Nandita:- May I come in, Sir!
Mr.Roland:- Oh! What a surprise! Please come in, Mrs.Lodh.
Nandita:- Thank you, Sir!
Mr.Roland:- So, how are your father-in-law and mother-in-law?
Nandita:- They are very good, Sir. They are very supportive and caring. Sir, please accept these packets of sweets. I have not got time to visit this school after my marriage. Please distribute these sweets among all the Staffs and Teachers of this school.
Mr. Roland:- Oh! Sure, sure! Don’t worry about that. By the way, you never came here without any reason. So, this time, do you want any help from this school again? Are you still associated with that NGO, ‘Aastha’ after your marriage?
Nandita:- Yeah! I am still in ‘Aastha’. I cannot give up my passion as because I have got married to someone.
Mr.Roland:- Ok! Ok! Now, tell me about the program.
Nandita:- We have organized a ‘Briksharopan Karmasuchi’ (Planting of Trees) in the Maidan area. After that, we will visit some market areas to distribute Green colored paper bags to spread the awareness of, ‘Ban Plastics.’
Mr. Roland:- Ok! No problem at all. I also want to plant some trees in that Maidan area. Can I participate?
Nandita:-Of course, Sir!
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Prakash:- There is no point in planting trees in this Maidan area. There is pollution everywhere. Will these trees survive? Who will provide water to these newly planted trees of this Maidan area? There is no one to look after the maintenance of newly planted trees.
Meenakshi:- Yeah! You are right. Hey, come on! Everyone is going inside that little bus. We will visit some markets to distribute those paper bags.
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Dolui:- Madam, why are we doing the campaign in support to ban plastics?
Shiela Madam:- Actually, those plastics bags cannot be recycled. Moreover, when you burn plastic bags, it emits some poisonous gases to create air pollution. Recently, scientists have proved that the chewing tobaccos or Gutkhas kept inside plastic packets may cause mouth cancer. So, the environmentalists all over the world are raising their voices to ban plastics and it is to be replaced by papers only.
Dolui:- But, if we succeed in replacing plastics by paper bags or packets, then the demand for papers will increase. As papers are made from woods, so, indirectly, it will lead to cutting down of trees in large numbers. Don’t you think that the best option is to replace the plastic bags by sophisticated modern jute bags?
Shiela Madam:- I completely agree with your views, Dolui, but, the Jute Industry is already a sick industry in Bengal due to bad politics played by the CPI(M) sponsored Trade Unions. We don’t know whether the Jute Industry of Bengal will ever be revived or not, but, for the time being, it is a feasible decision to replace plastic bags by paper bags.
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Fatima:- Revathi has invited almost all of us in her house on this Saturday to celebrate Onam festival. Are you guys going?
Santu:- I am not going.
Raja:- I am also not going.
Fatima:- Yeah! I have also decided the same.
Meenakshi:- Why you people are reacting like this? Revathi’s job was to invite you all for the Onam festival at her house. If you people don’t want to go, just don’t go there, but, at least, don’t react like that inside the classroom. If Revathi hears it, she may feel bad. Anyway, I am going to Revathi’s house on this Saturday to enjoy the Onam festival.
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Revathi’s mom:- Oh! Come in! Revathi is eagerly waiting for you all. Hey, Revathi, look here, your classmates have come.
Revathi:- Oh! Really! I thought that no one will come to our house. Amma, let me introduce my classmates to you. The boy wearing red colored T-shirt is Bhanu and the boy wearing blue shirt is Jahar. Both of them are the class monitors since our childhood days.
Revathi’s mom:- Oh! That’s really cool!
Bhanu:- Aunty! Sometimes both I and Jahar have a very tough time to control all the hooligans of our class.
Meenakshi:- No, no, aunty, we don’t behave so badly in our classroom. I am Meenakshi. She is Srabanti and the boy standing beside her is Arindam.
Revathi’s mom:- Ok! Ok! You people enjoy yourselves. I will be busy in cooking some lovely dishes for you people. Once the food is served at the dining table, I will call you.
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Bhanu:- Wow! Everywhere in this room, we are seeing some good hand –drawn designs. We also have these types of designs in our rooms during Diwali time. Revathi, is this Onam festival celebrated everywhere in South India?
Revathi:- No, it is purely a Keralian festival.
Arindam:- I have heard about Pongal!
Meenakshi:- That’s celebrated in Tamil Nadu.
Arindam:- Ok!
Revathi’s mom:- Food has been served. Just come inside our dining room.
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Jahar (whispering at Bhanu):- This Onam festival has some similarities with our Bengali festivals. Look at Revathi, her neighbors and her mom. Everyone is wearing good quality sarees with some garland of Rajanigandha flowers on their hair. Look at the Keralian dishes for this festival. There are Rice, Keralian Dal and Keralian Curries which are almost similar in taste to Bengali dishes.
Bhanu:- Even these special sweets made from Suji are just too good. I never expected some lovely ‘Gulab Jamuns’ in a South Indian festival. Generally, South Indians don’t prefer to eat sweets.
Meenakshi:- No, that’s a wrong perception. South Indians are also fond of sweets. You will hardly find any South Indian who doesn’t love to eat Misti Doi and Rasogollas.
Arindam:- Ha ha ha…Meenakshi, you are born and brought up in Kolkata. That’s why; you are fond of Bengali sweets, but, that does not prove that all South Indians like Bengali sweets. Revathi, can I have another Gulab Jamun please?
Srabanti:- Revathi, I also want a Gulab Jamun.
Revathi:- Do you know that my mom has prepared these Gulab Jamuns by her own. These Gulab Jamuns are not from any sweets shop.
Jahar:- Oho! That’s why; these Gulab Jamuns are so tasty. Aunty just rocks.
Revathi:- Wait! I am bringing another 10 Gulab Jamuns from the kitchen. You will really enjoy eating those.
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Revathi’s mom:- Have you all enjoyed the foods?
Srabanti:- Yes, aunty, you are expert in cooking. We never had an idea that Keralian dishes are also so tasty.
Revathi’s mom:- Oh! Thanks for the compliment! Frankly speaking; I learnt all about cooking from my mom only. Full credit goes to my late mother who taught me how to cook good Keralian dishes.
Meenakshi:- Aunty, it is almost 7.30 PM now. We need to go.
Revathi’s mom:- Yeah! Yeah! Sure!
Revathi (whispering at Arindam):- What the hell will you do after going back home so early. Spend another half an hour or so here. That’s a request, not an order. The decision is yours only.
Arindam (whispering at Revathi):- Can’t you girls say anything straight away instead of saying it in diplomatic style. Ok, I will stay for another half an hour. Don’t worry.
Bhanu:- Arrey, Arindam bhaya! Are you not in a mood to go back home?
Arindam:- Actually, my parents have gone to attend a marriage ceremony. So, no one is there in my house now. The door is locked from outside. So, I will spend some time out here. I will go after an hour or so. Till that time, I hope that my parents will be back in home.
Jahar:- Oh! Very smart decision! We appreciate it. See you on Monday in School. Bye Bye Revathi….Bye Aunty!
Revathi’s mom:- Bye! Bye!
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Riku:- I have heard that you have spent some time with Arindam in your house on the day of Onam festival. Wow! Is it true?
Revathi:- Yeah! Indeed it is!
Riku:- So, how was that enjoyment?
Revathi:- Just bullshits! There is no point in wasting time on Arindam. He said that he loves Bidisha. Bidisha is his girlfriend. So, the question of enjoying with him does not arise at all. You also don’t waste time on him.
Riku:- Ha ha ha…Oh! You poor girl! Probably, you have lost the game. Had I been at your place, I would have enjoyed him without even thinking about the pros and cons of it. Anyway, I just wanted to know if anything happened between you and Arindam or not. Nothing happened at all. That’s a good news.
Revathi:- You are sick, Riku! Please consult a doctor. Never talk to me regarding these issues.
Riku:- Oh! Don’t get so excited. I am not your enemy. I am not jealous on you also.
Revathi:- Just stop it. I don’t want to talk with you anymore. Go to hell.
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Mr. Roland:- This year, conduct the Pre-Test Exam just after the Durga Puja Vacation. That is; just after the Laxmi Puja, our students will have to appear for the Pre-Test Examination.
Mrs. Mukherjee:- But, why! I mean; students will not enjoy their Durga Puja this year! Every year, we are conducting Pre-Test Exams before the Durga Puja.
Mr. Roland:- Every year, just after the Pre-Test Exam, our students enjoy the Durga Puja. They lose the momentum to study at that time and never regain it back. This year, I don’t want any of our students to get carried away. I want them to stay focused on their studies even during festive times. Let the students have some touch with their books even during the Durga Puja days. Just before the Kali Puja and Diwali, we will declare the results of Pre-Test Exam. So, in that case also, students will not get carried away during the Diwali festival, because the 2nd Unit Test will start just after the Kali Puja followed by the Test Exam of Class X in the 1st two weeks of December.
Mr. Richards:- Oh! Sir! You are making this school, a military school now.
Mr. Roland:- Let it be; I don’t care about criticism. I believe in one thing. Strict disciplines in a school create challenges for the students and unless there is a challenge, a student never becomes a student with firm determination within him to win a battle. This year, I have experimented a lot in this school and those innovative implementations have produced good results in Sports Arena. Now, it is time for our students to create some good record in academics also.
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Ganga:- Dhaath teri…Durga pujo taa maati kore diley…For the Pre-Test Exam, we have to cover the entire syllabus of Class IX and almost 80% of the Class X syllabus.
Joseph:- As per the tradition of this school, if you get 60% marks in Pre-Test exam, then at least you will get 80% marks in the Madhyamik Examination. So, imagine, how tough will be the Pre-Test Examination papers.
Tamang:- Don’t worry about the questions. Our senior students always used to say that majority of questions in Pre-Test and Test Exams come from the previous 10 years Question Papers of Madhyamik.
Nonigopal:- Ehe! I am yet to buy the solved book of previous 10 years question papers of Madhyamik from College Street.
Tamang:- I have already bought that book.
Ganga:- Ok, we will also go to the College Street tomorrow to buy that book.
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Deepak:- Thank God! At least, you people have responded to my request. Everyone is studying at house. Yesterday, I called up Pramanik, Raja and Sajal to meet at a place. They didn’t come yesterday. At least, you people have come to Maddox Square today to spend some time.
Mainak:- Dhaath! I am feeling bored at house now and that too during Durga Puja time. Who the hell likes to study all the time, but, we are literally forced to study by that bloody Mr. Roland.
Satya:- Ha ha ha…anyway, so what’s our plan tonight?
Kanchan:- We will eat somewhere and then we can visit some puja pandals.
Chinmay:- This year, the Sristi Club and the Sahajatri Club have won the 1st and 2nd prize respectively from the Asian Paints.
Deepak:- Oh! That’s great! I have never visited any Puja Pandal of Behala area. So, this year, we can go and visit the Puja Pandals of Sristi and Sahajatri and other clubs of Behala.
Mainak:- Yeah! That’s a great idea! Let us first have our dinner at the ‘Garam Chula’ Dhaba and then we will head towards Behala.
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Subir Sir:- In the Pre-Test Exam, you people have done poor results in Bengali. I am stunned to see that hardly 4 or 5 students have really written the correct answer of the question, ‘Shiksha ke amra baahon korite paari naai, barong bohon koriya ee choliachi’. All of you have written rubbish answers. First take the 1st half of this sentence, ‘Shiksha ke amra baahon korite paari naai’. Now, can anyone tell me the meaning of the word, ‘Baahon’?
Tiya:- Sir, the word, ‘Baahon’ means the pet animals of Gods. For example, Bull is the pet animal or Baahon of Lord Shiva.
Subir Sir:- Dhaath…you better sit down. You don’t have to answer any question. The word, ‘Baahon’ means the ‘Transporter’. When we ride on a Tram, the Tram takes us to our desired destination. So, in this case, the Tram is our transporter. We have also studied in school and you guys are also studying in a school. Whatever we have learned theoretically has no value in practical life. If someone has studied on Science, then his ideal career will be to become a scientist to do research on science to make human life simpler and simpler by applying modern science on a daily basis. But, instead of doing that, a science student joins a government sector firm to do a clerical job because a government job has a job security. Therefore, that science student is not using his knowledge on science as a transporter; rather he is using it as a luggage at his back while doing the clerical job for a government sector company. That’s why; the author said, that in India, ‘We have never tried to use Education as our Transporter, but as a luggage at our back for our entire life.’ Ok, the bell has rung. I will discuss about some other questions in the next class. Study hard for the Unit Tests also, though; those are just practice tests before the Test Exams.
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Nonigopal:- Our lifestyle is changing so fast. We are not enjoying our school days anymore. We are going to coaching centers. Everyone is studying hard there. All are so tensed. In the school also, all are so serious. Life is becoming so boring now. Hardly, we are getting any time to play cricket or football in the playground.
Hardayal:- I fully agree with you. Class X has become so boring. I have read in a magazine that in Western nations, students are asked to choose their topics of interest when they are in Class VI and then they are trained in that domain only. That’s why; Western nations produce more specialists than India. In India, all are boring Jacks, no one is a happy Master.
Bhavesh:- Ha ha ha…saaley…kabhi kabhar tu badiya baat bolta hai be…Sometimes, I ask the question to myself, ‘What’s the point in studying so much?’ After becoming a Doctor or an Engineer, we have to earn money only for our family? Even a Rickshaw-Puller is earning money by pulling a Rickshaw.
Parag:- Respect, Self-Esteem, High Qualification and Social Status also matters, dude. No one becomes a Champion in a day. Similarly, no one becomes a highly respected person in a day. To earn something, you need hard-work and dedication. After enjoying our school life till Class IX fully, we are in Class X, where our school life is teaching us to become prepared for the real-life tussle. When we are out of school or college life, it is a sucking world out there. To survive in that cut-throat competitive world, you need knowledge and tough mentality. Probably, we are learning it in Class X.
Arindam:- Hmm…maybe, we are regarding this phase of our school life as a boring life because we are going through a new transformation of our school life.
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Mrs. Amma (Class Teacher of Class X A):- This year, we are not going to any picnic spot. Rather, the top management of Nicco Park has requested all the students of Saint Sebastian School to visit Nicco Park on 14th November, the Children’s Day. Recently, Nicco Park has undergone some rapid modernization. So, as a marketing strategy, Nicco Park will allow the students of Saint Sebastian School and other 10 reputed school of Kolkata to enter Nicco Park on 14th November at free of cost. All the rides are free of cost for these school students. But, as our school bus will take you to the Nicco Park from your school premises and as you will be given food packets, so, you all have to pay 100 bucks each by this Friday. Enough of entertaining news! Now, all of you open up your Life Science Book. Today, we will study about Blood Circulation in Human Heart in details. This year, this chapter is very important for Madhyamik Examination.
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