Mid-Day Misadventure Poem by Bashyam Narayanan

Mid-day misadventure

I was a student of third grade
Was good at studies
Used to go to school around nine thirty in the morning
Come back home for curd rice lunc sh break
Go back to school around two In the afternoon
Come back home around four thirty in the evening

A new friend joined the school in August
It so happened he got a seat by my side
Queries revealed he hailed from a town in south
And likely he would leave the school by academic year end
Later I came to know he was staying very near our place

One afternoon as I came out of the house
He, Sudarsanam, was waiting for me in the road
He suggested that we would go to school through the temple
I thought a while as it would be a longer route

He said that we should always be on the search of new routes
Seemingly fine, was my thinking and
Accompanied him through the temple towards school

He was right; the temple towers provided shade and breeze
Which were not there while walking in the street
As we were crossing the big tank of the temple

He said that we would miss classes that day
And spend some nice time in the temple
Witnessing devotees and their offerings
It looked a comfortable suggestion
And I decided to spend time in the temple that afternoon
He further said that we could make out time from the temple clock
And could return home in the evening at the appropriate time
Making others believe that we were in the school that afternoon

All looked fine
Sudarsanam had some other plans too
He started collecting broken coconut piecess smashed on the floor
And managed to collect bananas from some temple priest

Really it was all fine
He kept a watch on time
And declared that it was time we walked back home

I entered home with a feel of guilt
And since no one questioned me
I thought it was working out well
Evening we played together
And enjoyed the evening
Discussing within private the wonderful afternoon

Next day afternoon he again appeared in front of my house
And I made out his intention
Without a word I followed him and we took the temple route

It was a better afternoon
As he made available to me other tasteful offerings to the deities
I realized that he had acquitance with a number of priests
And proudly introduced me to them

We returned home as if we were just back from school

As I entered home my eldest cousin
Stopped me
We used to fear him as he was well known for
Asking uncomfortable questions
Leave alone, we younger ones, even the elders at home

He simply asked
How many coconut pieces you could collect this afternoon
And how many bananas you had
I was searching for answers
He continued telling that
This would be last time we saw you with this new friend
I know what was going on that and previous day afternoons
Attend school regularly and study well
Were his final words

I was telling myself
I would never sit by the side of this friend
Believe, I have not met him after this
Mid-day misadventure