‘Form a single file, put your finger on your lips, and follow me’, rang out Ms. Phadnis’s unmistakable voice rang down the corridor.
We looked at each other with barely contained excitement, furiously whispering behind the finger on our lips.
‘No talking, Girls!’, Ms. Phadnis turned back to glare us down.
Like the little mice in the Pied Piper story, we formed a human train behind Mrs. Phadnis, whose long plait trailed down her back, flowers that must have been fresh in the morning, now wilted by mid-day adorning it.
We climbed up the three floors quietly, our dancing eyes doing the talking. Before we knew it, we were standing at the threshold of the hallowed school library.
We walked in, our rubber shoe soles squeaking on the grey stone floor, smoothened by the footsteps that had preceded ours. Tall glass-fronted shelves packed with colorful book spines looked down at us. Groups of polished and gleaming wooden tables circled by empty chairs awaited us. Sunlight poured in through the open windows, and complete silence filled up the entire space.
‘Take your seats, please’, instructed Ms. Phadnis, and forgetting our manners, we scrambled to grab a chair nearest to us.
When we were all seated, Ms. Phadnis asked us to follow our roll numbers and come up individually to the high circular table she was now seated behind.
With a surname that started with ‘S’, I knew I was in for a long wait for my turn. I tapped my shoes noiselessly on the floor as I looked around. So many books waiting to be read! I was in heaven!
At last, it was my turn and I went up to the circular desk where I was handed my ‘Library Card’. I beamed with joy, holding the card reverently. After all the cards were issued, we were asked to pick a book each, and once again, we bid our manners goodbye, pushed back our chairs, and scrambled towards the shelves!
‘If you all do this once again, I will not let you read here, girls! Full period you will have to sit properly with a finger on your lips! Now sit back again and get up like ladies, not hooligans!’ Ms. Phadnis glared at us from behind her thick spectacles.
Sheepishly, we retook our seats without scraping our chairs on the floor. We sat down, as instructed, and popped up immediately, like a jack in the box, taking care to push our chairs behind noiselessly this time.
This first visit to the library led to weekly ones. The Library Period was one period I looked forward to the whole week. As we grew older, we could borrow two books from the library and take them home with us. Upon returning them, we could borrow two more.
My love for Reading started at home at a very tender age, for we were a family of readers. However, the Library Period honed it. Thanks to the library period and Ms. Phadnis, I not only learned to read regularly, but I also learned to respect books. ‘No giving dog ears to pages! No folding pages! No scribbling on pages!’ her instructions still ring in my ears each time I open a brand-new book.
This post is a part of the Blogchatter Blog Hop and was written for the prompt, ‘Fondest school memory’.
Oh this brought back so many library memories. Lovely post Mayuri!
Thank you, Leha.
Such an amazing read Mayuriji! Surely reminded me of the library period, though I wasn’t a voracious reader, I used to pick up sci-fi books about cars, planes, space and everything tech
Thank you for reading, Atul.
I studied in a school whose library was just a showpiece. We had a better one at home. Your post reminds me a lot too about books and how much they shaped me.
Thank you for reading, TM.
Finger on your lips – oh my god – such memories! Library period was the funnest time in school. Our library had so much light and so many windows that it felt like you could breathe in the room. Sigh.
Sounds so much like our library too. Thank you for reading, Suchita.
We didn’t have such a luxurious one but I remember being introduced to Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew issued from our school library. Reading did take a turn for good then!
Thank you for reading, Varsha.
Oh this brought back so many memories of my shool days. You draw such an evocative picture of how it was for you 🙂
Thank you, Sona.
Lovely post, Mayuri! We had a big library at home when I was growing up. When I first applied in a school, years ago, the Principal hesitantly asked me if I would take over as the librarian till a vacancy came up. I was so thrilled that I almost hugged her. I also met my future husband in our home library. 🙂
The library has been a place that created many beautiful memories for you, Deepthi. Thanks for reading.
Oh picked a chapter right of my life it seems
Glad it resonated, Manali.
I feel ya. This was pretty much my school library experience as well.
I was mostly cross at the librarian though for lending out only 2 books at a time.
I hear you! That used to be my complaint as well! Thanks for reading, Pri.
I loved the library period at school too.I was also member of two private libraries .That way I had more books to choose from.Our childhood habits of reading shape our lives in so many ways.Loved the “whispering furiously behind finger on the lip” part.Perfect really
So agree with you, Dr Amrita. Thanks for reading.
I have also started reading early from home itself. My mom is a voracious reader and she used to spend half of her salary every month on books. And yes, borrowing books from the school library was altogether a different experience.
Thank you for reading, Geethica.