As soon as the school bell rings, children run out of the towering stone building, screaming in delight because it is break time. Few of them run to the swing set, and a long line of children await their turn. The see-saw, merry-go-round, slides are almost always occupied during break. The peeling paint, creaking chains or the dents in the iron seats seem trivial when compared to the feeling of freedom and elation that rings in their bubbling laughter.
In the centre of the vast school campus, stands an ancient tamarind tree with evergreen foliage providing an umbrella of cool shade. It the best spot on a hot summer day. The feather like leaves sift golden sunshine that form patterns on the cemented ground and every once in a while, yellow flowers with red streaks drop down onto the sunlit patterns. The dark red and yellowish bark of the tree speaks years of heritage.
Under this tree is a little blue tuck shop. A lady sits there, most days dressed in vibrant polka dotted clothes. Her tuck shop is filled with confectionaries of many kinds. Sugar candies of all shapes and colours, candies you could play with before eating, candies that were like bracelets, savoury crisps, biscuits, cakes- she just knows what the children like and she has them all. Groups of children huddle together at her tuck shop everyday screaming for aunty to give them this and that. How she hears each one of them through all that noise is a talent only she has mastered. Children walk around with their pockets and mouths filled, some sticking out their tongues at each other to show off the colours left by the sweets. The older kids who don’t care much for these snacks sit under the tree and tell stories or play games. The school is over a hundred years old. Those underground storage rooms, endless passages, coarse stone walls and large windows have quite a number stories.
When the tamarind fruits are ripe, the breeze is infatuated by the sweet-sour fragrance and seems to sing praise to these tiny moments. The tamarind tree is a sentry to the school and the children, and there isn’t a time when it isn’t flourishing. It carries years of wisdom and has become an embodiment of peace and love to anyone who has had a moment to spare with this green bounty of life.
Inspired by my childhood school and the big tamarind tree that has left a permanent and beautiful picture in my memory.
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THE LITERARY AFFAIR 
There wasn’t any huge tree on our school campus, but this reminded me of school days. Best days!
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Best days, absolutely.
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Such a beautiful memory, Leha! And your prose is a delight to read.
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Thanks so much, Purba!
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This reminds me of my school…
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How nice!
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How lovely. Your school must have been a magical place.
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Beautiful memories:)
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Such beautiful imagery Leha almost painted a picture, and Lucky you to have that Tamarind Tree!
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Thanks Chinmayee, yes lucky indeed!
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My school in Chennai had a tamarind tree like this,and yes, there was a tuck shop underneath it!
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Wow, such a delightful coincidence!
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I had a similar tree in my school’s compound – not a Tamarind tree but a Bargad tree. That tree I just have to think about it and it comes alive in my mind. I have added that tree in so many of my stories! Since then I have had an affinity to Bargad trees 🙂
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Wow, Suchita that’s so beautiful. And yes, Bargad trees are so gorgeous that we can endlessly gaze at them.
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I remember having a neem tree and as the bell is on we used to rush towards it. Amazing school memories, you took us baclk.
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Such a delight trees are:)
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School days leave memories never to be forgotten. You description of the tamarind tree is so evocative, and written so beautifully! Kudos!
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True that, school memories are wonderful. Thanks Deepti!
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I am really stuck in reading your post …. absolutely great 👍
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Thank you for the kind words.
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It seemed like a scene from my school’s playground.
And we too had an aunty too who had the superpower to listen to 100s of kids at once.
We called her canteen wali aunty 🙂
Oh God, now everything is flashing in front of my eyes.
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oh wow, yes I wonder at how amazingly skilled they are at hearing each kid attentively amidst all the noise.
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Yes, they are amazing.
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