Ballad of Loreto College

My college's pristine white chapel
With its brick red spire
And warm brown door
Sleepily ushers
Memory.

Its a sweet snapshot saved for
future perhaps unwelcome days
Of lent
For the remaining album of life and tears yet unspent.

The stained glass always made me gasp
When it caught the sun's last rays
Red and gold luminous green
God glowed and seemed alive then
Goodness a sense of well being
Alive and awareness of bearings
Permeated those days.

I was all of 19 alone in god's great house my private retreat
Used to dip my fingers in holy
Water
Believe benediction was in it
And bubble up my prayers  effervescence. ..

Always to be worthy Lord
Of thee
Safe happy and free
In my bubble gum world...

The morning bell to classes summoned
A vigorous Mrs.Kapoor extolling us to think
Gentle Mrs.Mukherjee could always extract our best with her quiet dignity
And the energetic Mrs.Bhatt who challenged us not to feel smug.

The creamy satiny walls of my college
Its green lawns lent
A sense of uninterrupted peace
A cloister amidst chaos of midtown traffic. ..
Outside on horrendous Camac street..

Classes will  be classes wherever you go
But sitting with savory street food on the stoop at lunchtime
Wrapped in saal leaves by our  faithful vendor  at the gate
Or frequenting "Golden Spoon"
Our adopted restaurant. ..
It just couldnt get better
Cementing bonds of friendship for a life time
And I thank you Alma Mater.

At break my dear friend Debjani and I
Rushing to renew makeup
Then simply slurping it away
Along with a cheap  stick icecream
Like 10 year olds we returned giggling to classes with orange icecream painted lips. ..
And oh! Striving to be as elegant as you please.

The slow  paced afternoon classes the longing for a free period
Small parties planned in whispers easily broken china hearts shared
A snap shown of a beloved sister a niece
Our lives were made up of such moments as these.

My friend Debjani if you read this save it in your heart
I have never known a friend like you.

Then final bell and thankful to be freed
Gossip in the common room
Someone plays the piano and we leave..

I have computer classes elsewhere at five
Some have french lessons
Others have their own picture book lives
We all  have our dreams yet unbroken blissful indeed.

I remember you all my friends from such days as never will be
Slightly aloof very bright smiling  Moutushi
The rambunctious Shikha pretty and smart
Sweet elegant Shreya quiet at the start
Later she does us all proud
Thats another   story...
Puja I remember used the exercycle
And pretty shy Gargi and tiny Anthomiza
Graceful Janet. .
And Soumi the soft and the silent
The only one who had seen her future before it had started.

Such is my ballad of Loreto College
An Ave Maria of protection
A peaceful melange
My soul sees its spires in the crux
Of  dilemmas, unease
How it rose every morning !
And never failed to please.

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(c) Amrita Valan 2014