a `Hi'!

Gone are the days, when we sat to chat with Friends on grounds!
Now we chat in chat rooms.....!

Gone are the days, when we studied just to pass!
Now we study to get a good job!

Gone are the days, when we had no money in our pockets,
And still fun filled on our hearts!!
Now we have the ATM’s as well as credit cards but with an empty heart.

Gone are the days, when we shouted in the hostel,
Now we don't shout even at home. 

Gone are the days, when we got lectures from all,
Now we give lectures to all... like the one I'm doing now....!!

Gone are the days, but not the memories,
Which will be lingering in our hearts for ever and ever and

Ever and ever and ever ......

AMEN !