They shape your dreams..

"What are you doing ?"

"I am reading"

"Can you take this food for the labourers working in the field for their breakfast?"

"No, I am going school."

"No need to go today. One day will not make any difference and anyway you are not going to be a Collector."

The above lines or lines similar to these were part of almost every 8-15 years old's life in the village. Some days it was taking care of breakfast of the labourers in the field or helping family members in their agriculture operations but going to school was somewhere at the bottom in the long list of priorities of parents. And schools.. hmm.. there were a lot of things to worry for. Pandey guruji (sir) were having almost chronic headache everyday and we learnt very well how to help him manage his headache. Sometimes, the headache was accompanied by acidity and bodypain, while the sharbat from Raju's house used to cure his acidity, Mahendra's strong hands (well developed muscles, thanks to fodder cutting exercise he did twice a day) used to take care of Guruji's bodypain.  Saturdays at school were not supposed to miss or following Monday or the day you visit the school next, Guruji's everpresent and strong stick never used to miss them. Everyone was supposed to bring Rice and Pulses for weekly worship at the school. The rice and pulses used to go to the village baniya and exchanged for the stuff needed for making Prasad.