The memories of school I have are not exactly pleasant. I vaguely remember that on the day I had to go to school, I was standing in my bedroom. There we used to have a table where we used to keep our beddings. I was standing there clutching those hoping they won't be able to take me to school. I don’t remember how much I cried after going to school but my guess is a lot. That was when I was a little kid. I used to cry every time I went to a new school till the age of 5.

As I grew up, I started hating school for different reasons. I hated it because I never was a good student and I never used to get very good grades. Getting my report card signed was one hell of a job. The worst thing was I had to go through that experience about 7-8 times in a year.

With that in mind, I was a little worried about Manu. He knew nothing about school and Mira have been preparing him for it for quite some time. After we took him for his admission, It was clear that he would be going to school soon and whenever I used to think about it, I used to get all sweaty and would have a big lump in my throat.

Monday was supposed to be the first day in school but he vomited twice on Sunday and we decided not to send him to school. He was absolutely fine the next morning but I guess both Mira and me were looking for an excuse to keep him home. When we spoke to my mother she said that Thursday is the most auspicious day of the week to start school (Thursday in Hindi is Guruvar. Guru means teacher or guide). We decided that it can be delayed by two more days and decided to send him to school on Thursday.

Today was the first day of Manu in school and I was going to take him there. It was just for half an hour and I was going to wait there till the end of that half hour and then bring him back with me. I was terrorized by the thoughts of Manu not liking it there and crying. I knew that if he cried, I would cry too, partly because of sympathy for him and partly because of my own experiences in the school.

Fortunately Manu saved me from the disgrace of crying outside his school. As we pulled over, one of the teachers we met at the time of admission came to the door. I opened the door for Manu and he came out of the car and just stood there a little hesitant. Somehow he knew that he would have to go through this alone, without his daddy. He looked at me and said "I want you to carry me there". I picked him up and gave him to his teacher who told him that his daddy is going to the gas station.

For days I have been thinking that the first day of Manu should be well documented and I was planning to take some videos and pictures. In the morning I took his video where he is telling his uncle (my elder brother) and grand parents that he is going to school I have taken some stills too of him with his new bag. I was planning to take some pictures of him in the school as well but as he stepped in the school, he clutched the finger of the teacher who led him inside and I didn't even got a chance to take a picture.

I sat in the park talking to a father was accompanying his daughter. He has been coming there since Monday and had noticed a few things "You know al these mothers here. Whenever the kid starts crying inside, they start crying outside".

I went back to the school after half an hour. Other parents were there to pick up their kids. I saw Manu standing at the door, watching other parents carrying their kids. I was pleasantly surprised to see him calm. His face didn't have the anxiety that other kids are going while he is still there. I guess he knew that he could take his dad for granted. If he said he would be there, he will be there.

When he saw me, I was expecting a big smile of relief but I didn't get that. I guess I was more stressed then he was. He said "Dad I want to take this off" and pointed to a wooden lower half door thingy that the school has to ensure no one runs outside. I picked him up and he said that he wanted to have the chocolate I told him about when I dropped him. He had his chocolate and shared some with me too.

I am proud that the first day of the school was over without a tear from Manu's eyes... or mine.

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