The School Mess.

No, not the one you are thinking of.

It is not about the mess we made at school. But, the real ‘Mess’ or canteen as we call it.

Believe it or not, I actually looked forward to school lunches at the canteen every day. They were deliciousness served steaming hot to fill our palates. Even the veg curry with dal or pumpkin tasted heavenly. The same dish from home may not have the same effect on us.

I unabashedly admit that I was an esurient being.

Every day when I pack my children’s lunchboxes, my daughter asks me, ‘What's for lunch? ‘   

I want to retort, ‘Are you going to school for food?’

But the apple doesn't fall very far from the apple tree, does it?

On Tuesdays (if my memory serves me right), we had non-veg for lunch and a chemistry class right after. Talk about a risky combination! Bad timetable. You wouldn't understand unless you sat through that class.

                                   

After a heavy scrumptious lunch and some chit-chat, the afternoon session began. I was worried about myself. Rain and an overfilled belly made my eyes snoozy. But I put all my energy into focusing on each and every word of the lecture. 

Despite my efforts, my eyes were persistently shutting down.

Ironically, there was a soothing cadence to my teacher’s voice. A perfect setting for a sound siesta.

In my drowsy mood, I suddenly heard my name being called out.

 

‘What is a triad’? She asked me. I stood up to answer. The gravity of the situation was such that I still remember the question. 

‘A group of 3 is called a triad’, I answered, half awake.

“Ok sit”, she said.

“Phew” I was saved by a few seconds. Such a close call. 

The ‘beef fry with semi gravy’ in the mess is entirely to blame. I even thought of dropping out of the mess after this incident. This could spell doom for me.

Going for lunch break was like a ritual. As soon as the bell rings, we sprint to the canteen that is at the top of a hill. It's like a warm-up before the workout. 

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays were the prime days. If you didn’t arrive promptly, you’d be relegated to just the gravy.

“The chaaril mukki nakkiya mathi'' kinda situation.

But the clever lot knew when and where the best serving was made. Just 5 minutes before the next class began, when the canteen had mostly cleared out, those with the right connections got the prized "curry with pieces" instead of just gravy. It's too late to benefit from these insider secrets now, but I still envy them. 

Fast forward to the present day, we had a hearty discussion about our beloved mess. Reliable sources say that there were people who had 25 poricha pathiris in one sitting. And some loyal friends carried tea snacks in their pockets for their classmates. My friends also claim that the food served now is as delicious as we remember it to be.