Toc-H days relived!

What an evening it was! I confess: I was reluctant to go. First because my son and husband were home and secondly 'coz not many from my batch were going to be there. Where? Homecoming 2009, alumni meet of the Toc-H School, a place where I learnt the ABCs of life, a place where I made friends for life, a place where I was encouraged to pursue my talents, a place which taught me confidence, ambition, and lessons of life. Toc-H...a place that gifted me some of the best memories and best friends ever. We were a batch of great friends who enjoyed each other's company. That was almost 15 years ago. Today, each one is busy in his/her own life, have made new companions, visited many new institutions, and have moved on from the Ice-sticks and sip-ups of school days. It's been more than a decade since we bid farewell to our institution, and many of us have not visited the place since then. But even today, after all these years and after having seen and experienced bigger, better and more luxurious places and events, Toc-H still brings back the same spirit and smile on our faces. A walk through the corridors of the school, a stroll through its ground evokes many a memories. At every corner we see the big black board that displays the 'The Thought for the Week'....a board that taught us that 'Time and Tide waits for No Man', 'An idle mind is a devil's workshop' or 'Success is 99 perspiration and 1% inspiration'. Lessons that stood us good in our journey of life...lessons that still remain etched in the back of our minds and which often influence our every day actions. The long corridors where we spent moments enjoying laughs with our friends, picking up silly fights and stealing glances at our 'special someones'. The place where we punished to kneel down when our mischief got too much for the teachers to handle. The corridors...where we cheered our houses during Sports Day. 'Soda, lemon, ginger pop, we have White Sapphire on the Top' and so went the cheering squad. The little corners and the back benches, which were the haunts of the 'love birds', some of whom are today man and wife. Many love stories that ended in wedded bliss, many that changed with changing classes and some that met a sad end. Our auditorium: the stage that nurtured our talents. Dance, music, instruments, skits...the stage that's see the best, the funniest and the most talented. We cheered and clapped, and sometimes booed and hooted. Every moment was fun, and every moment we miss today. The assembly, the PT class, the SUPW period... so much comes trickling back into my memory. It's amazing how Toc-H has left such a deep impression in our minds and hearts. We may never realise it until we revisit those days, like some of us did last evening (Dec 27, 2009). The auditorium was packed with children (we all become children when we return to school). Sadly, from our batch only a few could make it...but the few of us had a great time. As we caught up on old times, our voices were oozing with excitement. It was an evening of fun, music, dance, memories of the good times. We salute the OSAT team for putting up such a wonderful show and rekindling the child in us. For making us realise the worth of what we experienced, for allowing us to relive our best days, for bringing us closer to our memories, for taking us on this journey back in time...treading the path we left behind years ago...meeting those teachers who made us what we are. We thank you for allowing us to be in the company of some of our best friends, for giving us this evening to laugh like never before. Thank you for making us realise life is not just about degrees, pay packages and long hours at the work desk. Life is also about friendship, laughter, tears, moments of togetherness and moments of being YOU. As we bid farewell last night, we promised to find time to keep in touch, to keep these days alive, and to meet as often as we can. Toc-H, we miss you.