ನಾಕ್ ಮಾರ್ಕ್ಸ್

I was 10 or 11 years old. And a disaster happened. I failed in my maths class test. I got 9 out of 50. I, who was the topper in the class, for whom mathematics was the easiest subject, failed in maths.

And I could not let this news reach my parents. I took the answer paper, hid it in a cupboard and put a pen on the latch of the cupboard. I did not know how to get hold of locks or keys. I did not even think that I could actually tear that paper or throw it away. I was very tense for the next few days. Thankfully nobody found out.

But my mother did find out about the paper a month later. She took the paper and asked me what was that. I did not answer. But she did not scold me, nor did she bring up the topic ever again. She must have realized  I have repented enough.

I wish I were half as much a good mother as she is.

But our teacher would scold some times. "ಮೊನ್ನಿ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಯಾಗ್ ನಾಕ್  ಮಾರ್ಕ್ಸ್ ತೊಗೊಂಡಿ ನಾಚಿಕಿಯಾಗಾಂಗಿಲ್ಲಾ"

But he too was fond of me in his own way. When an actual competitor came to my class in 7th standard, he would tell  me"  ----   ಬಂದಾಗಿಂದಾ ನೀ ಮಡ್ಡಾಗಾಕತ್ತಿ "

Why this memory is haunting me now, I am not sure. May be because, though it is not of good times, it seems golden when compared to what is happening now.