Hope Springs Eternal

Few days back, the online version of Hindu had the CBSE class X results on the first page. "Girls Shine Again" it reads. "Again" ?? Why "Again" ?? As if there ever was a ever a break from this trite.

Kindergarten is only a hazy memory. Anycase, we had time only to cry after parents dropped us at school and to get scared when the anglo-indian teacher appeared with dotted-canes. So "A" grazed past the rest of the guys to be teacher's pet and first rank holder, all by telling people A is for Apple and B is Ball while intelligent guys were left wondering why isnt A for Audis and B for Benz.

Elementary school was supposed to make us wise. We ensured that it was only "supposed" to do that. Scientifically, it has been concluded that the much-prevalent jewellery craze in the opposite sex begins at around 6 years of age. Since pendants and diamond rings are saved for a later date, to be delegated to some bumbling chap after 15 or so years, the nearest the women could get to were badges. Shiny, well polished badges that read "class pupil leader" and "first rank". "S" was upto it. I remember her telling in the class that she wanted to be a collector. She definitely did a good job collecting lots of such badges. Guys, Nah. We were busy eating kulfis and playing duster cricket. Who wants to wear a badge anyway ??

Middle school was worse. It was double trouble. "JF" and "JM" were so studious that the world really had to try hard and keep pace with them. Now this is the time of our lives when we start getting imaginative and write reams and reams of answers in the hope that the paper's weight atleast gets us through. Even if we had managed a tonne every exam, we wouldnt have had a crack at the top. Can't really blame the teacher. On one hand, they have "JF"s paper, written in blue ink with her hand-writing rivalling a russian ballet dancer, complete with margins drawn with pencil, sub-headings underlined in red and important points double-lined with pencil (am still with the periphery, havent started about the contents), and on the other hand we have mine, that looks more like rice noodles spilt on the ground and trampled over.

High school was even worse. Cant really blame "MS" and "GBLG" for coming out on top because high school happens to be the age when the teenager knows that life is not entirely about strawberry ice-cream and playing cricket. Well, ermm, thats enough for the blog, otherwise it would start sounding like a confessional. So, while the boys were busy getting surprises at each and every turn in life, the girls just rip-roared their way to the top. The girls got great marks, the boys got wiser. Fair deal.

Higher secondary was better. "P" was there, "L" was there, "V" was there, but more importantly questions about my future, if one was indeed present, were also there. Tried studying and was able to score higher than "V", study hard and was able to outscore "L", study harder but i was never able to outscore "P". (Well, what were you expecting ?? a fairy tale ending where i studied hard and beat everyone ?? Oh yeah, tough luck.)

And then it was college. For the first time in many of our lives, we saw guys getting the top rank. Not just in the first or the second semesters, but all through. In every paper, In every semester - It was guys. Finally, we did it. We broke the mantle that was believed to be girls'. We proved to the world that even guys can be class toppers. It was time to celebrate, after 17 full years of playing second fiddle. It was like splashing your face with cold water after a morning run. Pleasant, refreshing, new, rewarding. Amidst this euphoria, my conscience sneaks up from behind and taps me on the shoulder.
"But you studied in a boys' college, didnt you ??"
"........, Shut up".
Never stop your celebrations for such trivial details. Neva.